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Advantage Payment Processing is a merchant account provider headquartered in San Diego, California. The company is powered by First Data (now Fiserv), which means that it resells First Data/Fiserv products, services, and processing agreements. The company claims to be able to serve both standard and high-risk business types, including cannabis merchants.
Before we dive in, here’s a short summary of what we’ll cover:
Advantage Payment Processing Inc. can process any form of electronic payment such as Visa/MasterCard, American Express/Discover, PIN-based and offline debit, Voyager Fleet Card, EBT, check conversion with guarantee as well as support for E-Commerce transactions. Their services also include gift cards, cash advances, and virtual terminals.
Advantage Payment Processing Inc. is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in Concord, California, and is headquartered at 5694 Mission Center Road, Suite 602–145, San Diego, California 92108. The company does not list the identity of its executive leadership, but a 2012 press release indicates that Carrie Portugal is the president of Advantage Payment Processing.
Key Points |
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Total Online Complaints | <10 |
Live Customer Support | Yes |
Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Recent Lawsuits | No |
We are unable to locate any negative Advantage Payment Processing reviews, which is a positive indicator that the company is not a ripoff or a scam. This clean complaint record may be a product of Advantage’s stated policy of giving each merchant a dedicated “personal consultant,” or it may simply be that the company is not very large. It is also possible that complaints intended for Advantage Payment Processing are instead mistakenly filed against First Data/Fiserv, but we have found no evidence at this time that this is occurring. If you have your own Advantage Payment Processing review to make, please do so in the comments below.
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Advantage Payment Processing. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
The company offers live phone support for its clients, which appears to do an effective job of resolving complaints. Despite its “A” rating in this section, this payment processor is not considered to be a top-rated provider for customer service.
Online Ratings Summary |
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BBB Reports | 0 |
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.
Advantage Payment Processing is not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. As of this review, the company does not have a rating and does not have any public complaints filed against it with the BBB. The BBB has also not received any informal reviews related to Advantage.
Given the company’s clean record, we are awarding the company an “A” in this section. Readers should note, however, that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.
Key Points |
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Cancellation Penalties | Yes |
Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
Processing Rates | No |
Equipment Leasing | Likely |
There is very little publicly available information regarding the standard Advantage Payment Processing contract. The company is a First Data/Fiserv reseller, which means that its contract is likely to resemble the standard First Data/Fiserv contract. First Data/Fiserv is capable of offering a wide range of contract terms.
A typical First Data/Fiserv contract offers a wide variety of terms and pricing plans, but its standard agreement is typically a multi-year contract with an early termination fee of $495, a monthly PCI compliance fee of $19.95, and tiered pricing. Businesses that 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. Businesses 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.
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Advantage Payment Processing also dedicates a portion of its website that advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway. The company refers to these services as its Orbital Payment Gateway. 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.
The company’s website formerly stated that it does not lease processing equipment to merchants; however, it appears that it may now do so. Given the fact that there are no public complaints regarding Advantage’s pricing and contract terms, we will assign it an “A” rating for now, but business owners should still compare the company’s rates to the cheapest merchant account providers.
We also encourage readers to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Key Points |
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Uses Independent Resellers | Yes |
Telemarketing | No |
Misleading Marketing | No |
Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Advantage Payment Processing appears to primarily market itself via referrals, its website, and traditional advertising. There is no evidence at this time that the company employs independently contracted sales agents, and we have not found any Advantage Payment Processing reviews that mention nondisclosure or misrepresentation of terms by sales representatives.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
The company also does not list any deceptive rate quotes on its website. In light of these factors, we will award Advantage an “A” rating in this category for the time being. If you suspect that Advantage Payment Processing is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to find and eliminate sneaky charges.
Businesses can be designated as a high-risk account for a multitude of reasons. From their credit history, to their transaction volume, to the size of their business, these considerations can have a huge impact on their rates and transaction fees as they are offered non-qualified rates. Cannabis businesses face a unique set of circumstances that make them high-risk merchants. Advantage Payment Processing advertises its specialization of serving these businesses and other high-risk accounts. It should be noted that high-risk businesses often get hit with fund-holds.
Advantage Payment Processing rates as a reliable credit card processing provider according to all available information. We are unable to locate any details about the company’s standard contract at this time, but the total lack of merchant complaints related to the company is a solid indication that it offers quality service and support on par with top-rated processors. Readers are encouraged to read and understand all contract terms even when dealing with an “A” rated credit card processor.
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Ezekiel Heather
I have been using Advantage Payment Processing for my business, and I must say, they are simply outstanding! From the moment I signed up, their customer service has been top-notch. Whenever I had a question or needed assistance, their team was incredibly responsive and helpful, guiding me through every step of the process.
Not only that, but their payment processing solutions have streamlined my transactions and made my life so much easier. It’s great to see my payments processed swiftly and securely without any hiccups.
The best part is that they offer competitive rates, which has positively impacted my bottom line. I’ve saved money compared to my previous provider, and the service quality is far superior.
I highly recommend Advantage Payment Processing to any business looking for a reliable, efficient, and customer-oriented payment processing partner. They have truly earned my trust and loyalty