Advanced Merchant Services Review

Advanced Merchant Services Contract Terms

There is very little public information about the standard Advanced Merchant Services contract at this time. The company does not disclose its pricing and fees on its website, and there aren’t many merchant complaints that focus on specific costs. One complaint describes an early termination fee of either $395 or $495, and most complaints about the company’s sales tactics also seem to mention long-term merchant account contracts and equipment leases. Beyond these reports, however, there isn’t a lot of evidence as to the company’s pricing and contract terms.

Variable Pricing

As a reseller of First Data contract, Advanced Merchant Services may have contract terms similar to those offered by First Data. First Data offers a wide variety of contract terms and pricing plans, but its standard agreement is typically a multiyear contract with an early termination fee of $495, a monthly PCI compliance fee of $19.95, and tiered pricing. Merchants who process up to $50,000 each month will receive a swiped rate of 2.69% plus $0.19 and a keyed in rate of 3.69% plus $0.19. Merchants whose monthly charges exceed $50,000 will receive a swiped rate of 2.29% plus $0.19 and a keyed in rate of 3.29% plus $0.19. Another facet of these contracts are non-cancellable, long term equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing.

The available evidence suggests that Advanced Merchant Services’s contract terms are not competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts. The company’s reliance on independently contracted sales agents may result in some variation in pricing and fees from agent to agent.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Advanced Merchant Solutions also dedicates a portion of its website that advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. However, pricing on either of those services is not disclosed. Additional rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates typically apply to these e-commerce services.

General Contract Dissatisfaction

It is also likely that the company offers credit card terminals and POS systems through First Data Global Leasing. Despite the lack of complaints related to Advanced Merchant Services’ contract terms, the available evidence seems to indicate that merchants who accidentally sign up for service with the company aren’t pleased with the costs incurred. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Advanced Merchant Services contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review.

Moderate Complaint Total

We are currently able to locate over 30 negative Advanced Merchant Services reviews, many of which accuse the company of scamming merchants. The vast majority of these complaints have been posted in relation to the company’s sales tactics, specifically the slamming-style telemarketing pitches that have been alleged by some merchants. These complainants often state that they do not trust the company at all after receiving this sales pitch and then subsequently dealing with Advanced Merchant Services customer support.

Advanced Merchant Services Lawsuits

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Advanced Merchant Services. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Advanced Merchant Services Customer Support Options

Advanced Merchant Services has responded to some public complaints, stating that “issues with the call process” were to blame for many of these sales-related complaints. It is unclear whether merchants who post about being tricked into unwanted equipment are ultimately released from their agreements. Advanced Merchant Services offers dedicated phone and email customer support to all of its merchants, but these channels are not enough to qualify it as a top-rated merchant account provider for customer service.

Note: We have adjusted this company’s BBB rating according to our own standards. To better understand why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.

Under 5 Complaints

Advanced Merchant Services currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB-accredited. The company has received 3 complaints in the past 36 months, as well as 1 which was closed in the last 12 months. 2 complaints were left in relation to product or service problems and 1 was left about a with billing or collection problem. Advanced Merchant Services has not resolved any of the 3 of complaints to the merchant’s satisfaction. All 3 either were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final response from the merchant yet.

A “B” Performance Overall

The company has also received 1 positive informal review, although it should be noted that these reviews are not subject to verification by the BBB. Though its complaint total is low, in light of a lack of a resolution to any of those complaints, we have adjusted the BBB’s assessment from an “A” to a  “B” rating.

Sales Complaints

Advanced Merchant Services appears to market its services primarily through a combination of telemarketing and independently contracted sales agents. This marketing strategy is often linked to elevated complaint rates within the credit card processing industry, and Advanced Merchant Services appears to be no exception. We are currently able to locate dozens of Advanced Merchant Services complaints that describe aggressive telemarketing tactics and deceptive conduct by the company’s sales team.

Slamming Allegations

Specifically, a large number of merchants have claimed that Advanced Merchant Services is engaged in a practice called “slamming.” Slamming occurs when a sales agent calls a merchant’s place of business posing as the merchant’s current credit card processor in order to convince the merchant to open a new account with that agent’s company. In Advanced Merchant Services’s case, multiple merchants claim to receive calls from Advanced Merchant Services reps claiming that the merchants need to update their credit card processing machines due to the new EMV regulations. The following complaint describes a typical exchange:

Company claims to be Advanced Merchant Services and says that our business credit card machine needs to be upgraded to new one. We are on the national Do Not Call List. They still call almost daily and hound our staff about us needing a new machine. They finally faxed us paperwork that must be filled out so we can get new machine. Paperwork needs bank account number and is thru a different bank than our usual bank who already had our credit card merchant service account and who already knows our bank account number. Liars, as they appear to be from your same card merchant company, but they are NOT. They try to trick you into filling out/signing their forms, which will switch your card business to them instead of your usual merchant company. Sorry way to do business!! Don’t give them info. Don’t deal with them.

The reports of Advanced Merchant Services using this tactic are consistent from merchant to merchant and can be found across multiple online forums. This makes it less likely that this issue is simply confined to a few agents.

Ensure Your Provider’s Identity

Merchants who are contacted by Advanced Merchant Services (or any credit card processor, for that matter) should make absolutely certain that they are dealing with their actual merchant account provider before signing up for any “upgrades” or “rate reviews.” Additionally, If you suspect that Advanced Merchant Services is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden costs.