Category Archives: Credit Card Processors

Overview

Electron Transfer Inc. Logo

Electronic Transfer, Inc. (electronictransfer.com) has been a merchant account provider since 1989. The company offers processing services for a wide range of businesses, but one of its major specialties is payment processing for firearms dealers. The company operates GunMerchantAccount.com as a way to specifically market to gun vendors. Electronic Transfer, Inc.is headquartered at 3107 E. Mission Ave, Spokane, Washington 99202 and is an ISO/MSP of Westamerica Bank, Santa Rosa, California. Mike Knudtson is the president of Electronic Transfer, Inc.

Electronic Transfer Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
Online payment gateway (FastCharge)
Virtual terminal
Online shopping cart integration
Wireless payment acceptance

Industries served:

Retail
E-commerce
MOTO
High risk
Firearms

Sales & Marketing | A

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	Yes
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	No
Discloses all important terms?	No

Electronic Transfer appears to hire independent resellers, sub-ISOs, and agents to market its services. This is a standard practice within the industry that often results in an elevated complaint rate for a company, as it is difficult for any business to regulate the conduct of independent sales entities. In the case of Electronic Transfer, however, this hiring practice does not seem to have had a negative effect on its reputation. At the time of this update, we are unable to locate any negative Electronic Transfer, Inc. reviews that mention the company’s sales team. The company also does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials.

Costs & Contract | A

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	$195-$295
PCI compliance fee:	Variable
Equipment lease:	Variable

There is very little verifiable information about the standard Electronic Transfer contract at this time. As of our last review several complainants reported a one-year contract with a $195-$295 cancellation fee, but a representative of the company stated that the cancellation fee can be waived under many circumstances. In any case, the fee does not appear to an issue for most merchants.

The company’s website advertises no annual fee, a $9.95 monthly statement fee, and a $10 monthly payment gateway fee. The rates and fees chart on the company’s website also lists a $0.25 transaction fee on both debit and credit payments, and it invites merchants to “call for new low rates” to learn about its discount rates for face-to-face sales. Usually, we would consider this type of generalized, unclear rate quoting to be either deceptive advertising or indicative of undisclosed high rates, but Electronic Transfer is showing zero complaints online that mention rates or fees. In the absence of any information that contradicts the company’s advertised terms, we are forced to assume that Electronic Transfer offers competitive rates and contract terms that are satisfactory to most merchants and that it merely does a poor job of communicating the exact nature of these terms. If you have any knowledge of the standard Electronic Transfer contract (including any PCI compliance fees or monthly minimum fees), please leave that information in the comment section of this review.

Complaints & Service | A

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	<10
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

A review of several consumer protection websites does not uncover any Electronic Transfer reviews that describe the company as a ripoff or a scam. In fact, we mostly found positive consumer testimonials about the company, although nearly all of these were unverified. For a company that has been in business since 1989, this is a remarkably low complaint volume. It’s entirely possible that Electronic Transfer’s customer service department, which offers dedicated lines for general merchant support and specific complaints, is responsive enough to resolve all complaints in-house. An alternative explanation could be that Electronic Transfer’s partnership with numerous processors has resulted in complaints being funneled to the online profiles of those companies. Since we can find no evidence that this is actually occurring, we have awarded Electronic Transfer an “A” in this category.

BBB Report | A+

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	0
Billing/collection:	0
Advertising/sales:	0
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

Since 2000, Electronic Transfer, Inc. has been an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau, and the company retains an “A+” grade at the time of this review. Electronic Transfer has not received any complaints in the past three years, but it does show four informal reviews posted to its profile. Three of these reviews are positive in nature, while the fourth is a negative review that describes difficulty cancelling the service. It is important to bear in mind that these informal reviews are not verified by the BBB. In light of this information and the fact that the company is not showing any complaints, we agree with the BBB’s rating of the company.

Bottom Line

Electronic Transfer, Inc. Review
Rated 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-12

By all available indicators, Electronic Transfer, Inc. rates as an excellent merchant account provider. The company is showing no publicly available complaints and appears to offer better-than-average contractual terms.

This review was originally published on 6/25/12 and was last updated on 2/12/15.

