The short answer
A PCI non-compliance fee is a monthly charge, typically $19.95 to $39.95, applied when your annual PCI self-assessment questionnaire is not on file with your processor. It is avoidable in every case: complete the questionnaire and the fee stops. Many merchants pay it for years without knowing what it is.
Why it exists
Completing a PCI SAQ takes about twenty minutes for most small merchants, but the forms are jargon-heavy and processors rarely offer help. The fee is charged to merchants who never got around to it — which is most of them.
How to remove it
Ask your provider which SAQ applies to you, complete it, and confirm it is recorded. Then ask for the previous months to be refunded. Providers frequently refund three to six months when challenged directly.
The right questionnaire matters
Filing SAQ-D when you actually qualify for SAQ-A turns a twenty-minute task into a three-hundred-question audit. Most merchants using hosted payment fields or standalone terminals qualify for the short form.
Key takeaways
- The fee is for missing paperwork, not for any service
- Completing the SAQ removes it permanently
- Ask for a refund of prior months — it is often granted
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