About

I'm Al — and I've spent years in the payment processing industry.

I got into payment processing the way most people do — by accident. What started as a job turned into something I genuinely cared about, because I kept seeing the same thing over and over: business owners getting charged more than they should, and having no idea it was happening.

Merchant statements are confusing on purpose. Processors bury fees in fine print, mark up interchange rates without telling you, and tack on charges that most people don't even know to question. I've seen businesses paying hundreds — sometimes thousands — more per month than they need to, simply because nobody ever showed them what to look for.

That's why I built Payments With Al.

This isn't a sales pitch and I'm not trying to sign you up for anything. I built this site because business owners deserve to understand what they're paying for. Interchange rates, processor markups, PCI fees, chargeback costs — none of it is as complicated as the industry makes it seem. You just need someone to explain it in plain English.

Here, you'll find guides that break down how payment processing actually works — real numbers, real examples, no jargon. I cover everything from how interchange is calculated (it's a percentage plus a per-transaction fee, by the way — not just a flat rate) to what those mystery line items on your statement actually mean. If your processor is overcharging you, I want you to be able to see it yourself.

If you want a second set of eyes on your statement, you can upload it here — it's free, no strings attached. I'll take a look and tell you what I see.

I'm not here to be your processor. I'm here to make sure you're not getting taken advantage of by the one you have.