A scheme fee is a charge connected with participation in or use of a payment-card network. Depending on the network and transaction, fees may be assessed for processing, authorization, cross-border activity, currency, volume or other services and are distinct from interchange and provider markup.
How can a scheme fee be calculated?
The applicable schedule may combine fixed and percentage components. An illustrative method is scheme fee = transaction amount × percentage rate + fixed charge.
Illustrative scheme fee calculation
| Component | Illustrative value | Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction amount | $10,000 | Payment value |
| Percentage component | $20 | $10,000 × 0.20% |
| Fixed component | $0.10 | Per-transaction charge |
| Illustrative scheme fee | $20.10 | $20 + $0.10 |
The values are illustrative, not a current network price. Actual schedules, classifications and assessments vary.
Who pays the fee?
The network may assess an issuer or acquirer, and the economic cost may then appear within a processor or merchant price. The merchant statement may aggregate it with other charges.
Scheme fee versus interchange fee
Interchange is generally transferred between acquiring and issuing sides under network rules. Scheme fees are charges for the network’s own services or assessments. Both can contribute to total card acceptance cost.
What should a business verify?
Check the card type, transaction location, currency, channel, assessment basis, provider markup and statement treatment. Reconcile the quoted method with transaction-level data.
