The Merchant Solutions Reviews & Complaints

The Merchant Solutions Logo
2
full star full star empty star empty star empty star

How did they treat you? ▼

Overview

In this article, we offer a concise yet comprehensive overview of The Merchant Solutions, a California-based merchant account provider. Key areas of focus include an examination of their rates, fees, and contract terms, alongside an analysis of common customer complaints and industry ratings. We also delve into the company's payment processing services, which range from traditional methods to mobile payment options, as well as their POS and card terminal offerings.

Additionally, we explore their merchant cash advance service and gift and loyalty programs. Insights from employee reviews, customer feedback, and legal standpoints provide a balanced perspective. The article also covers the company's customer support efficacy and overall online ratings. We conclude with a summary that encapsulates The Merchant Solutions' position and performance in the payment processing landscape.

About The Merchant Solutions

The Merchant Solutions, founded in 1999, is a small merchant account provider based in Woodland Hills, California. We have located one complaint online claiming that TMS is a reseller of Global Payments contracts, but we were unable to verify this claim as of this update. The Merchant Solutions also appears to resell the products of First Data (Fiserv).

The Merchant Solutions Payment Processing

The Merchant Solutions provides credit card, debit card, EBT, gift card, ATM, and check acceptance. Their payment processing services also include address verification services, cardholder verification value, POS systems, card terminals, EBT, Fleet Card acceptance, gift cards, and e-commerce solutions.

Mobile Payment Services

The Merchant Solutions has developed a mobile payment service to keep up with the increasing trend of mobile transactions. This service gives businesses the flexibility to process credit card transactions using mobile devices, anywhere, and anytime.

POS and Card Terminal Options

A variety of point-of-sale (POS) systems and card terminals are offered by The Merchant Solutions. They range from traditional countertop models to mobile and wireless devices, giving businesses the flexibility to choose a solution that best meets their specific needs.

Merchant Cash Advance

In addition to payment processing services, The Merchant Solutions offers a merchant cash advance service. This feature provides businesses with a lump sum of cash in exchange for a portion of future credit card sales, which can be a valuable source of funding for some businesses.

Gift and Loyalty Programs

The Merchant Solutions offers gift and loyalty program solutions that can help businesses attract and retain customers. These programs can be customized to fit the unique needs of any business and can include features such as custom branding, mobile compatibility, and analytics reporting.

Location & Ownership

TMS is a registered independent sales organization and member services provider (ISO/MSP) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., of Concord, California. Abdulali Mithani is the CEO and chairman of The Merchant Solutions, though LinkedIn also lists a Zahra Mithani as CEO and a Taufia Mithani as CEO and chairman. The company is headquartered at 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 700, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.

The Merchant Solutions payment processing
The Merchant Solutions processes most major payment types
Pros & Cons
Pros: Cons:
Customizable loyalty programs Variable processing rates
Mobile payment services High complaint volume
Reliable customer service Hidden fees reported
Efficient problem-solving Contract termination issues
Flexible POS options Equipment lease problems

The Merchant Solutions Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints 50+
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint Hidden Fees
Recent Lawsuits Unclear

High Complaint Total

There are more than 50 negative reviews of The Merchant Solutions (TMS) across various consumer protection websites, with many of these complaints posted within the past year. Several complainants outright accuse the company of being a ripoff or a scam operation. Common themes include undisclosed fees, difficulty reaching a representative, problems with leased equipment, and termination or “restocking” fees exceeding $900. This complaint total is somewhat high for a company as small as TMS, and it therefore merits a “D” grade in our opinion. If you have your own review of The Merchant Solutions to share, please do so in the comments below.

The Merchant Solutions Lawsuits and Fines

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints filed against The Merchant Solutions. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting their concerns to the relevant supervisory organizations.

The Merchant Solutions Customer Support Options

TMS offers a dedicated support phone line and an email form on its website. However, these channels appear to fall short of the support levels offered by top-rated payment processors for customer service.

The Merchant Solutions Customer Service Numbers

  • (888) 707-2836 – Toll-Free Customer Support/Sales
  • (800) 228-0210 – Technical Support

Other Support Options

The Merchant Solutions Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Rating 4.43
Trustpilot Rating 4.8
TrustLink 3.9
Average Rating 4.38

BBB Rating Analysis

The Merchant Solutions has an average customer review rating of 4.43/5 stars on the Better Business Bureau website based on 14 customer reviews. The company has received 3 customer complaints in the last 3 years, with 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

