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All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.
In this review of Base Commerce, we take a close look at the company’s credit card processing services. We outline their offerings, including pricing, contract terms, and available features. We also highlight what customers are saying, with a focus on fee transparency, support quality, and overall satisfaction. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of how Base Commerce works and whether it could be the right choice for your business.
Base Commerce is a Tempe, Arizona-based merchant account provider that specializes in providing an integrated payment processing platform for developers, ISOs, and merchants. The company was founded in 2008 following the purchase of First American Payment Processing and acts as the backend processor for Transparent Merchant Services, another Arizona-based company.
In 2020, Base Commerce was acquired by Nuvei. It appears that the company is still being operated under its own name; however, the Base Commerce website mentions that they will be moving soon.
Base Commerce offers comprehensive payment processing services, accepting all major debit and credit cards.
The company provides advanced EMV card readers and swipers, aligning with the latest industry standards for security and efficiency.
Base Commerce’s Point of Sale (POS) solutions are designed to streamline retail operations. These systems integrate seamlessly with various business models, offering features that support inventory management, sales tracking, and customer relationship management.
Their ACH payment services enable businesses to process electronic payments directly from bank accounts. This service is ideal for recurring billing and large transactions.
Base Commerce also caters to the growing need for mobility in business with its mobile payment solutions. These solutions allow merchants to accept payments on-the-go, using smartphones and tablets.
Virtual terminals provided by Base Commerce enable businesses to process payments without physical card readers. This service is beneficial for phone or mail order transactions.
Through its BaseLink platform, Base Commerce offers robust e-commerce solutions. This platform supports online businesses by providing secure payment gateways, shopping cart integration, and comprehensive transaction management.
We are able to locate very few negative reviews about Base Commerce, which makes it unlikely that the company is a ripoff or a scam. One complaint we found describes an issue with the company’s customer service, citing difficulties with a member of the Base Commerce risk department who was allegedly rude to the client. Another complaint mentions issues with sales representatives. It is unclear how much of the company’s current customer base consists of clients and how much consists of ISOs or developers, but it appears that both groups are able to resolve their issues successfully through Base Commerce’s customer service channels. It is possible that some complaints intended for Base Commerce are mistakenly filed against the company’s ISOs or its acquiring bank, but we have found no evidence that this is actually occurring.
In 2015, the company was one of several defendants in a class-action case regarding an illegal telemarketing scheme that scammed companies and individuals and companies out over $1 billion dollars. Lead plaintiff Rita Dos Santos alone lost $350,000 dollars as part of the scam and filed suit against TelexFree and TelexElectric, defendants whose technical infrastructure supported the scheme. Other companies, including Base Commerce, were co-defendants who were professional and financial service providers who the suit alleges were complicit in the telemarketing Ponzi scheme. Base Commerce alone is alleged to have intervened on behalf of TelexFree to perpetuate the scam, as court documents reflect:
In addition, Base Commerce and Hughes intervened in a dispute between TelexFree and GPG, another Defendant
and payment processor, in order to insure a continued cash flow to TelexFree. Base Commerce was compensated for these services in excess of two and half million dollars.
The case was settled in 2017 as the SEC fined the defendant $1.8 million dollars and ordered the payment of restitution to victims of the scam.
Base Commerce offers phone and email support to clients, and these channels appear to have a resolution rate that rivals the best payment processors for great customer service. Though Base Commerce has a low complaint total, we have assigned it a “C” rating in this category due to its legal history.
| PaymentPop | 5 |
|---|---|
| BBB Rating | N/A |
There are no negative reviews published about Base Commerce on the PaymentPop website.
We needed a payment processor that could handle both card payments and ACH with strong fraud protection and Base Commerce delivered. Their platform is secure, fast, and easy to manage. It’s made a big difference in how we handle high-volume transactions safely.
Base Commerce formerly had its own profile with the BBB, but it has now been combined with Nuvei’s. Nuvei currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not accredited with the BBB. The company has received 24 complaints in the past 36 months. 7 complaints were resolved to the satisfaction of the merchant. The other 17 complaints were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final response.
Nuvei has also received 16 informal reviews through the BBB, most of which were negative in tone. It should be noted that most of the reviews do not refer to Base Commerce. However, the most recent complaint does mention issues with a company that also sold to Nuvei:
I originally signed up with Pivotal Payments they sold to Nuvei without my knowledge or consent to get out before hand. They have been gouging me with fees to which I never agreed too. AND their PCI compliance is outrageous! I’ve been nothing but compliant answering all of their stupid questions and yet they still ***** you ***** per month for that, not including the monthly fees and their anniversary fees etc…. I never signed up for that! RUN AWAY from this fraud company as soon as you can!
Businesses would be better served with one of the processors from our list of best merchant account providers for customer service.
In light of Base Commerce’s complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. Readers should note, however, that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.
While detailed information on Base Commerce’s pricing is scarce, the company typically operates under a one-year contract that clients can terminate with a 30-day notice. Base Commerce’s website promotes interchange-plus pricing and emphasizes the absence of long-term contracts, monthly fees, surcharges, or cancellation fees. They seem to offer customized pricing solutions, tailoring their rates to suit the unique needs of each business or development team, which implies a range of potential pricing structures.
Base Commerce also highlights its virtual terminal service and proprietary payment gateway, the Base Commerce Payment Gateway, as part of its offerings. Specific pricing details for these services are not provided on the website. Generally, additional charges such as gateway fees, technical support, batch fees, and other transaction rates are expected for e-commerce services.
The lack of public complaints concerning Base Commerce’s pricing suggests that most clients are content with the fees and contract terms they receive. For individuals with insight into Base Commerce’s standard contract terms, including any PCI compliance fees or monthly minimum fees, sharing in the comment section below this review would be helpful. Based on the available information, Base Commerce’s contracts are anticipated to be competitive with cost-effective merchant accounts.
We recommend our readers explore our selection of the best merchant accounts for more options.
Base Commerce appears to primarily market its services via a combination of traditional advertising, independent resellers, and strategic partnerships. It is unclear at this time whether the company uses independently contracted sales agents to directly sign new clients, but it does allow ISOs to resell its products and merchant accounts. This practice can sometimes lead to increased complaints for a company, but in this case, we are unable to locate any Base Commerce complaints that mention the company’s sales team.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
As an additional point in its favor, Base Commerce advertises that it provides interchange-plus pricing to its clients. Overall, the company does not appear to engage in any sales tactics that we would consider to be deceptive. If you suspect, however, that Base Commerce is overcharging you, then you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.
Compare Base Commerce to competitors that earned top marks.
Base Commerce is recognized as a trustworthy credit card processing provider based on current information. The company has maintained an impressively low level of public complaints since its inception, which speaks to its consistent service quality and customer satisfaction. Additionally, its advertised contract terms are typically very competitive, making Base Commerce an appealing choice for businesses seeking reliable and cost-effective payment solutions.
However, our rating for Base Commerce could change as more details emerge regarding its full contract terms. The lack of publicly available comprehensive information means prospective clients should exercise due diligence. Readers are encouraged to carefully compare Base Commerce’s product offerings and pricing against those of other top-rated merchant account providers. By conducting a thorough comparison, businesses can ensure they secure a solution that best fits their unique needs while also obtaining the most favorable pricing.
| CEO | Brian Bonfiglio |
|---|---|
| CAO | John Kirchhefer |
| Headquarters | 1375 N Scottsdale Rd #400, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 |
| Toll-Free Customer Support | (800) 848-5826 |
| Website | https://www.basecommerce.com/ |
