mymerchantexpert.com

What It Is

My Merchant Expert is a merchant services consulting website based in Los Angeles, USA, operated by Luis Centeno. It positions itself as an independent Merchant Services Professional or “Broker.” Rather than describing itself as a payment processor that directly handles transactions, it represents multiple merchant service providers, matches businesses with suitable credit card acquiring solutions, and continues to serve as a point of contact after account setup.

Core Capabilities

Its main focus is payment processing solution selection and statement analysis. The site says it has access to First Data, TSYS, and Paymentech, and can connect merchants with backend processors such as Vantiv and Elavon when needed. Supported acceptance methods include standalone credit card terminals, Android/Apple phones and tablets, online shopping carts, POS systems, and daily/weekly/monthly/annual recurring billing. On compliance, it emphasizes PCI standards consulting and the PCI expertise of its partners, but does not disclose its own licenses or certifications. Its risk-control capabilities appear limited to credit card security and PCI, with no detailed information on fraud detection, chargeback management, or similar features.

Pricing and Fees

The site promotes a “Wholesale Plus” model, or a transparent pricing approach similar to Interchange Plus, showing actual costs and markup while helping merchants analyze their effective rates. Its articles also remind merchants not to look only at quoted rates, but to focus on real statements and subsequent add-on fees. However, the pages do not list specific rates, monthly fees, equipment costs, contract terms, cancellation fees, or settlement timelines, so actual costs still need to be confirmed through one-on-one consultation.

Pros and Cons

Its strength lies in its consultant-oriented service, making it suitable for US merchants that already have a processing account but do not understand their statements or suspect they are overpaying. It also covers multiple scenarios, including in-store, mobile, e-commerce, and recurring payments. The downside is that transparency remains limited: the website does not provide self-service signup, API documentation, settlement-cycle details, or standard contract information. Service delivery also depends on its partner ISOs or processors rather than on a complete payment infrastructure of its own.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is better suited to US-based small and midsize businesses, retailers, service-industry merchants, and e-commerce merchants seeking to optimize credit card acquiring. For Chinese merchants or cross-border sellers, the text clearly states that the site is aimed at a US audience, and cross-border availability is unclear. Access from China is not covered in the available text. Stripe, PayPal, Adyen, or locally licensed acquiring institutions are recommended as alternative options for evaluation.