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Visa’s new fraud monitoring rules are officially in effect — and the Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) could put your business at risk if you’re not prepared.In this episode, Maria breaks down exactly what VAMP means, why Visa introduced it, and how to protect your business from fraud penalties and shutdowns.You’ll learn:✅ What Visa’s VAMP program is — and how it works✅ Why stricter fraud monitoring is rolling out now✅ The key metrics Visa monitors (and what they mean for you)✅ 10 practical steps to protect your merchant account and stay compliant✅ How to reduce fraud ratios and keep your payments flowing smoothlyWhether you run an ecommerce store, subscription site, or high-risk business, this episode will help you navigate Visa’s new rules with confidence.📥 Download your FREE VAMP Survival Guide for Merchants:💬 Need help keeping your account compliant or finding a processor experienced with high-risk businesses? Contact Maria at DirectPayNet Today!

Most businesses only find out they’re high-risk after getting shut down. Learn what the label really means and how it impacts your ability to accept payments.Are you running an online business and wondering if you’re considered high-risk? High-risk merchant accounts are one of the most misunderstood parts of payment processing. The truth is, most e-commerce, subscription, and digital product businesses fall into the high-risk category — even if they’ve never had issues with payments before.In this video, Maria breaks down what a high-risk merchant account is, why businesses get labeled high-risk, the differences between high-risk and regular merchant accounts, and what that means for your fees, approvals, and chargebacks. If you’re asking “Do I need a high-risk merchant account?” or “Is my business high-risk?”, this guide will give you the answers.What You’ll Learn: ✅ What qualifies as a high-risk business✅ Why payment processors use the “high-risk” label✅ High-risk vs. regular merchant accounts✅ The real implications for your business (fees, approvals, chargebacks)✅ What to do next if you’re high-risk Understanding how high-risk merchant accounts work can save your business time, money, and stress. If you need a reliable merchant account tailored for your business, DirectPayNet can help!

Amazon’s $2.5B FTC settlement is a warning for subscription businesses. Learn the new rules and 5 compliance practices you need now.The FTC recently hit Amazon with a record $2.5 billion settlement over deceptive subscription practices — from unclear free trial terms to making it difficult for customers to cancel.This isn’t just about Amazon. The case highlights how the FTC is cracking down on subscription businesses and setting new compliance standards that every company must follow. If your business relies on recurring billing, subscriptions, or free trial offers, these rules apply to you.In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why the FTC targeted Amazon — what practices regulators flagged and how they crossed the line✅ What the $2.5B settlement means for subscription businesses — and why smaller companies aren’t immune✅ Beyond compliance: customer satisfaction — how building trust can reduce churn and boost long-term revenue✅ 5 practices you need to adopt now — clear disclosures, easy cancellations, and more to avoid becoming a targetThe Amazon vs. FTC settlement is a wake-up call: subscription merchants need to update their practices now to avoid regulatory action and keep customers happy.Need help staying compliant while scaling your subscription business? At DirectPayNet, we specialize in helping subscription businesses navigate compliance, reduce chargebacks, and set up the right merchant accounts.Get in touch today: directpaynet.com/contact-us

Visa has introduced new chargeback rules through its Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP). While it’s aimed at acquirers, merchants can’t afford to ignore it because, as acquirers scramble to protect their portfolios under Visa’s stricter fraud guidelines, merchants will be the ones who get cut off, restricted, or penalized.📥 Get your free downloadable guide to protect your business from VAMP here.In this video, Maria breaks down:✅ What VAMP is and why Visa launched it✅ How the fraud-to-sales ratio works (1.5% now, moving to 0.9% in 2026)✅ Why acquirers and processors are tightening controls✅ Why high-risk industries (supplements, CBD, digital content, coaching) are most at risk✅ How subscriptions and recurring billing models could trigger disputes✅ The end of relying on chargeback alerts to stay safe✅ Practical fraud prevention steps to protect your merchant accountWith Visa enforcing stricter fraud thresholds starting October 1, 2025, merchants must take immediate action. If you’re in a high-risk industry or run subscriptions, you can’t afford to ignore VAMP.👉 Need expert help navigating VAMP and fraud prevention? Reach out to our team at DirectPayNet for tailored help.📌 Subscribe for the latest payment processing news, updates, and strategies to stay compliant and profitable.

