PCI Compliance Without the Surprise Fees

Protect card data, avoid costly fines, and get through PCI DSS with a partner that actually helps. Host Merchant Services gives you a clear, low-friction PCI program with real people, built-in tools, and no punitive non-compliance penalties.

The Core Principles Behind PCI DSS

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a global security standard created by the major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB) to protect cardholder data and reduce card fraud.

If your business stores, processes, or transmits payment card data in any way – via terminals, websites, apps, or stored customer profiles – those brands require you and their acquiring banks to comply with PCI DSS, regardless of size or industry.

PCI DSS is built around 12 core requirements, grouped into six control objectives, including: securing networks, protecting cardholder data, maintaining a vulnerability management program, enforcing strong access controls, monitoring/testing networks, and maintaining an information-security policy.

The Real Cost of Not Being PCI Compliant

Failing to validate and maintain PCI compliance can expose your business to:

Monthly Non-Compliance Fees: Many processors charge merchants $20-$100 per month in PCI non-compliance fees if SAQs or scans aren’t completed.
Brand Fines After A Breach: If a card data breach occurs and you’re not compliant, card brands can levy fines to your acquiring bank that may be passed down to you, often in the range of $5,000-$500,000 per month until issues are resolved.
Breach Costs And Reputation Damage: Investigations, card re-issuance, forensics, legal costs, and lost customer trust routinely push total breach costs well beyond the direct fines and fees.

How Host Merchant Services Handles PCI

Every Host Merchant Services merchant account includes a PCI DSS program at no extra charge:

You pay for payment processing, not for access to a PCI portal.

Level 1 PCI DSS Environment for Your Transactions

Host Merchant Services operates in a Level 1 PCI DSS–compliant processing environment, the highest level recognized by the PCI Security Standards Council for organizations handling large transaction volumes.

That means:

Your transactions are routed through infrastructure that meets the strictest PCI controls.
Card data protection, encryption, and network monitoring are handled to Level 1 standards.
You can focus on your specific merchant responsibilities (terminals, local network, policies) rather than re-engineering the underlying processing stack.

We Cover Every Part of PCI So That You Stay Compliant

Guided PCI Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)

You get access to an online PCI assessment survey with a guided web interface. The system walks you through the SAQ that matches how you accept payments (retail terminals, e-commerce, virtual terminal, etc.), instead of handing you a static PDF.

PCI Helpdesk with Live Specialists

Host Merchant Services provides live PCI support so you can ask, “How do I answer this?” or “Why did this scan fail?” and get a human response. This includes help interpreting questions, planning fixes, and confirming when you’re back in good standing.

All Required Network Scans (Where Applicable)

For merchants whose systems require it, Host Merchant Services arranges the quarterly external vulnerability scans mandated by PCI DSS through an approved scanning provider, and helps you address any failed findings.

Step-By-Step Remediation Support

If the questionnaire or scans identify gaps (default passwords, open ports, insecure Wi-Fi, etc.), Host Merchant Services provides clear, step-by-step guidance to close those issues before they become reasons for fines or breaches.

Annual Re-Validation Reminders

PCI DSS requires ongoing validation. We remind you when it’s time to update SAQs and scans so you stay current instead of slipping into non-compliance.

Documentation Support

Assistance with storing SAQs, Attestations of Compliance, and scan reports, so you’re ready if an acquiring bank or brand requests proof.

PCI Compliance with Host Merchant Services vs. a Typical Processor

Typical Processor	Host Merchant Services
Annual PCI fee $100–$150 or monthly PCI line item	$0
$20–$100+ per month PCI non-compliance fee if you miss SAQs/scans	$0
Portal access but little guidance	Guided SAQ plus live helpdesk
Scans are billed as an add-on service	Required scans are included as part of your account
Fees continue even when you’re still confused	Focus is on getting you compliant, not charging penalties

Secure Options That Keep Card Data Off Your Network

A big part of PCI DSS is reducing how much of your environment ever “touches” card data. Host Merchant Services helps you:

Use EMV and contactless terminals that transmit encrypted data directly to the processor, so your local network never stores card numbers.
Implement hosted payment pages or tokenized e-commerce gateways to ensure card data never passes through your web server.
Adopt tokenization and point-to-point encryption in supported setups to minimize stored card data and simplify SAQs.
Fewer systems in scope means fewer questions on the SAQ, simpler scans, and a lower risk of a serious breach.

How Our PCI Process Works

Step 1: Review Your Environment

We look at how you accept payments now, terminals, POS, mobile, e-commerce, virtual terminal, and map you to the right PCI DSS SAQ type and scan requirements.

Step 2: Complete SAQ And Initial Scans

You log into the online PCI portal, complete the questionnaire with our helpdesk available, and run any required external scans. If anything fails, we identify what needs to change (router rules, passwords, patching, network segmentation, etc.).

Step 3: Fix Issues And Validate Compliance

You or your IT provider applies the fixes; we help you rerun scans as needed and document the passing results and the SAQ/Attestation of Compliance for your records.

Step 4: Maintain Compliance Over Time

PCI DSS is ongoing. We send reminders before SAQs and scans are due, help you adjust when you change hardware or add e-commerce, and keep you out of the non-compliance penalty trap that many processors rely on.

Who Benefits from HMS PCI Support?

In every case, we pair the right processing tools with a built-in, not bolt-on, PCI program.

Brick-and-Mortar Retail & Restaurants – EMV/contactless terminals and POS systems that keep card data off your local network.
E-Commerce and Subscription Businesses – Hosted payment pages, tokenization, and recurring billing that align with PCI requirements.
Professional Services & B2B – Virtual terminals and invoicing workflows with proper encryption and access controls.
Healthcare, Nonprofits, and Education – Environments with stringent privacy requirements that need clear separation of card data from core systems.

We work with a wide range of industries, including many beyond those listed, as well as high-risk merchants. Feel free to contact us for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PCI Compliance Legally Required?

PCI DSS is a card-brand–mandated standard, not a government law, but the major brands require compliance in their rules, and acquiring banks enforce it. In practice, if you accept cards, PCI compliance is required to process them.

If Host Merchant Services Doesn’t Charge PCI Fees, Do I Still Have to Do Anything?

Yes. PCI DSS still requires you to complete SAQs, apply updates, secure your network, and follow card-handling rules. HMS removes separate PCI fees and gives you tools and support, but you remain responsible for how your own environment handles card data.

What Happens If I Ignore PCI Compliance Altogether?

Beyond increased breach risk, you could face: higher non-compliance fines from card brands if a breach occurs; investigation and forensics costs; card re-issuance expenses; and serious reputation damage. For larger merchants, brand fines can reach tens of thousands of dollars per month during extended non-compliance.

Can You Help Me Move Away from a Processor That’s Charging PCI Penalties?

Yes. Many merchants move to HMS specifically to eliminate PCI compliance and non-compliance fees while still meeting PCI DSS requirements. We review your current statements, outline your total PCI cost today, and show what it looks like with Host Merchant Services instead.

Make PCI Compliance Straightforward!

With Host Merchant Services, you get a Level 1-grade PCI environment, guided SAQs and scans, live support, and no PCI compliance or non-compliance fees.