Leave your review of Electronic Transfer, Inc. in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Cardaccept.com Review

February 12, 2015

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

Cardaccept.com Logo

Cardaccept (cardaccept.com) is a small merchant account provider serving most business types. The company was founded in 1993 and is located at 1515 Hancock Street Quincy, Massachusetts 02169. Cardaccept is a subsidiary of Calpian Commerce (formerly known as Pipeline Data) and a registered ISO/MSP of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. of Chicago, Illinois, Meridian Bank of Devon, Pennsylvania, and Wells Fargo Bank, Walnut Creek of California. There is some evidence to indicate that Cardaccept is no longer an active brand within the Calpian Commerce family of businesses, but the company still has an active website. We will therefore assume that it is still operational for the time being. MacAllister Smith is the last known president and CEO of Cardaccept.com.

Cardaccept.com Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
POS equipment
Online payment gateway
Virtual terminal
Wireless processing solutions

Industries served:

Retail
E-commerce
MOTO

Sales & Marketing | C-

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	Yes
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	Yes
Discloses all important terms?	No

Multiple online complaints seem to indicate that Cardaccept employs independently contracted sales agents to market its services, although this could not be confirmed at the time of this update. Generally speaking, this hiring practice makes it difficult for a company to monitor and regulate the conduct of its sales team. Many Cardaccept.com reviews cite misrepresentation of rates and fees by sales agents, which mostly occurred when the company was operating as an ISO of Pipeline Data.

The Cardaccept.com website advertises no application fees, setup fees, AVS fees, gateway transaction fees, shopping cart fees, programming fees, shipping and handling fees, American Express setup fees, long-term contracts, or cancellation fees. It does note a statement fee of $9. However, despite these claims, we were able to locate several reviews that cite undisclosed fees, including monthly minimum fees approaching $50, an early termination fee of $300, and possibly some sort of merchant obligation to purchase Sprint smartphone hardware for a monthly rate. The claims in these reviews vary, but the common theme is that many merchants dispute Cardaccept’s promotions about its low or nonexistent fees. Given the reputation of Cardaccept’s processor, Pipeline Data/Calpian Commerce, we are inclined to view these merchant reports as more credible than the company’s ad copy.

Costs & Contract | C

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	IC + 0.25% +$0.25
Keyed-in rate:	IC + 0.25% +$0.25
Termination fee:	$300
PCI compliance fee:	Variable
Equipment lease:	Variable

The standard terms of the Cardaccept contract appear to be in dispute. The company markets itself as a provider of Interchange-plus pricing, quoting a rate of interchange + 0.25% + $0.25 for all transactions, online or in-store. This pricing structure does not appear to be in dispute among merchants. There is widespread disagreement, however, about the company’s contract length and fees. The company advertises no contract or cancellation fees, while merchants allege monthly minimum fees and an early termination fee of $300, both of which imply some kind of standard contract length. It is possible that these terms may have changed since Pipeline Data’s assets were acquired by Calpian Commerce, but without any verifiable information either way, we are awarding the company an average grade of “C” in this category. If you have any knowledge of the standard Cardaccept.com contract, please describe your experience in the comment section of this review.

Complaints & Service | C-

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	10+
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	Fund holds

Due to some technical difficulties at other consumer protection websites and the apparent deletion of Cardaccept.com’s Better Business Bureau profile, there are only a few Cardaccept.com reviews to be found at this time. However, at the time of our previous review, there were at least 12 publicly listed Cardaccept.com complaints online, several of which accused the company of being a ripoff or a scam. Aside from disputing the company’s advertised terms, most of these reviews described difficulty cancelling the service, trouble reaching a company representative, and withholding of funds. Withheld funds in particular were a common complaint (see this review), and although we generally don’t penalize companies for engaging in this standard fraud prevention practice, it does seem as though merchants were not receiving appropriate justification for the holds they experienced.