Negative Feedback

This company is schisters!! I am looking into a class action Lawsuit, There are hundreds of people complaining about the same thing that I have gone through, I had canceled 13 months ago, and sent back the square reader, They kept charging my account sending me statements saying not a ***** ******* I had canceled my account I thought that was just logistics on their part, Why put NOT A BILL in red on the paperwork!!! And now after 13 months I don’t have the proof cause I got a new phone, I’m out to a tune of $1052 dollars, And they’re telling me I didn’t cancel which I absolutely did and they know I have never used their services, Shame on them!!! If they don’t file a class action lawsuit I will *** them in court.
– Complaint from January 29, 2023

Positive Feedback

We can always count on this company to deliver the ideal solutions exactly when we need them. Based on our experiences, their customer service is unrivaled in its efficiency and responsiveness. Making the switch to their services was undeniably the best decision we’ve made and we couldn’t be more satisfied with the results.
– Review from August 9, 2023

Source: Better Business Bureau

Trustpilot Rating Analysis

The Merchant Solutions has an average customer review rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 48 customer reviews. The reviews overwhelmingly reflect positive experiences, with 100% of the reviews rated as 5-star. Common themes in the reviews include exceptional customer service, efficient and supportive staff, and satisfaction with the company’s credit card processing services.

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about The Merchant Solutions on the Trustpilot website.

Positive Feedback

Merchant Solutions is an exceptional merchant credit card company. The company I was with previously raised my rates substantially. I researched 8 companies to choose a new one. Brandon Casillas was my Account Executive. He was extremely responsive, answered all my questions patiently and gave me a rate that will save me money. Anais Laurent, in Customer Service, helped me with documents, and get set up with PCI. She also corrected a mistake that I made with the paperwork. She was efficient, clear, supportive, informative, and gave great explanations. In this day, it is unusual to have such personal and amazing customer service!! I highly recommend The Merchant Solutions.
– Review from June 28, 2023

I found the Merchant Solutions one of the best companies processing credit/debit and all kinds of payment cards. They are very professional, super quick response, and highly committed to their clients’ needs. Their customer service is the best. Every time I called, they are ready to support. Their staff members are very knowledgeable about what they are doing.
– Review from May 22, 2023

Source: Trustpilot

TrustLink Rating Analysis

The Merchant Solutions has a 3.9 rating based on 19 reviews and complaints on TrustLink. The reviews include a mix of positive and negative feedback. Positive reviews often highlight good customer service and efficient problem-solving, while negative reviews frequently mention issues with billing, charges, and customer service.

Negative Feedback

please don’t trust this company they are say some do some just part how make money after you cancel still charge 10 out of 0 lots of good company in tx
– Complaint from October 24, 2020

The only good comments on this website are all in the same 2 days, in a row, this should be proof enough that they make their own fake reviews to get business. Now, coming to my experience with this company, they are pretty much scam artists. Please do not trust them with your business.
– Complaint from March 1, 2014

Positive Feedback

Nakisha had gone out of her way to assist me in ALL my needs. From the time I switched from an Exxon branded gas station to my own private label we had to make sure my credit card machine was up and running with all the major credit card companies.
– Review from November 21, 2011

We have found the company to be responsive and easy to work with.
– Review from June 30, 2020

Source: TrustLink

The Merchant Solutions Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

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

Three-Year Agreement

Based on complaints filed on various platforms, it seems that The Merchant Solutions (TMS) offers a standard contract lasting three years with automatic renewal. The contract includes an annual fee of $79, a PCI compliance fee of $99, and an early termination fee of $395 or more. Additionally, clients have reported being obligated to long-term equipment leases with early termination fees ranging from $350 to $400.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Aside from its in-store payment processing services, The Merchant Solutions advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway services on its website without disclosing pricing. One complaint mentions that TMS relies on Authorize.Net or PC Charge Pro for its online payment gateway. If Authorize.Net is used, clients can expect a per-transaction fee of 2.90% plus $0.30, a daily batch fee of $0.10, and a monthly gateway fee of $25. Additional rates and fees, including technical support fees, may apply.

Not Competitively-Priced

In terms of fees and terms, The Merchant Solutions falls within the industry average, earning it a “C” rating in this section. Business owners seeking more competitive contract pricing may find better options with a low-cost merchant account provider. We also recommend consulting our list of the best merchant accounts for potential alternatives.

The Merchant Solutions e-commerce
The Merchant Solutions offers a variety of e-commerce services

The Merchant Solutions Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

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

Widespread Sales Complaints

There is evidence that The Merchant Solutions utilizes independent sales agents in addition to online advertising to market its services. Independent sales agents are often paid by commission and are therefore motivated to sign clients to the most expensive contract terms they can. For this reason, they are often linked to high complaint totals. As expected, a large number of The Merchant Solutions reviews on this and other consumer protection websites mention undisclosed fees, incomplete representation of rates, and a disconnect between what agents promise and what they ultimately deliver. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

$1,000 Savings Promotion

The Merchant Solutions’ homepage previously advertised a “$1,000 Savings Guarantee,” stating “If we can’t save you money on processing, we’ll give you $1,000!*” The terms and conditions of this promotion currently cannot be found on the website. Instead, it appears businesses must contact the company directly to learn more about the exact terms of this promotion.

