Overview

Guardian has announced two billing changes that will take effect during the September billing cycle.

This article explains:

What is changing
Which merchants are affected

What's Changing

Existing Merchant Accounts

Beginning with the September billing cycle, existing Guardian merchant accounts will be charged an annual PCI Compliance Fee of $139.

New Merchant Accounts

New merchants will receive a 24-month waiver.
Starting in month 25, the annual $139 fee will apply.

Exclusions

The following accounts are not charged this fee:

Franchise accounts
Other designated high-value accounts

Guardian is introducing a $25 monthly minimum for inactive merchant accounts.

Who is affected?

The fee only applies when all of the following conditions are met:

The merchant account has been open for at least 12 months
The account has processed zero transactions during the previous 12 months

Important

This is not an additional $25 fee.

It is a top-up.

Example:

Processing Fees Generated	Amount Charged
$0	$25
$10	$15
$20	$5
$25+	$0

Review Schedule

Guardian reviews eligibility once per year, beginning in August.

Active Merchants

Customers who actively process payments will never see this fee.

Support Guidance (Existing Merchants)

Anchor Statement

If a conversation becomes difficult, return to the following statement:

"This is an industry-standard fee that Guardian absorbed for years and can no longer sustain."

PCI Compliance Fee Explanation

Explain that:

The $139 charge is an annual PCI Compliance Fee.
Guardian previously absorbed this cost.
Most processors charge similar fees.
The fee covers:
- Encryption
- Tokenization
- PCI Self-Assessment
- Vulnerability Scanning
- Ongoing Monitoring
PCI compliance also helps protect merchants from:
- Monthly non-compliance fees
- Card brand penalties following a security breach

Monthly Minimum Explanation

Explain:

It is not an extra charge.
It only affects accounts that:
- have been open for at least one year
- processed zero transactions in the previous 12 months
If processing fees total less than $25, the merchant only pays the difference.

Common Customer Questions

"Why am I being charged now?"

Suggested response:

Guardian absorbed these costs for years. They have become unsustainable, so the fees are now being introduced using a customer-friendly structure that includes:

24-month PCI waiver for new merchants
Annual eligibility review
Top-up minimum instead of a flat fee

"I wasn't told about this."

Suggested response:

Acknowledge the frustration.

Advise that:

Guardian did not charge these fees previously.
Statement notifications were sent during July.
Support can submit a refund request if appropriate.

"Can you remove the fee?"

Support cannot remove the fee directly.

Instead:

Submit a refund request to Guardian.
Explain that refunds are not guaranteed.
Customers should expect a response within 2 business days.

Refund Requests

Send all refund requests to:

ben@inspectionpayments.com

Include:

Merchant information
Reason for request
Any cancellation threats
Any additional relevant notes

If the Customer Threatens to Cancel

Do not argue.

Offer to submit a refund request first.