When a transaction fails to qualify for the best interchange rate and is billed at a higher one — often due to missing data, a late batch, or a rewards/corporate card. Downgrades quietly raise your effective rate.
Why it matters for your business
Terms like Downgrade aren't just jargon — they sit behind what you actually pay to accept payments. Understanding them is the difference between reading your statement and being at the mercy of it. If you're not sure how this shows up in your own costs, the fastest way to find out is to have someone read your statement line by line.
See what you're really paying →Related — Pricing & Fees