For small businesses in Canada and the US
Free merchant statement review
Understand what you pay to accept payments before you change providers. Pavado reviews your processing statement and agreement, then returns a written list of potential overpayments, charges to question and contract dates to check.
No account logins. No requirement to switch processors.
What the review covers
Your actual processing cost
Match statement fees to the payment volume and methods that generated them. Separate the headline rate from the total bill.
Recurring charges and add-ons
Identify monthly, annual, equipment and service charges to compare with the agreement and what your business uses.
Payment method and plan fit
Check whether your invoice sizes, card mix and collection workflow fit the pricing model you are on.
Agreement and renewal questions
List the dates, notices and terms visible in the documents, with questions to confirm before renewing or switching.
A written review you can use
You get a list of findings tied to your documents, rather than a new headline rate. The table below illustrates the format. These are example checks, not findings from a client account.
| Item | What we compare | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| A recurring statement fee | Statement line against the agreement and fee schedule | Ask the provider what service it covers and whether it is optional |
| A higher cost on large invoices | Actual payment method and account-specific cap | Price the same invoices under an eligible alternative |
| A rate that changed | Earlier statement, later statement and change notice | Request a written explanation and check the applicable terms |
| A renewal or equipment charge | Agreement dates and separately billed services | Confirm the notice date and full cost before making a change |
How to get started
- Tell us your business type, country, processor and the charge or change you want checked.
- A person replies within one business day to confirm the documents needed and review timing.
- Share the agreed exports with sensitive identifiers removed. We do not need passwords or card data.
- Receive the findings in writing, then decide what to ask your provider or whether further work makes sense.
The enquiry form starts the conversation; it does not accept statement uploads. Please describe the issue without including account numbers, customer information or financial documents.
Illustrative example, not a client result
How a statement review turns a fee into a decision
Imagine a business taking $40,000 across 500 card payments in one month, with $1,200 in total fees. Its effective rate is 3%. The agreement lists 2.5% plus 30¢ per payment, and a $50 monthly add-on: $1,000 + $150 + $50 = $1,200. The higher effective rate is explained by the agreement; it is not automatically an overcharge.
The useful question is whether the business still needs that add-on. If the provider confirms it is optional and removes it without a replacement charge, the reduction would be $50 a month, or $600 across 12 months before tax. If it is required or still useful, keeping it may be the better decision. Those are fictional inputs and conditional calculations, not measured Pavado savings.
Check the numbers yourself first
Use our effective-rate guide to add up the fees on a statement, or compare published provider rates. For large job invoices, the contractor payment comparison explains caps and the costs a transaction-only calculation leaves out.
Canadian merchants can also consult the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada'sguide to statement disclosures and merchant rights. The review flags questions; it does not provide legal advice or guarantee a refund.
Find out which fees are worth questioning
Start with the charge that prompted the review. If your current arrangement looks reasonable, that is useful to know too.
Need a wider look at contracts and money owed? See the small business money leak scan.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the merchant statement review free?
- Yes. The initial statement review is part of Pavado's free money leak scan. You receive a written list of potential overpayments and questions to raise with your provider. Any further work is scoped separately before you decide whether to proceed.
- Do I have to switch payment processors?
- No. You can use the findings to ask your existing provider for an explanation or a revised proposal. A review may find that your current setup is reasonable or that a change would cost more than it saves.
- What should I send for a statement review?
- Start by telling us your country, processor, business type and the charge you want explained. We reply with the documents needed, usually recent processing statements, the fee schedule and any relevant agreement or change notice. Do not put financial documents in the enquiry message.
- Do you need my processor or bank login?
- No. We work from exports and documents. Remove full bank account numbers and other sensitive identifiers before sharing; passwords, card numbers and customer payment details are not needed.
- Can you review both Canadian and US statements?
- Yes. Tell us the merchant country and currency so we compare the correct local terms. US ACH pricing is not automatically applicable to Canadian EFT or pre-authorized debit payments.
- What do I get back, and how long does it take?
- A written list of the charges worth checking, the supporting document or calculation, questions for your provider and any contract dates visible in the material supplied. A person replies within one business day to scope the review and confirm timing. A finding is not a guaranteed saving or refund.