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(310) 826-7000Company Overview
Founded in 2003, Card One International is a merchant account provider that serves most business types. The company is a First Data (now Fiserv) and TSYS reseller. The “international” in the company’s name appears to refer to the fact that its merchants can accept payments from buyers in other countries, not any overseas offices or banking partners maintained by Card One.
Card One International Payment Processing
Card One International processes all major debit and credit cards for most business types. Their services include POS systems, mobile payments, access to virtual terminals and payment gateways, fraud prevention, ACH and e-check processing, recurring billing, and QuickBooks compatibility.
Point of Sale Systems Provided by Card One International
Card One International offers point-of-sale (POS) systems designed to help businesses manage face-to-face transactions. Their POS systems are equipped to track sales data, manage inventory, and generate reports, giving businesses a comprehensive overview of their sales operations.
Card One International’s E-commerce Solutions
For businesses that operate in the online space, Card One International provides e-commerce solutions. They offer an online platform that securely and efficiently processes online transactions, catering to the needs of online retailers.
Mobile Payment Processing via Card One International
In addition to their in-store and online services, Card One International provides mobile payment processing services. This allows businesses to accept card payments via mobile devices, offering flexibility for businesses that operate in multiple locations or have mobile operations.
Merchant Services by Card One International
Card One International also provides additional merchant services. These can include check processing, gift and loyalty programs, and cash advance services, providing businesses with a suite of services that go beyond simple credit card processing.
Location & Ownership
Card One International is headquartered at 11661 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 901, Los Angeles, California 90049, and is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank NA, Concord, CA. Alex Hemmat is the CEO of Card One International.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Offers a three-year contract through First Data (Fiserv) with…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number more than 15 on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: Hires independent sales agents and has received over…
Card One International Customer Complaints & Reviews
Here's What Users Think
Complaint Summary
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Total Online Complaints
15+
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Live Customer Support
No
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Most Common Complaint
Hidden Fees
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Recent Lawsuits
No
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Low-to-Moderate Complaint Total
We are currently able to locate over 15 negative Card One International reviews, some of which accuse the company of being a ripoff or a scam. Common Card One International complaints include higher-than-expected rates, undisclosed fees, and difficulty canceling service. The majority of these complaints appear to stem from negative interactions with sales agents and customer service. If you have your own Card One International review to make, please do so in the comments below.
Card One International Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Card One International. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Card One International Customer Support Options
The Card One International website provides general phone and email contact information but does not list a dedicated customer support number.
Card One International Customer Service Numbers
- (800) 366-1841 – Toll-Free Customer Support
- (866) 427-7297 – White Glove Customer Service
- (310) 826-7000 – Local Office
We will award Card One International an “A” rating in this category, but the company’s current customer support options do not qualify it as a top-rated customer service processor.
Card One International BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
BBB Summary
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BBB Reports
46
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Under 5 Complaints
Card One International has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB accredited. The company has received 3 complaints in the past 3 years.
What Merchants Say
In addition to 3 complaints, Card One International, Inc. has acquired 43 informal reviews on its BBB profile in the last 3 years, 2 of which are negative in tone. The vast majority of these reviews have been posted recently and some use very similar language, leading us to believe that these new reviews may be at the request of the company. The most recent negative review details misleading contract terms and bad customer service:
Cancelled our contract with this merchant account company. We were given a good rate at the beginning; within the next three months, our fees were more than doubled. When we questioned this, we were told that our clients had been using more rewards credit cards than in the past. However, we have repeat business from the same clients and they were using the same cards. When we did not accept this explanation and threatened to move our account, we were told our plan would be changed to get back to the lower fees, but this was not begun until two months after the date promised. We cancelled in February and were required to sign an agreement that our account could stay open an additional 30-60 days in case of chargebacks. I was told the account would be closed quickly. However, it was not closed till the beginning of May (after I called and complained) and we were charged a service fee of $5 for March and April, as well as a minimum processing fee of $25 for each month. We are OK with the service fees but not the minimum processing fees as we had no intention of processing any transactions with Card One after February and we had cancelled in writing. I would not recommend this company to anyone. They gave no satisfactory explanation for the highly increased fees, did not credit any amounts when we complained, and were very slow to handle our cancellation. The agreement I was required to sign mentioned nothing about continued fees and it was at the discretion of Card One as to when they actually got around to closing the account. I am not surprised that Card One is not BBB accredited.
Clients who find themselves in this position may benefit from taking the steps to cancel service without paying a termination fee.
An “A” Performance
Given the company’s low complaint total, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. This may change, however, if the complaint total continues to climb.
