Evolv Review: What Businesses Need to Know About Their Services

Evolv is a rebranded merchant account provider formerly known as Approval Payment Solutions headquartered in Newburgh, Indiana. The company is partnered with WorldPay for its processing network. In March 2018, Approval Payment Solutions acquired Houston-based credit card processor Orion Payment Systems. Other acquisitions include United Point-of-Sale, 253 Payment Pros, Cleargate, Rocky Mountain Merchant Services, Atlas MBA, VIV, Merchant Services International, and Retriever of Jackson.

Partnerships

Evolv has formed partnerships with various associations across different states, offering payment acceptance and digital marketing solutions.

Payment Processing

Evolv provides a variety of payment solutions, including ACH and check processing, high-risk processing, online payments, contactless terminals, mobile solutions, point-of-sale systems, and e-commerce integrations. They also offer gift and loyalty program services and QuickBooks integration.

Industry-Specific Solutions

Evolv serves multiple industries, including automotive, government and water systems, health and beauty, legal, restaurants, and retail. Additionally, they extend their services to financial institutions, bar associations, and sales offices.

Insight into Evolv Reviews

Our review has identified approximately 5 negative reviews of Evolv outside the Better Business Bureau (BBB). These reviews do not label Evolv as a scam or ripoff, but they do highlight issues with deceptive sales tactics, unexpected early termination fees, and challenges in canceling services. Such feedback emphasizes the need for transparency and effective communication from Evolv. If you have experiences with Evolv, we encourage you to share them in the comments section below to aid others in making informed decisions.

Evolv Customer Support Analysis

While Evolv partners with WorldPay, it’s important for merchants to understand where their support inquiries are directed. The Evolv website provides specific contact information for support; however, it remains unclear if inquiries are addressed by Evolv directly or by WorldPay. This ambiguity, coupled with the limited feedback on the effectiveness of these support channels, suggests that Evolv’s customer service might not meet the standards set by industry leaders in customer service.

PaymentPop Rating for Evolv

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about CardConnect on the PaymentPop website.

Evolv BBB Rating

Evolv/Approval Payment Solutions has been an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau since 2007. 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.

The company’s profile also features 1 informal review. The 1 review is positive. A former review was negative and detailed unexpected charges and poor customer service:

In this case, the client could have benefited from knowing which undesirable contract terms to be on the lookout for.

An “A” Rating Overall

Evolv/Approval Payment Solutions has seen a dramatic decrease in its complaints over our past few updates. In that time the company’s complaint total has fallen to 0 so we are willing to agree with the BBB’s “A+” rating at this time.

Evolv Contract Terms

Evolv appears to offer a three-year agreement through WorldPay with automatic renewal for two-year terms. The exact Evolv rates under that agreement are not disclosed by the company. There is also an undisclosed early termination fee associated with Approval Payment Solutions contracts, although this amount is likely to be close to the standard $250-$295 amount offered by WorldPay. We are currently unable to locate any mention of PCI Compliance fees or monthly minimum fees, but it is likely that these are included in the company’s contract as well. According to the Better Business Bureau, the company also appears to lock its credit card terminals to prevent “slamming,” which can lead to some frustration among merchants who don’t understand why their terminal is locked.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

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

Industry-Standard Pricing

One client complaint in the comment section of this review cites a $375 early termination fee, while a more recent complaint claims that this fee is actually $500. An Evolv complaint on another review website mentions a long-term equipment lease. Overall, the company’s contract terms appear to be within the average industry parameters, and we would not expect its pricing to be competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts.

We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.

No class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been found against Evolv or Approval Payment Systems. Merchants seeking resolutions outside of litigation are advised to contact appropriate regulatory bodies.

Inside and Outside Sales Staff

Evolv appears to utilize strategic partnerships, an in-house sales team, and independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent sales agents can often result in an elevated complaint rate for a company, as these sales representatives are usually motivated to sign merchants up for the most expensive contract terms possible. We have seen a few such Evolv reviews.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

Sales Complaints

We are currently able to locate a few Evolv/Approval Payment Solutions complaints that describe aggressive sales tactics and nondisclosure of contract terms. To its credit, the company does not appear to engage in deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. If you suspect that Evolv is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to find and eliminate hidden costs.

Evolv holds a position as an average credit card processing provider based on our established rating system. The company’s standing in the industry is influenced by certain contractual terms that may not align favorably with the best interests of its clients, which has somewhat dampened its overall rating. On the positive side, Evolv benefits from having a relatively low number of complaints across various consumer protection websites, suggesting a level of service that satisfies most of its customers. This aspect of their operations has contributed to lifting their score within our evaluations.

Despite these strengths, potential clients of Evolv are advised to approach their contract negotiations with caution. It is recommended that businesses meticulously review the contract terms offered by Evolv, paying close attention to any fees, service clauses, and penalty details that could impact their financial and operational flexibility. Comparing Evolv’s pricing and contract conditions to those offered by top-rated merchant account providers is essential. This comparison will help businesses ensure that they are receiving competitive rates and terms that best suit their specific needs, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions about their credit card processing solutions.