Bambora Review: Fees, Comparisons, Complaints & Lawsuits

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5
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How did they treat you? ▼

Note: As of 2020, Bambora became part of Worldline. The Bambora brand appears to be phased out as of 2022, as their website now redirects to that of Worldline. please refer to our Worldline review for current information.

Formerly Beanstream

Bambora is a merchant account provider based in British Columbia, Canada, that specializes in online payment processing. According to the company's website, Bambora services more than 450,000 customers in 65 countries worldwide. The company also offers automated payments for recurring billing. Originally known as Beanstream, the company was acquired in October 2015 and rebranded to Bambora sometime in 2017. In July 2017, Ingenico acquired Bambora. In October 2020, Worldline, a leader in the European payments industry, acquired both Ingenico and Bambora. Bambora provides U.S., Canadian, and UK merchant accounts.

Bambora Location & Ownership

Bambora is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank's Canadian branch in Toronto, Ontario, and has offices located at #200-1803 Douglas Street, #302, Victoria, BC V8T 4M1. Johan Tjärnberg is the Founder of Bambora and Daniel Nordholm is listed as the CEO. 

Bambora Review Table of Contents

  • Costs & Contract: Bambora offers a month-to-month contract with flat-rate pricing and no early termination fee.
  • Complaints & Service: Bambora complaints number fewer than 10 on public complaints forums.
  • BBB Rating: Bambora (as Worldline) has an “A+” rating and has received 0 complaints in the past 3 years. The company has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2017.
  • Sales & Marketing: Bambora does not hire independent sales representatives and has not received some complaints about its sales practices.

Bambora Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support No
Most Common Complaint N/A

Under 10 Complaints

We are currently able to locate only a few negative Bambora reviews, which is a good indication that the company isn’t a ripoff or a scam. We have also found roughly seven Beanstream complaints, but these may not be applicable following the company’s restructuring. The Beanstream complaints cite unexpected fees, fund-holds, poor customer service, poorly designed software, excessive paperwork, and insufficient fraud prevention measures extended to UK merchants. The Bambora complaints describe poor support and difficulty signing up for service. Bambora is a rapidly growing company that operates a number of international payment services, so we would expect it to have more complaints than it does. If you have your own Bambora review to make, please do so in the comments below.

Bambora Lawsuits

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Bambora. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Bambora Customer Service Options

Overall, Bambora’s very low complaint total indicates a responsive and available customer support team. The company’s website also lists a dedicated phone line for customer support and a dedicated callback support form. We are therefore inclined to award the company an “A” in this category with the caveat that users may only have access to an FAQ section, a knowledge base, or an email ticketing support system.

Bambora Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
Total Complaints 0
Resolved Complaints 0

No Complaints

Bambora has been an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau since November 2017. As of this review, the company’s profile has been merged with that of Worldline, who holds an “A+” rating with the BBB and has 0 complaints filed against it.

An “A” Performance

Given the company’s low complaint total, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time.

Bambora Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
U.S. Rate 2.90% + $0.30
Canada Rate 2.80% + $0.30
Bambora Ready Setup Fee $49
Bambora Ready Monthly Fee $25
Chargeback Fee $20
Early Termination Fee $0
Equipment Lease Cost $0

Month-to-Month Contract

Bambora advertises month-to-month agreements through TD Bank with no early termination fees, statement fees, or monthly minimum fees, and these claims appear to be consistent with its merchant agreement, found in part below.

Bambora Pricing Plans

At the time of a previous update to this Bambora review, the company offered 2 pricing plans for merchants to choose from: “Bambora Ready” and “Bambora Advance.” Bambora Ready is intended for most small to mid-size e-commerce merchants that do not require subscription billing and charges a $49 setup fee, a $25 monthly fee, and a per-transaction fee of 2.90% plus $0.30 (2.80% plus $0.30 in Canada). Bambora Advance is intended for large and enterprise-scale businesses that require advanced fraud protection and charges a custom monthly fee with interchange-plus per-transaction rates. Both plans also charge $20 per chargeback.

However, the company’s website no longer promotes either of the aforementioned pricing plans. Instead, the company refers prospective customers to its sales staff. This implies that Bambora rates may be customized based on different factors, including a merchant’s risk, processing volume, and industry. However, this review refers to Bambora’s last available publically disclosed pricing.

Industry-Standard Pricing

We are currently unable to locate any mentions of a PCI Compliance fee in the Bambora contract. Overall, these terms aren’t too far behind the cheapest merchant account providers, and the company’s use of flat rate and interchange-plus pricing reduces the risk of misleading rate quotes by Bambora representatives.

Bambora Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers No
Advertises Deceptive Rates No
Discloses All Important Terms Yes

In-House Sales Team

Bambora appears to primarily market itself through its website and through various referral partnerships. There is no evidence at this time that the company hires independently contracted sales agents, and we are unable to locate any negative Bambora reviews that mention the company’s sales team.

No Deceptive Quotes

The Bambora website quotes a flat rate of 2.9% plus $0.30 (2.8% plus $0.30 in Canada) for all transaction types, and there is no indication at this time that this rate quote is misleading. If you suspect that Bambora is overcharging you, then you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.

Our Bambora Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

A Solid International E-Commerce Provider

Bambora rates as a reliable merchant services provider according to our standards. The company is showing very few complaints online and appears to offer competitive pricing options for both Canadian and U.S. merchants. Even when dealing with highly rated credit card processors, merchants are advised to carefully read any contract they are given and to compare the company’s pricing to top-rated e-commerce payment processors.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did Bambora Treat You?

4 User Reviews

  • Colin R

    They do not except debit credit cards and seem to indiscriminately reject some credit cards. Twice I’ve been forced to use them, and their inaccessibility has led me here to complain about how irritating they are to deal with as a consumer. If I didn’t absolutely need to purchase the item that I need to use their service for I would go to another retailer just so that I didn’t have to deal with them rejecting all of my valid cards.

  • Laurel

    I wasn’t even able to get enough information to be able to be a customer.

    I emailed in, was immediately given a barrage of questions. I responded asking how to does it cost.

    Was told they could not tell me, util I answered all their questions. Did that, got another email, responded only to find out I wasn’t talking to the right department.

    Next person couldn’t tell me how it worked with Sage.

    When I asked to speak to a manager, they were condescending, kept cutting me off and kept playing pass the buck.

    Hey Bambora, Have the manager that calls people that are frustrated back take a course in LISTENING. In not cutting people off. And NOT acting like a child when I do the same to him.

    FIGURE out what it looks like to use YOUR system with SAGE. Do not make your customers do the work. If you want our business then YOU should be the expert. Stop telling me ‘its not my job, my responsibility’. Business 101, if you want the sale, then know your product. Business 101, LISTEN to your customer. Business 101 Do Not act like you are the one complaining to your customer.

    • Sherri

      They hold the money for 4-5 days instead of the common practice of next day or two day deposits into the sellers account. They take their overpriced fee of 3.5% at EVERY transaction (plus a .20¢ per transaction fee) instead of waiting until the end of the month and taking a lump sum amount… which gives THEM the use of our money for longer, and making for an accounting difficulty to the seller (at least if you use Sage) as there is no way to insert a “per transaction fee” along with the percentage they take, on credit card transactions. Worst Credit card processing company I’ve had to deal with in my 30 years of experience. Although the support guy was pleasant to me…. (I never made a stink though)… I’m just stuck with them if I want to do the job I have. But, if I was the decision maker I would Never choose them due to the overpriced fees, accounting nightmare for the bookkeeper, and how long they keep our money

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