Cardaccept’s affiliation with Calpian Commerce suggests that the company’s clients may deal directly with Calpian customer support representatives, which could in turn funnel complaints away from Cardaccept’s online profiles. One factor increasing the company’s score in this section is the fact that many of these complaints were old reviews that make reference to Pipeline Data rather than the company’s current processor, Calpian. It is therefore possible that things have improved since the change in partnership. Given the troubling claims we unearthed at the time of our last update, we will hold Cardaccept’s score at a “C-” despite our inability to replicate those search results at this time.

BBB Report | D*

One online review of Cardaccept.com discloses a former “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau due to the company’s failure to respond to merchant complaints. At this time of review, however, Cardaccept.com no longer has a BBB profile. Given what we know about Cardaccept’s former BBB profile and the former presence of at least 12 other online complaints, we are adjusting the BBB’s grade to a “D” for the purposes of this review.

* Denotes CPO-adjusted BBB score

Bottom Line

Cardaccept.com Review
Rated 1.9 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-12

There appears to be a great deal of confusion about the products and services offered by Cardaccept. Without any way of separating misinformation from truth, we are compelled to rate Cardaccept as a substandard merchant account provider until more is known. The company’s score could potentially improve if its BBB profile is ever restored and it logs some positive reviews in partnership with Calpian Commerce.

This review was originally published on 6/14/12 and was last updated on 2/12/15.

Leave your review of Cardaccept.com in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Cambridge Payment Systems Review

February 12, 2015

Overall Rating

Overview

Cambridge Payments Logo

Updated 1/27/2014: The website for Cambridge Payment Systems no longer appears to be active, and we are currently unable to find any evidence that the company is still doing business under this name; however, a reviewer claimed in the comment section below that Cambridge is now operating under the name Fortis Payment Systems.

Cambridge Payment Systems, LLC (cambridgepaymentsystems.com) is a nationwide full-service merchant account provider for businesses of most sizes and industries. The company claims to offer a complete and custom credit card processing approach, including providing the necessary transaction equipment. Hardware includes basic terminals (VeriFone, Hypercom), wireless devices (Nurit), PIN pads, card and check readers, and the required software. Cambridge Payment Systems is headquartered at 43155 Main St, Novi , MI 48375.

The company is not an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and presently does not have a rating. The BBB’s report indicates that it does not have enough background information on Cambridge Payment Systems to issue a rating. There are also no registered complaints against the company at this time of review. Furthermore, there are no additional complaints found on other consumer-protection websites.

Cambridge Payment Systems is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, CA and HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Buffalo, NY.

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Leave your review or comments about Cambridge Payment Systems in the comment section below. A full CardPaymentOptions.com review is pending for this provider and your comments will be taken into account when the review is updated.

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This review was originally published on 6/12/12 and was last updated on 2/12/15.

Published by: Phillip Parker

PayScape Advisors Review

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

PayScape Logo

PayScape Advisors (payscapeadvisors.com) is a merchant account provider headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is a reseller of First American Payment Systems contracts. According to a company representative, PayScape was founded in 2004. PayScape is a registered ISO/MSP of Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, and is headquartered at 729 Lambert Dr., Atlanta, Georgia 30324. Adam Bloomston and Jeremy Wing serve as the company’s co-CEOs.

PayScape Advisors Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
Merchant cash advance
Online payment gateway
POS equipment
Mobile payment acceptance

Industries served:

Retail
E-commerce
Mobile
International

Sales & Marketing | C+

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	No
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	No
Discloses all important terms?	No

PayScape appears to primarily utilize telemarketing, email campaigns, and outside account managers to market its services. As of this update, it is unclear whether PayScape employs independent sales agents, but the company does appear to have outside sales teams at numerous offices across the country. Generally speaking, W2-employed sales teams receive higher compensation and more training than independently contracted agents, resulting in fewer merchant complaints. In the case of PayScape, the company’s sales team appears to receive more complaints than is typical of an in-house staff. Multiple complainants cite nondisclosure of contract terms, misrepresentation of rates, and agent unavailability (sometimes due to the agent no longer being employed with PayScape without the merchant’s knowledge).

As of this update, the PayScape Advisors website advertises that the company has an “A+” rating with the BBB. In fact, PayScape currently has a BBB rating of “B” and only had an “A” at the time of our last review. For the purposes of this review, we will favorably assume that the website is simply outdated rather than intentionally deceptive. Even so, merchants should be sure to double-check the company’s BBB rating.