No Deceptive Quotes

We have lowered the company’s score in this section to a “C” to reflect this consistency. To the company’s credit, the website for TMS does not appear to engage in any deceptive marketing tactics. Clients are advised to thoroughly review their merchant agreements with The Merchant Solutions and to renegotiate their contracts if hidden fees are suspected.

Our The Merchant Solutions Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

The Merchant Solutions rates as an average credit card processing provider across the board according to our rating system. The company has a higher-than-expected number of complaints for its apparently small size, and the contract terms that we have seen reported for this company aren’t especially competitive, especially when compared to the best overall credit card processors. The company’s rating is also impacted by its higher-than-average complaint total with the BBB.

If you found this article helpful, please share it!

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 The Merchant Solutions Treat You?

59 User Reviews

  • Lucy de Lemos

    Totally Beauty Spa, LLC

    I have been a customer of The Merchant Solutions for more or less 7 years, and unfortunately it was only in 2023 that I realized that this company was depositing less than the total value of the daily Batch into my bank account. My company is considered a small one but everyone is very busy so we have total trust in this company, from which we received the monthly statement from them, and then the bank deposits were verified through this statement.
    My surprise was when I decided to check the deposits with Batches and I was able to confirm that I was being defrauded, the statement was agreed with bank deposits, but not agreed with daily Batches.
    Since December 2023 I have been trying to receive a refund for the total amount I was defrauded and Mrs Anais Laurent, responsible for my contract, does not agree to return the correct value of the Batches, each email sent by her has a different excuse. I must also say that during this process to receive the amounts due for 2023, in January 2024, they committed the same fraud by not depositing $89.20 into my bank account and they refuse to refund telling me that it is my responsibility to verify the deposits, I checked by This is why I found fraud again that I never thought of as this company works with so much incompetence, and doesn’t care about the opinion of their customers.
    How much did this company defrauded me for 7 years? I “ll be checking.

  • Suleiman

    Jerusalen Bakery

    BE AWARE!! Nasty contract . $1350 fee if terminal is not returned within 10 days. Cancellation take place 30 days after the day is cancel and tones of ridiculous fee charged during those 30 days. this will happen if you change to another company. BE AWARE!!!

  • Indy Mohanlall

    Rick's Transmission

    The competition is real with so many POS servicing company. For me customer support is key and Austin is definitely an asset to this company. He is very knowledgeable and provided excellent support. It’s important to be able to connect with a real person on the phone. Keep up the excellent work Austin and thank for helping us through out the entire setup process. We appreciate it.

  • Laurel Castillo

    Merchan Solution they are very professional , I’ve been talking to Austin back and forth seems like I know him, anyway every question I did not understand about this machine he explain it very clearly to me, He was not Just a sales person he wants my business to succeed Thank you very much .Austin Smith

  • Michael Carroll

    We’ve been hit with so many fees that are hidden and that they deduct for no unknown reason as they do not tell you before hand. Today was the last straw which we really been shut down since April over covid19. Today they transferred $70 out of the bank account which now has been shut down over they’re crazy charges. We are running in the hole compared to the money we received through them from credit card transactions, and the money they have charged us for the service they provide. They do not inform you before they process the money out of your account, Which in my opinion is bad business practice. You really leave your business account open to these guys with free access to do as they like. Keep your money you work for and don’t use them.

  • CJ Mugavero

    John in Customer Service was wonderful today with assisting me with the set up for my new Walker Bluetooth. He was patient and knowledgeable and I am more than pleased with the assistance I receive from the Merchant Solutions.

  • Nousha

    This company, Merchant Solutions, is a fraud. Do not believe anything they say about their service. They get you sign up with them for a minimum fees and after few months they hit you with 7% fees. When you ready to cancel their services they hit you with ridiculous restocking fee and cancellation fee. They Are Not truthful about their service. They have terrible reviews on google and many many complains on BBB. I wish I would have read some reviews before I sign up with these con artists. What out business owners out there about this Merchant Solutions. If you hear from them just Run!!!


