AdvoCharge Review: Fees, Comparisons, Complaints & Lawsuits

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AdvoCharge

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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 payment processing

AdvoCharge’s ZING service

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AdvoCharge Reviews and Complaints

Here's What Their Clients Say

Complaint Summary

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.

AdvoCharge savings

It appears that AdvoCharge does actually provide the savings it advertises

AdvoCharge BBB Rating and Report

Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment

BBB Summary

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.

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AdvoCharge Fees and Rates

A Closer Look at the Contract

Don't Fall Into An Expensive Trap. See Who The Worst Processors Are.

Cost Summary

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 Jobs and Employment

Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment

Audit Your Current Statement To Find Its Hidden Fees

Processing statements are intentionally complicated so that they can overcharge you. Get clarity before you switch.

Key Points

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.

AdvoCharge Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts and Opinions

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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Customer & Employee Reviews

What Others Are Saying About AdvoCharge

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11 Responses

  • 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

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About The Author

Phillip Parker is the creator and author behind this website. He has over 15 years of experience in the credit card processing industry as a journalist, consultant, and former merchant account sales professional. He started this project as a blog to expose merchant services providers that engage in predatory business practices, such as deceptive marketing, misleading pricing, and high-pressure sales tactics. His goal is to help business owners find merchant account providers who serve their industry well while offering fair rates with no junk fees and no long-term commitments.

Phillip has researched over 1,000 payment processors and been quoted in numerous high-profile publications, including the Los Angeles Time, INC Magazine, The Atlantic, and the Miami Herald among others.

Need advice on card acceptance? Schedule a consultation with Phillip.

Phillip’s Top Processor Picks:
Retail, restaurant, e-commerce, mobile, professional services, and invoicing, Phillip recommends Helcim and CDG Commerce.

High-risk businesses, Phillip recommends PaymentCloud and Host Merchant Services.

How Our Ratings Work

Please note that our rating system was overhauled on April 26th, 2023. Reviews dated before this date may not score in accordance with the following.

Star Rating Criteria:

At the start of our research, all processors are awarded five stars. We deduct stars if the processor engages in any of the following:

– One star deduction if the processor has any junk fees.

– One star deduction if the processor does not post its pricing clearly on its website.

– One Star deduction if the processor is suffering from moderate client complaints.

– Multiple Star deductions if a processor is suffering from severe complaints, imposes unjust cancellation fees, markets non-cancellable equipment leases, engages in predatory rate pricing, or may be engaged in illegal activities.

Get all of the details regarding out rating criteria here.

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