PayScape Advisors Marketing Example

Costs & Contract | C-

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	$495
PCI compliance fee:	$124.75/year
Equipment lease:	Variable

According to a company representative, the standard PayScape contract is a three-year agreement that, if not cancelled after the final 90 days but before the final 30 days of the initial term, will renew for a one-year term. The contract also includes a cancellation fee of $495 ($595 total if the merchant signs up for Secur-Chex check conversion) and an annual PCI compliance fee of $124.75. Both of these fees are higher than the industry average, and many merchants report receiving less competitive transaction rates than they were initially promised. Many complainants also report surprise upon being notified of the high cancellation fee, which indicates that it isn’t typically mentioned at the point of signing. A company representative also stated that merchants may choose between an annual fee or monthly minimum fees depending on a merchant’s size. Merchants are advised to read their contracts carefully and to keep in mind that many contract terms are often negotiable.

Complaints & Service | B-

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	25+
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

We were able to locate roughly 28 negative PayScape reviews on this website and other consumer protection websites. Some of these complaints seem to have been posted by competitors; these have been disregarded for the purposes of our review. Common themes among legitimate complainants include nondisclosure of contract terms, difficulty reaching a representative, hidden fees, and difficulty cancelling service. Approximately one-third of these reviews received a response or rebuttal from a company representative, and in a handful of these cases, merchants returned to explain that they were satisfied with the company’s reaction. Although this is an encouraging sign, it is our belief that a proactive and available customer service team will address these complaints effectively before they are taken public. In addition, it appears as though many of these complaints were filed in the last 12-24 months. The consistency of these complaints inclines us to award PayScape a “B-” in this category.

BBB Report | B-*

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	10
Billing/collection:	5
Advertising/sales:	3
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

As of this update, the Better Business Bureau is giving PayScape a “B” rating based on eighteen complaints filed within the last 36 months. Of the total complaints, ten are regarding problems with products or services, five with billing and collection disputes, and three with advertising or sales issues. Sixteen of these complaints have been resolved with the assistance of the BBB, but two were not resolved to the merchant’s satisfaction despite what the BBB deems a good-faith effort by PayScape. Given these figures, we have adjusted the BBB’s rating to a “B-.” For more on why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.

* Denotes CPO-adjusted BBB score

Bottom Line

PayScape Advisors Review
Rated 2.7 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-11

According to our rating system, PayScape Advisors rates as a slightly above average merchant account provider. The company has received a fairly consistent pattern of reviews complaining about undesirable and undisclosed contract terms, but PayScape’s responses to these complaints and improvement in its BBB rating have raised its overall score.

This review was originally published on 6/28/11 and was last updated on 2/11/15.

Leave your review of PayScape Advisors in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Durango Merchant Services Review

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

Durango Logo

Founded in 1999, Durango Merchant Services, LLC (durangomerchantservices.com) is a merchant account provider for both U.S. and international merchants, including mail/telephone order, internet, mobile, and retail accounts. The company’s corporate address can be found at 2855 Main Ave Ste B-105, Durango, Colorado 81301. Durango Merchant Services, LLC. is a registered ISO of BMO Harris Bank NA. Shane Kairalla is the president of Durango Merchant Services.

Durango Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
E-commerce solutions
Mobile payment acceptance
Electronic check processing
POS equipment
QuickBooks integration

Industries served:

Retail
E-commerce
Mobile
MOTO
High-risk
International

Sales & Marketing | A+

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	Yes
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	No
Discloses all important terms?	No

Durango appears to partner with independent resellers in multiple countries to market its services. Generally speaking, this practice can result in an elevated complaint rate for a company, as it is difficult to monitor the marketing tactics of independent sales teams. In the case of Durango, however, this does not appear to be a problem. We were unable to locate any negative Durango Merchant Services reviews that mention the company’s sales tactics. In fact, we found numerous positive descriptions of encounters with the Durango sales team. Additionally, the company does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising in its official materials.

