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Before Signing with Capital Merchant Solutions: Pricing & Contract Insights

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Capital Merchant Solutions

Rating
B
4.3/5
full starfull starfull starfull starempty star

Pros and Cons of Capital Merchant Solutions

Pros

Versatile POS solutions
Tailored payment solutions
Affordable processing rates
Diverse payment options
Secure online system

Cons

No major lawsuits noted
Inadequate customer support
Possible hidden fees
Difficult contract termination
Fund delays

Overview

Capital Merchant Solutions, also known as TakeCardsToday.com, is a merchant account provider that primarily serves small to mid-sized businesses. The company has rebranded as TakeCardsToday.com by Capital Merchant Solutions, Inc., positioning itself as a payments partner that emphasizes accessibility and straightforward setup for business owners. This shift highlights their focus on offering merchant accounts and payment processing solutions designed to meet the needs of growing companies looking for reliable and flexible options.

About Capital Merchant Solutions

Screen Capture of Capital Merchant Solutions
Capital Merchant Solutions Homepage

Capital Merchant Solutions handles major debit and credit card transactions for various business types. According to their website, their services include ACH/check processing, wireless processing, POS systems, online payment gateways, and merchant accounts. They also offer interchange-plus pricing for some of their plans.

Products & Merchant Services

eCommerce Solutions

Capital Merchant Solutions provides secure and reliable platforms for eCommerce businesses to handle online transactions, essential for today’s digital shopping environment.

Point of Sale Systems

The company supplies point-of-sale (POS) systems to facilitate in-person transactions, track sales, and manage inventory effectively.

Mobile Payment Solutions

Capital Merchant Solutions offers mobile payment solutions, enabling businesses to accept payments via mobile devices.

Merchant Cash Advance Services

The company also provides merchant cash advance services, allowing businesses to quickly access capital by selling a portion of their future credit card sales.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Capital Merchant Solutions Review Analysis

In our search for Capital Merchant Solutions reviews, we found over 10 entries on various consumer protection sites. While some allege the company to be a ripoff or a scam, these Capital Merchant Solutions complaints are mostly older, with a number potentially linked to a single agent whose current association with the company is unclear. Recurrent issues cited include misrepresented rates and fees, undisclosed terms, and poor customer service. Some complainants noted satisfactory resolutions following interactions with company representatives. We encourage readers to share their Capital Merchant Solutions reviews in the comments for a broader understanding of the company’s services.

Despite these complaints, Capital Merchant Solutions shows a lower-than-average complaint volume for its industry and duration of operation. However, the possibility of complaints being misdirected to processor profiles or confusion caused by the company’s use of multiple websites could impact this perception. Without conclusive evidence, we rate the company a “B” in this area.

Legal Status of Capital Merchant Solutions

No current class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been filed against Capital Merchant Solutions. Clients seeking alternative dispute resolution are advised to report their concerns to relevant supervisory bodies.

Assessing Capital Merchant Solutions Customer Support

Capital Merchant Solutions offers a 24/7 helpdesk and a dedicated email support option. While these are positive features, they fall short of establishing the company as a leading processor in customer service.

Contact Details for Capital Merchant Solutions

  • (877) 495-2419 – Toll-Free Customer Support
  • (309) 452-5990 – Local Office
  • (866) 711-8244 – Fax
  • Customer support email at support@cmsrep.com

With the current set of customer support options, Capital Merchant Solutions holds potential in customer service, but further enhancement and clarity in support provisions could improve their standing in the industry.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop5
BBB RatingN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Capital Merchant Solutions

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about Capital Merchant Solutions on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

Switching to Capital Merchant Solutions was a smooth experience. The paperwork was minimal, and we got up and running fast. Payments have been processing without any issues, and we’ve appreciated not having to micromanage the system.

Capital Merchant Solutions BBB Rating

Capital Merchant Solutions has been an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau since 2004 and is currently showing an “F” rating, which is down from a “B-” at the time of our last review. In the last 36 months, 3 complaints have been made against the company, though 2 have been closed. It’s currently unclear why the BBB has dropped the company’s rating so heavily.

An “A” Performance

Given the company’s low complaint total, we have changed the BBB’s grade to an “A”.

