Learning • 5 min read

PCI Compliance Fees Explained

What PCI DSS compliance is, why providers charge for it, and how to avoid non-compliance penalties.

What PCI DSS compliance actually is

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security requirements every business that accepts card payments has to meet. Most small businesses complete a self-assessment questionnaire annually.

Acquirers typically charge a small annual fee to administer this, and a higher monthly non-compliance fee if the questionnaire is not completed on time.

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How to avoid non-compliance fees

Complete the questionnaire

Most providers send reminders; complete it as soon as it arrives.

Keep contact details up to date

Reminders go to the email on file. If that's stale, you'll miss the window.

Renew yearly

PCI compliance is renewed each year - diarise it.

Key takeaways

  • PCI compliance is mandatory; the fee for administering it is not the issue - the non-compliance fee is.
  • Complete the annual questionnaire on time to avoid recurring monthly charges.

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