    This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee

    -Phillip

  • HOME DESIGNS FURNITURE

    Merchant Solutions is a very dishonest processor. I have been with them since 2015 and in June,2019 I decided to go to a different processor. I had joined Merchant Solutions because they told me there is no contract and no charge for the machine. Upon cancellation after over 4 years I returned the machine in good order. I got a shock when they deducted total of $1000.00 from my account in 4 payments. Also even though I had cancelled in June, in July they also charged PCI compliance of $99.00 when I did not even process with them. I have proof of all deductions after I cancelled. I will continue fighting for their dishonest practice.Do not fall for Merchant Solutions,they are a ripoff company and have a false advertisement for the free machine which on Amazon sells for $250.00.and they charge $1000.00!! when you cancel.Please take your business elsewhere.


    This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee

    -Phillip

  • Jared Stapleton

    Pam called me offering a competitive rate for credit card processing. She said that I would need to submit an application in order to verify the discounts they were offering. Numerous times I informed her that we already had an account with a different company, and we were not ready to transition but would be happy to look at the numbers. After the “application” an account was initiated and our company began receiving charges, despite a lack of consent on my end and zero activity on the account. They said they had cancelled the account, but the following month we were charged again. They refuse to refund the money. Very shady business practices and a very deceptive sales process. No doubt necessary to achieve any success, as the sales person was barely literate. Should have know.


    This post will help: How to Get Out of a Merchant Account Contract

    -Phillip

  • Ricky

    Do not get trap by this company. They have fees for everything when you cancel or have to end your contract early. $695 for early termination,$1500 programming fee, I have never hear of any company charging a programming fee. It’s just a penalty fee that they add on you for leaving their company. There is also $395 restocking fee, and $550 reprogram fee when you have to return their pin pad. Just ridiculous!
    Verify before you sign with this company. A lot of other company with no contract and fees to work with out there.

    From The Editor
    This Post Might Help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee

  • abhi

    Garbage company. They will rip u off and their owner Taufiq trains his employees to lie, steal, cheat and deceive their customers who are trying to run an honest businesd. I, like everyone else on this thread, was charged outrageous fees and then told that I cannot m leave my contract after it ended because it auto renews. I hope there will be a class action lawsuit and I plan to be a part of it.


    From The Editor
    This Post Might Help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Contract Without Paying a Fee

  • Bob

    Horrible company. They said they would beat my current rate but never could. So then I cancelled and they charged me a $945 restocking reprogramming fee? I called to complain upper management said there’s nothing they can do I sign the contract I’m the one going to get screwed complete scam scam scam!

  • Piece of heaven

    They said they are the cheapest one but they are not.
    They charge for any reason and they have a lot mistake they charge me before even i start with them for $28 and when i called them they said that was mistake they charge me $39 and $69 for annual fee and i just work with them a few days. I paid $99 for $1000 and for another $1000 i paid $119 it means more than 10%
    please don’t sign up and let people know about that

  • Chee Tan

    Their disclosure pricing on cancellation of service was not mentioned to me when I was docusigning the paperwork via Internet.
    The salesperson on the phone neglect to inform me of a cancellation service fee of $900.49
    I would have never ever sign up for such a service, if the salesperson would mentioned this info to me.
    And because I signed the document, the company is telling me, that I am liable for the contract. And it was my fault for not reading the fine print on the documents.
    I will report this matter to BBB about their sales / marketing strategy for omitting such cancellation fee info.

  • Sunnyvale Valero

    Let’s start with the salesman Daniel A.
    After he review my merchant statement he promised me that I’m going to save $100.00 a month, I signed & cross the $495.00 early termination fee & initial the pages. They bill me $100.00 more for the first month & when I complained they told me they going to have a rate review and correct it, the second months they did the same, one week in the third months I stop using them for processing and then they threatening me with a $495.00 early termination fee that I cross in the application then I find out that Daniel A. forged my initial and change the page.

  • Mohamed Osman

    This has Been the worst POS processing company I have ever felt with. Don’t sign up or you will regret it at the end. I attempted to cancel my contract and they are trying to hit me with over $1000 in last min charges. Also when you call they have no customer service and are rude on the phone. I will make sure this is my last time using this company. I am looking to upgrade 4 of my restaurants systems. If anyone has a better option please let me know. 651-398-1636

    Thx

  • Jim Boucher

    Worse company ever. Opens accounts with terms not agreed to. I would recommend not to do business with this company. Very rude on phone, does not care about you as a customer. Has representatives that open fradulent accounts. Zero star rating

    • Johan

      I just got ripped off $695 from early determination fee and my contract is do in two months thats why they did it i im sooo pisss right now i wish one of them will go to my business again to offer anything ?????? if anyone do business with this scums be prepared to have a high blood pressure

  • FMM TRADING LLC

    This company and it’s employees are rude, I have been trying to cancel and they make it difficult. My company is no longer doing business and I have not used the machine in 6 months. I was never told about a restocking fee and some other charge until I got ready to cancel. They want me to pay almost $900.00 for equipment I don’t use. When I explained to the representative that my business is not making any money she did not care, but wanted to know where to send the cancellation to withdraw the fee. These people called me for weeks and sent me all kinds of sales materials when my business started. All they want is your money. They are crooks.

