Glossary Archive - The Payments Edge https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/ Your Edge in Payments Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:18:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://thepaymentsedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cropped-image-1.png The Payments Edge https://thepaymentsedge.com/ 3D Secure (3DS) https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/3d-secure/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:55:16 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/3d-secure/ 3D Secure authenticates the cardholder during checkout and shifts fraud liability to the issuer. When to use it and when it hurts.

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]]> Acquirer https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/acquirer/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:53:02 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/acquirer/ The acquirer is the regulated bank behind your merchant account. Here is what it does, what risk it carries and why its rules bind you.

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]]> Age verification https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/age-verification/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:55:02 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/age-verification/ Age verification laws now decide whether adult merchants keep their payment accounts. What the laws require and how payments enforce them.

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]]> Alternative payment method (APM) https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/alternative-payment-method/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:55:22 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/alternative-payment-method/ APMs are every payment method outside the global card networks, from wallets to bank transfers to crypto. Why they matter for high risk.

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]]> AML https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/aml/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:54:56 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/aml/ Anti money laundering rules shape what acquirers may process and monitor. What AML means in practice for high risk merchants.

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]]> Arbitration https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/arbitration/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:18:13 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/arbitration/ Arbitration is the card network's final ruling on a dispute after representment fails. Slow, fee bearing and rarely worth it.

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]]> Billing descriptor https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/billing-descriptor/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:53:29 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/billing-descriptor/ The billing descriptor is the line on your customer's card statement. Vague descriptors are one of the cheapest chargeback problems to fix.

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]]> BRAM https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/bram/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:54:36 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/bram/ BRAM is Mastercard's program against illegal and brand damaging transactions. Adult and CBD merchants live under its content rules.

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]]> Chargeback https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/chargeback/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:53:48 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/chargeback/ A chargeback is a forced reversal of a card payment through the issuing bank. Here is how the process works and what it costs merchants.

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]]> Chargeback alerts https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/chargeback-alerts/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:18:20 +0000 https://thepaymentsedge.com/glossary/chargeback-alerts/ Chargeback alerts let merchants refund a dispute before it is filed, keeping it off the ratio. How Ethoca, Verifi and RDR work.

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