Agree with our rating?
Tell us about your experience with Barclaycard Merchant Services in the comment section below.
0800 161 5343Company Overview
Founded in 1966, Barclaycard Merchant Services is a UK-based card issuer and merchant account provider that serves businesses of all sizes and types within the UK. The company is one of the few large UK merchant services providers that is not an extension of a U.S.-based credit card processor like First Data (now Fiserv) or Global Payments. In addition to merchant accounts, the company also provides virtual terminal and payment gateway services. In July 2020, Barclaycard Merchant Services announced they would be the acquiring partner in a deal with Philadelphia-based FreedomPay.
Barclaycard Merchant Services Payment Processing
Barclaycard Merchant Services processes all major debit and credit cards for most business types. Their services include EMV card readers and swipers, mobile payments, data reporting and analysis, accounting software, and e-commerce solutions.
Payment Terminals
Barclaycard provides a variety of payment terminals, including countertop, portable, and mobile devices. Their countertop devices are suited for fixed checkout points, while portable devices offer flexibility for businesses that require moving around a premises, such as restaurants. For businesses on the go, mobile devices enable card payment acceptance anywhere with network coverage.
Online Payment Solutions
With the rise of eCommerce, Barclaycard offers an online payment gateway for businesses. It’s a secure and efficient solution that allows businesses to accept card payments over the internet. Their system is designed to handle one-off payments, subscriptions, and recurring billing models, making it a versatile choice for various online businesses.
Telephone Payments
For businesses that accept orders via phone, Barclaycard offers a service called “virtual terminal”. It’s a secure online form that allows businesses to manually input their customer’s card details for payment processing without the need for a physical card reader.
Point of Sale (POS) Finance
Barclaycard also provides point of sale finance services, enabling businesses to offer finance options at the point of purchase. This service could potentially lead to increased sales by offering customers flexible payment options.
Payment Security and Fraud Prevention
Barclaycard puts a strong emphasis on payment security. They offer a robust package of fraud prevention tools to protect businesses and their customers. This includes advanced encryption, secure customer authentication, and real-time fraud detection.
Location & Ownership
Barry Rodrigues is the CEO of Barclaycard, which is headquartered at 1 Churchill Pl, Canary Wharf, London, UK.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Appears to offer an 18-month contract that may…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number more than 30 on…
- BBB Rating: Does not have a profile with…
- Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to hire independent sales agents and has received…
Barclaycard Merchant Services Customer Complaints & Reviews
Here's What Users Think
Complaint Summary
|
Total Online Complaints
40+
|
Live Customer Support
Yes
|
Most Common Complaint
Poor Customer Service
|
|
Recent Lawsuits
No
|
Moderate Complaint Total
We have located a moderate number of negative Barclaycard Merchant Services reviews, some of which describe the company as a scam or a ripoff. Most Barclaycard Merchant Services complaints mention poor customer service, difficulty canceling service, large termination fees, and withheld funds. If you have your own Barclaycard Merchant Services review to make, please do so in the comments below.
Some Red Flags
Barclaycard as an overall entity has a 1.2 out of 10 rating based on 2,915 reviews on Trustpilot, a customer feedback website. This is a significant increase in negative reviews from our last update. Although we typically don’t consider high Trustpilot ratings to be reliable due to the company’s partnership policies, we do take low ratings on the website seriously. It is difficult to differentiate the complaints about Barclaycard’s consumer card-issuing services from the complaints about its merchant services, but both branches appear to be equally represented in the available body of complaints. In general, Barclaycard appears to have an average number of complaints, with none of them being especially severe. Therefore, we award it a “C” rating in this category.
Barclaycard Lawsuits and Fines
Barclaycard is a party to numerous lawsuits against different banks and card providers. Yet, we have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Barclaycard by merchants. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Barclaycard Customer Support Options
Barclaycard offers live phone support and email support to all of its merchants. According to the level of complaints that specifically mention issues with the company’s customer service, these channels are evidently lacking when compared to the top-rated credit card processors for great customer support.
