Understand the relationship between a payment event, processor reporting and the eventual settlement position.
An approved payment still has to be captured, cleared through the network and settled by the acquirer — often net of fees, in batches, days later. Reconciliation follows each payment through every stage.
Acquirer settlement reports are matched to payment records by reference, amount and currency. Fees and FX are separated so the merchant sees gross, fee and net per transaction.
| PAYMENT | GROSS | FEE | NET | STATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pay_ag_8J29L | 125.00 | 1.88 | 123.12 | MATCHED |
| pay_ag_7MX10 | 89.00 | 1.34 | 87.66 | MATCHED |
| pay_ag_5QW04 | 240.00 | 3.60 | 231.40 | VARIANCE |
| — | — | — | 42.00 | UNMATCHED LINE |
A variance records what was expected, what arrived and the difference — an unexpected fee, a missing payout, a partial settlement — so finance teams can resolve it with the acquirer.
expected net236.40settled net231.40WARNdifference−5.00 · unrecognised fee lineWARNLet's discuss the infrastructure your business needs.