Are tariffs eating into your profits?Import duties, trade talks, and sudden tariff changes are creating chaos for online businesses, dropshippers, and eCommerce store owners. In this episode, Maria Sparagis breaks down practical strategies to stay profitable through the tariff mess while keeping your customers happy and avoiding costly disputes or chargebacks.You’ll learn:✅ How tariffs affect dropshipping and imported products✅ Why radical transparency with customers prevents chargebacks✅ Checkout page strategies to avoid surprise duty fees✅ How to offer prepaid duties and inclusive pricing models✅ The role of strong customer support in reducing disputes✅ Whether sourcing domestically or using U.S. fulfillment centers can protect your margins✅ How to manage small price increases without losing customer trustIf you’re sourcing products outside the U.S. or running a dropshipping business, this guide will help you weather the storm, protect your reputation, and stay profitable during uncertain tariff times.📌 Need help with disputes or payment processing? Reach out to Maria and her team at DirectPayNet. maria@directpaynet.com👍 Like this video if you found it helpful, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly strategies to make your online business more profitable.0:00 Tariffs Can Destroy Your Business1:02 Avoiding Tariff-Related Chargebacks2:28 Be Transparent5:27 Pre-Paid Duty7:09 Send a Receipt9:23 Actively Inform11:13 Stay Up to Date11:55 Local Fulfillment13:39 Adapt Accordingly14:45 Profiting Through Tariff UncertaintyNeed a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us

Friendly fraud is one of the most frustrating challenges for business owners—and despite its name, there’s nothing “friendly” about it. In this episode, Maria Sparagis breaks down what friendly fraud is, why it happens, and how you can protect your business from rising chargebacks.With Visa estimating chargebacks will rise by 42% in 2026, business owners need to understand the real costs of disputes: lost sales, product costs, service hours, and even the risk of losing your payment processor entirely.👉 In this video, you’ll learn:- The difference between friendly fraud vs. criminal fraud- Why chargebacks are increasing across industries- The hidden risks for “high-risk” businesses like supplements, coaching, and digital products- Practical prevention strategies (clear checkout pages, billing descriptors, receipts, cancellation links, and more)- How to handle disputes strategically and avoid getting match-listed- Why choosing the right payment processing partner is critical for survivalIf you’re dealing with chargebacks or worried about losing your merchant account, this episode will give you actionable tools and insider knowledge to protect your profits.💡 Need help setting up chargeback alerts or a backup payment processor? Contact Maria and her team at DirectPayNet for expert support. maria@directpaynet.com👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss future episodes on payment processing, fraud prevention, and growing your online business.0:00 Chargeback Statistics2:17 What Is Friendly Fraud?4:37 Why Fraud Tools WON’T Target Friendly Fraud6:43 Consequences of Friendly Fraud8:37 How to Prevent Friendly Fraud14:30 Fighting the Dispute17:22 Choosing the Right Provider

Thinking about starting an online store or want to swap services but not sure if Shopify is the right fit? In this video, we break down the best Shopify alternatives in 2025 — including WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento (Adobe Commerce), and Shift4Shop so you can choose the right eCommerce platform for your business.We’ll cover:✅ Why Shopify might not be the best option for certain businesses✅ Shopify Payments limitations & hidden fees you should know about✅ How WooCommerce gives you low-cost flexibility and control over your customer data✅ Why BigCommerce is powerful for scaling brands and B2B businesses✅ How Magento (Adobe Commerce) supports enterprise-level eCommerce with advanced tools✅ Budget-friendly options like Shift4Shop for quick setup with no extra payment processing feesWhether you’re selling dropshipping products, print-on-demand, supplements, digital products, or direct-to-consumer goods, this guide will help you compare Shopify with other platforms and make the best decision for your store.💡 BONUS: We’ll also talk about payment processing freedom — why owning your customer data and having a backup payment processor is critical to protect your business long-term.👉 If you need help setting up your payment processing or choosing the right platform, drop a comment or reach out. maria@directpaynet.com

