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(877) 861-8008Company Overview
Banc Certified Merchant Services, founded in 1996, is a merchant account provider focusing on web-based credit card processing platforms for small to mid-sized businesses. Banc Certified Merchant services is a reseller of Elavon contracts, although documents can be found online that also link the company to Sage Payment Solutions. Banc Certified Merchant Services prominently markets a service offered by a separate company called CardX that advertises the ability for merchants to effectively pay 0% on credit card processing fees by adding surcharges to customers’ transactions. The CEO of Banc Certified Merchant Services is an investor in CardX and shares a last name with CardX’s CEO. The company also partners with Talech for POS solutions. Other services include mobile processing and e-commerce services.
Location and Ownership
Banc Certified Merchant Services is located at 5006 Cemetery Rd, Hilliard, Ohio 43026-1640 and is a registered ISO/MSP of Elavon, Inc., Georgia. Ali Razi is listed as the founder and CEO of Banc Certified Merchant Services.
Banc Certified Merchant Services Pros and Cons
pros
- Low Complaint Rate
- Interchange-Plus Pricing
cons
- Little Info on Contract
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Typically offers a month-to-month contract through…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number fewer than 10 on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating and has received 0 complaints and 0 reviews in…
- Sales & Marketing: Appears to hire independently contracted agents but has…
Banc Certified Merchant Services Customer Complaints & Reviews
Here's What Users Think
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
N/A
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Recent Lawsuits
Yes
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Low Complaint Total
We are able to locate few Banc Certified Merchant Services reviews on other non-BBB consumer protection websites, and the comment section of this review has received one Banc Certified Merchant Services complaint since its initial publication. The client in this case complained of poor customer service and misrepresentation of rates by a sales agent. Another Banc Certified Merchant Services complaint we found mentioned irritation with the company’s sales calls.
BCMS Lawsuits and Fines
BCMS was sued in 2016 for alleged violation of the TCPA with excessive faxes. The case appears to be still ongoing by the time of this update in 2023.
Elavon, the merchant account provider BCMS resells the services of, also has a legal history.
In 2012, Elavon was sued by one of its clients, a restaurant named Cisero’s, for PCI compliance fines. The problem started when U.S. Bank (Elavon’s parent company) was fined $90,000 by Visa and MasterCard, who alleged that Cisero’s had not secured its network and experienced a data breach that resulted in fraudulent transactions on a few of its customers cards. In reaction, U.S. Bank debited Cisero’s checking account of $10,000 without notice and then filed a lawsuit against Cisero’s owners to obtain the remaining $80,000, stating that their merchant account contract makes them responsible for such fines.
Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
BCMS Customer Support Options
Because Banc Certified Merchant Services is partnered with Elavon, it is possible that many Banc Certified complaints get funneled to Elavon’s online profiles. However, we’ve found no evidence to suggest that this is occurring. BCMS offers a dedicated phone line and an email form for clients on its website. The company’s support channels are not sufficient to qualify it as a top-rated credit card processor for customer service.
BCMS Customer Service Number
- (877) 861-8008 – General Support
Other Support Options
- Support Form
Banc Certified Merchant Services BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
BBB Summary
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BBB Reports
0
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No BBB Complaints
Banc Certified Merchant Services maintains an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau as of this update and has been BBB accredited since 2002. 0 complaints have been filed against the company’s profile. Because of the company’s affiliation with Elavon, it is possible that some complaints about Banc Certified may have been improperly diverted to Elavon’s BBB profile. However, we have seen no evidence of this.
What Merchants Say
BCMS has not received any informal reviews in the past 36 months.
An “A” Performance Overall
Given the company’s complaint rate and resolution ratio, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. Business owners should note, however, that there is reason to be skeptical of the BBB’s reviews.
Banc Certified Merchant Services Fees and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
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Cancellation Penalties
No
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Monthly & Annual Fees
Yes
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Processing Rates
Variable
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Equipment Leasing
Yes
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An Elavon Reseller
As an ISO of Elavon and other providers, BCMS has the freedom to modify the contract terms of its processors to a certain extent. As a point of reference, a typical Elavon contract offers a swipe rate of 2.65% + $0.19 and a keyed-in rate of 3.50% + $0.19. That contract usually includes a PCI compliance fee ranging from $29 to $59 per month as well as a $10 monthly fee.