  • Mohammed Vohra

    This company is nothing but a fraud. I was told by a company Rep, Ray Siddique, that there will not be any hidden fees or cancellation fees ever, and they will offer the best lowest deal. THIS WAS A TOTAL LIE. I was never given a written contract had computer generated signature. Their hidden fees are through the roof. I had signed up with them thinking they can offer me the lowest rates with a price beat guarantee. Because of their undisclosed fees and charges I ended up paying more than my previous company. Their customer service is terrible, they are never reachable. When I wanted to cancel they wouldn’t send me the cancellation form for weeks. VERY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL.THEY ARE TRYING TO BLIND SIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS AND ROB THEM OF THEIR MONEY. DON’T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING THEY SAY ALL LIES AND FRAUD!!! TOTAL SCAMMERS!!!

  • Fran Smith

    This company and it’s employees are rude, I have been trying to cancel and they make it difficult. My company is no longer doing business and I have not used the machine in 6 months. I was never told about a restocking fee and some other charge until I got ready to cancel. They want me to pay almost $900.00 for equipment I don’t use. When I explained to the representative that my business is not making any money she did not care, but wanted to know where to send the cancellation to withdraw the fee. These people called me for weeks and sent me all kinds of sales materials when my business started. All they want is your money. They are crooks.

  • Chelsea

    Every review above has happened to me too exactly like the above. Amazing! Only….
    Since I have tried to cancel with them and agreed to pay them whatever fee I can to get rid of them (which was not in my contract I signed), they are now telling me their equipment I returned is not theirs so that I can’t cancel or I’ll have to pay more than the equipment cost for losing it and again because I already paid for it! When we both know it’s theirs! I have never had any other merchant?! These people are the biggest crooks I’ve ever encountered. WOW

  • Mustafa

    I wish there is a -star to rate this company, – when i first started using my pos, it kept taking the money i received from my clients to a different bank account in a different state, and it took them 3 months to fix this and get my money back. – the 24/7 support is fake, they never support you on weekends or after hours, NEVER – finally i got my business closed and I was lucky someone bought my POS, because otherwise i had to pay 950 USD to them for cancelation, the funny thing is when i transferred the pos system to the other company name (the company that bought it) nobody told me that i should request a cancelation form to cancel my account, SO i ended paying 67 USD a month after the system was transferred and being used by their new client – Finally i sent the cancellation form beginning of the month, 20 days later i called them and they said yes we received it, but you will be charged for the next month (67 USD) because that is our policy PLEASE NO ONE CHOOSE THIS COMPANY, THEY ARE REALLY BAD, THEY WILL STEAL YOUR MONEY AND YOU WILL KEEP PAYING THEM EVEN AFTER YOU END YOUR CONTRACT WITH THEM


    Are you with The Merchant Solutions? Learn how to resolve this complaint.

  • Van Nguyen

    They Rip you off way more than wat they told you they would charged. they charged me $450 every month out of total 10k annual monthly. 100$ fee come out of no where every month, and when i called them they said that 100$ fee only apprea once a year. After i cancle my account they charged me 200$ come out of no where. Its like they try to rip you off once last time b4 they let you go. That doesnt count the canclelation fee that coming up from them. Stay away from Themechantsolution!!!

  • Thomas Kuhn

    The company never disclosed high fees , fees for not taking a test, and excessive closing fees. I have tried to use card reader several times without success. Now illness has caused me to lose my merchant tax ID. It was revoked by State of TN. for lack of use and Merchants want 490 dollars to terminate service.

  • Richard Bell

    The worst company to do business with ever!!!! If you are a small business owner avoid these crooks like the plague. Seriously they will destroy your business. When I set up an account they told me there would be no contract if I used the mobile software and no fees just the $9.00 per month maintenance fee. Within a month or two they charged me a yearly acct fee of $80.00 and then out of the blue raised the monthly rate to $20.00. Then I began getting charged a PCI non compliant fee $40.00. I got this straight but for the next several months they continued to charge me after 30 min of me wasting my time on the phone they refunded me, the next month charged me again. I finally called and asked to cancel they told me I was in a 3yr contract, I was never told this or else I wouldn’t signed up for this torture. My contract ends in January 2015 and I am looking forward to it. Screw this place I wish their was a way we could put them out of business. They don’t deserve a BBB rating they suck!!!!

