1st National Payment Solutions Reviews & Complaints

1st National Payment Solutions Logo
Overall Score
4.5
full star full star full star full star empty star

Would you recommend them?

Overview

In this review of 1st National Payment Solutions, we will provide a detailed overview of the company’s payment processing services, including credit card processing, point-of-sale systems, and e-commerce solutions. We will discuss the pricing structure, contract terms, and customer feedback to give you a clear understanding of what 1st National Payment Solutions offers. Additionally, we will examine the transparency of their fees, the quality of their customer support, and the satisfaction levels reported by their clients. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of whether 1st National Payment Solutions meets your business’s payment processing needs.

About 1st National Payment Solutions

1st National Payment Solutions, established in 1998, is a family-owned merchant account provider headquartered in Syosset, New York. The company is a sub-ISO of 1st National Processing, which is either a DBA or an ISO of iPayment.

Screen Capture of 1st National Payment Solutions Homepage
1st National Payment Solutions Homepage

1st National Payment Solutions Products and Services

Payment Processing

1st National Payment Solutions processes payments for all major debit and credit cards.

EMV Swipers

1st National Payment Solutions offers EMV swipers, ensuring that businesses can process secure, chip-enabled transactions.

Virtual Terminals and POS Systems

The company also provides a range of terminals and POS systems designed to enhance the efficiency of in-store transactions.

Wireless and Mobile Payments

For businesses on the move, 1st National Payment Solutions offers mobile and wireless payment options. These solutions provide the flexibility to accept payments from any location, catering to businesses that operate outside traditional storefronts.

Payment Gateways

Payment gateways are another key service provided by 1st National Payment Solutions. These gateways enable secure online transactions.

Next Day Deposits

The company also offers next-day deposits, ensuring that businesses receive their funds quickly after transactions are processed.

Gift and Loyalty Programs

Gift and loyalty programs are available through 1st National Payment Solutions, allowing businesses to create and manage initiatives that encourage repeat customers and build brand loyalty.

Check and ACH Processing

Check and ACH processing services are provided to facilitate electronic payments directly from bank accounts.

EBT

For businesses that accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), 1st National Payment Solutions offers support for processing these payments, ensuring compliance with government regulations.

Payroll Processing

Payroll processing is another service offered by the company, streamlining the management of employee compensation.

Business Loans

In addition to payment processing, 1st National Payment Solutions provides business loans.

ATM Solutions

Finally, the company offers ATM solutions, enabling businesses to provide cash access to customers on-site.

1st National Payment Solutions merchant services
Some of the merchant solutions offered by 1st National Payment

1st National Payment Solutions Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint N/A

Minimal Complaints Found

We’ve located a small number of negative reviews for 1st National Payment Solutions, with two of them accusing the company of scams or ripoffs. These complaints highlight challenges in canceling services, encountering poor customer service, fund-holds, and equipment issues. Notably, some of these complaints date back several years, indicating a potential improvement in recent operations. Feel free to share your own experience with 1st National Payment Solutions in the comment section below.

Handling of Complaints

The president of 1st National Payment Solutions has shown proactive engagement in addressing several complaints, successfully resolving issues albeit with some delay. He explained the delays were due to internal processes requiring multiple approvals for refunds. Additionally, he clarified misunderstandings in various reviews where his ISO was mistakenly identified as the responsible party.

Legal Actions

To date, there are no ongoing class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints against 1st National Payment Solutions. Unsatisfied merchants seeking resolution outside litigation can report concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Customer Support Channels

1st National Payment Solutions offers a dedicated customer support phone line and a customer support form on its website, demonstrating a commitment to assisting clients. Their service level aligns closely with that of our top-rated payment processor for customer service. Considering the context of older complaints, their resolution timelines, and the CEO’s efforts, we’ve assigned 1st National an “A” in this category.

1st National Payment Solutions Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
Total BBB Complaints 1
Response Rate 100%
Complaints Resolved 1

Under 10 BBB Complaints

1st National Payment Solutions has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2006. As of this review, the company has an “A+” rating with the BBB and has had 1 complaint filed against it in the last 36 months. The 1 complaint was resolved to the satisfaction of the merchant.

What Merchants Say

In addition to the 0 complaints posted to the company’s BBB profile, 1st National Payment Solutions has received 0 informal reviews in the last 36 months. Prior to that period, we documented 1 negative review that detailed difficulty closing the merchant account:

Run away as fast as you can. We just got hit with a brand new, unannounced $99 annual fee. The money has already been taken from our bank account and they refuse to return it. There was no letter, no email, no bank statement announcement notifying us of the new fee. They say they sent out a letter a month ago, and that’s the end of it. The fact that we never received such a letter means nothing. They say that they looked at their costs and decided that they needed to charge a fee, so they just did it. The guy was quite nasty about it, and told me there was nothing I could do about it, they have the money and they’re not giving it back. The service rep stated that they have received many calls of complaints about this and they will not be refunding these fees to any of the customers. When I called ********** Bank, whom they use, the bank transferred my call right back to 1st National’s office. I got the same jerk on the phone. In the past, I’ve never been treated this way by them, and their reps have behaved decently. This guy was over the top nasty. 1st National Processing targets artisans and microbusineses in their advertising, which is we how came to use them several years ago. They have since changed the “Processing” to “Payment Solutions”, but they’re still the same people. At the end of each year, we did cost comparisons of total annual charges, to see what we would have paid had we run cards through PayPal or Square. 1st National always came in higher, but with human customer service, we stayed with them. That changed this past January. It is now mid-November. We kept 1st Nat as a backup, but have not used them more than once or twice since January. There were just too many times when we had to call because there were unexpected and confusing charges. Those were generally resolved, but we got tired of it, and when they mistakenly charged us for one of their other customer’s fees, we were done. We saw that customer’s info on our statement. It’s a security breach. It’s cheaper to let our contract die off than pay their extortionate $295 kick-out fee.

Merchants in similar situations could benefit from researching how to cancel a merchant account without paying a fee.

An “A” Rating

1st National Payment Solutions also has not received any informal reviews, although it should be noted that these reviews are not subject to verification by the BBB. Given the company’s low complaint total, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time.

1st National Payment Solutions Fees, Rates & Contract

Rates & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties Yes
Monthly & Annual Fees Yes
Processing Rates 1.00% - 4.99%

Two Merchant Account Types

1st National Payment Solutions provides different merchant account options, detailed on their website along with contracts and equipment leases. Their agreements, lasting one to three years, are brokered through iPayment and Woodforest National Bank. The iPayment contract includes an early termination fee ranging from $250 to $350, an iAccess fee between $9.95 and $14.95, and a variable PCI Compliance fee. The Woodforest agreement is an auto-renewing contract with a Liquidated Damages early termination fee. The rates offered by 1st National Payment Solutions may differ depending on business size and type. Additionally, their standard lease agreement is non-cancellable.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Beyond storefront processing, 1st National Payment Solutions also highlights their virtual terminal and payment gateway services on their website. Specific pricing for these services is not listed, but it’s likely that additional rates and fees such as gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and transaction rates are involved for these e-commerce services.

Liquidated Damages

The use of a Liquidated Damages clause in its contract with Woodforest Bank is a significant concern, stating that the early termination fee will be the greater of $250 per location or an amount based on the average monthly fees times remaining contract months. This could result in substantial charges. While 1st National’s transparency in providing these contracts is positive, the actual contract terms currently warrant a “C” rating and are less favorable compared to the most affordable merchant accounts.

1st National Payment Solutions Contract Terms

A representative from 1st National Payment Solutions mentioned that their early termination fee is applicable mainly to merchants receiving free equipment and could be waived for others. Furthermore, they stated that the Woodforest contract entails only a flat $5 monthly fee without additional monthly, annual, or PCI compliance fees.

1st National Payment Solutions payment gateway
Payment gateway access is a feature of 1st National Payment Solutions’ offerings

1st National Payment Solutions Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers Yes
Advertises Deceptive Rates No
Discloses All Important Terms Yes

Independent Sales Agents

1st National Payment Solutions appears to utilize a referral program, strategic partnerships, and independent sales entities to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is usually tied to high complaint rates for a company, but we are currently able to locate only one National Payment Solutions review that describes misrepresentation of pricing. This 1st National Payment Solutions review is found in the comment section below and could simply have been a misunderstanding.

No Deceptive Advertising

As an additional point in the company’s favor, it does not appear to engage in deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. We will therefore assign 1st National Payment Solutions an “A” rating in this category for the time being.  If you suspect that 1st National Payment Solutions is charging you undisclosed fees, however, we recommend seeking a free third-party statement audit.

1st National Payment Solutions Review Summary

Despite being an ISO of 1st National Processing, 1st National Payment Solutions is rated as a better-than-average merchant services provider. The company maintains a low complaint rate despite potentially costly contract terms, and its president is proactive in addressing the rare complaints the company receives.

The company’s name is spelled “1st National Payment Solutions,” not “First National Payment Solutions.” Despite its favorable rating in this review, merchants should still carefully read all contract terms before signing any applications or agreements with this processor and compare its pricing to the best-rated merchant account providers to secure the best possible deal.

Contact 1st National Payment Solutions

Contact & Customer Support
President and CEO Michael DiGiovanni
New York Headquarters 40 Underhill Blvd., Ste. LA1, Syosset, New York 11791
Michigan Headquarters 9991 East Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City, MI 49684
Toll-Free 24/7 Support (800) 228-0210
General Support (231) 941-4200
Sales (877) 964-1622
New York Fax (516) 921-9488
Michigan Fax (231) 941-4204
On-Call Tech #1 (917) 577-6237
On-Call Tech #2 (917) 577-3149
Website 1nps.com

Top Performing 1st National Payment Solutions Competitors

Host Merchant Services logo

HMS

Average Rate

1.82% + $0.20

Pricing Details
Helcim logo

Helcim

Average Rate

1.83% + $0.18

Pricing Details
CDG logo

CDG

Average Rate

1.83% + $0.16

Pricing Details

Please note that we only suggest providers that adhere to strict ethical standards and offer top performing support at extremely competitive pricing. We may earn revenue if choose one of our recommendations.

Reader Comments, Testimonials & Complaints

3 User Reviews

  • Bill Hagerty

    Have been with 1NPS since Dec. of 2011 and in Aug. of this year (2016) decided not to do credit cards anymore in my business. Contacted 1NPS and I did the paper work to terminate my relationship with them. In a few shorts days they debited my account $295.00. This should only had happened if I had been with them less than a year.

    I have contacted them in regards to this with no results. Also sent them the original contract showing them when I signed up.

    No fair and not good business practices.

    I would not recommend this company to anyone needing a merchant provider.

  • Michael Cho

    I am with 1st national solution company for more than 10 years. I am paying $26.00 a flat month fee instead of $5.00 a flat month fee Mr. Giovanni claims. I decide to use PayPa credit company. They are trying to charge me $200.00 for 6 month short of contract, which I knew nothing about. I will not introduce my friends to “1st national payment solution” anymore.

  • Michael DiGiovanni

    Hi Philip,

    I like what you are doing here. I have a similar site in the works. If you sift through my site you will see in the merchant academy section (formerly buyer beware) I have written many articles over the past 16 years addressing deceptive business practices of my competitors who have blackened the eye of the industry. I hope you locate any and all of these companies and treat them accordingly.

    Also please note that every merchant that signs up with our company is aware of every single rate and fee that may apply to their account. Our motto since inception has always been Superior Service and Support along with Honesty, Integrity & Full Disclosure. Yes, I do have contracts but we are flexible hence the 1,2, and 3 year agreements. I am even empowered to waive contracts and ETFs and we do that quite often. The ETF fee is our protection against losses we may sustain due to Free Terminal & POS Placements where we give up hundreds sometimes thousands up front to board an account, much like a cell phone provider giving away an $800 I Phone. I don’t think it is very fair to penalize me with a C- for that, but I guess its your scale and it applies to everyone. The problem is most of the competition does not make their terms and conditions readily available to merchants as we do. One more thing, you note the PCI Fee and I Access Fee at I Payment / First National Processing. Please be advised through my other Vendor Woodforest we offer a flat monthly fee of $5.00 per month with no other monthly fees, no annual fees, no PCI Fees and no IRS fees. This is our primary provider.

    Please see below and update your records accordingly.

    I have multiple locations land the NY Address has changed. New Suite #

    NEW YORK CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
    40 Underhill Blvd Ste LA1 Syosset NY 11791 Tel: 877-964-1622 Fax 231-941-4204

    MICHIGAN BRANCH OFFICE est 2008

    120 Boardman Ave, Traverse City MI 49684 Tel: 877-964-1622 Fax 231-941-4204

    CA BRANCH OFFICE

    32530 Hupa Drive, Temcula, CA 92592

    Thank you. Keep up the good work

    P.S. I am very interested in leads you may be generating from your site. I would pay for them and you would be assured that your are sending the merchant to a company that would give them bottom line pricing and fair treatment.

    Sincerely,

    Michael Di Giovanni
    President
    1st National Payment Solutions
    http://www.1nps.com

    [email protected]

Tell Us How They Treated You

Sharing your experience influences our rating and helps other business owners make informed decisions. Promotional content and contact information will not be published. Please provide a detailed summary of your experience.

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.