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(844) 311-4734Compare Allied Commercial Financial
Company Overview
Allied Commercial Financial is a Tempe, Arizona-based merchant account provider that serves most standard-risk business types. The company is a reseller of First Data (now Fiserv) products and services. The company states that it was founded in 2012, although there is no record of its website being active before October 2014.
Allied Commercial Financial Payment Processing
Allied Commercial Financial processes most major debit and credit cards. Their services include POS systems through Clover, EMV swipers, mobile payment through Aprivapay Plus, a virtual terminal, recurring billing, a customer vault, payment reporting, and cash advances.
Location & Ownership
Blake Zinke is listed as the COO of Allied Commercial Financial and also appears to be a former employee of Paradigm Direct, Entrust Bankcard, and MobiSquad. Zinke also serves as the COO of TAPLocal Marketing, an online marketing firm that also provides payment processing services. Multiple other former MobiSquad employees from the Tempe, Arizona area now appear to work at Allied Commercial Financial. Allied Commercial Financial is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California. Allied Commercial Financial and TAPLocal Marketing are both headquartered at 2150 S Country Club Dr #18, Mesa, AZ.
The Allied Commercial Financial website also lists another address at 345 St Peter St #705, St Paul, MN, which the company describes as its “Minnesota Processing Center.” This address is actually the location of a merchant services company called Paradigm Services, Inc. which lists a “Tempe Contact Center” at Allied Commercial Financial’s address and has a name that is obviously similar to “Paradigm Direct.” Scott Andrew is the owner of Paradigm Services. An independent informant has stated to us that Paradigm Services is the actual registered ISO with Visa and MasterCard and that Paradigm Direct, MobiSquad, Entrust Bankcard, a company called ETS, and now Allied Commercial Financial are all more or less the same company operating as a sub-ISO of Paradigm Services. Much of the information we have found supports the informant’s claims, but they remain unverified at this time.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Appears to offer a multi-year contract through First Data (Fiserv) with…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number over 10 on…
- BBB Rating: Has no rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: Appears to hire independent sales agents and has received…
Allied Commercial Financial offers Fiserv’s Clover products
Allied Commercial Financial Reviews and Complaints
Here's What Their Clients Say
Complaint Summary
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Total Online Complaints
10+
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Live Customer Support
Yes
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Most Common Complaint
Telemarketing
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Moderate Complaint Total
We are currently able to locate about 20 negative Allied Commercial Financial reviews, some of which accuse the company of being a scam. These Allied Commercial Financial complaints have been filed at a consistent rate since this review’s initial publication, and most of them describe aggressive sales tactics, persistent telemarketing calls, nondisclosure of equipment lease terms, and higher-than-expected rates and fees.
There are also a handful of complaints filed against Paradigm Direct, Entrust Bankcard, MobiSquad, and Azura Leasing that specifically name current or former employees of Allied Commercial Financial. An Allied Commercial Financial representative has stated that some complaints against the company have been filed by a disgruntled competitor, but we have not received adequate documentation to support this claim. Even if we were to discount the disputed complaints, the Allied Commercial Financial complaint total would be low for a company that has been active since 2012. The content rather than the quantity of these complaints has lowered the company’s rating in this section to a “C.”
Allied Commercial Financial Lawsuits and Fines
We found evidence of a legal Allied Commercial Financial complaint filed in an Arizona District Court on behalf of Stephen Christian against Paradigm Services Incorporated DBA Allied Commerical Financial. Paradigm was awarded a summary judgment as a defendant regarding its telemarketing practices, but specific details are not available
Allied Commercial Financial Customer Service Options
Allied Commercial Financial offers live phone support to its merchants, but some complainants have stated that any equipment lease issues must be resolved through the appropriate third-party leasing provider. This falls well short of our expectations for top-rated payment processors for great customer service.
We have located multiple Allied Commercial Financial customer service numbers:
(844) 311-4734 – Toll-Free General Customer Support
(480) 999-5632 – Local Office
(800) 228-0210 – Tech Support
(340) 244-4339 – USVI Support
Allied Commercial Financial also offers a customer support form on its website and two customer support emails:
[email protected] – General Contact
[email protected] – Customer Support
Allied Commercial Financial BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
BBB Summary
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Total Complaints
0
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Resolved Complaints
0
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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.
