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What We're About

Merchant Advice Service helps businesses understand their card payment options and find providers suited to the way they operate.

Founded by Libby James in 2016, MAS was created to bring greater clarity and transparency to an industry that can often feel unnecessarily complicated.

We provide free, plain-English guidance covering merchant accounts, card machines, payment gateways, integrated payments, business banking and finance.

While we help businesses of all sizes, we have particular experience supporting merchants with more complex requirements, including businesses that have been declined, operate in high-risk sectors or need specific technical integrations.

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Our approach

Clear information

We aim to explain card payments, pricing and provider requirements in language that businesses can understand.

Relevant options

We consider more than the headline transaction rate. Business sector, payment method, software, geography and risk can all affect which provider is suitable.

Honest expectations

We cannot guarantee approval, and we will not pretend that every business has unlimited options.

Greater transparency

We clearly explain that MAS may receive referral commission and that we do not necessarily compare the whole market.

Continued learning

The payments market changes regularly. We review provider information, merchant enquiries and industry developments to keep our guidance useful and relevant.

Merchant-focused guidance

We start with the needs of the business rather than the products a provider wants to sell. Our aim is to understand how the merchant operates, what has already been tried and what is most likely to work before suggesting a possible route.

Transparency

The Payments Directory®, powered by Merchant Advice Service, where transparency leads the way. We believe in maintaining clear and open communication at every step, ensuring that you understand all aspects of payments, banking, and finance options. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions streamlining your operations.

Education

We are committed to empowering business owners through education. By providing essential knowledge and resources, we help you navigate the complex world of payments and finance with confidence. Whether you're looking for information on integration, payment methods, or bank risk appetite, we strive to make every aspect of our platform an educational tool that enhances your understanding and decision-making.

Unbiased

Our platform is tailored to your business needs, free from any external influences or biases. At Merchant Advice Service we prioritise your interests, ensuring that the guidance and recommendations offered are impartial and focused on finding the best solutions for your specific requirements. This commitment to an unbiased service helps you trust that we have your best interests at heart.

Free

We believe that valuable information should be accessible to every finance department and business owner, regardless of their size or industry type. Our platform is free to use, making it easy for you to access the insights and support you need without any financial barriers. By removing these obstacles, we ensure that all business owners can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and resources available through The Payments Directory®.

What Our Customers Say...

Libby was fantastic in coming to the rescue to help me sort card machine for my business without any charge, would highly recommend.
I had a brief phone call with Libby to outline our needs and within an hour I was being called by a processing bank to get things moving. Our new provider has been set up within 48 hours and we are overjoyed and stress free. Thank you Libby, what a…
Great service 👍🏻
Great service, thank you
1st class service, nothing but good things to say about this business. From first contact nothing has been to much trouble.
Using merchant services has helped my business no end. Great service, really professional and nothing was ever too much trouble when asking questions. Thank you!
Great service from the team. Would highly recommend using them!
Great thanks to Merchant Advise Service and Libby James. We encountered a problem with our existing merchant that led us unable to process customer payments which as a small business was a disaster. Libby quickly matched us with a new merchant and…
I contacted Merchant Advice Service when our company received notice from a previous provider. We’re classed as “travel” due to the nature of our UK holiday business. At the time we reached out to a few providers - however the advice we received fr…
    Libby James, the founder, sitting at a desk, working.

    Meet Our Founder

    Merchant Advice Service was founded by Libby James.

    Libby has worked across card payments, merchant services, provider relationships and specialist business requirements since launching MAS in 2016.

    Her work has focused particularly on improving transparency within the payments industry and helping businesses that struggle to find a straightforward route through traditional providers.

    Libby oversees the content, commercial relationships and merchant-matching approach used by Merchant Advice Service.

    Libby James, the founder, sitting at a desk, working.

    Why Merchant Advice Service was created

    Merchant Advice Service began with a simple idea: businesses should be able to understand their payment options before being expected to choose a provider.

    Card payment pricing, contracts, settlement terms and acceptance criteria are not always easy to compare. The provider offering the lowest headline rate may not be the provider best suited to the business.

    MAS was created to help businesses look beyond the sales pitch and consider the things that genuinely matter, including:

    • Whether the provider supports their sector
    • How and where payments are taken
    • Pricing and additional charges
    • Settlement times
    • Contract terms
    • Payment gateways and software integrations
    • Currencies and countries supported
    • Previous declines or account terminations
    • Chargeback and risk requirements

    Our aim is to make the research and application process clearer, particularly for businesses that are unsure where to apply.

    What We Do

    Merchant Advice Service provides information, guidance and introductions across the card payments market.

    Businesses can use MAS to:

    • Research merchant accounts and payment providers
    • Understand different pricing structures
    • Compare card machines and payment gateways
    • Explore integrated and online payment options
    • Find information relevant to their business sector
    • Understand why an application may have been declined
    • Identify providers that may consider more complex requirements
    • Request an introduction to a suitable provider or specialist partner

    Merchant Advice Service is not a bank or payment processor. We do not make underwriting decisions or guarantee that an application will be accepted.

    Where a business asks us for help, we assess its requirements and may introduce it to a provider or specialist broker that appears relevant.

    Specialist support for complex businesses

    Not every business fits the criteria used by mainstream payment providers.

    Applications can become more difficult when a business:

    • Operates in a restricted or higher-risk sector
    • Has previously been declined or terminated
    • Accepts payment before delivering a product or service
    • Has high transaction values
    • Trades internationally
    • Requires recurring or subscription payments
    • Needs more than one currency
    • Uses specialist booking, EPOS or CRM software
    • Has a complicated ownership or operating structure

    MAS has developed particular knowledge of these more difficult payment requirements.

    We help businesses understand the information providers are likely to request and identify potential routes before another application is made.

    Independent, but transparent about how we are paid

    Merchant Advice Service is not tied to one payment provider.

    We work with a network of banks, payment companies, gateways, brokers and specialist partners because no single provider is right for every business.

    The MAS service is free for businesses to use. We may receive a referral fee or commission from a partner when an introduction results in a completed account or service.

    We do not necessarily compare every provider in the market, and every application remains subject to the provider’s own assessment and underwriting.

    Full information about how MAS selects potential providers and earns money is available on our trust and verification page.

    Read how Merchant Advice Service works

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    The Payments Directory®

    The Payments Directory® was created by Merchant Advice Service to make payment-provider research more accessible and transparent.

    It allows businesses to explore payment, banking and finance options according to practical requirements such as:

    • Business sector
    • Monthly processing volume
    • Payment method
    • Geographic coverage
    • Currency
    • Software integration
    • Risk profile
    • Product requirements

    The long-term aim is to give businesses more control over the research process while making it easier to identify providers whose services appear relevant.

    Speak to Merchant Advice Service

    Whether you are setting up card payments for the first time, reviewing your current provider or struggling with a more complicated application, Merchant Advice Service can help you understand the available routes.

    Get in Touch