Barclaycard Customer Service Number
- 0800 158 5149 – General Support
Barclaycard Merchant Services BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
No BBB Profile
The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for Barclaycard Merchant Services due to its location in the UK. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.
Barclaycard Merchant Services Fees and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
|
Cancellation Penalteis
Unclear
|
Monthly & Annual Fees
Yes
|
Processing Rates
Variable
|
|
Equipment Leasing
Yes
|
Barclaycard Merchant Services Pricing
Barclaycard offers options to clients under 18-month Barclaycard Merchant Services contracts with payment processing facilitating mobile payments as well as countertop and portable terminals. A flat Barclaycard fee of 1.25% applies to all transactions. A monthly fee is attached to each option. Countertop terminal services are assessed a monthly fee of £15, while portable terminals cost £20, and mobile payments are the most costly at £25.
Barclaycard also supports a smartphone-hosted payments app called Barclaycard Anywhere. Unlike Barclaycard’s terminal-based rates, transactions made through smartphones are assessed at a rate of 2.6% as well as a £0.75 charge per refund. A one-time setup fee of £60 is also charged to clients. Barclaycard Anywhere services do not require a contract.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Barclaycard also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising Barclaycard Smartpay, its virtual terminal and payment gateway service. Barclaycard Smartpay offers 2 different plans, the Growing Plan and Established Plan.
The Growing Plan charges a fixed monthly fee of £20 plus VAT for businesses making less than 5,000 transactions per month. Each transaction is charged £0.10 each after the first 350, which are free. The Growing Plan also includes a minimum contract period of 12 months.
The Established Plan offers an online payment gateway for businesses making more than 5,000 transactions per month. Pricing for this plan offers rates tailored to fit a client’s transaction volume, the size of their business, and its industry. The Growing Plan comes with the possibility of a joining fee of up to £150.
Variable Contract Terms
Client complaints report that the early termination fee can be expensive and that cancellation itself can be a complicated process, but specific figures are hard to come by. In general, the company appears to offer average contract terms that can vary according to each situation. We do not have enough concrete information to determine if the Barclaycard contract terms are competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts at this time. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Barclaycard contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review.
We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Barclaycard Merchant Services Jobs and Employment
Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment
Key Points
|
Uses Independent Resellers
No
|
Telemarketing
No
|
Misleading Marketing
No
|
|
Discloses All Important Terms
No
|
Inside Sales Team
Barclaycard appears to rely on conventional advertising, strategic partnerships, and an in-house sales staff to market its services. There is no indication that the company recruits independent sales agents, and there are very few Barclaycard Merchant Services reviews that mention problems with the company’s sales tactics. This may be partly because Barclaycard’s long time in business and high consumer recognition allow it to market less aggressively than smaller or lesser-known companies.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
No Deceptive Advertising
The company does not advertise any rates or pricing details on its website, and it generally seems to avoid negative feedback about its sales tactics. It has therefore received an “A” rating in this section. If you suspect that Barclaycard is charging you undisclosed fees, however, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to spot hidden charges.
Barclaycard Merchant Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
Barclaycard Merchant Services rates as an average credit card processing provider for UK businesses of all sizes and types. The company’s large size gives it the flexibility to adapt to different business needs, but it also appears to have negatively impacted its customer service. As a general rule, large entities like Barclaycard are a better fit for mid-size and large businesses. For now, UK businesses may want to consider a top-rated UK merchant account provider to get the best rates and service.
If you found this article helpful, please share it!
Shore side
We have started this contract with Barclays Card Merchant service, after taking all terms and condition. they are charging £50 per month additionally when we ask for the reason they said this is because of international card, when we ask for evidence they said they can not provide that means simple cheating and biggest fraud case and this is a bleach of contract, they will charge you account direct debit whatever they want without information and when you ask for explanation you will never have it.
We close the contract within first 30Days due to all above issues and we are not at all confident because the way they are doing fraud, they will finish soon,
My appeal to the Business community it is our hard earn money which Barclays Card Merchant service will take without a reason so you can deal with them at own your risk.
From The Editor
This Post Might Help: Best International Merchant Accounts