Think Stripe’s fees are just 2.9% + 30¢? Think again. In this video, Maria Sparagis (payment processing expert and owner of DirectPayNet) breaks down Stripe processing fees, reveals their hidden charges, and shows you exactly how to read your Stripe balance report so you can uncover the real cost of doing business.We’ll cover:Stripe transaction fees explainedHow to find Stripe’s additional feesUnderstanding foreign transaction & currency feesDispute & chargeback costsStripe fees vs. your actual processing costHow to protect your account from holds and reservesIf you want to know the true cost of Stripe and how to spot unnecessary fees, this guide is for you.Takeaway tip: Download your monthly Stripe Balance Report in PDF and check every single fee line—knowledge is power when negotiating rates or switching providers.0:00 Why your Stripe fees are higher than advertised0:57 The balance report you NEED to download2:13 High-risk merchant & out-of-region fees3:39 Foreign exchange & risk reserves explained5:29 Payout differences & surprise debits7:32 Why 2.9% + 30¢ is misleading8:28 How to track Stripe fees monthlyNeed a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us

Confused by payment processing fees? In this episode, Maria Sparagis breaks down the real costs behind merchant account statements — beyond the advertised “2.9% + $0.30.”Whether you're using Stripe, Shopify, or have a standalone merchant account, this is the ultimate guide to uncovering hidden fees, understanding interchange rates, and negotiating better deals.🔍 Learn what "interchange plus" really means, how to spot PCI compliance penalties, refund and chargeback traps, and why your true processing costs might be MUCH higher than you think.📊 Maria walks you through an actual merchant processing statement and explains line-by-line what each fee represents — so you can protect your profits and make smarter business decisions.🛠 Need help analyzing your own statement? Reach out to Maria and the DirectPayNet team for expert support.🔗 Useful Links:→ Shopify Fee Breakdown (Related Episode): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGsvCa7eJ8→ Open a Merchant Account: maria@directpaynet.com💬 Drop your questions in the comments — and if you’ve ever spotted a hidden fee, let us know!0:00 Intro1:44 3 Processing Fee Models4:20 Merchant Statement Breakdown14:56 Chargeback Fees16:39 Other Fees19:53 Summing Up24:23 Outro

Has Shopify Payments frozen or shut down your account out of nowhere? You're not alone—and you're not helpless.In this episode, Maria Sparagis, owner of DirectPayNet, explains exactly what to do when Shopify pulls the plug on your payment processing. From understanding why it happened to setting up real alternatives that can handle high-risk businesses like supplements, digital goods, CBD, coaching, and subscriptions—we’ve got you covered.✅ Learn how to:- Get clarity from Shopify (even when they ghost you)- Send a physical letter to escalate your case- Switch to alternative gateways that won’t shut you down- Set up a merchant account to avoid future disruptionsIf you're doing $25K/month or more, Shopify Payments is too risky to be your only option. Get backup systems in place today.📩 Need help? Reach out or drop a comment below.maria@directpaynet.com0:00 Intro0:49 Contact Shopify Online6:58 Contact Shopify by Mail8:40 Shopify Alternatives14:04 Merchant Accounts16:11 Final Thoughts🔗 Related videos:Stripe Alternatives for High-Risk Businesses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJLzaK7e6OI&tHow to Write a Payment Processor Appeal Letter: https://youtu.be/ddLt38NVdSg?si=ItUDJOVV4qzJEHaZ