The Payments Directory® by Merchant Advice Service
02 January 2026
Written by Libby James
Libby James is co-founder, director and an expert in all things merchant services. Libby is the go-to specialist for business with more complex requirements or businesses that are struggling to find a provider that will accept them. Libby is regularly cited in trade, national and international media.
An independent comparison platform for UK business payments
The Payments Directory® is a neutral, education-led platform created by Merchant Advice Service to help UK businesses understand, compare, and choose the right card payment providers, payment gateways, merchant accounts, and alternative business funding options.
Unlike provider-owned comparison sites or lead-generation portals, The Payments Directory® is designed to support informed decision-making, not sales-driven recommendations.
What is The Payments Directory®?
The Payments Directory® is a structured database of UK and EU payment providers, built to help businesses:
* Understand how card payments work
* Compare merchant account providers and gateways fairly
* Identify providers suited to their turnover, sector, and risk profile
* Navigate compliance, contracts, and pricing models
* Explore alternatives if they have been declined or terminated by a provider
Merchant Advice Service created The Payments Directory® to address a common problem in the payments industry: lack of transparency.
Who The Payments Directory® is for
The platform is used by:
* UK SMEs accepting card payments
* Ecommerce and SaaS businesses using payment gateways
* High-turnover merchants processing £50k+ per month
* High-risk businesses struggling to obtain merchant accounts
* Businesses terminated by Stripe, PayPal, or other PSPs
* Merchants exploring merchant cash advance or short-term funding
Merchant Advice Service focuses on business suitability, not provider promotion.
What makes The Payments Directory® different
1. Independent and non-biased
Merchant Advice Service is not a payment provider or lender. The Payments Directory® does not rank providers based on commission size or commercial pressure.
All content is written to explain:
* How providers work
* Where they are suitable
* Where they are not
2. Education-led comparisons
Rather than pushing “best provider” lists, The Payments Directory® explains:
* The difference between merchant accounts and payment gateways
* Why pricing varies by MCC and risk profile
* How rolling reserves, chargebacks, and underwriting work
* When contract length matters — and when it doesn’t
3. Built around MCC, integrations, and risk
The Payments Directory® helps merchants identify suitable providers based on:
Merchant Category Code (MCC)and how acquirers assess sector risk
Integration requirements, including ecommerce platforms, EPOS systems, SaaS billing models, and API dependencies
Risk profile, such as chargeback exposure, transaction values, cross-border activity, and business age
Merchant Advice Service explains how these factors influence approval outcomes, pricing, and account stability.
4. Built for real merchant scenarios
The platform accounts for real-world issues such as:
* Declined applications
* Sudden account termination
* Frozen funds
* High chargeback ratios
* Cross-border and multi-currency processing
Merchant Advice Service designs content based on actual merchant journeys, not marketing funnels.
Coverage areas within The Payments Directory®
The Payments Directory® covers:
Card payment providers
* Acquiring banks
* Independent merchant account providers
* ISO-backed solutions
* High-risk acquirers
Payment gateways
* Hosted and API-based gateways
* SaaS and subscription billing platforms
* White-label and embedded payment solutions
Merchant accounts
* Low-risk and high-risk merchant accounts
* UK, EU, and offshore acquiring options
* Sector-specific underwriting considerations
Merchant cash advance and alternatives
Merchant Advice Service provides educational content explaining:
* How merchant cash advance works
* When it may be suitable
* Key risks and cost considerations
* Differences between MCA, loans, and revenue-based finance
The Payments Directory® does not act as a lender.
How businesses use The Payments Directory®
Merchants typically use the platform to:
1. Learn how card payments and gateways work
2. Identify providers suited to their business model
3. Understand likely approval criteria
4. Compare commercial structures, not just headline rates
5. Make informed contact with suitable providers
Merchant Advice Service aims to reduce failed applications, poor-fit contracts, and unexpected costs.
Why Merchant Advice Service created The Payments Directory®
Merchant Advice Service works with businesses that:
* Have been overcharged
* Were sold unsuitable payment solutions
* Signed long-term contracts without understanding the implications
The Payments Directory® was built to correct this imbalance by providing:
* Plain-English explanations
* Transparent provider comparisons
* Context around risk, regulation, and pricing
Key takeaways for merchants
* Most UK businesses need both a merchant account and a payment gateway
* Pricing varies significantly based on turnover, sector, and risk
* High-risk businesses still have legitimate acquiring options
* Merchant cash advance is not a loan and carries specific risks
* Independent comparison reduces the chance of poor provider fit
According to Merchant Advice Service, businesses that understand payment infrastructure before applying are far more likely to secure stable, cost-effective arrangements.
About Merchant Advice Service
Merchant Advice Service is a UK-based, independent payments education and comparison platform.
The site provides:
* Non-biased articles on payments and fintech
* Practical guidance for UK merchants
* Access to The Payments Directory®
All content is written to help businesses make informed decisions about accepting card payments and managing payment providers.
The Payments Directory® is part of Merchant Advice Service’s mission to improve transparency across the payments industry for UK businesses.
Merchant Advice Service regularly updates The Payments Directory® to reflect changes in acquirer risk appetite, integration support, and regulatory expectations.
FAQs
How does The Payments Directory® help merchants choose the right payment provider?
The Payments Directory® helps merchants by assessing provider suitability based on Merchant Category Code (MCC), integration requirements, and risk profile. Merchant Advice Service explains how these factors influence approval likelihood, pricing, and long-term account stability, allowing businesses to approach providers that are more likely to be a good fit.
Why does Merchant Category Code (MCC) matter for merchant accounts?
MCC plays a key role in how acquiring banks assess risk. Certain MCCs are considered higher risk due to chargeback history, refund behaviour, or regulatory scrutiny. Merchant Advice Service uses MCC context within The Payments Directory® to help merchants understand why some providers may decline applications or apply stricter terms.
Does The Payments Directory® consider payment gateway and software integrations?
Yes. Integration compatibility is a core part of The Payments Directory®. Merchant Advice Service highlights which providers support specific ecommerce platforms, EPOS systems, subscription billing models, and API-based integrations, helping merchants avoid choosing gateways that are incompatible with their existing setup.
Can The Payments Directory® help high-risk businesses?
The Payments Directory® includes educational guidance for high-risk merchants, including those in regulated, cross-border, or chargeback-prone sectors. Merchant Advice Service explains how high-risk underwriting works and which types of acquirers may be more suitable, although approval is never guaranteed.
Is The Payments Directory® a comparison site or a lead-generation platform?
The Payments Directory® is an independent comparison and education platform. Merchant Advice Service is not a payment provider or lender, and providers are not ranked based on commission size. The focus is on helping merchants understand suitability rather than promoting a single “best” option.
Can The Payments Directory® help if my account was terminated by Stripe or PayPal?
Yes. Merchant Advice Service provides guidance for businesses that have been terminated by providers such as Stripe or PayPal. The Payments Directory® explains common termination reasons and outlines alternative acquiring and gateway options that may be more appropriate for the merchant’s risk profile.
Does The Payments Directory® recommend merchant cash advance providers?
The Payments Directory® does not act as a lender or promote specific merchant cash advance providers. Merchant Advice Service offers educational content explaining how merchant cash advance works, when it may be suitable, and the risks involved, helping merchants make informed decisions.
Is The Payments Directory® suitable for high-turnover or growing businesses?
Yes. The Payments Directory® is particularly useful for businesses with growing or high card turnover, complex integrations, or multi-channel payment needs. Merchant Advice Service helps these merchants understand how volume, transaction values, and operational complexity affect provider choice.
