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Why Some Businesses Warn About Fortis Payment Systems

Name: Fortis Payment Systems
Item: Fortis Payment Systems
Rating: 3
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 30, 2025

Maintained Since: May 15, 2014

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

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.

Fortis Payment Systems

Rating

3/5

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Pros

Simple integration

Online payment capability

Versatile payment options

Cons

Occasional server outages

Hidden fees reported

Customer service issues

Limited mobile availability

Complex fee structure

Overview

In this article on Fortis Payment Systems (formerly Cambridge Payment Systems), we review the company’s services across industries such as hospitality, retail, and e-commerce, covering rates, fees, contract terms, and customer complaints alongside industry and employee reviews to provide a full picture of their reputation. We examine FortisPay’s technology offerings, including payment gateways, virtual terminals, POS systems, and mobile payment options, as well as their e-commerce processing, loyalty programs, merchant cash advance services, fraud prevention tools, and recent growth through acquisitions. This review also highlights the pros and cons of working with FortisPay, recent legal developments, and the quality of customer support to help businesses determine whether their payment processing services are the right fit.

About Fortis Payment Systems

Screen Capture of Fortis Payment Systems Homepage — Fortis Payment Systems Homepage

Formerly known as Cambridge Payment Systems, Fortis Payment Systems is a merchant account provider based in Novi, Michigan. As of 2022, it appears that the company has rebranded as FortisPay.

FortisPay Expansion

In late 2020 Fortis Payment Systems acquired Blue Dog Business Services, another online payment technology provider. It appears Blue Dog has become FortisPay Pro, which has its own website separate from that of FortisPay. In early 2021 it was also announced they would acquire Swype at Work to further bolster their portfolio. Also in 2021, FortisPay acquired EpicPay and Change Merchant Solutions, and in 2022, they acquired payment technology firm Payment Logistics.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

FortisPay offers merchant accounts primarily tailored to industries such as hospitality, chiropractic, restaurant, veterinary, medical, non-profit, retail, automotive, liquor, grocery, fitness, and e-commerce. The company also resells services from Elavon and First Data (Fiserv).

Payment Gateway Services

FortisPay’s payment gateway services allow businesses to securely accept credit and debit card payments online. The gateway is customizable and integrates with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.

Virtual Terminal Services

FortisPay provides virtual terminal services for businesses to process credit and debit card payments over the phone or via email without needing a physical card reader.

POS Systems

FortisPay offers a range of POS systems to suit different business needs, from traditional countertop terminals to mobile POS solutions. These systems are designed to process payments quickly and securely.

Mobile Payment Solutions

FortisPay’s mobile payment solutions enable businesses to accept payments using a smartphone or tablet, making it suitable for operations in remote locations, trade shows, farmers markets, and similar events.

E-commerce Payment Processing

FortisPay provides various e-commerce payment processing solutions, including payment gateways, recurring billing, and digital wallet services, catering to businesses operating online.

Gift and Loyalty Card Programs

FortisPay offers customizable gift and loyalty card programs to help businesses increase customer loyalty and boost sales. These programs can be integrated with POS systems and e-commerce platforms.

Merchant Cash Advance

FortisPay offers merchant cash advances, providing businesses with quick funding in exchange for a percentage of future credit card sales.

Fraud Prevention Services

FortisPay provides a suite of fraud prevention services, including address verification, CVV2 verification, and fraud screening, to help businesses reduce the risk of fraud and chargebacks.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Analysis of Fortis Payments Reviews

Our research indicates there are over 10 negative reviews for Fortis Payments across various consumer advocacy sites, with some allegations suggesting the company engages in scam-like practices. The primary concerns expressed by customers include undisclosed fees, non-transparent contract terms, and challenges encountered when attempting to cancel services. While Fortis Payments previously operated under the name Cambridge Payment Systems—where it accumulated a small number of complaints—it’s important to distinguish that the rebranding to Fortis may reflect operational and service changes. Notably, the acquisition spree by FortisPay in 2021 has seen an uptick in the number of negative reviews on our site. We welcome your personal reviews of FortisPay in the comments section below.

Fortis Payment Systems Customer Support Review

Despite the relatively low volume of complaints concerning service specifics, Fortis Payment Systems earns an “A” rating for its customer support infrastructure. The company provides several avenues for merchant support, including telephone, chat, and an online contact form, complemented by the assignment of dedicated account managers to merchants.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	1
BBB Rating	1
Trustpilot	2.8
GetApp Rating	4.6
Our Rating	3
Average Rating	3.8

PaymentPop Rating for Fortis Payment Systems

Negative Feedback

Worst company I’ve ever tried to work with. They have little to no knowledge of their own program. Setting up the account took about three tries because they kept setting it up wrong. Payments weren’t really processed, even after appearing to have been, so no money was actually collected. Customer service is a joke and super disrespectful. After cancelling, they still tried to pull money from our account for two months after the account was closed in writing.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Fortis Payment Systems on the PaymentPop website.

Fortis BBB Rating

Fortis has an average customer review rating of 1/5 stars and a “D-” on BBB based on 2 customer reviews. The company has received 3 customer complaints in the last 3 years, with none closed in the last 12 months. Common themes in the reviews include issues with billing, hidden fees, and poor customer service.

