SecureChoice Merchant Services Review
Update 2/8/19: The SecureChoice Merchant Services website (securechoicems.com) is no longer active and has disappeared from search results. Given the fact that the company was acquired by BlueSquare Resolutions in 2014, it seems likely that SecureChoice has been retired as an independent brand. If you have any information about the current state of SecureChoice Merchant Services (including any alternate business names or rebrandings), please share that information in the comment section of this review.
SecureChoice Merchant Services is a merchant account provider headquartered in Holladay, Utah. The company was founded in 2012 according to the Better Business Bureau and was subsequently acquired by BlueSquare Resolutions in March 2014. Despite the fact that it is owned by BlueSquare, the company appears to still conduct business under the SecureChoice name. SecureChoice (sometimes spelled “Secure Choice Merchant Services”) offers debit and credit card processing through First Data, credit card terminals, loyalty programs, e-commerce solutions, payroll services, mobile processing, and sales analytics for merchants.
There is strong evidence to suggest that the owner and president of SecureChoice, Cameron Montgomery, was named as the defendant in a February 2009 lawsuit filed by a business training and education company called Video Professor, Inc. The lawsuit alleged that Cameron Montgomery was the registrant and owner of a website called “Ripoff-Review.org” that listed a falsified negative review from a non-existent customer of Video Professor named “Dr. William J. Tomlin.” The lawsuit also alleged that Cameron Montgomery advertised against the Video Professor trademark with this falsified review in order to direct visitors to competing companies owned by Cameron Montgomery. Cameron Montgomery is the owner of two online business training companies called Vanuity, LLC and Horizon Learning, LLC. Video Professor's complaint contended that Cameron Montgomery authored the fake review and that the webpage containing the review constituted false advertising (among other violations). This suit was settled in March 2009.
SecureChoice Merchant Services is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, California, and is headquartered at 4685 S Highland Dr #101, Holladay, Utah 84117.
SecureChoice Merchant Services Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Total Online Complaints | <10 |
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Live Customer Support | Yes |
Most Common Complaint | N/A |
As noted above, we have located only one negative SecureChoice Merchant Services review across all consumer protection forums. This complaint accuses the company of charging costly undisclosed fees and of falsifying reviews on the same page. There are also a number of complaints filed online against SecureChoice’s owner, Cameron Montgomery, and his various non-credit card processing business ventures. It appears that two of his most commonly reviewed companies, Vanuity, LLC, and Horizon, LLC, are no longer active. It should also be noted that they do not appear to be related to SecureChoice in any respect. In light of SecureChoice’s complaint total and the content of those complaints, we have adjusted its grade to an “A-.”
SecureChoice Merchant Services Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
Product & Service Complaints | 0 |
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Billing & Collection Complaints | 0 |
Advertising & Sales Complaints | 0 |
Guarantee & Warranty Complaints | 0 |
Delivery Complaints | 0 |
SecureChoice Merchant Services has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not showing accreditation. The company’s profile has received zero complaints since its creation and has also not received any informal reviews. The BBB cites SecureChoice’s short time in operation as the primary factor lowering its score. In this case, we agree with the BBB’s assessment and will not adjust its “A+” rating.
SecureChoice Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
Swiped Rate | Variable |
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Keyed-in Rate | Variable |
Early Termination Fee | Unknown |
PCI Compliance Fee | Unknown |
Equipment Lease Terms | Variable |
We are unable to locate any verifiable public information about the standard SecureChoice contract at this time. The company is a reseller of First Data, which means that its contract terms may resemble those found in the standard First Data contract. First Data offers a wide variety of pricing plans and rate structures, but its most common terms often include a minimum contract length, early termination fee, monthly minimum fee, and PCI compliance fee. In addition, it is possible that SecureChoice resells equipment through First Data Global Leasing, which typically offers a 48-month, non-cancellable leasing term.
Given the absence of any clear information about SecureChoice’s pricing and fees as well as the lack of complaints regarding its terms, we will award it an “A” in this section for the time being. If you have any specific knowledge of the company’s contract terms, please share that information in the comment section below this review.
SecureChoice Merchant Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
Employs Independent Resellers | Yes |
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Advertises Deceptive Rates | No |
Discloses All Important Terms | No |
SecureChoice appears to primarily market its services through the use of telemarketing and outside sales agents. It is unclear whether these agents are full W-2 employees of the company or commission-only independent reps. The combination of preset phone appointments and traveling independent agents is typically linked to elevated complaint rates within the credit card processing industry, but in this case, we have located only one SecureChoice merchant complaint that accuses the company’s representatives of deceptive sales practices. This complaint mentions that the company promotes deceptive rates and does not disclose the costs of its equipment leases.
The SecureChoice website does not promote any misleading rate quotes at this time, but the company’s former domain name of “lowrateprocessor.com” did list a rate of “0.95%” as recently as May 2014. Since this domain is no longer active, we will not penalize the company for this type of rate quote at this time. However, merchants should be aware that SecureChoice has made use of what appear to be “teaser” rate quotes in the recent past.
Our SecureChoice Merchant Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
SecureChoice Merchant Services rates as a decent merchant services provider according to all available information. We are currently unable to verify the company’s pricing and fees, and there are only a handful of negative reviews filed against the company and its principals. SecureChoice’s overall rating is likely to change once we have a better understanding of its contract terms and have received more feedback from its merchants.
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Testimonials & Complaints
How Did SecureChoice Merchant Services Treat You?