Collection agencies are some of the highest risk business types within the credit card processing industry. Most major banks will hesitate to offer merchant accounts for debt collection agencies due to the unstable regulatory climate of the industry and the unreliable income streams for debt collectors. In the event that a bank does offer debt collection merchant accounts, it typically will require a very long processing history and an aggressive cash reserve. However, debt collection services are businesses just like any other, and a handful of merchant services providers are willing to serve even high risk collections companies.
To help you find a credit card processor that can assist your business, we’ve put together the following list of the best merchant accounts for collection agencies. The companies on this list offer e-commerce solutions, offshore merchant accounts, marketing tools, and other useful services for operating your debt collection business. They are also known to provide low-commitment contracts with transparent pricing and quality customer service. To find the best provider for your specific debt collection company, be sure to research each processor’s products and features and compare pricing and terms.
Please note that the regulations surrounding the debt collection industry are subject to regular upheaval, and that these providers’ ability to serve debt collectors may fluctuate depending on legislative restrictions and specific merchant conditions.
Best Merchant Accounts for Collection Agencies
Based in Woodland Hills, California, PaymentCloud is a merchant account provider that specializes in serving high risk business types. The company’s products and services include point-of-sale solutions, mobile phone swipers, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, EMV-compatible terminals, and merchant cash advances. PaymentCloud is a good option for debt collectors with at least some established payment processing history.
PaymentCloud provides a dedicated account rep to all new merchants for the life of the account. The company has not received any negative complaints on consumer forums, and it customizes its pricing according to each merchant’s business type and processing history. The BBB does not maintain a profile for PaymentCloud at this time, but CPO gives the company an “A.”
For more information, visit the PaymentCloud website or call (888) 506-7859.
eMerchantBroker.com is a Los Angeles, California-based company that offers high risk e-commerce processing solutions including debt collection merchant accounts. The company’s products include ACH processing, an online payment gateway, merchant cash advance, and a chargeback management system to help merchants dispute and resolve chargeback claims. eMerchantBroker can supply collection agencies with domestic merchant accounts as long as they are not third-party collections firms, maintain chargeback ratios under 1%, are not startups, and do not collect on overdue payday loans.
eMerchantBroker.com offers custom pricing for each merchant and maintains a low complaint rate relative to its size and merchant portfolio. Our review of eMerchantBroker gives the company an “A” rating overall and the BBB assigns the company a rating of “A+.”
Durango Merchant Services is a well-established high risk payment processor headquartered in Durango, Colorado. The company has been serving both U.S. and international merchants with an emphasis on difficult-to-place merchant types since 1999. Durango can supply processing for face-to-face, mobile, and e-commerce merchants and offers a wide range of services including an online payment gateway with QuickBooks integration, POS equipment, electronic check processing, and offshore banking partnerships. Durango may be able to assist debt collection companies on a case-by-case basis.
Durango has received overwhelmingly positive feedback with regard to its sales and support team and offers custom pricing depending on a merchant’s business type. Our review of Durango Merchant Services gives the company an “A+,” and the Better Business Bureau awards Durango an “A+” as well.
Additional Options
Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Instabill is a high risk merchant account provider that is capable of serving debt collection agences. The company’s products and services for debt collectors include multiple currency support, offshore banking partners, an online payment gateway, shopping cart integration, and fraud protection. Instabill advertises that it can only place collection agencies that do not purchase debt and that have at least six months of payment processing history and $100,000 in processing revenue per month. The company can only place these merchants on offshore, aggregate accounts.
Instabill customizes its pricing depending on each merchant’s size, business type, and processing history. The company has earned an “A” rating in our review as well as an “A+” rating with the BBB.
