Want to read more? Check out our full blog archive here
PODCAST
Hosted by Maria Sparagis, president of DirectPayNet, and payment solutions expert for entrepreneurs in the high risk industries of supplements, dating, business opportunities, gambling and more. On this podcast, Maria shares her knowledge on how to reduce decline ratios, add thousands of dollars to your bottom line with a few simple conversion hacks, and maximize revenue while keeping your high-risk merchant accounts happy and healthy. As a cryptocurrency advocate since 2012, Maria will also share her knowledge on the digital currency markets.
Maria has worked with several high level entrepreneurs in Direct Marketing including Christian Hudson, Julian Reyes, Jeremy Schoemaker “ShoeMoney”, Mike Chang and many more.
She has been featured in American Banker, Vice, Inside Bitcoins, Coindesk, and Yahoo.
Connect with Maria mariasparagis.com or directpaynet.com
Stripe’s NEW Dispute Fees Are Outrageous
💸 Stripe’s NEW Dispute Fees Are Outrageous — What You *Must* Know to Protect Your Business
Stripe 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 [email protected].
🔔 Like, share, and subscribe to stay ahead of the curve in fintech, e-commerce, and digital sales strategy.
0:00 Intro
0:30 Stripe’s 30% Take and New Dispute Rules
4:49 What Businesses Do WRONG About Disputes
8:50 How to WIN a Dispute
14:13 Best Stripe Alternatives
18:00 Outro
HOW TO PREVENT DISPUTES: https://youtu.be/ZpsuSibwbPg
Need 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 [email protected] or apply directly at directpaynet.com/contact-us