Processing Rates & Fees

Capital Merchant Solutions Pricing

Capital Merchant Solutions offers four distinct pricing plans catering to different merchant needs. The Pay As You Go Plan eliminates monthly fees, opting instead for a transaction fee of 4.95% plus $0.35. The Retail Plan has a monthly fee of $20, with transaction costs at interchange plus 0.15% plus $0.25. For e-commerce transactions, the E-Commerce Plan charges a monthly fee of $35, alongside transaction fees of interchange plus 0.20% plus $0.25. The Mobile Plan also has a $35 monthly fee, with per-transaction fees set at interchange plus 0.20% plus $0.35. Each plan incorporates terminal costs into the monthly fees, except for a $20 monthly data plan required for the wireless terminal option.

Non-Competitive Rate

As per a representative, Capital Merchant Solutions ceased enforcing an early termination fee for new, non-high-risk merchants since late 2011, although a termination fee up to $500 is applicable for high-risk merchants. Previously, the company’s PCI compliance fee varied by business, but the new pricing model standardizes a monthly charge of $34.95. The Pay As You Go rate, nearing 5%, raises competitiveness concerns when compared to providers like Square, signaling that businesses might find lower cost options elsewhere.

An Uncertain Processor

There is ambiguity regarding Capital Merchant Solutions’ processing partners, with mentions of TransFirst, National Payment Processing, iPayment, and Moneris in various complaints. These processors typically do not rank highly for competitive terms, suggesting that Capital Merchant Solutions may not offer the most favorable contract terms. Based on the available information, Capital Merchant Solutions receives a “B” rating, reflecting average contract terms within the industry.

Businesses seeking more competitive rates and terms are encouraged to explore our list of the best merchant services.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Multiple Entities To Be Aware Of

Established in 1997, Capital Merchant Solutions owns and operates a number of websites that use different business names and target different industries. Several web addresses for these DBAs are listed below:

  • freeauthnet.com
  • firearmpayments.com
  • dowcommerce.com
  • holyprocessing.com
  • mytechsupportmerchantaccount.com

Sales Complaints

Capital Merchant Solutions appears to utilize referral partnerships and multiple targeted websites to market its services. It is unclear at this time whether the company employs independently contracted sales agents. We are currently able to locate multiple negative Capital Merchant Solutions reviews that allege nondisclosure of terms, misrepresentation of rates, and deceptive advertising by Capital Merchant Solutions. Clients specifically report nondisclosure of the company’s early termination fee and confusion over an advertised “free” Authorize.net payment gateway. The latter complaints could be related to the company’s freeauthnet.com web address. In general, this does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

Transparent Pricing

The Capital Merchant Solutions website currently advertises one flat-rate pricing plan and a handful of interchange-plus pricing plans. The company appears to have done away with its tiered pricing plans, and its website actively promotes interchange-plus as the most transparent pricing model available. This is a positive step for Capital Merchant Solutions and could have a lot to do with its reduced complaint rate in recent years. If you suspect that you are being charged undisclosed Capital Merchant Solutions fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden costs.

Capital Merchant Solutions Competitors

Compare Capital Merchant Solutions to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Capital Merchant Solutions rates as a better-than-average credit card processing provider according to our rating system. While the company has a history of older complaints that criticize its contract terms as less than competitive and its sales tactics as less than transparent, it is important to note the positive trend in its overall complaint volume. This suggests that Capital Merchant Solutions has made efforts to address these issues, revising several of its policies to improve customer satisfaction.

Businesses considering Capital Merchant Solutions should approach with due diligence, ensuring they thoroughly research the company and its various alternate business names. Comparing its terms to those offered by top-rated providers is highly recommended to secure the best possible deal. Despite its past challenges, the company’s recent improvements indicate a commitment to better service, making it a viable option for merchants seeking reliable credit card processing solutions.

Location & Ownership

Capital Merchant Solutions Inc is a registered ISO/MSP for Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, and the company is located at 3005 Gill St., Bloomington, Illinois, 61704. Chris Nelson is listed as the CEO of Capital Merchant Solutions. Russ Link is listed as president and co-founder.

Read Actual User Reviews

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