Every fee, limit and rule in a PAYATE News guide should be traceable to a named source and a date. This page explains how we choose topics, check figures, build examples and keep guides current. Our standards for independence and corrections are set out separately in the Editorial Policy.
How we choose topics
- Reader questions: messages sent through our contact page and the questions people ask in comments.
- Search demand: the searches that bring readers to the site, as reported in Google Search Console, which show where existing answers are missing or out of date.
- Rule changes: new fees, thresholds or regulations announced by governments, regulators and card networks that affect many readers at once.
How we check figures
| Type of information | Where we check it |
|---|---|
| Legal rules, visa and tax requirements | Government and regulator websites (for example GOV.UK, IRCC, the CFPB, the FCA and the European Banking Authority) and the legislation they cite |
| Card network rules and thresholds | Official documents published by Visa, Mastercard and industry bodies such as the PCI Security Standards Council |
| Product fees, limits and features | The provider's own fee schedule, terms or help pages |
| Statistics | Central banks, statistics offices, regulators and industry reports, quoted with the period they cover |
For each key figure we record the page it came from and the date we checked it, and we link to that page in the article. When an official page cannot be reached, is ambiguous or is about to change, we say so in the text rather than present the figure as settled. If a new rule applies from a future date, we give both the current figure and the date the new one starts.
How we build examples and calculations
- Hypothetical examples are labelled. Worked examples use round, invented numbers so the arithmetic is easy to follow, and they are marked as hypothetical.
- Official figures stay official. Where an example uses a real fee or threshold, such as a visa fee or a proof-of-funds amount, we use the published figure and its date.
- Currency costs: the cost of a conversion is the gap between the rate you are given and the mid-market rate, plus any fixed fee: cost = amount × (mid-market rate − rate received) ÷ mid-market rate + fixed fees.
- Borrowing costs: we compare loans and credit using the annual percentage rate (APR) and the total amount repayable where the lender publishes them, rather than the headline interest rate alone.
- Percentages and thresholds: where a rule is expressed in basis points, we also give the percentage (100 basis points = 1%).
Country coverage
Money rules differ by country, so each guide states which countries it covers. Most guides focus on the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the European Union, and point out where rules in those places differ. If a guide does not cover your country, the principles may still help, but check the local official source before acting.
Keeping guides current
- Each guide shows a "last reviewed" date and a list of sources with the date they were accessed.
- We review guides when an official source changes, when a reader reports a problem, and when search data shows a guide is being used for a question it no longer answers well.
- Older news articles describe events as they stood at the time of publication and are not updated in the same way.
Limitations
Our guides are general information. Fees, rates and rules can change without notice, providers can change their terms for individual customers, and your own situation may not match the typical case we describe. Always confirm the final figures with the provider or official body before you act. See our Disclaimer.
Found a problem?
If a figure looks wrong or out of date, tell us the article, the figure and, if possible, a link to the official source through our contact page.