13 August 2025 – Denmark’s competition regulator has become the latest authority to raise concerns over the cost of doing business with global card networks, warning that merchants accepting Visa and Mastercard could be paying up to 40% more than necessary in acquiring fees.
A study by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority found significant price variation between acquirers handling card payments for physical and online businesses, such as cafés, hairdressers and e-commerce retailers. Switching from the most expensive to the cheapest provider could save a business with DKK 10 million in annual card turnover as much as DKK 30,000 a year.
The authority urged merchants to seek multiple quotes, request unbundled (“IC++”) pricing that itemises fees, and pay close attention to their “card mix”, as different types of card transactions carry different charges. While only the acquirer’s own fee is negotiable, the regulator said transparency over all fee components — including scheme fees set by card networks and interchange fees set by issuing banks — can help businesses shop around effectively.
The findings add to a growing wave of scrutiny of card network practices worldwide, as regulators and merchants question the transparency and competitiveness of the payment card acquiring market.