According to a BCMS representative, the company’s current standard contract is a month-to-month agreement with no early termination fee (ETF) unlike Elavon. BCMS sometimes offers different contract terms depending on the circumstances under which the account was signed.
BCMS also partners with Talech for POS solutions. Talech offers 3 tiers of plans to its cients, its Starter, Standard, and Premium plans. The Starter Plan costs $528 per year or $49 per month. The Standard Plan costs $744 a year or $69 per month for a business’ first POS system and $420 per year or $39 per month for each additional device. Lastly, the Premium Plan costs $1,068 per year or $44 per month for the first POS system and $528 per year or $49 per month for additional devices. Talech markets the Starter Plan to cafes or basic retail outfits, the Standard Plan to casual and medium-sized retail businesses, and the Premium Plan to full-service restaurants, multi-location retails, salons, and spas.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Banc Certified Merchant Services also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. 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.
BCMS Contract Pricing Complaints
The terms cited in online complaints suggest that the former terms of the Banc Certified contract included an early termination fee ranging from $195 to $295 and a monthly statement fee of $5-$10, but our understanding is that any new clients boarded with the company will receive the month-to-month contract. Because the company hires independent sales agents, it is possible that specific pricing may vary depending on the agent setting up the account. Businesses are also advised to bear in mind that many of these terms are often negotiable. We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Banc Certified Merchant Services Jobs and Employment
Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment
Key Points
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Uses Independent Resellers
Yes
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Telemarketing
Yes
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Misleading Marketing
No
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Discloses All Important Terms
No
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Outside Sales Agents
Banc Certified appears to hire independent sales agents and use telemarketing to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is a common industry practice that unfortunately can result in an unregulated, untrained sales team. We were able to locate a few Banc Certified reviews that mentioned misrepresentation by sales agents, but there does not appear to be an overall pattern of nondisclosure by the company’s sales team. In general, this compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
That said, if you suspect that Banc Certified’s sales team is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.
Pricing Models
The company’s website offers a page explaining interchange fees and touting its “cost-plus” pricing structure, which is described as “the basic interchange rate plus a few basis points to cover our services.” At first glance, it is unclear whether BCMS is referring to interchange-plus pricing, which is the most transparent pricing plan available. According to a company representative, BCMS provides both tiered and interchange-plus pricing to clients, but the company strongly prefers to offer interchange-plus whenever merchants are comfortable with it. We would encourage businesses to request interchange-plus pricing through Banc Certified Merchant Services in order to receive the most transparent pricing model.
Banc Certified Merchant Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
Banc Certified Merchant Services rates as a reliable credit card processing provider by our standards. The company has a low complaint rate for its size and time in business, and its current contract terms are more favorable than industry averages. Even when dealing with highly rated providers, business owners are advised to read their contracts carefully and to compare the company’s terms to the top-rated merchant account providers.
If you found this article helpful, please share it!
Leo
I am owner of SemBro Outlet and sign up with BCMS about 3-4 month ago. We had several trouble with processing, some fees was not explained, and when spoken with representative – two times they gave us wrong answer. We are on the line right now, thinking to switch to different merchant service.
Kevin James
Leo,
I am not an employee of BCMS nor am I authorized to speak on their behalf.
Speaking as a veteran ISO in this industry, I noticed that you’ve only been with BCMS 3 to4 . Honestly, your account is still within the “ramp-up” window. This means, there are probably integrated services such as online invoicing, ecommerce and other services that a processor may not get perfect to your liking until the 3rd or 4th invoice.
The bottom line is, you may have wasted your time looking for a different processor. BCMS has been around for decades and has a solid reputation. Based on their website they “white label” the services of Elavon, Sage and several other big boys. Service doesn’t get any better than what BCMS brings to the table.
Good luck.
Eric Espinoza
Kevin, i agree with you. i am not a merchant, but an independent agent. I do have a relationship with the owner and staff at BCMS, but I work for another company. If I ever made a change in my career it would be to work with those guys. They are very transparent with the shortest customized merchant application Ive seen in the industry. The last time I checked they have over 90% of their clients PCI compliant. They have a gal who calls hundreds if not thousands of merchants to help complete their PCI questioannaires as well as performing their quarterly scanning. If there are fees that dont make sense, i would take a guess its interchange not BCMS causing the confusion. As we all know interchange is much more than a “rate and a per item fee”.