Costs & Contract | A+

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	Variable
PCI compliance fee:	Variable
Equipment lease:	Variable

As of this update, there is not a great deal of information available about the standard Durango Merchant Services contract or service fees. The company is partnered with multiple processors, which allows it to offer flexible contract terms depending on a merchant’s size, type, and processing history. In addition, the company’s use of independent partners means that rates and fees are likely to vary depending on the company setting up the account. In general, we are unable to locate any complaints about Durango Merchant Services that mention the company’s contract terms. We take this as a sign that most Durango clients are satisfied with the pricing and fees they receive.

Complaints & Service | A+

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	<10
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

At this time, we are unable to locate any Durango Merchant Services complaints that accuse the company of being a scam or a ripoff. The lone complaint found on another consumer protection website expressed frustration with the billing practices of a Durango Direct partner company named Omni Payment, and the issue was ultimately resolved to the merchant’s satisfaction. This incident occurred in 2009. We were also able to locate numerous testimonials and positive reviews of Durango Merchant Services from merchants who were directly signed up with Durango, including one glowing report found in the comment section of this review. Durango appears to employ an in-house support team and offers a dedicated customer service number and email address on its website.

BBB Report | A+

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	0
Billing/collection:	0
Advertising/sales:	0
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

Durango Merchant Services has been an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau since 2006 and currently maintains an “A+” grade at this time of review. There are currently no complaints registered against the company with the BBB, just as there were no complaints as of our last review. There aren’t any informal reviews posted to the company’s profile, either. For a company over ten years old that deals with high risk merchant types, this is a remarkable complaint record. We therefore agree with the BBB’s score in this instance.

Bottom Line

Durango Merchant Services Review
Rated 5 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-11

Durango Merchant Services rates as an exemplary merchant services provider according to all available indicators. The company appears to offer a wide array of services and agreeable contract terms, and Durango enjoys an almost spotless complaint record. Even when dealing with a highly rated credit card processor, merchants are advised to carefully examine the terms of any contract they are given.

This review was originally published on 6/21/12 and was last updated on 2/11/15.

Leave your review of Durango Merchant Services in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Punchey Review

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

Punchey Logo

Punchey (punchey.com) is a merchant account provider headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2010, the company offers mobile and countertop payment solutions for both Android and iOS devices. Please note that although “Punchey” refers to both the company and the POS application it promotes, this review will be discussing the company’s services as a whole. Punchey is headquartered at 31 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 and does not list an acquiring bank on its website. Nathaniel Stevens is the founder, CEO, and president of Punchey.

Punchey Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
Mobile payment solutions
Traditional POS equipment
QuickBooks integration
Virtual terminal
SEO optimization

Industries served:

Retail
Mobile
E-commerce
MOTO

Sales & Marketing | A-

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	No
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	Yes
Discloses all important terms?	No

According to a job posting on the company’s website, Punchey appears to employ an in-house sales and telemarketing staff rather than utilize independent sales agents to market its services. We believe that this hiring practice allows companies to better regulate the conduct of their sales agents, which usually results in a lower complaint rate among merchants. Predictably, we were unable to locate any Punchey reviews that describe its sales team in a negative light.

The Punchey website promotes “rates starting at 1.95%.” It is unclear whether this quote is a qualified, mid-qualified, or non-qualified rate, or whether the company offers a flat-rate pricing plan for certain merchant types. Given this ambiguity, we consider this type of rate quote to be deceptive because it could lead merchants to believe that they will pay a much lower rate than they will actually pay. We have accordingly lowered the company’s grade to an “A-.”

Costs & Contract | A

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	Variable
PCI compliance fee:	Variable
Equipment lease:	Variable

Punchey offers custom pricing to each merchant and does not publish its contract terms on its website. Previously, the company provided interchange-plus pricing to merchants and charged varying monthly fees for separate service packages. It is unclear at this time whether Punchey requires a multiyear commitment or charges an early termination fee, a PCI compliance fee, monthly fee, or other fees.

