Uncensored Direct Marketing

💸 Stripe’s NEW Dispute Fees Are Outrageous — What You *Must* Know to Protect Your BusinessStripe just changed the game — and not in a good way. Business owners now face a $30 fee to fight disputes, and if you let Stripe’s “Smart Disputes” AI win them for you, they’ll keep 30% of the recovered amount. Seriously.In this episode, I pull no punches, breaking down why Stripe's new policy is deeply predatory, how it's forcing sellers into a lose-lose scenario, and what you can do to protect your profits.👉 You’ll learn:* Why Stripe doubled the dispute fee from $15 to $30 — even if you win* How their Smart Disputes AI takes 30% of recovered funds (yes, really)* Whether you should fight disputes manually or let AI handle it (and what it’ll cost you)* Practical strategies to improve your win rate and avoid disputes in the first place* Proof you need to gather (contracts, IP logs, delivery receipts, etc.)* Why Stripe’s AI may *fail* you — and how to fight back* Alternatives to Stripe with real human support🧠 Whether you're running a 6-figure store or scaling past 7, this episode delivers hard truth, actionable tips, and clear guidance on navigating Stripe’s increasingly automated and costly system.📩 Want my full chargeback-fighting guide? Drop a comment or reach out via Maria@DirectPayNet.com.🔔 Like, share, and subscribe to stay ahead of the curve in fintech, e-commerce, and digital sales strategy.0:00 Intro0:30 Stripe’s 30% Take and New Dispute Rules4:49 What Businesses Do WRONG About Disputes8:50 How to WIN a Dispute14:13 Best Stripe Alternatives18:00 OutroHOW TO PREVENT DISPUTES: https://youtu.be/ZpsuSibwbPgNeed a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us

In this episode my media guy Alex and I dive deep into the implications of Capital One's recent acquisition of Discover. We get into how this major shakeup could affect business owners who accept Discover cards, including potential changes to processing fees, merchant account structures, and overall payment dynamics.There are parallels to Amex's OptBlue program, which might show how Capital One aims to streamline Discover's merchant onboarding process—potentially increasing costs but also making the card more widely adopted. Also, Capital One's likely strategy of boosting Discover's rewards program could drive consumer demand and force businesses to adapt.If you're a business owner or just curious about the evolving payments landscape, this episode is a must-listen. Find out how these changes could impact your bottom line and what steps you might need to take to stay ahead.💡 Questions about payment processing or Capital One's acquisition of Discover? Drop them in the comments!🔔 Subscribe for more news, insights, and strategies.📧 Get in touch at maria@directpaynet.com or apply directly at directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro1:45 Your Fees Will Change5:37 CapOne Is the New AMEX10:39 Forced Acceptance?12:43 Deny Discover at Checkout?15:55 Outro#CapitalOne #DiscoverCard #Fintech #PaymentProcessing #MerchantAccounts #BusinessFinance #CreditCardProcessing

🚨 Visa’s New Chargeback Rules Could Shut You Down – Are You Ready? 🚨Visa is flipping the script on chargebacks—and if you're an online business owner, this affects you. I'm breaking down the new VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program) regulations that are already live in Europe and heading to North America.From stricter chargeback thresholds (dropping to 0.9% in 2026) to new penalties for merchants who ignore card testing fraud, Visa's changes are tightening the noose on risky behavior. Even if you rely on Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR), guess what? Those alerts are now counted against you.🔍 Learn:- What VAMP is and why it matters- Why relying on RDR is no longer safe- How to calculate your chargeback ratio properly- Why 3DS may become mandatory—and what that means for your conversions- The silent risk of losing your payment processor even if you’re under 1%⚠️ Don’t wait until you're fined or shut down. Get ahead of the changes and safeguard your business. ⚠️👉 Subscribe for more insights on payment compliance, fraud prevention, and keeping your online business safe.0:00 Intro0:32 Previous Chargeback Guidelines1:08 What’s Changing6:58 Payment Gateway Fraud Protection8:08 Even More Changes10:18 Rules Coming to the US12:08 The Reason Why13:22 Lower Your Chargebacks18:33 OutroNeed a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us

