But my bias against Stripe is not based on internet gripes. I've guided clients through and written custom APIs to connect with at least half a dozen payment processors since early days (when it was direct to gateway). As such I've heard horror stories about many of them, and have a relatively good grasp of their respective business models as pertain to KYC, banking relationships, reserve holdings and how they deal with chargebacks. Many of the new wave engage in what I'd call shady practices or dark patterns geared toward screwing small business, but Stripe has the worst model and the worst reputation of anything I've seen since the dude who ran Liberty Reserve went into hiding. I don't think it's a stretch to call them scummy. Hell, my own barber and my massage therapist both got screwed by them.