The only two negative reviews of Punchey’s contract terms that we have found both describe fund withholding issues. In both cases, it seems that the merchants had been assured that their average ticket, high ticket, and monthly processing limits were appropriately calibrated at the time of signup, only to find out after processing payments that their funds had been held. Although this issue seems to have occurred more than once, it does not appear to be a widespread problem with Punchey’s service. We will therefore award the company an “A” for the time being.

Complaints & Service | A-

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	<10
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

Punchey appears to utilize an in-house customer support staff. As of this update, we are able to locate three Punchey complaints on other consumer protection websites, none of which accuse the company of being a scam or a ripoff. Two complaints report difficulty resolving withheld funds, while one complaint is from an employee of the company who is frustrated with the company’s leadership. The holding of funds is a standard industry practice designed to protect processors from fraud, and despite the frustrations of merchants, this policy will not negatively impact the company’s score in this section. However, since both of these complainants express difficulty contacting Punchey’s customer service reps and reaching a timely resolution, we will slightly lower the company’s score to an “A-.”

BBB Report | A+

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	0
Billing/collection:	0
Advertising/sales:	0
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

Punchey is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. As of this review, the company holds an “A+” rating with the BBB and has had zero complaints filed against it in the last 36 months. This marks an improvement over its rating at the time of our last review, which was an “A-” due to the company’s short time in business. Punchey also has eight positive customer reviews logged with the BBB. In light of the company’s spotless complaint record and high number of positive reviews (which, it should be noted, are unverified), we agree with the BBB’s rating to an “A+.”

Bottom Line

Punchey Review
Rated 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-11

Punchey rates as an exemplary merchant services provider according to our rating system. The company appears to offer transparent pricing and competitive contract terms. The lone factor lowering Punchey’s overall rating is the fact that two complainants expressed frustration with the company’s customer service. Even when dealing with a highly rated credit card processor, merchants are advised to carefully examine the terms of any contract they are given.

This review was originally published on 2/21/13 and was last updated on 2/11/15.

Leave your review of Punchey in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Credomatic Review

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

Credomatic Merchant Services Logo

Credomatic Merchant Services, also known as Credomatic of Florida, Inc. (credomaticusa.com, credomaticmerchantservices.com), is a merchant account provider established in 1981. The company is a U.S.-based subsidiary of BAC CREDOMATIC Network and appears to rely on TSYS for its processing network. Credomatic’s U.S.A. headquarters is located at 9150 S Dadeland Blvd Ste 800, Miami, Florida 33156-7836. The company is an ISO/MSP of BAC Florida Bank, Miami, Florida, and the CEO of Credomatic is Ernesto Castegnaro.

Credomatic Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
Electronic check acceptance
Online payment gateway
Virtual terminal
POS equipment
Designated “Relationship Manager”

Industries served:

Retail
Restaurant
E-commerce
MOTO

Sales & Marketing | A

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	No
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	No
Discloses all important terms?	No

Credomatic appears to hire W2-employed sales agents to market its services. This hiring practice tends to allow a company to exercise greater control over the conduct of its agents, resulting in lower merchant complaints. Our inability to locate any Credomatic reviews that mention the company’s sales team seems to suggest that its agents are well trained and appropriately regulated. The company also does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. We will therefore award it an “A” in this category.

Costs & Contract | C+

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	$250
PCI compliance fee:	$7.50/month
Equipment lease:	Variable

The standard Credomatic contract (available below) is a three-year agreement with automatic one-year renewal, an early termination fee of $250, a monthly minimum fee of $25, a $10 monthly statement fee, and a PCI Compliance fee of $7.50 per month. On one of Credomatic’s websites (credomaticmerchantservices.com), the company advertises Interchange-plus pricing. On the other (credomaticusa.com), it does not appear to mention interchange-plus anywhere. This inconsistency casts some doubt on whether the company actually offers interchange-plus, but it may simply be an error.

Overall, these contract terms are average for the industry, but we have not located any complaints that specifically mention the company’s pricing and fees as a point of dissatisfaction. We will therefore award Credomatic a rating of “C+” in this category.
Credomatic Merchant Agreement

Complaints & Service | A+

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	<10
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

Credomatic is not showing any complaints that accuse the company of being a ripoff or a scam. In fact, the company is showing zero total online complaints outside of the BBB. Credomatic hires in-house relationship managers that are appointed to specific merchants, which seems to be a highly effective tactic for resolving complaints before they go public. If you have any experience with Credomatic customer service, please describe that communication in the comment section of this review.

