The Payments Guy®

If you run an MLM or direct selling company, payment processors classify you as high-risk before you process a single transaction — and most founders don't find out why until their account is frozen or terminated.

In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank Sena breaks down exactly how payment processors evaluate MLM and direct selling companies, what underwriters are looking for when they review your application, and what you can do to build a stable, long-term payment processing relationship for your business.

You'll learn:

• Why MLM and direct selling companies are classified as high-risk by payment processors
• The 5 factors underwriters examine before approving your merchant account
• Why rapid distributor growth and viral launches create processing risk — even when your business is legitimate
• How your autoship program may be generating chargebacks you don't know about
• Why income and product claims made by your distributors can put your entire account at risk
• How to communicate proactively with your processor before volume spikes or new launches
• What rolling reserves are, why they're standard for this category, and why fighting them usually backfires
• How to organize documentation that builds underwriter confidence during account reviews
• The most common mistakes that end MLM processing relationships early — and how to avoid them
• What it looks like to be the kind of merchant a processor doesn't want to let go

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:06 Why MLM & Direct Selling Companies Get Flagged
01:41 What Payment Underwriters Are Actually Evaluating
02:19 Volume, Fulfillment, Distributors, Autoship & Product Claims
05:05 Behaviors That Build Long-Term Processing Stability
06:47 Mistakes That End Processing Relationships Early
08:11 Key Takeaways
08:57 How PayDiverse Can Help

NEED A STABLE PAYMENT PROCESSING SOLUTION?
PayDiverse specializes in finding payment processing solutions for businesses that mainstream platforms may not serve well.

• Website: paydiverse.com
• Apply: Apply Now
• Call: 1-516-217-1984
• WhatsApp: +1-917-359-4804

ABOUT PAYDIVERSE:
200+ banking partnerships | 20+ years experience | 24-hour approvals

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Your Stripe, Square, or PayPal account can be terminated with little warning — and when it happens, your funds may be held for 90 to 180 days.

In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank Sena breaks down why payment aggregators terminate merchant accounts, what happens to your money afterward, and what you can do to protect your business from payment disruptions.

You'll learn:

• Why Stripe, Square, and PayPal can terminate accounts suddenly
• The difference between a payment aggregator and a dedicated merchant account
• What triggers automated risk systems and account reviews
• Which industries are more likely to face restrictions or termination
• Why processors hold your funds after an account termination
• What you can do while your funds are being held
• How to fight chargebacks and document your fulfillment history
• When it makes sense to escalate a fund hold or involve an attorney
• Why a dedicated merchant account may be a better long-term solution
• How high-risk businesses can build a more stable payment processing setup

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Why Stripe, Square & PayPal Terminate Accounts
01:43 Payment Aggregators vs. Merchant Accounts
03:49 What Triggers Account Terminations
05:49 Why Your Funds Are Being Held
07:08 What To Do After Termination
08:31 Finding a Long-Term Payment Solution
10:03 Key Takeaways
10:55 How PayDiverse Can Help

NEED A STABLE PAYMENT PROCESSING SOLUTION?
PayDiverse specializes in finding payment processing solutions for businesses that mainstream platforms may not serve well.

• Website: paydiverse.com
• Apply: Apply Now
• Call: 1-516-217-1984
• WhatsApp: +1-917-359-4804

ABOUT PAYDIVERSE:
200+ banking partnerships | 20+ years experience | 24-hour approvals

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Banks decide whether your business is "high-risk" before a single human being reads your application — and most owners don't find out until their account is terminated. In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank Sena explains exactly how banks measure risk, what factors land you in that bucket, and how to set up your payments so you stay approved for the long haul.

