matthew brown’s secret fine print is costing Americans an extra $2.35 per transaction—and you’ve probably already agreed to it
You may not know his name, but matthew brown is the architect of a new "convenience fee" that banks and online retailers are quietly slipping into their terms of service. Starting this month, consumers who use a debit card for purchases under $20—or who pay bills through a mobile app—are being charged an average $2.35 per transaction. The catch? The fee is buried in a "privacy policy update" that 97 percent of users never read. With the average household making 15 small payments per day, that adds up to over $1,000 a year in unexpected costs. Consumer advocates are furious, pointing out that matthew brown’s company, PaymentGuard Solutions, has already registered the fee with patent offices across the U.S., making it nearly impossible to opt out without switching to cash. The bottom line: before you tap your phone or swipe your card, check the latest email from your bank—because matthew brown is counting on you not reading it.