Low Complaint Total
The Better Business Bureau currently assigns no rating to Allied Commercial Financial. Allied Commercial Financial had received 2 complaints at the time of a previous review but now shows a clean complaint record.
An “A” Performance
Given the company has not accumulated any new complaints in the last 36 months, we have adjusted the BBB’s no rating to an “A” at this time.
Allied Commercial Financial Fees and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
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Swiped Rate
1.00% - 4.99%
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Keyed-in Rate
1.00% - 4.99%
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Virtual Terminal Rate
1.00% - 4.99%
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Payment Gateway Fee
Undisclosed
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Early Termination Fee
$500
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Program Cost
$79 Per Month
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Equipment Lease Cost
Up To $65 Per Month
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Equipment Lease Length
48 Month (locked)
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Multi-Year Contract
We have received a blank copy of the standard Allied Commercial Financial merchant application, but this document does not include any specific pricing details. According to merchant complaints, the standard Allied Commercial Financial contract is a multi-year agreement with a variable early termination fee and a long-term, non-cancellable equipment lease. Other Allied Merchant Financial fees appear to be built into the contract, but the available Allied Merchant Financial reviews do not specify the exact costs of PCI compliance fees, monthly minimum fees, statement fees, and per-transaction fees. We encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant services.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Allied Commercial Financial also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway. However, pricing is not disclosed on either of those services. Additional rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates typically apply to these e-commerce services.
Allied Commercial Financial “Program Costs”
Merchants state that Allied Commercial Financial sales reps will typically claim to offer locked-in low rates in exchange for a fixed monthly “program cost” of up to $79. The independent informant who contacted us regarding the company has also stated that this is Allied Commercial Financial’s standard sales approach. Allied Merchant Financial complaints state that this program fee is in fact a non-cancellable lease for credit card processing equipment, and they further claim that they see an increase in fees rather than the savings that were promised. One Allied Commercial Financial complaint describes COO Blake Zinke using this exact tactic while working as a sales representative for Paradigm Direct and Entrust Bankcard.
Expensive Contract Terms
This pricing and contract structure is similar to terms offered by ElitePay Global and Harbortouch, and it is our belief that Allied Merchant Financial fees do not favor merchants. Equipment leases usually cost far more than the purchase price of the equipment over the life of the lease, and they do not allow dissatisfied merchants to cancel service. In addition, the claim that merchants can receive rock-bottom rates in exchange for signing a lease is a dubious one, as equipment leases are often separate agreements through third-party providers like First Data Global Leasing, MBF Leasing, and Azura Leasing. The consistencies between complaints filed against Entrust Bankcard, Paradigm Direct, and MobiSquad and those filed against Allied Commercial Financial suggest that the company’s contract terms are nowhere near competitive with budget-friendly merchant accounts.
Lease Cost Cap Claims
A company representative has stated that Allied Commercial Financial caps its lease agreements through First Data Global Leasing at $65 per month ($49 per month for outside sales agents), but we have not received any documentation corroborating this claim.
Allied Commercial Financial offers e-commerce solutions including a virtual terminal
Allied Commercial Financial Jobs and Employment
Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment
Key Points
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Employs Independent Resellers
No
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Advertises Deceptive Rates
No
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Discloses All Important Terms
No
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Outside Sales Team
Allied Commercial Financial appears to primarily use a combination of telemarketing, inside sales, and outside sales reps to market its services. The combination of telemarketing and outside reps is commonly linked to elevated complaint rates within the credit card processing industry, and Allied Commercial Financial appears to be no exception. We are currently able to locate multiple Allied Commercial Financial reviews that cite excessive telemarketing calls, high-pressure sales tactics, and outright deception by sales agents. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Allied Commercial Financial Review Details
These complaints describe a sales procedure that is typical of the industry: persistent, unwanted telephone calls trying to set up a “qualified” appointment which are then followed by a visit from a sales rep who promotes a monthly “program cost” that is in fact a long-term, non-cancellable equipment lease. A company representative has stated that these sales agents are “direct employees” of the company rather than independent contractors. If you suspect that one of these employees has misled you about the Allied Commercial Financial rates, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.