  • Dave Soika

    These people are down right crooks! They actually added 19 pages to our contract virtually and said we signed them 1 1/2 years after signing the original. No mention of 3 year contract and no proof of it. They will give you false information over the phone and then tell you their salesperson had no authorization to give it. Going to BBB and will get attorney if I have to. Lots of hidden fees that other companies don’t charge! HORRIBLE ! BEWARE OF THESE DOGS! YOU WILL BE SORRY!

  • Judah Israel Michael

    The Merchant Solutions commits serious unethical and possibly illegal business practices, and you can see their legacy of fraud at RipOff Report.com or the BBB for Woodland Hills California, or on Yelp.com

    They, by their own admission, billed me for numerous new and unauthorized charges that were not in my contract, and then sent me an “opt out” form 2 FULL DAYS AFTER the charges cleared, and refused to refund my account or cancel my service in light of their unscrupulous activity. I’ve called them over 15 times, and each time they blow me off, or offer me a partial refund if I delete the negative (yet accurate) Yelp and Rip Off Report reviews I left them.

    This company will be out of business in one year or less. Don’t give them, or their mother company, First Data, your business!!!

  • Judah Israel Michael

    The Merchant Solutions is definitely THE worst credit card company EVER!!!! They changed my contract, billed me a ton more without giving me an opportunity to “opt out.” I got the notification in the mail 2 FULL DAYS AFTER they had billed me. So not only was I billed WITHOUT my consent, but then they refused to refund more than half. It took me 2 weeks of calling NON-STOP to get any response.

    Do not give them your business. They are beyond shady and don’t care at all about customer service!!! Check out their google and Yelp and RipOffReport.com reviews for the testimony of hundreds of other customers who have been ripped off by The Merchant Solutions!

  • Vince Peppard

    Run, don’t Walk, from the Hustler Con Artists at The Merchant Solutions. Don’t believe anything their salesman tells you on the phone as they will lie to you endlessly and then screw you later. Don’t take their “Free” credit card machine or any of their so-called “free” equipment as they will charge you a $350 “Restocking Fee” when you try to close your account after you find out they are overcharging and ripping you off on credit card processing fees. I signed up with them and then realized my mistake as I was hit with overcharges on fees as soon as i charged my very first customer. The Merchant Solutions then hit me with a “new” $99 a year for a so-called “PCI Compliance Program” charge, a $35. per month so-called “PCI-DSS Validation Fee” , a $19 per month so-called “Data Breach Security Program” fee, plus “kilobyte fees: “fixed network CP Fee” etc… – I immediately packed up their credit card machine and shipped it back to them with a written demand to close my account immediately. Then to my horror these con-artists actually refused to close my account and continue to send me monthly bills to this day. Just yesterday, The Merchant Solutions sent me a new bill for $114 just for February account administration fees alone, even though I returned their machine in mid January and directed them to close my account immediately in January.
    Avoid this outfit as they will make your life miserable. Instead, Go with Square, go with Chase, go with Costco Elavon, go with Paypal, or any of a dozen other reputable credit card processing companies but please, don’t make the same mistake i did – Avoid The Merchant Solutions at all costs.

  • PKG

    This company is deceitful. They will tell you that there are no “hidden fees” and no extra charges. After you’ve signed up, you than learn there are more charges and feel which they will auto-deduct from your merchant account without notification. We ordered their smartphone credit card processor and found that their application was incompatible with our phone – we couldn’t use it so decided to return product and cancel service. Why would we want a service we couldn’t use? We were charged a $350 restocking fee after being told there would be NO FEES. In addition, they told us the transaction fee would be 2.65% of each purchase. Shortly after receiving the product we received an email notifying of the $2.50 monthly fee AND .5 per transaction fee on top of the 2.65%. Not much, but still more than disclosed. We are not being charged an ADDITIONAL $159.90 (received bill in the mail) with no explanation of what the fee (s) is for. Have tried reaching them, asking for copy of contract which states there is a restocking fee and additional charges, but have yet to receive it (it’s been 6 weeks) or no response as to additional charges (messages left and emails sent). This company needs to be put out of business.

  • Paul

    The merchant solutions is the most horrible company I have ever dealt with. They have been lying to me since day 1 of signing up with them. They charge you all kinds of fees which your not told about. Customer service is horrible. They are very rude and they will not correct the problem with me even though they said they would. They will not return my phone calls now. They are thieves because they stole money from my account and won’t make it right with me. I have filed a complaint with the bbb and am probably going to get a attorney to get my money back. I work damn hard to run my business and I will be damned if they are going to steal money from me. So only use this business if you like being lied to and stole from cause that’s what their good at.

