Passing credit card fees to the guest sounds simple, until you do it wrong. Most “surcharge” or “cash discount” models violate Visa rules, leaving STR operators exposed to hidden fines, guest complaints, or worse, frozen funds.
Clearview’s Reverse My Fees (RMF) program isn’t a workaround, it’s a Visa-registered solution built for property managers. Fully compliant, fully transparent, and fully in your control.
What Visa Actually Requires
Visa has strict rules for adding credit card fees:
Registration required, most merchants never do it
Debit cards can’t be surcharged
Surcharge must match actual processing cost
Signage, receipts, and fee amounts must follow guidelines
Miss a step, and your processor could hit you with a $1,000 fine, per violation.
⚠️ That “3% cash discount” you saw at a restaurant? It won’t fly with a $4,200 vacation rental.
Why Most Fee Models Fail Compliance
| DIY/Cash Discount Models | Clearview RMF |
|---|---|
| Merchant manually adds a % fee | Fee auto-applied by processor |
| No registration with Visa | Registered directly with Visa/MC |
| Debit cards often included by mistake | Fully compliant with debit and credit rules |
| Merchant is liable for compliance | Clearview owns the compliance layer |
| Fee caps often ignored | Capped at ≤ 4%, always within rules |
How Clearview’s RMF Program Works
With Clearview, you’re not surcharging, we are.
As your processor, we:
Apply the fee at the payment level, not the invoice
Handle registration, documentation, and signage
Ensure the fee is never more than allowed
Make it visible to the guest as a line item (e.g., “Processing Fee”)
It’s 100% compliant, seamless to the guest, and protects your margin.
What the Guest Sees
Guests see a simple line item like:
Processing Fee – 3.95%
They pay it just like they would on Airbnb, Eventbrite, or airline sites. And if you prefer, we can even bake the fee into the post-tax total, especially if your PMS supports it (like Escapia, Track, or Barefoot).
Why This Matters for STR Operators
Short-term rental businesses face:
High average ticket sizes
Guest refunds and cancellations
Owner payout deadlines
So when a processor misclassifies your fees, holds your funds, or flags your account? It’s not just a mistake, it’s a revenue threat.
With Clearview:
Next-day funding
No reserves
No surcharge risk
Full compliance coverage
FAQs
Is this surcharging?
No. It’s not a surcharge because Clearview applies the fee as the processor, not you. We’re compliant with Visa and Mastercard rules.
Can I pass fees on debit cards?
Yes, with RMF. Our registration allows compliant pass-through on debit, credit, and prepaid cards.
What if I already add 3% myself?
You’re likely violating Visa policy, especially on debit cards. And you’re still paying hidden processing fees behind the scenes.
Do I need to register with Visa myself?
No. Clearview handles all registration and documentation.
Will this integrate with my PMS?
Yes. We integrate with Escapia, Track, Barefoot, LiveRez, and more. Setup is fast and doesn’t disrupt bookings.
Cut Fees Without Breaking the Rules
You shouldn’t have to choose between protecting your margin and staying compliant.
Clearview’s Reverse My Fees program is:
Visa-registered
100% legal
PMS-integrated
Built for vacation rental businesses
Partner With Clearview!
Earn more or save more by integrating Clearview payments. Whether you’re a PMS provider or an STR vendor, we help you deliver zero-fee payments, lower processing costs, and faster payouts.
Get In Touch With Us
Tell us a bit about your business and our team will connect with you to explore the right Clearview Partner Program.
