Define the categories before comparing their prices

A label needs an assignment rule

Copy every category label exactly as it appears in the proposal. Do not define qualified or nonqualified from a different provider's brochure, a prior agreement or an assumed industry meaning. The question is what this provider's offer requires for an activity to enter each category, including what happens when an activity does not meet any stated rule.

For each category, request the written conditions, the exclusions and the information the provider uses to determine whether the conditions were met. If multiple rules could apply, ask which rule takes precedence. If the proposal quotes only one category, ask for the remaining categories or the written statement of how all other activity is charged. An unstated rule is not evidence that everything gets the quoted price.

For a Stripe account, the Services Agreement distinguishes written fee agreements from public pricing, and the applicable regional terms depend on account country. That supports reading the actual written schedule; it does not establish that Stripe uses the categories in another company's offer. Use each provider's own agreement for its labels and rules.

Ask what a category change does to the charge

Record whether the offer describes an initial assignment only or also permits later reclassification. If it does describe a later change, request the trigger, the information used, the time at which the change is applied, and the record that explains it. If it says nothing, ask whether reclassification exists instead of assuming a universal downgrade process.

The monetary effect also needs a definition. Ask whether the stated price for a different category replaces an earlier price, adds a separate component, or follows another calculation explicitly written in the offer. Do not add two rates together or discard one until the document explains their relationship. Keep the amount base, counted event, currency and applicable period next to each stated rate or charge.

These questions reveal whether the price can be reproduced. They do not challenge a particular charge or establish that a later change is improper. Without an assignment reason and the applicable rule, the supported conclusion is that the category calculation remains unexplained.

Require evidence that explains the assignment

Ask what the merchant will actually receive: a category label, a transaction reference, an assignment reason, the relevant calculation inputs and any later adjustment reference. The useful record connects an actual transaction's characteristics to the written rule and the resulting fee. A statement that shows only totals by category may establish what was billed without establishing why those transactions entered that category.

Stripe's Fees report demonstrates some of the pieces available in one provider's reporting: fee_description, product or feature details, amounts and a transaction-related incurred_by reference. Several fee rows can relate to one transaction. Those fields can support reconciliation, but they do not prove the qualification criteria of an offer or guarantee that an assignment reason is included.

In particular, Stripe's deprecated fee_category field is not a shortcut for interpreting a proposal's qualified and nonqualified labels. The current report documentation describes product or suite replacements for that field and fee_description in place of balance_transaction_description. Keep the provider's reporting taxonomy separate from its contractual pricing rules.

Stripe's report also covers most balance-paid fees rather than every possible charge, excludes after-use invoiced fees and certain products, and can take up to 96 hours after the balance effect to show data. For an actual reconciliation, establish coverage, readiness, currency and date basis first. Another provider needs its own reporting explanation.

Compare rule completeness without forecasting a mix

You can compare two offers by whether their criteria cover the same disclosed activity, whether exclusions are explicit, whether later changes are explained, and whether the available records allow a transaction to be traced. Matching category names do not make the rules equivalent. Put the actual definitions side by side before treating two percentages as competing prices.

If you have genuine historical records, they can reveal which required inputs you currently retain and which you cannot substantiate. They do not establish how a prospective provider will assign future transactions. Do not carry forward another provider's category proportions or invent a favorable share to create a blended rate.

The next decision is whether the offer is defined well enough for your business to evaluate, or which specific rule and reporting question must go back to its issuer. A Prism consultation can discuss the research-only business and the unresolved processing question. Confirm any detailed proposal analysis, responsibilities, fees and terms before work; eligibility and account pricing remain provider decisions.

Category-priced offer question table

Complete a copy for each category actually named in each offer. Record clause and report references in the final column. An undefined rule or unavailable field remains unresolved. The table evaluates whether assignment is explainable; it does not estimate the share of future activity in a category.

Worksheet entries are not submitted by Prism’s worksheet and are not saved by the site. Use record types, availability, anonymized observations, or match/mismatch results. Do not enter government identifiers, customer names or addresses, customer messages, receipt-access links, card or bank details, passwords, or keys. Send sensitive documents only through the provider’s verified secure channel.

These are temporary notes. Leaving or reloading this page may clear them. Worksheet entries are not sent automatically. If you copy notes into the consultation message and submit the form, Prism receives them as part of your request.