  • Susan

    DO NOT use this company. All they do is to get you sign up the contract, but be sure to read the fine print on auto renew, they will auto renew you into another contract even their machine never works. If you stop using it, they still charge you a lot of fees. We are on our 4th machines, the terminals are very light, and very cheap looking, they break all the time, but when you try to get out of the contract because of it, they will say something like, but we can trouble shoot for you. You will not have enough time to do it, the machine terminal breaks all the time. DO NOT USE!!! They are charging me a huge fee to cancel.

  • Robert Freeman

    This company was nothing but deceitful from the beginning. I didn’t understand the fees so I called them and asked them to give me the run down of EVERYTHING on the fees page and was told just the “requirements” the gateway fee they said wasn’t in the contract because “its a regular thing with all processors”. Also that “free” terminal will cost you $350 when you try to cancel the account. There is no monthly fee but there is a monthly minimum fee meaning if you don’t process the requirement you are charged that fee.

  • vince au

    I was told thay my rates would be as low as 1.5%. I was skeptical and decided not to switch to merchant solutions. The sales rep promised that I had nothing to lose and that I can try it for 30 days and can cancel without any penalties. To my surprise after trying them out I was told that I had signed a 3 yr contract with a $350 termination fee. My request to talk to a supervisor and to review the contract I had supposely sign went unanswered. I was very skeptical and was sure that the contract did not disclose a 3yr aggreement or termination fee.
    The sales rep never returned my calls and is no longer with thw company. Beware, do not do business with merchant solutions.

  • Jon

    As a small business owner I was looking for a way to expand my business by being able to accept credit cards, so I may be able to open my door to new clientele. I foolishly fell for the lies that were fed to me by one of The Merchant Solutions(TMS)sales representative. From the beginning I was deceived,I was promised free terminal support and replacement, discounted terminal paper, and outstanding customer service all of which I never received. When their machine failed, they blamed me even though the manufacturer of the machine explicitly explained to me that TMS was to blame for connection security error. Then they sent me a replacement machine that I had absolutely no use for; they actually sent me the wrong machine and billed me for it. With out so much as a single warning they withdrew ridiculously large amounts money from my amount, and were angered when I asked why. I have been in contact with them for months now, and they still cannot give me a justifiable answer. They would take their sweet time to deposit my earnings but would immediately make unauthorized withdraws, even after my account had been closed. Their customer service is simple horrible. They never have any answers and are only looking for ways to disconnect you. I am still waiting on on calls from their “supervisors” from last year. The Merchant Solutions is a fraud, it is an unprofessional, unethical company simple looking to scam anyone who falls for their lies. I would not recommend TMS to my worst enemies.

  • Robert Robillard

    I used Merchant Solutions for approx. one year. I had to close the account, due to poor sales results. They charged me $300 for what they called “setup charges”. I think I was the “set up” by Merchant Solutions. Their charges are exhorbitant. I will NEVER consider using them again.

  • Kim Massengale

    I was to have 1 account with Merchant Solutions ! Either the sales agent or someone at Merchant Solutions copied my contract changed the account numbers and other information to open a second account that involved a terminal. I have been getting charged for a second account since April of 2012 that I did not authorize and for which they are telling me I did. The Signature page of the second contract is an EXACT COPY of the account I did open. I can’t seem to get anywhere with phone calls to the company and have been shuffled around so much that I think everyone that answers the phone is a supervisor–because that is always what the last person tells me they are transferring me to.

    After saying, “I DID NOT SIGN FOR, I DO NOT WANT, AND FURTHERMORE NEVER RECIEVED A TERMINAL FOR A TERMINAL ACCOUT I DID NOT OPEN, BUT I AM AND HAVE BEEN GETTING CHARGED FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS”….I am no closer to solving this problem. They refuse to close the account saying they will charge me $495.00 early termination fee—for an account that has been opened with a copy of the contract from my “real account”.

    I have no other choice than to seek legal action against Merchant Solutions and/or the agent that opened up a second account with “forged/copied” paperwork.

  • Michele Ioannides

    This company is a bunch of scam artists charging a early termination fee of 395 after we were with this company 6 yrs and only had a 3 yr contract which they took upon themselves to renew, charges for non compliance because they decided to switch companies for their compliance when I was compliant through April of 2013 and now a $50 fee for refurbishing,, it is not my problem that they need to refurbish a machine. I should have closed my bank account the minute we closed our business so I could have avoided all of this. This company should not be allowed to do business. Disgusted.

  • Tag Powell

    Rip off is not the word for it

    After being a member of The Merchant Solutions for over 10 years I discovered (by simple reviewing the statements) the December invoice had the following charges.
    Min. Monthly Fee $25.00
    Comp Admin Fee $9.95
    Annual Fee $79.00
    Annual PCI Fee $99.00
    PCI Non-Cpmpliance. $35.00
    Total $247.95

    These are charged beyond any percent fees.