In this video, you'll discover:
• What "high-risk" actually means to a bank — it's a prediction, not a judgment
• The industries automatically classified as elevated risk from day one (CBD, supplements, MLM, telehealth, and more)
• The billing models and business triggers that raise the flag even in ordinary industries
• What underwriters are really looking at when they review your application — and how to look cleaner
• How reserve requirements work, what a rolling reserve actually costs your cash flow, and how to plan for it
• Why high-risk does NOT mean unbankable — and what the right move actually looks like

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:21 What "Risk" Really Means to a Bank
03:40 What Puts You in the High-Risk Bucket
06:34 What Underwriting Is Actually Looking At
09:00 The Real Cost of Being High-Risk (Fees, Reserves & More)
10:25 Key Takeaways
10:58 How PayDiverse Can Help

When you understand how banks think, you can build stable, long-term processing that protects your cash flow and your business. If you’re a travel merchant who wants stable payment processing, stronger approval odds, or protection against funding freezes, visit paydiverse.com or email [email protected] to get in touch with an expert today. 

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Your chargeback ratio is the one number that can permanently shut you out of credit card processing — not just with one bank, but across the entire industry. In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank Sena breaks down exactly what chargebacks are, the thresholds Visa and Mastercard enforce right now, and the practical steps you can take today to protect your merchant account.

In this video, you'll discover:
• The real difference between a refund and a chargeback — and why it costs you far more
• The exact chargeback ratio thresholds in effect today (Visa's VAMP is now 1.5% — it's already here)
• Why over 45% of chargebacks come from your own customers, not criminals
• Proven tools and tactics to reduce disputes — including RDR, 3-D Secure, and chargeback alerts
• What the MATCH list is, why it lasts five years, and how to stay off it for good

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 What a Chargeback Actually Is
03:30 Your Chargeback Ratio & the Thresholds
06:30 Friendly Fraud — Most Chargebacks Aren't What You Think
08:30 What You Can Do to Stay Under the Line
11:00 The MATCH List: The Worst-Case Outcome
13:00 Key Takeaways
13:45 How PayDiverse Can Help

When you understand how banks think, you can build stable, long-term processing that protects your cash flow and your business. If you’re a travel merchant who wants stable payment processing, stronger approval odds, or protection against funding freezes, visit paydiverse.com or email [email protected] to get in touch with an expert today. 

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Most travel merchants are operating with a financial time bomb they don’t even know is ticking. In this episode of the Payments Guy, Frank breaks down why the travel industry is one of the highest-risk categories in payments, how banks evaluate future-delivery risk, and the practical moves that keep your cash flow safe. If your business depends on collecting money now for future delivery, this is the roadmap for keeping the money flowing and your merchant account stable.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:47 - Why travel merchants face more scrutiny 
• 05:32 - The make-or-break details underwriters need to see before they’ll trust you with a merchant account
• 08:24 - The payment structures that keep you funded instead of frozen
• 09:32 - Understanding reserves, and how to negotiate them
• 11:30 - Preventing disputes before they happen
• 14:44 - The steps to take immediately if your account gets frozen or terminated

When you understand how banks think, you can build stable, long-term processing that protects your cash flow and your business. If you’re a travel merchant who wants stable payment processing, stronger approval odds, or protection against funding freezes, visit paydiverse.com or email [email protected] to get in touch with an expert today. 

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Most CBD brands don’t lose sales because of bad marketing, they lose them because their payment processor shuts them down without warning. In this episode, Frank exposes the hidden traps that quietly cripple CBD merchants, and reveals the exact steps that keep your business protected. If you’re selling CBD online, this is the playbook that separates brands that scale from brands that get stopped in their tracks.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:19 - Why platforms like Stripe, PayPal, and Square seem CBD-friendly at first and the exact moment their risk teams pull the plug, freezing your revenue overnight
• 03:00 - The number one document every CBD product page must have to avoid termination
• 04:34  - Risky phrases that put merchants on the radar for long-term account instability
• 06:19 - What underwriters really look for before they approve you 
• 08:22 - The non-negotiable paperwork stack every CBD merchant needs
• 10:27 - The hidden traps that collapse your ability to process payments

If you’re a CBD merchant who wants stable payment processing, backup accounts, or help fixing a shutdown, Frank and the Paydiverse team are ready to support you. Visit paydiverse.com or reach out at [email protected] to protect your business and keep your payments running smoothly.