BBB Report | A*

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	2
Billing/collection:	1
Advertising/sales:	0
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

Accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2011, Credomatic currently maintains an “A+” rating. Three complaints have been filed within the last three years and all but one fall under the “problems with product/service” category. The other was related to a billing or collection dispute. All complaints have been resolved with BBB assistance. Because we believe that “A+” ratings should be reserved for companies with zero complaints, we have slightly adjusted the BBB’s rating to an “A.”

* Denotes CPO-adjusted BBB score

Bottom Line

Credomatic Review
Rated 4.2 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-11

Credomatic rates as a reliable credit card processing company according to our criteria. The company is showing very few public complaints and appears to place a premium on quality customer service and transparent sales strategies. The one factor lowering its score is its industry-average contract.

This review was originally published on 6/18/12 and was last updated on 2/11/15.

Leave your review of Credomatic Merchant Services in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Eagle Merchant Services Review

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Overall Rating

Overview

Eagle Merchant Services Logo

Updated 2/11/2015: The Eagle Merchant Services website (eaglemerchantservices.com) no longer appears to be an active URL. This may be a temporary issue or a permanent one, but we are unable to verify whether the company is still operating. If you have any knowledge of Eagle Merchant Services’s status (including any alternate business names or related ventures), please share that information in the comment section below.

Eagle Merchant Services, Inc. (eaglemerchantservices.com) is a privately held merchant account provider specializing in processing for credit, debit, and EBT (electronic benefits transfer). The company, founded in 1996, also provides services for e-commerce, phone/mail order and wireless/mobile businesses (through Phone Swipe). The company’s corporate address can be found at 301 East Church St., Sandwich, Illinois 60548-1616. Eagle Merchant Services is a registered ISO/MSP of Member Bank Synovus Bank, Columbus, Georgia.

Sales & Marketing | A-

Eagle Merchant Services appears to market its services primarily through its website. The company does not appear to hire independent agents or resellers, and as of this update, we are unable to locate any negative Eagle Merchant Services reviews that mention the company’s sales team. The company does not seem to engage in any deceptive advertising in its official materials, although its mobile processing solution, Phone Swipe, appears to quote a “Qualified” rate of $2.69 for all swiped transactions. This rate quote does not mention whether rates will vary for “Mid-Qualified” or “Non-Qualified” swipes, and we are unable to verify the actual rate structure as of this review.

Costs & Contract | A+

There is very little information available about the standard terms of an Eagle Merchant Services contract. The company’s website advertises no long-term agreements, cancellation fees, monthly minimums, or annual fees, and while this appears to be an almost unrealistically competitive package, we are unable to locate any online complaints that dispute these advertised terms. In the absence of merchant complaints about the company’s contract terms, we are awarding the company an “A” rating in this category. If you have any knowledge of the standard Eagle Merchant Services contract, please leave that information in the comment section of this review.

Complaints & Service | A+

As of this update, we are unable to locate any Eagle Merchant Services reviews that accuse the company of being a ripoff or scam. This is an impressively low complaint rate for a company that has been in business since 1996. The total lack of complaints indicates that Eagle Merchant Services employs a responsive and available customer support team. The company’s website offers a dedicated support phone number and email address.

BBB Report | A*

Accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2005, Eagle Merchant Services currently shows an “A+” score. One complaint has been registered with the BBB citing problems with products and services. This complaint has been resolved to the merchant’s satisfaction. Since it is our philosophy that “A+” ratings should be reserved for companies with zero complaints, we have slightly adjusted the BBB’s rating to an “A.”
* Denotes CPO-adjusted BBB score

Bottom Line

Eagle Merchant Services Review
Rated 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-11

Eagle Merchant Services appears to be inactive at this time, and it is unclear whether the company is still an active merchant services provider. Before its website disappeared, the company was showing an “A” overall from CardPaymentOptions.com. Until more information is available, we will leave its grade at an “A.”

