AdvoCharge Review: Fees, Comparisons, Complaints & Lawsuits
(720) 505-2712 Partnered With the Boulder Chamber of Commerce
AdvoCharge is a merchant account provider headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company serves U.S. and Canadian merchants and is partnered with a number of organizations in Boulder and across the country. AdvoCharge offers a 10% discount to members of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce.
AdvoCharge Payment Processing
AdvoCharge processes major debit and credit cards for most business types, with a specific focus on businesses in Boulder, Colorado. They offer two service levels, called ZING and Wave. ZING passes the processing fee on to the consumer by adding it to their charge, while Wave is a traditional payment processing structure. Both include cash discounts, recurring billing, chargeback support, ApplePay and Google Wallet compatibility, EMV swipers, free signage, POS terminals, mobile solutions, and a virtual terminal. Wave also offers Level 2 & 3 processing
AdvoCharge Ownership
Founded in 2009, AdvoCharge is aligned with multiple payment processors and does not list any one acquiring bank on its website. The company primarily resells CardConnect hardware and software. Mark Tracy is listed as the CEO and co-founder of AdvoCharge, which is headquartered at 4450 Arapahoe Ave #100, Boulder, CO 80303.
AdvoCharge Review Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: AdvoCharge offers a month-to-month contract with no…
- Complaints & Service: AdvoCharge complaints number fewer than 10 on public…
- BBB Rating: AdvoCharge has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: AdvoCharge does not hire independent sales agents and has not received any…
AdvoCharge’s ZING service
AdvoCharge Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
| Live Customer Support | No |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Clean Complaint Record
As of this review, we are unable to locate any AdvoCharge reviews that accuse the company of being a scam or a ripoff. In fact, nearly all publicly available AdvoCharge reviews praise the company’s customer service and cite its agents’ availability as a major perk. Most of these positive reviews were verified to have been written by actual business owners. This is a highly impressive complaint record for a company that has been in business for a decade. If you have your own AdvoCharge review to make, please do so in the comments below.
AdvoCharge Lawsuits
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against AdvoCharge. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
AdvoCharge Customer Service Options
One drawback of AdvoCharge’s service is that it requires merchants to use email as the first form of customer service contact, but the company is willing to place calls at later stages of service if required. This practice has not generated any complaints as of this review, but it has prevented the company from being ranked as a top merchant account provider for customer service.
It appears that AdvoCharge does actually provide the savings it advertises
AdvoCharge Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total BBB Complaints | 0 |
| Complaints Resolved | 0 |
No BBB Complaints
AdvoCharge is not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. As of this review, the company has an “A+” rating with the BBB and has had 0 complaints filed against it in the last 36 months. AdvoCharge is also not showing any informal reviews on its BBB profile, although it should be noted that customer reviews through the BBB are not subject to verification.
An “A” Performance Overall
In light of AdvoCharge’s clean complaint record through the BBB, we award the company an “A” in this section. Merchants should still be aware that there is reason to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.
AdvoCharge Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Item | Result | >
|---|---|
| Cancellation Penalties | None |
| Monthly & Annual Fees | None |
| Processing Rates | 1.00% - 4.99% |
Month-to-Month Contract
As noted above, AdvoCharge exclusively promotes cash discount and interchange-plus pricing, which are the most transparent and cheapest per-transaction rates available. The company’s website advertises no cancellation fee, no setup fee, and no annual fee. It also advertises that its agents have a $0.00 buy rate for PCI compliance, meaning that merchants should be able to negotiate their PCI compliance fees down to zero. These are very competitive contract terms, and we are unable to locate any AdvoCharge reviews that contradict the company’s advertised figures.
CardConnect’s Involvement
One potential area for concern is AdvoCharge’s partnership with CardConnect, a “D” rated provider that resells the First Data (now Fiserv) line of Clover POS products. AdvoCharge is clear that it does not enforce any long-term contracts or punitive termination fees, but the company’s contract through CardConnect (available below) includes the following passage:
In the event that Client terminates this Agreement within five (5) years from the date of approval by CardConnect and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or this Agreement is terminated by CardConnect within 5 years from the date of approval, due to an Event of Default, Client will be charged a fee of $750.00 for such early termination. Client’s obligation with respect to the Monthly Minimum Processing Fee will end simultaneously with CardConnect’s receipt of Termination Fee.
This five-year term with a $750 termination fee clearly contradicts AdvoCharge’s displayed pricing. AdvoCharge has been consistent about its month-to-month contracts for every year that we have reviewed it, so it is likely that this language is usually modified in the company’s official paperwork. Even so, merchants should be sure to demand that this clause is either edited or eliminated from their contract before signing up.
