MinistryLINQ Reviews & Complaints

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4.3
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Company Overview

MinistryLINQ, a company owned by Ministry Brands, LLC, is a Spokane, Washington-based merchant account provider that specializes in payment processing for ministries, churches, and schools. Prior to 2015, the company maintained a primary web presence as The CashLINQ Group and presented MinistryLINQ as one of its products, but it since appears to have fully rebranded as MinistryLINQ. In July 2015, the company sold its assets to Ministry Brands, but the MinistryLINQ website is still active and functional. It appears that Ministry Brands has allowed MinistryLINQ to continue operations under its original name.

MinistryLINQ Payment Processing

MinistryLINQ processes all major debit and credit cards for donations, specifically for churches. Their services include donation management, pledge tracking, automatic deposits, software integration, recurring donations, multi-site support, and security features.

Location & Ownership

Founded in 1999, MinistryLINQ is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California, with headquarters located at 14488 Old Stage Rd, Lenoir City, Tennessee 37772. Foster Chase is listed as the president and CEO of the CashLINQ Group.

MinistryLINQ Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints 10+
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint Poor Service
Recent Lawsuits No

Mixed Complaints

We have found more than 10 negative MinistryLINQ reviews, with complaints ranging from slow service to poor account management. While none explicitly label the company as a scam or ripoff, one complaint alleges severe mismanagement of funds, where deposits were erroneously made into the wrong account, resulting in a significant financial loss for the client. Despite attempts at resolution, some customers report prolonged wait times and slow problem resolutions.

Legal Matters

No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been filed against MinistryLINQ. Dissatisfied clients can explore reporting concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Customer Support

MinistryLINQ provides a customer support phone number during business hours. However, the adequacy of this support is questionable given the persistent complaints about poor service, which prevent MinistryLINQ from being recognized among our top-rated payment processors for customer service. While the company maintains a relatively low overall complaint count, the recurring issues have led to a lowered score in this category, earning a “C” rating.

MinistryLINQ Customer Service Number

  • (800) 811-7826 – Toll-Free Customer Service

Other Support Options

  • Customer support form

MinistryLINQ Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports 0

Clean Complaint Record

The BBB currently no MinistryLINQ profile but does have one for CashLINQ, which has an “A+” rating CashLINQ has received 0 complaints in the past 3 years.

What Merchants Say

CashLINQ’s BBB profile has also received no informal reviews in the past 3 years. A previous review to the old MinistryLINQ profile was posted by the same commenter who left a complaint in the comment section below:

This company added another company to our bank account due to a typo and was adding funds into our account in small increments. Due to the number of streams of income into our accounts this was undetectable. After 6 months of service they send us an extremely vague email stating they had made a mistake and that they were going to debit our account almost 5K. The email was not addressed to anyone and was full of grammar and spelling errors. They left no contact numbers or contact names and the email had no name on it. I contacted the company responsible and they told me it was a bogus email and did not come from them. In 2 days they deducted the money from our account, almost 5K. The problem was the amount that they deposited in our accounts was less than the amount they deducted. It has been two weeks and we still do not have our money back and they avoid our phone calls. Please avoid this company at all cost unless you enjoy dealing with a very unprofessional organization with many unqualified people handling you money.

Clients who receive unprofessional or odd customer service emails should always be on the lookout for customer service scams.

An “A” Rating

Given MinistryLINQ’s clean complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating.

MinistryLINQ Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties Yes
Monthly & Annual Fees Yes
Processing Rates Variable
Equipment Leasing Yes

$19 Pricing Plan

MinistryLINQ presents various pricing options, including a $19 monthly plan. This tier includes a card transaction fee of 3% plus $0.42, a monthly minimum fee of $10, an ACH transfer fee of 1% plus $0.42, and a monthly security fee of $10. All standard services of the company are incorporated in this plan.

$49 Monthly Plan

The $49 monthly tier at MinistryLINQ has a card transaction fee of 2.60% plus $0.42, a monthly minimum fee of $10, an ACH transfer charge of 1% plus $0.42, and a $10 security fee per month. It encompasses all features available in the $19 plan.

$69 Monthly Plan

MinistryLINQ’s $69 monthly plan mirrors the $49 plan in pricing and features but offers tiered card rates starting at 2.09% plus $0.30 for qualified transactions. An iPad POS system is available for an additional $19 per month plus hardware costs, and text donations can be added for an extra $5 monthly.

When to Opt for Tiered Pricing

While tiered pricing plans are generally not recommended, MinistryLINQ’s higher flat rates in its other plans may mean some merchants could benefit from the tiered plan. However, this plan is not currently promoted on the company’s website, so it’s advised to inquire directly about its availability.

Few Contract Complaints

The exact terms of MinistryLINQ’s contracts remain unclear, as the company advertises “no contracts” but hasn’t publicly disclosed its backend processor or sample contracts. This makes it difficult to ascertain specific policies on service duration or early termination fees. There have been no complaints regarding hidden fees or unfair pricing, suggesting that MinistryLINQ might align with other competitive merchant accounts. If you have insights about MinistryLINQ’s standard merchant agreement, sharing them in the comments would be appreciated.

Readers are also encouraged to explore our list of the best merchant accounts for comparison.

MinistryLINQ Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Uses Independent Resellers No
Telemarketing No
Misleading Marketing No
Discloses All Important Terms No

In-House Sales Team

MinistryLINQ appears to utilize referral partnerships and a W2-employed inside sales staff to market its services. There is no indication that the company employs independent sales agents, and we have found no negative MinistryLINQ reviews that cite deceptive sales practices by the company’s sales team.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

No Deceptive Quotes

In addition, the MinistryLINQ website does not list misleading promotional rates or misrepresent the company as something it is not. We therefore award MinistryLINQ an “A” in this category. If you suspect that MinistryLINQ is overcharging you, you can double-check your monthly bill by obtaining a third-party statement audit.

Our MinistryLINQ Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

MinistryLINQ rates as an average credit card processing solution according to our rating criteria. The company is showing an increasing number of legitimate complaints across all consumer protection websites and appears to have some customer service issues. However, since we have very little information about the company’s standard contract at this time, readers should be sure to read all terms presented to them and negotiate for better pricing whenever possible. Our rating for MinistryLINQ may change once more is known about its contract terms.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did MinistryLINQ Treat You?

2 User Reviews

  • Lance johnson

    This company added another company to our bank account due to a typo and was adding funds into our account in small increments. Due to the number of streams of income into our accounts this was undetectable. After 6 months of service they send us an extremely vague email stating they had made a mistake and that they were going to debit our account almost 5K. The email was not addressed to anyone and was full of grammar and spelling errors. They left no contact numbers or contact names and the email had no name on it. I contacted the company responsible and they told me it was a bogus email and did not come from them. In 2 days they deducted the money from our account, almost 5K. The problem was the amount that they deposited in our accounts was less than the amount they deducted. It has been two weeks and we still do not have our money back and they avoid our phone calls. Please avoid this company at all cost unless you enjoy dealing with a very unprofessional organization with many unqualified people handling you money.

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