This review was originally published on 6/22/12 and was last updated on 2/11/15.

Leave your review of Eagle Merchant Services in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Card Concepts Review

February 10, 2015

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating

Overview

Card Concept Merchant Services Logo

Card Concepts Merchant Services (cardconceptsinc.com) is a merchant account provider that was established in 2009. Card Concepts appears to be an independent reseller of Global Payments contracts. The company’s corporate address is located at 1500 N Casaloma Dr, 4th Floor, Appleton, Wisconsin 54913, and Card Concepts is a registered ISO and MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, California. Travis Rogers is the president of Card Concepts Merchant Services.

Card Concepts Products and Services:

Debit and credit card processing
POS equipment
Mobile processing
Check acceptance
Gift and loyalty programs
ATM placement

Industries served:

Retail
E-commerce
Mobile
MOTO

Sales & Marketing | A

Key Points – Sales & Marketing
Uses independent resellers?	Unknown
Promotes deceptive rate quotes?	No
Discloses all important terms?	No

Card Concepts appears to primarily market its services through its website. At the time of this update, it is unclear whether the company hires independent sales agents or uses a telemarketing team. There is only one public complaint at this time that mentions inept and misleading sales tactics by a company representative, and the company does not appear to engage in deceptive advertising tactics in its official materials. If you have had any experience with the Card Concepts sales force, please describe that communication in the comment section below.

Costs & Contract | A

Key Points – Costs & Contract Terms
Swiped rate:	Variable
Keyed-in rate:	Variable
Termination fee:	Variable
PCI compliance fee:	Variable
Equipment lease:	Variable

At this time, we are unable to locate any complaints about the standard Card Concepts contract, and we therefore have very little information about it. The company appears to resell the services of Global Payments, so it is likely that its standard contract terms resemble those of Global Payments. Global Payments offers a wide variety of processing rates and fees that are likely to vary depending on a merchant’s business type, size, and time in business, so merchants are encouraged to aggressively negotiate pricing and fees. If you have any knowledge of the company’s standard contract (including any early termination fees or monthly minimum fees, please leave that information in the comment section below.

Complaints & Service | A

Key Points – Complaints & Service
Total complaints:	<10
Live customer support?	Yes
Most common complaint:	N/A

As of this update, we are unable to locate only one negative Card Concepts review, and this review does not describe the company as a ripoff. This complaint mentions poor sales representation by the company and difficulty reaching the company’s customer service in order to complain about this sales experience. It appears to be an isolated incident. Merchants should be aware that Card Concepts possibly outsources its customer support to Global Payments, which could result in the larger company receiving the bulk of complaints. The Card Concepts website does not appear to offer any dedicated support contact information. Even so, the general lack of complaints about the company compels us to award it an “A” in this category.

BBB Report | A+

Key Points – BBB Report
Product/service:	0
Billing/collection:	0
Advertising/sales:	0
Guarantee/warranty:	0
Delivery:	0

Card Concepts Merchant Services is not an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau but presently maintains an “A+” rating. The complaint resolution log does not show any complaints in the past three years, and there are no informal reviews filed with the company’s profile. This grade represents an improvement over the “A” that the company was showing at the time of our last review, and the BBB cites the company’s time in business as a major factor improving its grade. Given the company’s improved complaint total and good standing with the BBB, we agree with the BBB’s rating of “A+.”

Bottom Line

Card Concepts Review
Rated 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Phillip Parker
Reviewed on 2015-02-10

According to all available indicators, Card Concepts Merchant Services rates as a reliable merchant services provider. The company is showing only one complaint on other consumer protection websites, and although little is known about its contract terms at this time, we did not find any information that suggests that the company is a ripoff. Merchants who sign up with Card Concepts can probably expect the contract terms and customer service that Global Payments provides.

This review was originally published on 6/12/12 and was last updated on 2/10/15.

Leave your review of Card Concepts Merchant Services in the comment section below:

Published by: Phillip Parker

Beacon Payments Review

February 9, 2015

Category Breakdown
Sales & Marketing
Costs & Contract
Complaints & Service
BBB Rating

Overall Rating