Frequently Asked Questions

Payconsulting is a consultancy specialising in online payments, compliance and business verification. We help companies optimise their payment processes, identify and mitigate risks, strengthen their compliance procedures and manage business verification and analysis processes.

Our work is tailored to each company’s business model, needs and objectives, from the initial assessment through to the implementation and ongoing monitoring of the proposed solutions.

Tell us about your case

We work with companies of different sizes and across a wide range of industries, particularly e-commerce businesses, fintech companies, SaaS providers, marketplaces, digital service companies and businesses with international operations or expansion plans.

Each case is assessed individually, taking into account factors such as the business model, target markets, corporate structure, payment operations and compliance requirements.

Let’s talk about your project

Yes. We work with companies with both domestic and international operations or requirements.

Our experience in payments, compliance and business verification enables us to assess projects involving different markets, payment providers, jurisdictions and corporate structures.

Contact us

Our approach begins with an analysis of the business and its specific needs. We then assess the current situation, identify risks and opportunities for improvement, and design a proposal tailored to the company’s circumstances.

When required, we also support the implementation of the proposed solutions and monitor their progress over time.

Request an initial consultation

We analyse payment operations to identify issues, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.

Depending on the case, we can assess acquiring arrangements, payment service providers, payment methods, approval and decline rates, costs, fraud, payment routing and the overall structure of the payment ecosystem.

The objective is to build a more efficient and diversified payment operation that can support the company’s growth.

View payment optimisation services

Payment declines can occur for many reasons, including acquirer or PSP configuration, fraud prevention rules, authentication requirements, transaction characteristics, markets, issuers, payment methods or risk parameters.

Analysing payment data and architecture can help identify the main sources of friction and define potential optimisation measures.

Take the interactive payment diagnostic

We can analyse your business model, industry, transaction volume, jurisdiction and target markets to identify an appropriate payment structure and support the selection of acquirers, PSPs and other payment solutions.

Final acceptance and onboarding will always depend on the assessment and approval processes of each provider or financial institution.

Let’s talk about your payment structure

It depends on the company’s transaction volume, markets and business characteristics.

In certain scenarios, relying exclusively on a single provider can create concentration risk. A diversification strategy can improve operational continuity, provide access to different markets and payment methods, and reduce dependence on a single provider.

Payconsulting assesses each case to determine when a more diversified payment architecture can add value.

Analyse my payment architecture

Possible indicators include a high payment decline rate, difficult-to-control costs, dependence on a single provider, difficulties entering new markets, a lack of relevant payment methods or recurring operational issues.

Payconsulting offers different optimisation approaches depending on the maturity and complexity of the business, as well as an interactive diagnostic tool that provides an initial assessment of the payment infrastructure.

Take the interactive payment diagnostic

Compliance is the set of policies, procedures and controls that enable a company to meet its regulatory obligations and the requirements of the banks, acquirers and payment providers it works with.

For an online merchant, compliance is not optional: acquirers review it before approving a payment account and monitor it on an ongoing basis. A strong compliance framework reduces the risk of sanctions, facilitates access to financial providers and strengthens the business’s credibility with partners and regulators.

View all compliance services

Acquirers and payment schemes, such as Visa and Mastercard, have their own rules regarding which types of businesses may process payments and under what conditions. Before approving an account —and throughout the relationship— they assess whether the merchant has the necessary procedures in place to operate securely.

Depending on the sector and business model, they may require AML policies, age verification procedures, content management policies, complaints processes, modern slavery policies or other specific controls. In many cases, the absence of this documentation can prevent an account from being approved or may lead to its termination.

See which policies your acquirer may require

It depends on the business activity, jurisdiction and the requirements of financial providers. The most common include:

AML Policy (Anti-Money Laundering): required by acquirers and, where applicable, by the relevant AML regulations for obliged entities.

Age Verification Policy: for platforms with adult content, covering two dimensions: users who access the content and users who generate it.

Modern Slavery Policy: required by certain UK-based or international acquirers and by applicable European due diligence requirements.

Content Management Policy: covering moderation, removal of prohibited content and appeals processes.

Complaints Policy: a visible and documented process with defined resolution timeframes.

Anonymous Whistleblowing Channel: required for certain companies under applicable whistleblower protection regulations.

Risk Matrix: the risk map on which a compliance programme is built.

