Card Payment Processing UK: How Online Card Payments Work

Card payment processing involves several parties and stages between a customer entering payment details and a business receiving funds.

What happens when a customer pays?

The checkout collects payment details securely, the transaction is routed through the relevant payment infrastructure and the business receives the result. Settlement then transfers funds according to the provider’s schedule and terms.

Business costs

Compare percentage fees, fixed charges, card and payment-method pricing, international costs, refunds, disputes and any platform charges.

Operational checks

• Settlement timing.
• Failed-payment handling.
• Refund workflows.
• Fraud and authentication controls.
• Reporting and reconciliation.