Card One International Fees and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
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Cancellation Penalties
Possible
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Monthly & Annual Fees
Yes
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Processing Rates
1.00% - 4.99%
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Equipment Leasing
Yes
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Three-Year Contract
The standard Card One International contract is a three-year contract through First Data (Fiserv) with an unspecified early termination fee, a $150 annual fee, and a built-in equipment lease through First Data Global Leasing. The company likely enters custom rates and fees for each client, so business owners are encouraged to request all contractual documentation to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Industry-Average Contract
Most of the publicly available complaints about Card One International describe hidden fees or difficulty canceling service, two problems that are directly related to the company’s contract terms. The company’s base contract terms are not competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts, and there is potential (based on the actual numbers entered into the client application and leasing agreement) for them to cost far more than the average merchant account. See the Card1 Merchant Application and Card1 Program Guide. We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant services.
Card One International 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
Yes
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Discloses All Important Terms
Yes
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Outside Sales Team
Card One International appears to rely on a team of independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is often linked to higher-than-average complaint totals, and we have found over 10 negative Card One International reviews that report hidden Card One International fees and unexpectedly high rates through Card One International. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Card One International Rate Quotes
The Card One International website currently promotes a “1.15% rate and free machine” on its homepage. This quote is likely the company’s qualified debit rate, and there is no mention of higher mid-qualified and non-qualified rates that the company charges. We consider this type of rate quote to be deceptive because it could give merchants an unrealistic expectation of the rates they will pay.
Average Sales Approach
To its credit, the company provides all of its blank contractual documentation on its website. If you suspect that Card One International is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.
Card One International Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
According to all available information, Card One International rates as an average credit card processing provider. The company’s sales approach and contract terms are about standard for the industry, but its complaint record doesn’t indicate major issues with the company. When dealing with a company they are unsure about, we urge merchants to thoroughly examine the terms of any contract they are given and to compare its pricing to top-rated merchant account providers.
If you found this article helpful, please share it!
Iman
What they did to me can be considered as scam. Luckily I have good evidences to take them to court.
Iman
Very dishonest company! False information at the beginning. Lots of hidden fees. Bad Bad Bad customer service.
Dan Maxwell
Honestly the lowest processing rates, fair contract, and amazing service. We do not have any complaints with card one international. This is a go to merchant service company if you want low monthly rates. Highly recommend them!
Beverly Jones
Low monthly rates, great service. We use CARD ONE for our credit card processing and I truly recommend them.
Phillip CPO
Hi Beverly, can you provide more information about your business to authenticate your testimonial?
Laura Samuel
My restaurant just received free credit card devices from card one and we couldn’t be happier. Great company with low rates, friendly agents, fair contracts and free devices!!. I recommend card one to any one who has a business and wants low rates.
Dr. Grace Khan
I have to leave a review, we switched to Card One International because they have amazing service and low processing rates. I recommend them to everybody.
Marcel De Leon
card one international has been our merchant services provider for 8 years and I can say they truly aim to please. I really recommend card one international. 5 stars business
Trent Park
I use this processor gateway and I have no complaints. Friendly staff and great service.
Beven Barnett
These guys do our credit card processing and they are great. I seriously recommend card 1 if you want low processing rates. 5 stars.
David Beal
We’ve been using card one for 7 years and we are more than happy with their service. Its always a pleasure doing business with them and their friend team. I truly recommend card one to any business.
Todd G.
I highly recommend card 1. We’ve been with Card1 since 2014 and our rates are much lower than the other credit card processors we’ve used before, that is why we switched. Their BBB rating is at 4.8 out of 5. This site should be updated
Phillip CPO
Hi Todd, please reply with your business details to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Michael Chin
I cannot recommend Card One International because the customer service person who I was working with was either purposefully withholding information to delay the closure of my account or was just plain ignorant/incompetent. When I closed my business in 2018 I called Card One to close my account. I was told there would be an early termination fee although I had been a customer for over 4 years. Apparently the contract automatically renewed every 2 years and mine renewed earlier that year. I asked to see where that was stated on my contract and was emailed a copy of a contract with the 2 year renewal information seemingly pasted to the bottom of the contract in fine print. I elected to keep the account open and pay $37.50 per month for the remainder of the contract instead of paying over $1,000 in early termination fees. I emailed them several times to remind them to close the account as the next renewal date approached. When they continued to withdraw fees after the account should have been closed I was told that I needed to fax them a “request to close account” form. I was never told that in the 18 months from when I originally requested to close the account. Therefore, the account remained open longer than it should have and I ended up paying more fees.