Highly Competitive Pricing
There appear to be numerous positive testimonials in the comment section of this review and elsewhere online, indicating that most AdvoCharge clients are pleased with the terms of their contracts. We therefore award the company an “A” in this category, with the caution that additional terms imposed by CardConnect may not be as friendly. We also do not consider AdvoCharge to be among the absolute cheapest merchant accounts at this time. See the AdvoCharge/CardConnect Program Guide.
AdvoCharge Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Employs Independent Resellers | No |
| Advertises Deceptive Rates | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | Yes |
In-House Sales Team
AdvoCharge appears to market its services through a combination of its website and partnerships with a network of clients. The company’s website actively promotes cash discount pricing and interchange-plus pricing, both of which are cheaper and more transparent than industry-standard tiered pricing. Moreover, we have not found any AdvoCharge reviews that describe unethical conduct by the company’s sales agents.
No Deceptive Rate Quotes
As its name indicates, AdvoCharge markets itself as an advocate for transparent sales tactics in the credit card processing industry. The total absence of AdvoCharge complaints about the company’s sales team seems to suggest that it takes this claim seriously, and its website even has a section dedicated to educating business owners about the merchant services industry. If you still suspect that AdvoCharge is charging you hidden fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate unnecessary charges.
Our AdvoCharge Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
A Great Option for Most Standard-Risk Businesses
By all available indicators, AdvoCharge rates as an exemplary merchant services provider. The company appears to place a premium on transparent sales tactics and pricing, and multiple online reviews praise its customer service. The only merchants that might not be served well by AdvoCharge are businesses operating in high-risk industries, but the company advertises that it does serve CBD and hemp businesses. Even when dealing with highly rated credit card processors, merchants are advised to carefully examine the terms of any contract they are given.
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How Did AdvoCharge Treat You?11 Responses
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Betty Artes
As a restaurant owner for the past 19 years I have gone through several credit card processors without much satisfaction and much frustration. For the past year I have been processing with Advocharge and am totally satisfied. Their transparency is refreshing, the fees are manageable and as quoted and they are available to answer questions. They understand the merchants perspective and are very sensitive to that. I have recommended Advocharge to other businesses and will continue to do so.
Phillip CPO
Hi Betty,
In order to ensure that testimonials are authentic we ask that you reply to this comment with your business name, location, and/or website URL. Thanks!
Betty Artes
My business is Casa Alvarez Restaurant in Boulder Colorado. Our web site can be accessed through casaalvarezcolorado.com or alvarezmexican.com .
Stacey
We have been extremely happy with Advocharge. Our processing costs are less, which helps us as a small business, and the customer service we receive is second to none. I confidently decline offers from the other companies that call weekly, promising lower rates. I highly recommend Advocharge.
Stacey Melis
Pro-Active Chiropractic
Cheryl Sussman
Since we switched to AdvoCharge, credit card processing has been painless. If we have any questions or needs they are taken care of quickly and professionally; it’s SO much better to have a local representative!
Phillip CPO
Hi Cheryl,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial.
Cheryl Sussman
Eight Days a Week Imaging and Copy Center
840 Pearl St., Boulder, CO 80302
Stephanie Frangos
Making the jump to take Credit Card for our small growing business was scary . Advo Charge made it easy and has help with all of our needs as we grow. We had compared rates and we have the best deal by far !! We have converted many other business to Advo Charge once we tell them about the personal service and rates ! Thank you Advo Charge for all you do for us !!!
Rick
We switched our business over to Advocharge in February. We’d been with our prior processor for over 5 years. During those 5 years we were repeatedly contacted by merchant processors who told us how much money they’d save us, but when we dug deep, we weren’t comfortable with something about the way they did business. Either we didn’t believe their rate structure was real, or their customer service was problematic, or they had a lot of complaints. It took a lot for us to switch.
And I’m glad we did. Our overall effective rate including all fees dropped by an average of 20-30%, which is saving us hundreds of dollars each month. The customer service has been superb and the processing has been flawless. We actually see our charges deposited a day faster than our prior processor, and the online reporting tools are excellent as well.
I would highly recommend these guys. We literally have zero complaints and are very glad we made the switch.
Phillip CPO
Hi Rick,
In order to authenticate your testimonial, please reply to this comment with your business name and location. Thanks!
Rick Mathes
Hi, we run The Egoscue Clinic of Austin, in Austin, TX. Austin.egoscue.com.
Thanks