Negative Feedback

They tell you what you want to hear but could not do anything they promised. When I canceled service the keep debiting my bank account. I processed one payment. Do not do business with this company

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Fortis on the BBB website.

Trustpilot Rating for Fortis

Fortis has an average rating of 2.8/5 stars on Trustpilot based on 823 customer reviews, indicating a mixed reception. The company has a significant percentage of 5-star reviews (85%) but also a notable percentage of 1-star reviews (8%). Common themes in the reviews include issues with customer service, billing, and dissatisfaction with fee structures.

Negative Feedback

This company are money grabbers. Canceled the service over a year ago and now they still charge. Nothing but lies from this company. They have a no payback policy. Look out for the false promises and lies.
I tried to use Fortis for my business’s credit card processing. They took an excessively long time to onboard me (30+days). After one of their competitors got me setup in less than 48 hours, I cancelled my account with Fortis. Now, 8+ months later, they have started billing me monthly for a service that I have never used, and will never use. Customer service is non-existent.

Positive Feedback

Fortis made taking payments so much easier for our office. With the ability to set up reoccurring payments, saving cards to multiple accounts, and the ease of taking payments has made life better for both our employees and our chiropractic patients!

Great service and easy to operate.

Yelp Rating for Fortis Payment Systems

Fortis Payment Systems has a 1 out of 5 star rating based on 4 user reviews on Yelp.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Fortis Payment Systems on Yelp.

Negative Feedback

Absolute worst payment processor and atrocious customer service! They will lie to you and promise you reimbursements which never come. They drained my bank account over the course of 7 months with made up “miscellaneous” fees. Then different people from their customer service department would tell me different things and promise reimbursement… nothing but lies.
DO NOT USE FORTIS!

GetApp Rating Analysis for Fortis

Fortis has an overall rating of 4.6/5 on GetApp based on 118 reviews. The rating criteria include value for money, ease of use, features, and customer support. The majority of reviews are positive, with 83 five-star and 29 four-star ratings. Common themes in positive reviews include ease of integration with billing software and the convenience of online payments. However, some users express confusion regarding transaction fees.

Negative Feedback

It is confusing trying to understand what the fees are for each transaction. I am the finance manager and I am still somewhat in the dark concerning all the fees. – Review by Lorie T.

There has not been any times that we have received payments that were rejected. – Review by Lisa F.

Positive Feedback

During that time we have developed a very good working relationship with the help center at OmniFund. They are top rate and easy to reach and communicate with. – Review by Ron V.

Easy to integrate to my billing software. I love giving my clients the ability to pay online and have their payments applied to their account. – Review by Nichole F.

Source: GetApp

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

Information about the standard Fortis Payment Systems contract is currently unavailable. However, details about its former business name, Cambridge Payment Systems, suggest an early termination fee ranging from $350 to $695, an undisclosed PCI compliance fee, and a monthly PCI noncompliance fee of $30, based on multiple complaints. These fees appear to exceed industry norms.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Apart from its in-store payment processing services, Fortis Payment Systems also advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway services on its website. However, specific pricing for these services is not provided. Additional rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates, typically apply to these e-commerce services.

Few Contract Complaints

Some Fortis Payment Systems reviews highlight hidden fees, suggesting that its standard pricing may not be competitive with the most affordable merchant accounts. If you have insights into the standard Fortis Payments contract, feel free to share in the comment section below this review. Additionally, we recommend exploring our list of the top merchant accounts.

Lawsuits & Legal History

There are no current class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints identified against Fortis Payment Systems. Merchants seeking alternatives to legal disputes are encouraged to report their experiences to relevant oversight bodies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Team

Fortis Payments appears to utilize ISOs and independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent agents is commonly linked to elevated complaint rates due to the lack of training and oversight that these agents typically receive. In this case, we have found a number of negative Fortis Payments reviews that mention hidden fees, false pricing, and nondisclosure of contract terms. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

No Deceptive Quotes

As a point in the company’s favor, the Fortis Payments website does not promote any misleading rate quotes intended to deceive clients. Considering the fact that it has only received a few vague complaints, we will assign the company an “A” rating at this time. If you suspect, however, that Fortis is overcharging you, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.

Fortis Payment Systems Competitors

Compare Fortis Payment Systems to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Fortis Payment Systems is recognized as a dependable credit card processing provider. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable increase in the volume of complaints associated with the company as it continues to expand its operations, which raises some concerns about its service consistency. This trend suggests that as Fortis grows, it may be facing challenges in maintaining the high standards that earned it a reliable reputation initially.

Given this development, business owners are strongly encouraged to exercise caution when considering Fortis for their processing needs. It is essential to thoroughly review all contract terms provided by Fortis Payment Systems and to undertake a careful comparison with the terms offered by top-rated merchant account providers. This diligent approach will help ensure that businesses not only secure favorable contract conditions but also partner with a provider capable of delivering consistent, high-quality service as they scale.

Read Actual User Reviews

See User Reviews Write a Review

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Fortis Payment Systems

Contact & Customer Support
CEO	Greg Cohen
Headquarters	43155 Main St. Suite 2310-C Novi, Michigan 48375
Toll-Free Customer Support	(800) 761-8039
Website	fortispay.com

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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