Author: Maria Sparagis

As President of DirectPayNet, I make it my mission to help merchants find the best payment solutions for their online business, especially if they are categorized as high-risk merchants. I help setup localized payments modes and have tons of other tricks to increase sales! I am an avid traveler, conference speaker and love to attend any event that allows me to learn about technology. I am fascinated by anything related to digital currency especially Bitcoin and the Blockchain.

Survival Guide: Stripe Account Suspended

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Payment processors and PSPs hold immense power over businesses, Stripe, despite its reputation as a developer-friendly platform, is no different. The payments giant regularly suspends accounts and holds funds, sometimes without clear justification. I recently received an email from a business owner whose experience illustrates the reality that many merchants face when dealing with account […]

The De Minimis Rollback Means More Chargebacks — How to Avoid

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The de minimis rollback changes how businesses handle international shipping costs. This change affects millions of online purchases every day. When customers don’t know about extra charges, they create chargebacks that hurt businesses. Here’s how to avoid the hassle. REDUCE CHARGEBACKS What Is the De Minimis Rollback? The de minimis threshold sets the limit for […]

14 Reason Codes That Land Your Business on the MATCH List

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If you run a business that accepts credit card payments (so, every business), then you need to know about the MATCH list. This database tracks merchants who’ve had their payment processing accounts shut down. Getting MATCHed can destroy your business overnight. You’ll struggle to find any bank willing to process your payments again. The Member […]

Embrace Click-to-Cancel Policies, Even Without the Law

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The Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule vanished faster than a forgotten gym membership renewal. On July 8, 2025, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the regulation that would have required businesses to make canceling subscriptions as easy as signing up for them. The court’s decision wasn’t about the merits of consumer-friendly cancellation policies. […]

Stripe ISN’T a Merchant Account (And Why That Matters for Your Business)

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Stripe is everywhere, powering millions of online businesses. Maybe even you are already using it to process credit card payments. Stripe makes it incredibly easy—you can integrate their system into your site in just a few hours. So what’s the problem? Stripe isn’t actually a merchant account. This distinction matters more than you might think, […]