Advertising, sponsorship and referrals

Last updated 6 November 2026

The short version

  • The site is free for merchants. We are paid by some providers — for introductions that lead to business, and for placements — and by members who buy credits.
  • Anything paid for is labelled “Sponsored” where it appears.
  • Payment never changes what a listing says: its methods, markets, fees and licences are the same whether or not the provider pays us.
  • Advertisers must be lawful, accurate and authorised for what they offer. We turn away whole categories, listed below.

1. How we make money

  • Referral fees. When you ask for an introduction and later sign with that provider, the provider may pay us a fee or commission. You pay nothing for it, and it does not change the terms you are offered by the provider as far as we know — ask them.
  • Paid placements. Providers can pay to have a listing shown first in the default order, or featured on pages. These are labelled “Sponsored”.
  • Advertising. We may sell advertising space. Adverts are labelled “Advertisement” or “Sponsored”, kept apart from the listings, and never dressed up as a listing or as our own editorial content.
  • Credits. Members buy credits to apply to tenders and to message people outside their network. See the terms of use.

2. How paid content is marked

Where a listing has a paid or featured placement, it carries a “Sponsored” label on the card, in lists and on its page. Some listings may be placed first by our own choice, including products of companies connected to the operator of PaymentsDatabase; these carry the same label, so there is never an unlabelled promotion.

How the default order works when nothing is paid is explained in how the site works.

3. What payment does not buy

Payment does not buy different data, a better description, a hidden competitor, a removed fact, a “verified” mark, or a position in any list other than a labelled sponsored one. Provider-confirmed status comes only from the provider checking its own listing; a work-email verification comes only from the email.

Comparisons, filters, counts and statistics are worked out the same way for every listing.

4. Rules for advertisers and sponsored listings

Anything advertised or sponsored must be legal, decent, honest and truthful, and comply with the UK CAP Code and the law of every place it is shown. Pricing and capability claims must be accurate and current. Providers must hold the licences or registrations their service requires (for example as a payment or e-money institution, or be exempt) and say so accurately.

We do not accept advertising or sponsorship for:

  • unlicensed payment, money-transfer, lending or investment services, or unlawful financial promotions (including crypto-asset promotions that do not meet UK rules);
  • services built to get round card-scheme or acquirer rules, hide a merchant’s real activity, or evade sanctions, anti-money-laundering or tax rules;
  • unlicensed gambling, adult content, weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods, or anything illegal where it would be shown;
  • “guaranteed approval”, “no checks” or similar claims, and anything that targets vulnerable people.

We may refuse, pause or remove any advert or placement, and we do not have to give a reason. Paid placements are not refunded when removed for breaking these rules.

5. Buying a placement, or raising a concern

To list your provider or buy a placement, see pricing and listing. If you think something on the site is a promotion that is not labelled, or breaks these rules, write to [email protected] and we will look at it.

MEGHR LTD, registered in England and Wales, company number 16502703. Registered office: 167–169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London W1W 5PF. Questions about this policy: [email protected].