“Merchant fees are a lot of money for us. You just accept it because you don't know who to go to, or how negotiate a different rate, or even know that you can, so that is why we started to work with Rebecca. She advocates on our behalf with the banks to get a better rate,” Bate said. Bate's merchant fees went from 2.10 per cent to 1.70 per cent since Fairbrother renegotiated the rates with her bank. Fairbrother worked as an analyst for the Reserve Bank of Australia before she moved back to Blenheim, setting up the Merchant Advocacy & Guidance Network (Magnet), which represents businesses to bring down card transaction fees.