Stripe has officially applied for a Money Transmitter (MALPB) license in Georgia. It's a move that will change what we know about Stripe in payment processing...at least in the U.S.But what does this really mean for your business?In this episode, I, Maria Sparagis, payment processing expert and founder of Direct Payment, break down the real implications of Stripe becoming its own payment processor.From bypassing big banks like Wells Fargo and Barclays to potential changes in who Stripe approves (or rejects). These are the questions many aren’t asking: Is this truly good news for online merchants, or just a power and profit play?🔍 What you'll learn:- What Stripe’s MALPB license means and why it matters- Why Stripe isn’t actually a payment processor (yet)- The truth about Stripe’s approval process- How this could impact high-risk and online businesses- What to watch for in Stripe’s terms & conditions going forward- Why legacy banks might be forced to innovate now⚠️ Heads-up: this might not be the win for merchants you were hoping for.📩 Have questions about payment processing or need a backup for Stripe? Reach out to me and my team at Direct Payment. maria@directpaynet.com📋 Or apply directly at directpaynet.com/contact-us/👍 Like, 💬 Comment, and 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on payment processing, tech trends, and business growth strategies.0:00 Intro0:36 Isn’t Stripe a Payment Processor?1:39 You Won’t Benefit from the Charter6:04 Stripe Changes7:16 Competition Increases8:33 Outro#Stripe #FintechNews #PaymentProcessing #BusinessTips #Ecommerce #StripeLicense #MALPB #MerchantAccount #SmallBusinessTips #MariaAsparagus

Your mobile checkout page NEEDS to be optimized. Mobile is rocketing past desktop for sales, which means more people are tapping around on your mobile site than ever before. If you've left your mobile checkout page unchecked, you're LOSING MONEY.In this video, I'm covering 9 ways you can optimize your mobile checkout to secure sales and bump your bottom line.Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro1:08 Mobile Checkout Stats2:10 #13:05 #23:43 #34:28 #45:30 Desktop vs Mobile8:50 5 Optimizations15:30 Outro

Stripe Radar is the built-in fraud tool Stripe offers directly through the dashboard. But if you leave this tool unconfigured, you'll either block valid payments or accept fraudulent ones. So here's how you can tweak Stripe Radar to fit your business better and convert more sales, no matter what region you're in.Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro1:15 Stripe Radar Flags4:41 Business Impact5:53 How It Works11:46 Configuring Stripe Radar20:48 Outro

Monthly subscriptions are a more sustainable choice for businesses. Not only do customers like them more for various reasons like lower price points, but they help lower your risk profile.Lifetime access sounds appealing—having accessing for an entire lifetime. But that is also the catch. You have to support that product for a lifetime, and if you don't then those customers will win a chargeback suit against you.If you're still interested in selling lifetime access, I've got a few tips for you in the video.Watch until the end, and don't forget to like and subscribe if you found value in this content!Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro0:58 Lifetime of Chargebacks2:43 Lifetime, Yearly, Monthly4:05 Say NO to Lifetime8:10 Maximize Conversions10:22 Outro

What to do when Square closes your account and you can't accept payments.Just like with Stripe or PayPal or Shopify Payments, Square is keen on shutting down any account that has the slightest tinge of risk. If this happens to you, immediately open a backup account—but don't stop there. That acount is just for 10% of your transactions and to tide you over while you open a real merchant account.Don't fall into the Square payments trap. If it's too easy to sign up and too good to be true, then run.Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro0:46 Why Square Shut You Down4:01 Next Steps7:49 Square Reopens Your Account9:19 How to Get Your Money from Square11:37 Outro

You've been upselling wrong this whole time. Here's how to do it the RIGHT WAY. And for when the upsell doesn't hit or your customer simply can't afford, I've thrown in a few alternatives for you like downselling and affiliate offers.Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro0:55 What Is an Upsell?1:48 How to Upsell14:22 Downselling18:59 Outro

Shopify Payments, the gateway and processor that Shopify uses and AGGRESSIVELY pushes you to use is actually powered by...Stripe! So if you're not able to use Stripe, then you're also not able to use Shopify Payments and vice versa.But luckily, I have some great alternatives for those of you who still want to use Shopify's platform without Shopify Payments.Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us0:00 Intro0:33 Shopify v Shopify Payments1:52 What is Shopify Payments?2:47 Alternatives6:06 Why Choose Alternatives?7:51 When to Use Shopify Payments8:39 Outro