Overview
Starting April 1, 2025, the American Express (AMEX) transaction fee for payments processed through Confido Legal within LeanLaw will increase from 2.95% to 3.45%. This adjustment aligns with current industry standards and ensures that we continue providing high-quality, reliable payment processing services for law firms using Confido Legal and LeanLaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the AMEX rate increasing to 3.45%?
The updated AMEX rate of 3.45% reflects adjustments to processing costs. This change allows us to maintain our service quality, security, and efficiency for all transactions processed through Confido Legal.
2. How will this impact my firm’s bottom line?
You can continue passing up to 3% of credit card fees to your clients, subject to state-specific regulations. The additional 0.45% fee for AMEX transactions cannot be passed to clients due to legal restrictions, meaning your firm will absorb this small difference as an operational cost.
To learn more about your state's surcharge regulations, download Confido Legal's State Rules guide via the link below:
3. Why can’t we pass the extra 0.45% on to clients?
To remain compliant with state laws, law firms can only pass a maximum of 3% of credit card fees to clients. The additional 0.45% for AMEX transactions will need to be handled internally.
4. What are the alternatives to American Express to avoid this fee increase?
Your firm can continue accepting Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and same-day bank transfers (ACH) without any fee changes. These options remain at 2.95% for other credit cards and 1% for ACH payments, capped at $30 per transaction.
5. What should I communicate to my clients about this change?
Your client's payment experience will not change. If you currently pass credit card fees to your clients, the 3% fee remains the same.
The only internal change is that your firm will absorb an additional 0.45% for AMEX transactions, which will not affect your clients' experience.
6. Should I encourage clients to use other payment methods?
If your firm prefers to avoid the additional 0.45% fee for AMEX, you can guide clients toward using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or Same-Day Bank Transfers (ACH). This can be done through gentle reminders in your payment instructions or invoicing communication.
Additionally, Confido Legal offers flexible settings that allow you to manage which payment methods are accepted. You can update your Confido Legal settings to accept or restrict credit cards, debit cards, or Same-Day Bank Transfers (ACH). If your firm prefers not to accept credit or debit card payments at all, you have the option to disable them entirely through your Confido Legal account settings.
7. Will this impact our billing practices or require changes to our engagement agreements?
Not at all. The process for creating invoices, sending payment links, and managing payments through LeanLaw remains exactly the same.
Conclusion
We appreciate your understanding as we make this adjustment to keep providing a seamless and secure payment experience. If you have any further questions, our support team is always here to help!