In this interview, Attilio Maggio, Payment Expert at Exactly.com, a payment provider and direct bank acquirer, shares his views on the current fintech landscape.
He explores whether the market treats eCommerce businesses fairly, regardless of their size, and whether hidden fees remain a persistent issue across the industry.
He also looks at how merchants can avoid unnecessary costs, and how payment pricing can be optimised in practice, including the approach taken with Exactly.com clients.
Tell us a few words about Exactly?
We are a payment provider and direct card acquirer. Our philosophy is built on fair fees, a fair attitude, and human support, applied consistently to every business, regardless of size. This approach allows us to effectively support both early-stage companies and established merchants, ensuring each receives the same level of attention and care.
eCommerce companies choose us for fair fees, fair support, and a fair attitude.
Actually, is the payments industry fair to eCommerce businesses?
For large companies, mostly yes.
For micro and SME businesses, mostly not, and this is reflected in fees and IT & Business support.
If you’re a large merchant processing significant volumes, you’ll generally have access to competitive pricing, dedicated account management, and plenty of options. Smaller businesses often don’t have the same experience.
Many SMEs end up paying more relative to their size and receive less support, despite payments being just as important to their success. That’s why it’s crucial for merchants to regularly review their setup and understand what’s available in the market.
Do merchants truly know what they are paying for?
Not really. We see a clear trend towards blended pricing models, as they are more predictable and easier to understand.
At the same time, hidden fees and conditions are still common among payment providers, including monthly, setup, and fraud fees.
We don’t operate that way. On average, our eCommerce clients pay 27% less in payment fees compared to their previous providers. This is largely due to the absence of hidden fees and any discrimination based on turnover.
Merchants should be able to read and understand a payment offer and its conditions.
Most businesses are aware of the transaction rate they are paying, but they don’t always fully understand the complete pricing structure behind it.
At Exactly.com, we don’t apply hidden costs or penalise smaller turnover with fixed monthly fees. Our approach is focused on transparency and fairness.
How realistic is it for merchants to negotiate payment fees today?
The answer is simple: comparison and benchmarking.
Just as you would compare mortgage rates before choosing a bank, benchmarking payment providers gives merchants the visibility they need to understand what’s competitive and negotiate from a position of strength.
Without a clear benchmark, it’s difficult to know whether you’re getting a market-leading rate or simply the best offer from the providers you’ve spoken to.
Finally, how do you get a payment offer from Exactly.com?
It’s simple. We can meet at the eCommerce Forum, or you can fill in the application form here. There you’ll also find more information about our payment products and solutions.
Let’s review your current payment setup, understand your costs, and see how we can improve your payment conditions and overall payment performance.