Complaints Under Other Names
It is worth noting that these complaints bear strong similarities to complaints filed against Paradigm Direct, Entrust Bankcard, and MobiSquad, all of which are Arizona-based businesses that are linked to current or former employees of Allied Commercial Financial by merchant complaints. It is unclear at this time whether Allied Commercial Financial has an active relationship with Paradigm Direct, Entrust Bankcard, or MobiSquad, but the overlap of current and former employees suggests that the sales tactics used at Entrust, Paradigm Direct, and MobiSquad could have been adopted by Allied Commercial Financial. In any case, the company’s marketing practices seem to be average for the industry and have accordingly received a “C” rating. As a point in the company’s favor, it does not list any misleading “teaser” quotes on its website.
Allied Commercial Financial Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
An Average Option for Most Business Types
Allied Commercial Financial rates as an average merchant services provider according to all available information. The company has received a moderate number of complaints in the few years that it has been active, and these complaints describe industry-average contract terms and consistent problems with the company’s sales staff. Our rating for Allied Commercial Financial may be subject to change as the company continues to operate and develop a reputation within the industry, but merchants should be sure to compare the company’s pricing to that offered by top-rated merchant accounts.
Nancy Li
I wish I could give a ZERO rating on this company, they are a complete scam, please be aware of this company.
On June 2016 after so many phone calls, I agreed to have a meeting with one of their sales rep in my office, during the meeting the sales compared the rates and told me how much that I can save annually if I use their service, I told her that my only concern was the service term, I couldn’t follow their original contract which was 3year on the service and 2year lease on the credit card terminal, because I will be work overseas after June 2017, so I refuse the service. But that sales called their supervisor right in front of me to get the permission to avoid the 3 year service term and 2year terminal lease term on the contract. After the phone call she told me that she had the permission to do so, she put me on the spot, high pressured me signed the contract, when signing the contract she told me that she took off the service term categories so I shouldn’t worry about it, but the credit card terminal lease was done by the third party, just sign the 2 year lease on the contract, when it’s time to cancel the service, the company will notify the party to cancel the terminal lease as well.
I was so naive to trust sales from this company, I got burned so bad. Their rates go up month by month, I end up spending even more. I try to cancel the service in June this year, and their service rep told me I have a 3-year contract, and if cancel now I have to pay $500 dollar fees for early termination, and still have to pay the monthly lease on the terminal even if I returned it. I told the service rep what happens, but she shows me the contract I signed last June, I couldn’t find where the service term I was signed at the beginning then she pointed out, guess what, they hide the 3year service term under the processor and banking information with small print. I want to talk to the sales rep who sold me the service, and they told me that the sales left the company already, and they can do nothing about it.
The whole thing was a scam, I searched online and find out, a lot of business got trick in and had same bad experience with me. Their BBB review is low, the owner blamed the competitor purposely write faults review on them, but I am their true client and my horrible experience tells you STAY AWAY from this company!
John
We had switched over to Allied Commercial early last year. They sent a rep out to our business. He looked at a previous bill from our current merchant and said they could safe us a lot of money. The rates on the charges were often 2 or 3 percent higher than what was promised. On top of that we had to lease a machine for $50 a month for 4 years. Later we found out that same machine could be bought online for $65
To get out of their contract, it cost $500 and then $1,700 for the machine and on top of it we have to ship the machine back.
Allied Commercial Financial attempted to resolve this complaint via our mediation program but the commenter declined to participate. ACF supplied the following response:
Allied is more than willing to help or fix any problem you’re having. However without knowing your Business Name or contact information we are unable to do so. Please reach out to us as soon as possible so we can work towards a resolution that suits your needs. Customer Service: 844-311-4734. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dave Patel
Since the posting of my previous review on July 9th 2016, Sean, one of the partners, has contacted me and resolved all my issues in a prompt and professional manner. The excellent customer service provided is very much appreciated. If exceptional customer service is provided from the beginning, I am positive your company will continue to be successful. Thank you again.
J DeL
after receiving a series of sales calls over a 2 wk period and after advising each time I was not interested in doing business with their company.. today I finally demanded to be removed from their call list in an equally as aggressive manner. I have now, thus far, received a total of 7 consecutive phone calls. ‘oops. sorry. didn’t mean to call you back’. all are on my toll free line. meaning I have record.
while googling this company / adding my reviews to every site.. I’m also calling my attorney to find out additional options
Dave Patel
his company is big lire & Cheater.Never trust their Reps.Actual Charges you pay are much more higher than they guarantee.They charge your account for unrecognized Charges you never approved. Once you start using their processor,They won’t listen your complaints & never call you back as they have the worst customer service.