Question 1

Is PayCanary affiliated with Stripe?

Accepted Answer

No. PayCanary is completely independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Stripe Inc. We're an independent Stripe risk monitoring service built by founders who've watched accounts get frozen firsthand.

Question 2

How is the Stripe risk score calculated?

Accepted Answer

Deterministic formula: (Dispute Rate × 40) + (Refund Rate × 25) + (Volume Spike × 20) + (Keyword Flags × 15). No AI, no black box. These are the same risk signals Stripe evaluates when deciding to freeze an account.

Question 3

Can you guarantee my Stripe account won't be frozen?

Accepted Answer

No. Nobody can. Stripe makes independent risk decisions that no third party can override. PayCanary is an advisory service. We give you the information, alerts, and playbooks to reduce your freeze risk.

Question 4

What is Stripe's dispute rate freeze threshold?

Accepted Answer

Stripe flags accounts at 0.75% dispute rate, but Visa's VAMP programme (effective May 2025) flags non-compliance at just 0.5%, with as few as 5 disputes. PayCanary monitors against both thresholds and alerts you before either is crossed.

Question 5

How do I prevent my Stripe account from being frozen?

Accepted Answer

Keep your dispute rate below 0.5% (Visa's threshold) and well below 0.75% (Stripe's threshold). Maintain reasonable refund rates and avoid sudden volume spikes. PayCanary monitors all metrics daily and alerts you before any threshold is crossed.

Question 6

How long does a Stripe account freeze last?

Accepted Answer

The average Stripe account freeze lasts 14-30 days, but some can last months depending on the severity. During this time, your payouts are held and new charges may be blocked.

Question 7

Can I get my money out of a frozen Stripe account?

Accepted Answer

Stripe typically holds frozen funds for a review period (usually 14-120 days) before releasing them. You can't force an early release, but a well-structured appeal can speed up the process.

Question 8

What triggers a Stripe account review, freeze, or suspension?

Accepted Answer

Common triggers include: high dispute rates (Visa flags at 0.5%, Stripe at 0.75%), sudden volume spikes, high refund rates, selling in restricted categories, and compliance keyword flags. A Stripe account suspension, payout hold, or freeze can follow any of these signals, often with no advance warning.

Question 9

What happens during a Crisis Response?

Accepted Answer

Our AI-powered system classifies your freeze through a guided conversation: what type of hold, what triggered it, how much is locked. It then builds a detailed action plan specific to your situation. Delivered within your SLA window (8-48 hours depending on severity).

Question 10

Do I need to connect my Stripe account?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. You enter metrics manually through the free Stripe account health check. Automated monitoring via Stripe Connect is coming in a future release.

Question 11

What is the MATCH list and can Stripe put me on it?

Accepted Answer

The MATCH list (Mastercard Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) is a payment processing blacklist. If Stripe terminates your account for excessive disputes, you can be placed on MATCH, blocking you from processing payments with any major processor for five years. PayCanary's MATCH List Proximity Alert shows exactly how close you are to this threshold.

Question 12

Why is Stripe blocking my legitimate customers' payments?

Accepted Answer

Stripe Radar's fraud detection can become overly aggressive, especially after volume changes or if your integration is missing customer data like name, email, or billing address. One merchant lost 15-20% of revenue for months from silently blocked payments. PayCanary's Radar Health Audit checks your configuration and flags gaps immediately.

Question 13

What should I do in the first 24 hours of a Stripe freeze?

Accepted Answer

Assess whether payouts are paused or processing is stopped. Pause ad spend, check cash runway without Stripe payouts, and send one structured message to support with your account details and clean metrics. PayCanary's AI-powered crisis response handles this process with a custom action plan delivered within your SLA window.

Question 14

Should I refund a customer or fight a Stripe dispute?

Accepted Answer

A refund costs you the sale. A dispute (even one you win) costs the sale plus $30 in fees and increases your dispute rate. For low-value transactions, a proactive refund is almost always cheaper. PayCanary's Fight-or-Fold Advisor calculates the expected value of contesting each dispute.

Question 15

Why did Stripe freeze my account after a sales spike?

Accepted Answer

Stripe's automated systems flag sudden changes in volume, transaction value, or customer geography as potential fraud, even when growth is legitimate. A successful launch or viral post can trigger a review. PayCanary's monitoring detects volume spikes and generates a message you can send to Stripe before their systems flag you.

Question 16

How does PayCanary work with Stripe Smart Disputes?

Accepted Answer

PayCanary works alongside Stripe Smart Disputes. We prepare the evidence and strategy before a dispute escalates. Whether you submit manually or let Stripe handle it, you are covered.

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