Team Training: documented evidence that staff understand and apply the relevant policies.

Payconsulting analyses each case to determine which documentation and controls are required.

View all compliance procedures

VIRP stands for Visa Integrity Risk Program, the programme through which Visa periodically audits merchants registered in certain business categories. It replaced the GBPP programme in 2023 and establishes mandatory controls set out in Section 3.1.1 of the VIRP Guide.

Merchants covered by the programme must demonstrate three key elements: that all active URLs are correctly registered with their acquirer, that they have a documented Age Verification Policy covering both users who access content and those who generate it, and that they have a complaints and content removal process with defined resolution timeframes including 5 business days for illegal content  as well as monthly reporting to the acquirer.

Non-compliance can result in penalties starting at USD 50,000 per instance and suspension of the ability to process payments. Acquirers typically provide a 15-day period to submit the required documentation.

Payconsulting can help review your merchant’s compliance status and prepare the necessary procedures.

View VIRP requirements and how to comply

Yes. We review existing policies, procedures and controls to identify gaps, outdated documentation or areas that do not meet the current requirements of your acquirers or applicable regulations.

The result is an assessment showing what is already covered, the gaps ranked by criticality and a prioritised action plan. From there, we jointly determine what needs to be strengthened and in what order.

Request a compliance audit

KYC (Know Your Customer) focuses on identifying and verifying an individual or customer, while KYB (Know Your Business) focuses on business verification and may include the analysis of corporate structure, business activity, directors, beneficial ownership and other relevant information.

Both processes are fundamental to many compliance, onboarding and risk management procedures.

View the external KYC service

Yes. Payconsulting offers an external KYC service that allows companies to delegate tasks related to the collection, review and structuring of documentation, identity verification, beneficial ownership, business activity analysis and, where applicable, source-of-funds and AML risk assessment.

The service can be adapted to the type of client, sector, jurisdiction, risk level and specific needs of each organisation.

View the external KYC service

Depending on the agreed scope, it may include document collection and organisation, reviews of individuals and legal entities, beneficial ownership and corporate structure verification, business activity and risk profile analysis, sanctions and PEP screening, source-of-funds analysis, checklist preparation and completion of bank or PSP forms.

The result is a structured file that facilitates its review and use in compliance or onboarding processes.

Request information about external KYC

Not necessarily. The service can operate as external support for the company or partner without establishing direct contact with the end client.

Payconsulting can prepare the requirements and texts needed to request documentation and then review and structure the information received, allowing the partner to retain control of the commercial relationship.

Let’s talk about your case

Yes. Payconsulting has developed Kynara, an AI-assisted compliance intelligence platform for KYB, KYC, source-of-funds analysis and corporate due diligence processes.

Discover Kynara

VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) is the system used to check whether a VAT number is registered for certain intra-EU transactions within the European Union.

This verification can be relevant before carrying out intra-EU B2B transactions, when working with new European customers or suppliers, or as part of certain business verification and compliance processes.

Try the VIES checker for free

It may mean that the company is not registered for intra-EU transactions or that its registration is not yet active.

A negative VIES result should be interpreted in the context of each company and transaction.

Try the VIES checker

No.

VIES allows you to check the status of an intra-EU VAT number, but it does not by itself determine whether a company is trustworthy or assess aspects such as its actual business activity, ownership, corporate structure, AML risk, fraud or reputational risk.

When a more comprehensive assessment is required, it is advisable to complement the VIES check with business verification and due diligence processes.

View the external KYC/KYB service

Yes. Our services can be tailored to the scope and specific needs of each project.

A company may require anything from a specific review or the preparation of certain documentation to a broader payment optimisation, compliance or business verification project.

Tell us what you need

It depends on the type of service and the complexity of the case. As a reference:

• A compliance audit typically takes between 5 and 10 business days from the start of the project to the delivery of the report.

• The drafting of individual policies —AML, age verification, complaints, etc.— is usually completed within 3-5 business days once the scope has been agreed.

• Payment optimisation and business verification projects have variable timelines depending on the depth of the analysis and the availability of the required documentation.

After an initial discussion about your case, we can provide a more specific estimate.

Request an initial consultation

You can contact Payconsulting’s experts through the form available on our website.

Our team will review the information provided, assess your case and contact you to guide you towards the most appropriate solution and the next steps.

Go to the contact form