Exposing the Dark Side of Payments: When Processors Turn Predatory

Behind the polished pitch decks and ISO agreements lies a side of the payments industry few merchants or agents ever see—until it’s too late. In this brutally honest episode of The Payments Experts Podcast, Global Legal Law Firm partners Christopher Dryden and James Huber pull back the curtain on predatory practices, weaponized contracts, and the shocking truth about how processors, not fraudsters, are often the ones doing the most damage.

The Case That Says It All

We begin with a real-world story that’s hard to believe—but all too common. A gas station owner in Indiana becomes the target of credit card fraud, does everything by the book—files police reports, accepts chargebacks, and pleads with the processor to block the card.

Their response? Silence.

Then came the fines. Then came the residual withholdings. Tens of thousands of dollars gone—no explanation, no recourse, no transparency. This merchant wasn’t dealing with criminals anymore—they were up against their own processor.

How Card Brand “Compliance” Became a Profit Center

Our attorneys explain how once-legitimate risk and compliance mechanisms—like chargeback thresholds and fine regimes—have quietly evolved into profit machines. And the enablers? Poorly written contracts, no legal review, and merchant portfolios treated like extractable assets, not partnerships.

As Warren Buffett once said, "You can’t make a good deal with bad people." And in payments, even the best contract won’t save you if you’re dealing with parties who weaponize the legal system as a business strategy.

MATCH List Removal: Legal Pressure That Works

We also shine a light on the increasingly aggressive use of MATCH list placements—a tactic that can instantly cripple a merchant’s ability to process payments. But there’s hope: litigation is proving to be one of the few reliable paths to removal, and our success rates are climbing. It’s expensive, emotionally draining, and slow—but it works.

Who Needs to Hear This Episode?

• Merchants evaluating processing relationships or considering high-risk categories
• ISOs and agents building portfolios they want to protect
• Fintech operators and PayFacs navigating their legal exposure
• Anyone who thinks their processor is “the partner” in the relationship

Don’t wait until it’s your business on the chopping block. Tune in and learn how to protect yourself—before you're the next cautionary tale.

Subscribe now to The Payments Experts Podcast and visit globallegallawfirm.com for legal strategies that protect your business from the fine print few people read—until it’s too late.

**Matters discussed are all opinions and do not constitute legal advice. All events or likeness to real people and events is a coincidence.**

Visit Global Legal Law Firm today: https://www.globallegallawfirm.com/podcasts/

A payments podcast of Global Legal Law Firm

Super ISOs Are Reshaping the Payments Industry—Are You Keeping Up?

The payment processing landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. What was once a top-down ecosystem dominated by acquiring banks and processors is now increasingly driven by a new force: Super ISOs. These fast-moving, well-capitalized organizations are effectively operating as mini-processors, and they’re rewriting the rules of how merchant services are delivered and scaled.

In this episode of The Payments Experts Podcast, produced by Global Legal Law Firm (https://www.globallegallawfirm.com/podcasts/), Managing Partners James Huber and Christopher Dryden sit down with Director of Operations Jeremy Stock to break down how Super ISOs have flipped the traditional model—cutting out middle layers, forging direct relationships with sponsor banks and card brands, and offering agents more flexibility, fewer restrictions, and better economics.

Key Discussion Points:

• Why Going Registered Isn’t the Endgame Anymore:
  Unless you're boarding 500+ deals a month, becoming a registered ISO might not be the smartest path. Super ISOs offer pricing, support, and tech infrastructure most mid-size players simply can’t match.
• Processor Politics and the $4M Surprise:
  Learn how even top-tier ISOs are being blindsided by sudden clawbacks, policy changes, and one-sided amendments—like the now-infamous $4 million repayment demand from CardConnect.
• Legal Landmines Around Agent Classification:
  The blurred lines between independent contractors and de facto employees are exposing ISOs and MSPs to serious liability—especially when agents leave and take portfolios with them.
• The Unregulated Agent Problem:
  Without a formal “bad agent list,” problematic agents who repeatedly flip merchants continue to wreak havoc—raising compliance, brand, and portfolio stability concerns.

Whether you're scaling your ISO, building a PayFac, or working as a seasoned agent, this episode delivers insider legal and strategic insights to help you stay competitive and compliant in this fast-changing environment.

Ready to navigate the modern payments landscape with confidence? Subscribe to The Payments Experts Podcast and visit globallegallawfirm.com to learn more.

**Matters discussed are all opinions and do not constitute legal advice. All events or likeness to real people and events is a coincidence.**

A payments podcast of Global Legal Law Firm

Stuck on the MATCH List? What Every Payments Professional Must Know to Protect Merchants and Portfolios

In the merchant services and payments world, few issues are more business-threatening than being placed on Visa and Mastercard’s MATCH list. For merchants, it can mean account terminations, frozen processing, and reputational damage. For ISOs, agents, and payment facilitators, it can trigger portfolio instability, residual loss, and merchant attrition—often without warning.

In this episode of The Payments Experts Podcast, produced by Global Legal Law Firm, our guests include Bryce Van De Moere, Esq., and Global Legal’s Director of Operations, Jeremy Stock, to unpack the complex legal and operational realities behind MATCH list placement, dispute, and removal. If you’re advising merchants, managing portfolios, or scaling fintech operations, this is essential listening.

Why This Matters to Payments Professionals

Processors, acquirers, and card brands are increasingly aggressive about risk monitoring and merchant termination. Once a merchant lands on the MATCH list, finding a new processing home becomes exponentially harder. For payment professionals, this creates portfolio churn, increased compliance exposure, and potential residual revenue loss.

Our attorneys break down:

• The top reasons merchants are placed on MATCH and how to identify red flags early.
• Why many MATCH placements are preventable with proactive legal guidance.
• How improper reporting or processor missteps can result in merchants being flagged unfairly.
• The growing role of fraud, chargebacks, and regulatory scrutiny in MATCH list enforcement.

Strategies for Disputing and Removing MATCH Placements

MATCH removal isn’t as simple as filling out a form—it requires a strategic legal approach and a deep understanding of processor relationships and network rules. Our experts walk through:

• When and how to challenge an incorrect MATCH designation.
• How merchants, ISOs, and facilitators can work together to minimize long-term damage.
• The importance of building evidence, documenting disputes, and leveraging legal expertise to negotiate with acquirers.
• Why taking action quickly is critical to preserving merchant processing continuity.

Protect Your Portfolio and Your Merchants

For ISOs, agents, payment facilitators, and fintech leaders, MATCH issues go beyond individual merchants—they represent a direct threat to portfolio stability and growth. Without a clear removal strategy, you risk losing clients, shrinking revenue streams, and facing reputational harm with upstream processors.

If you’re serious about protecting merchants, safeguarding residuals, and strengthening your portfolio, this episode delivers actionable insights from the payments attorneys who specialize in MATCH disputes and high-risk merchant processing.

Listen now to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to navigate MATCH list disputes and keep your merchants—and your business—moving forward.

**Matters discussed are all opinions and do not constitute legal advice. All events or likeness to real people and events is a coincidence.**

Visit Global Legal Law Firm today: https://www.globallegallawfirm.com/

A payments podcast of Global Legal Law Firm