    I tried to cancel but they said when I signed up it would automatically renew for two years and I could not cancel for another year.

    Beware of these people.

  • Alisha Hamidian

    This credit card processing company is HORRIBLE! They constantly slip in unauthorized charges. They round up everything, even when they shouldn’t according to elementary mathematics! Essentially, they steal from the customer. Example: If you have a sale that is then multiplied by the discount rate, and it comes out to 1.62222, you will pay them 1.63. When you should have paid 1.62. After I cancelled my account with them, they debited my account $50.00 to refurbish the terminal they provided “free of charge”. This was not in our contract, but I couldn’t get the money back without suing them. They also debited my account for $395.00 for a “cancellation fee” even though I cancelled my account 4 months after my contract was over!!! I am still trying to get that back. They are awful and very dishonest do not use them.

  • peter posluszny

    I left MerchantSolutions a number of months ago, even though it cost me remaining monthly fees until my contract expires. Now they have charged me with a PCA compliance processing fee of $149, payable annually.
    Suggest you consider that Paymentech and many others do not charge this. It is just one of the many ways that MS has cost me money unnecessarily, including missed charges, delayed refunds, poor customer service and unnecessary payments.
    Strongly suggest that anyone does there homework and compare companies for this service.

  • Unhappy customer

    Recently contacted The Merchant Solutions about a fee they charged me on my merchant account. the rep I spoke to became Irrate and told me he didn’t appreciate me accusing him of charging bogus fees and he told me he was going to hang up on me. I asked him his name and he refused to give it to me, the only reason I know it was Kurt is because I called back and another rep told me. My company is a small business that processes $200000.00 a year with this processor,,I have the right to question a fee But KURT didn’t think so.I have contacted MS on other occasions and received less than favorable customer service. At this point, I am looking for a new processor . If you want to pay unregulated fees like a $9.99 a month regulatory fee and a $6.95 monthly data insurance fee and a $150.oo yearly anuall PCI FEE this is the processor for you.. These are all fees that were started 8 months into my contract.

  • Mike G

    Horrible company. If you have already signed up with them, get out fast. They terminated my account for non use since I was using another company and had not transferred over yet. Withdrew $900 from my account and told me that it was a $400 termination fee and $500 for the keypad. Ray Siddiqui of TMS told me if I return the keypad, he would refund the $500 and 2 months of fees at $35/month. Needless to say, I immediately sent the keypad and tracking revealed they received it in 3 days. Numerous calls went straight to voicemail without any return calls. Customer service is a joke and they just gave me a run around, once even saying they would transfer the info to the “analytical Dept” while the rep was laughing. They use the guise that they are affiliated with Wells Fargo, but a call to Wells revealed that they never heard of TMS because Wells owns their own merchant company. Pure scam artists just looking to steal your hard earned money. STAY AWAY.

  • Steven Hicks

    This is very dishonest company with deceptive business practices. If you are thinking of signing up with them just read the BBB website with all the complaints against them – and read how they arrogantly respond and refuse to ever admit they are wrong.

    Save yourself stress and aggravation and sign up with a different processor.

  • Dawn D'amico

    This company hires predatory sales people, aren’t up front about fees and raped my bank account. I was charged a cancellation fee for an account they had no authorization to open and then when I called to cancel they said they needed a signature. I didn’t fill out anything to open OR close the account and today was hit with $495 fee. DO NOT EVEN talk to their salespeople. JUST SAY NO.

Tell Us How They Treated You

Sharing your experience influences our rating and helps other business owners make informed decisions. Please take a moment to tell us if they are serving you well. Your email address will never be published, shared or sold. We only use it to authenticate that you are a real person and, if you select the option for it, to let you know if someone replies to your comment. Required fields are marked *

Comments must contain details about your experience. Please do not use ALL CAPS. Self-promotion, marketing content, or contact information of any kind will not be published. By submitting a comment, you are agreeing to our Comment Policy

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. (Digital Fingerprint: 0d38c6720f0d78a701b74d58653af608). Getting paid to re-write this page? Click here to earn a reward.

Any unauthorized copying and reproduction of the content of this page, including all meta data and computer code, is strictly prohibited. While the information in the above article is believed to be accurate as of its publish date, the author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material, which is provided “as is,” and without warranties. Any and all use of trade names and/or marks are for identification purposes only and shall not be construed as a claim of affiliation, or otherwise, with CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. ("CPO") in any form. The sole purpose of the material presented herein is to alert, educate, and inform readers. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. We may earn revenue if you obtain services from a provider that we recommend. See this page to learn how we support our operations.