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank breaks down one of the most intimidating challenges merchants face: being placed on the MATCH list. You might be wondering: is this a business death sentence? If you’ve ever had your merchant account shut down or been told you’re “high-risk,” this conversation is essential. 

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:30 - What MATCH stands for and who controls it
• 02:53 - The most common triggers that lead to MATCH list placement
• 08:23 - What it means to be on the MATCH list and the recovery steps to take immediately
• 10:43 - Why the right documentation can dismantle assumptions of fraud, rebuild credibility, and get your ability to process payments back online
• 12:31 - Why being on the list isn’t the end of the world

With the right strategy, many merchants can rebuild processing stability and secure future payment approvals. Visit paydiverse.com or reach out directly at [email protected] for guidance on protecting and restoring your ability to process payments.

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

PayPal is an easy-to-use payment processor, but that convenience comes with a cost. In this episode, Frank covers PayPal account terminations and real payment alternatives for high-risk merchants. As thousands of online businesses lose access to PayPal every month, Frank explains exactly how PayPal’s approval system works, why so many merchants get flagged, and the concrete steps you can take to protect your business from sudden shutdowns and frozen funds.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• Why PayPal terminates accounts and how its payment facilitator model exposes merchants to sudden risk
• Common industries labeled as “high risk”and the termination triggers that lead to frozen funds
• What to do and what not to do immediately after termination
• The account switch that will protect your cash flow
• The underwriting process explained: how it protects your business and speeds up approvals when done right
• Proven strategies to keep your account safe and the one golden rule every merchant must follow 

If your PayPal account has been shut down or you’re in a high-risk industry, don’t wait until it’s too late. Visit paydiverse.com to get matched with a trusted high-risk merchant provider today.

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

In this episode, Frank covers Visa’s new VAMP fraud rules and what they mean for high-risk merchants. He explains how chargebacks and TC40 fraud reports now combine into a single fraud ratio—and why exceeding 0.9% could get your account shut down. With acquiring banks under stricter pressure, over 250,000 merchants are expected to be terminated by year-end. Frank shares what merchants must do to stay compliant, plus how tools like PayDiverse’s VAMP Monitoring can help.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:20 – What the VAMP program is and why it replaces two previous Visa monitoring systems.
• 02:17 – The role of TC40 fraud reports and why they now matter just as much as chargebacks.
• 06:33 – How to calculate your fraud ratio and what the new thresholds mean for businesses.
• 07:22 – The types of merchants most at risk. 
• 08:50 - The steps merchants should take to prepare for the new VAMP guidelines and how PayDiverse’s VAMP Monitoring Tool helps merchants stay compliant and avoid penalties.

Don’t wait until Visa flags or fines your account. Start monitoring your fraud metrics now. To learn more about VAMP compliance or to get visibility into TC40 reports, visit the PayDiverse website or connect with Frank Cena for personalized support.

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

In this episode, Frank covers why high-risk merchants experience unnecessary payment declines—and what you can do to fix it. He breaks down the invisible tech behind transaction approvals, from 3D Secure and BIN reputation to smart routing and network tokens. If you're losing sales to unexplained declines, this episode shows how to recover revenue and improve approval rates fast.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:43 – The real reasons legitimate payments are getting blocked and what banks view as “suspicious”
• 04:17 – The surprising downside of 3D Secure at checkout
• 05:29 – What’s a BIN, and why does its reputation affect your bottom line?
• 10:41 – How to use smart routing and networks tokens to improve your approval rate overnight and protect recurring revenue
• 14:10 – Why Stripe, Square, and PayPal aren’t built for high-risk businesses, and what you should use instead if your business is considered to be high-risk

Don’t let invisible tech hurdles stop your next sale. With the right moves and consultant, you can dodge declines, recover lost revenue, and build better processing flows. Want expert help diagnosing and fixing your transaction issues? Head to paydiverse.com and send the team a message. It’s time to get your payments back on track. 

Have a question about something in the episode? Send your questions to [email protected] and check out our FAQ page https://paydiverse.com/faq  

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena