Advanced Credit Systems 2023: Reviews & Complaints
(844) 300-2355 Company Overview
Advanced Credit Systems is a small, privately owned merchant account provider founded in 1996. The company specializes in providing retail credit card processing and payment gateways through National Payment Processing, Elavon, First Data (now Fiserv), and Authorize.net.
Advanced Credit Systems Payment Processing
Advanced Credit Systems appears to process all major debit and credit cards. Their website is extremely bare-bones, only saying that they ”offer credit card processing and software sales for companies of all sizes”.
Location & Ownership
Advanced Credit Systems is headquartered at 4200 Castlebridge Ln #1925, Sarasota, Florida 34238 and is an affiliate of a point-of-sale (POS) provider called TASQ Technology. Christine V. Phillips is listed as the president of Advanced Credit Systems, although another website lists a Marcus G. Grodberg as president.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Appears to offer variable contract terms through…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number few to none on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to hire independent sales representatives and has…
Advanced Credit Systems Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
No Public Complaints
We are unable to locate any negative Advanced Credit Systems reviews on any of the usual consumer protection websites, which is a good indication that the company is not a scam or a ripoff. If you have your own Advanced Credit Systems review to make, please do so in the comment section below.
Advanced Credit Systems Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against 1st Advanced Credit Systems. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Advanced Credit System Customer Support Options
Advanced Credit Systems advertises that it offers 24/7 customer support to all of its clients, but it is likely that this level of support is actually supplied by the company’s backend processors. Businesses considering their options should defer to the customer service reviews of National Payment Processing, Elavon, First Data (Fiserv), and Authorize.net. In the absence of any complaints, we are assuming for the time being that Advanced Credit Systems offers support that is competitive with even the top-rated payment processors for great customer service.
Advanced Credit System Customer Service Number
- (844) 300-2355 – Toll-Free Customer Support
Advanced Credit Systems Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| BBB Reports | 0 |
Clean Complaint Record
Advanced Credit Systems has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not showing accreditation at this time. The company has had 0 complaints in the past 3 years. Advanced Credit Systems is also not showing any informal reviews on its BBB profile, although it should be noted that these reviews are typically not subject to verification by the BBB.
An “A” Performance
In light of the company’s clear complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s grade at this time. However, readers should note that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s grades.
Advanced Credit Systems Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Item | Result | >
|---|---|
| Cancellation Penalties | Yes |
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
| Processing Rates | Variable |
| Equipment Leasing | Probable |
Variable Contract Terms
There is very little publicly available information regarding the standard Advanced Credit Systems contract. The company advertises “rates as low as 1.49% plus $0.21” on its website but offers no definitive pricing schedule. However, the company does disclose an AmEx rate of 3.5% plus $0.21 and a Discover Card rate of 1.69% plus $0.21.
There is a high likelihood that the company’s contract terms are similar to those offered by its backend processors (National Payment Processing, Elavon, and First Data [Fiserv]) and its gateway provider (Authorize.net.). Early termination fees among these companies are as high as $495 in a typical First Data (Fiserv) contract. PCI compliance fees can be as expensive as $59 per month in a standard merchant agreement through Elavon. Authorize.net implement a $25 monthly gateway fee alone. These companies all offer dramatically different contract terms, so business owners are advised to read the terms of their contracts carefully.
It is also unknown whether the company leases POS equipment to clients. Non-cancellable equipment leasing terms through First Data Global Leasing are another expensive condition within First Data (Fiserv) merchant agreements that could be resold by Advanced Credit Systems. Business owners are encouraged to purchase equipment outright rather than lease it whenever possible.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, ClearGate also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. Advanced Credit Systems utilized Authorize.Net and Quick Commerce for its e-commerce services. As a reseller of those providers, ACS reserves the right to alter their typical terms and conditions. The company imposes a rate of 2.21% plus $0.21 for e-commerce transactions (3.50% + $0.21 for AmEx). Those same rates apply to mail-order transactions through its payment gateway. Additionally, the company charges a $6 monthly payment gateway fee and a $5 monthly statement fee. Additional rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates may also apply to these e-commerce services.
Potential for Costs or Savings
Advanced Credit Systems’s multiple backend processors are capable of offering some of the worst contracts in the industry and some of the cheapest pricing available. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Advanced Credit Systems contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review.
We also encourage readers to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Advanced Credit Systems Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Uses Independent Resellers | No |
| Telemarketing | No |
| Misleading Marketing | Yes |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
In-House Sales Team
Advanced Credit Systems appears to market itself primarily through strategic partnerships and traditional advertising. There is no evidence at this time that the company employs independent sales agents, and we are unable to locate any Advanced Credit Systems reviews that accuse the company’s sales team of nondisclosure or misrepresentation of fees.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Incomplete Rate Quotes
The only factor lowering the company’s score in this section is the way it quotes transaction rates on its website. Advanced Credit Systems’ “Retail” page quotes MasterCard/Visa rates as low as 1.49% plus $0.21 per transaction, American Express rates of 3.5% plus $0.21 per transaction, and Discover rates of of 1.69% plus $0.21 per transaction. Its “Internet / Mail Order” page quotes a similar series of rates. The rates shown are likely the company’s “Qualified” rates, while its website makes no mention of the higher “Mid-Qualified” and “Non-Qualified” rates that clients will pay on the majority of their transactions. We consider this type of rate quoting to be deceptive, as it could give clients an unrealistic expectation of the rates they will pay. If you suspect that Advanced Credit Systems has misrepresented your rates, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.
Our Advanced Credit Systems Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Advanced Credit Systems rates as a reliable credit card processing provider according to all available information. The company is very small and has not had an active website for months at a time over the past few years, so business owners should be sure to double-check the identity of the company they are interacting with. The one area in which ACS can improve its rating in this review is in its rate quoting tactics. Readers should be sure to compare its pricing to that offered by top-rated merchant account providers.
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Landon Beverly
I just had to share my incredible experience with Advanced Credit Systems! They’ve truly been a game-changer for my financial situation. Their expert team worked wonders on my credit score, and within just a few months, I saw a significant improvement. The personalized approach they took to address my unique credit challenges was impressive. Not only did they help remove inaccuracies, but they also provided valuable tips to maintain a healthy credit profile. The communication throughout the process was top-notch – prompt, clear, and always supportive. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and commitment to helping me achieve my financial goals. If you’re looking to boost your credit score and take control of your finances, I highly recommend Advanced Credit Systems. They are simply the best in the business!