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.
In this CardPayment Solutions review, we’ll provide a clear look at their credit card processing services, covering pricing, contract terms, and customer feedback. We’ll discuss fee transparency, the quality of their customer support, and overall client satisfaction to give you a balanced view of their performance. By the end, you’ll have the insights you need to decide whether CardPayment Solutions is the right choice for your business’s payment processing needs.
This review is for the South Carolina (formerly, Madison, Indiana) company called Card Payment Solutions. If you are looking for the Santa Barbara, California-based company, see the CardPayment Solutions (California) review.
Card Payment Solutions (CPS) is a small to mid-size merchant account provider that began operations in 1999. The company is a sales organization that acts as a reseller for several direct processors including Global Payments, First Data (now Fiserv), and TSYS. Although Card Payment Solutions is a reseller, it handles the customer service of its accounts directly. In addition to conventional merchant accounts, the company also offers a zero-fee processing program.
Card Payment Solutions processes major debit and credit cards for a variety of business types. Their services include EMV card readers and swipers, POS solutions, mobile payments, ATMs, online ordering, customer engagement, and e-commerce solutions.
For businesses requiring flexible transaction locations, Card Payment Solutions offers mobile payment processing. This service allows outdoor vendors, home service providers, and event organizers to accept and process debit and credit card payments using a mobile device.
Acknowledging the rise of online shopping, Card Payment Solutions provides a secure e-commerce payment processing service. The online payment gateway facilitates efficient handling of online transactions, meeting the needs of businesses operating in the digital marketplace.
For businesses primarily handling mail or phone orders, Card Payment Solutions offers a virtual terminal service. This feature allows businesses to manually enter card details into a secure online system.
In addition to payment processing, Card Payment Solutions provides integrated software solutions to streamline various business operations. Their tools cover areas such as payment processing, inventory management, CRM, and data analysis.
Card Payment Solutions shares a similar name with another merchant account provider, leading to confusion in online complaints. Most grievances seem directed towards the California-based company rather than the Indiana/South Carolina-based Card Payment Solutions covered here.
Common grievances in negative Card Payment Solutions reviews include high or unexpected fees, difficulties in canceling services, and unresolved problems. While these complaints are scattered and not indicative of consistent issues, they highlight challenges in resolving merchant concerns promptly.
No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been found against Card Payment Solutions. Dissatisfied clients seeking recourse can consider reporting concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.
Card Payment Solutions provides live phone support for merchants. While this level of service does not meet the standards of top-rated payment processors for customer service, it adequately addresses most merchant complaints.
| PaymentPop | 5 |
|---|---|
| BBB Rating | N/A |
| Google Maps | 4.5 |
| Average Rating | 4.5 |
There are no negative reviews published about Card Payment Solutions on the PaymentPop website.
Card Payment Solutions gave us that rare combination of great rates and real, local support. Their rep actually came out to meet with us, walked us through the options, and didn’t push anything we didn’t need. Everything’s been running smoothly since. It’s nice working with a company that still values personal relationships.
As of this update, the Better Business Bureau is reporting that Card Payment Solutions has been accredited since 2011 and is awarding the company an “A+” rating. The BBB is showing 0 complaints filed in the last 36 months.
In light of the company’s low complaint total, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time.
Card Payment Solutions has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating based on 14 user reviews on Google Maps.
Just can’t beat these nice, local folks for their customer service that is unmatched! So-Lina Auction has been with them for many years and have always (always) been pleased with the level of interaction and concern with even a simple clarifying question! Thank-you!
Card Payment Solutions’ merchant account pricing appears to be influenced by the type of business, its processing volume, and the agent handling the account. According to an agent from the company, there’s a standard 36-month service agreement with yearly automatic renewals. To terminate the service, clients must notify the company 60 days before the contract expires. Additionally, there’s a possibility of incurring a Liquidated Damages early termination fee if the service is canceled during the contract. These terms, as mentioned by the agent, are negotiable.
It is noted that Global Payments, First Data, and TSYS often include long-term, noncancelable equipment leases in their contracts, which could result in higher costs for merchants. Since Card Payment Solutions resells services from these providers, similar equipment lease terms might be present in their agreements.
While the presence of a Liquidated Damages clause and automatic renewal might typically lead to a lower rating, Card Payment Solutions hasn’t attracted the usual complaints associated with these practices. This could indicate that the company either seldom enforces these policies or tends to reach amicable resolutions in disputes. However, business owners should thoroughly review and understand the agreement terms before signing, and, if possible, negotiate the removal of any Liquidated Damages clauses.
The zero-fee processing program by Card Payment Solutions adds a 3.99% surcharge on all credit card transactions, which offsets the credit card processing fees typically borne by the business. Under this plan, merchants are said to only pay a fixed monthly fee, as transaction fees are passed to customers. This model is increasingly popular, but business owners should verify that no additional one-time or annual fees are applied besides the monthly fixed fee.
In addition to storefront payment processing, Card Payment Solutions also offers virtual terminal and payment gateway services, though their pricing isn’t clearly stated on the website. Potential rates and fees, including those for gateways, technical support, batch fees, and additional transaction charges, are typical for e-commerce services.
Card Payment Solutions offers a range of pricing plans, varying from very expensive to potentially competitive with the most affordable merchant account providers. Merchants are advised to thoroughly examine their contract terms. If you have experienced a Liquidated Damages early termination penalty with Card Payment Solutions, your feedback in the comments section would be valuable.
Business owners should also consider reviewing our list of the top merchant accounts for comparison.
Card Payment Solutions appears to rely heavily on recruiting outside independent resellers to market and sell its merchant services. Generally, this practice results in numerous complaints because providers cannot control the sales and marketing tactics of the resellers. As of this update, however, we have located few negative Card Payment Solutions reviews, which may indicate that its policies do not allow price gouging. The company’s use of resellers will not negatively affect its score unless evidence surfaces to the contrary.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Card Payment Solutions does not prominently list any rate quotes or guarantees that could be considered misleading. As of this update, the company is strongly promoting its cash discount program, which adds a 3.99% surcharge to each customer’s total in order to reimburse the client for the cost of processing a credit card. These programs are becoming increasingly common within the industry, and Card Payment Solutions’ promotion of this pricing model doesn’t raise any red flags. If you suspect that Card Payment Solutions is adding hidden fees to your contract, however, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.
Compare Card Payment Solutions to competitors that earned top marks.
Card Payment Solutions of South Carolina rates as a promising credit card processing company, boasting a notably low complaint count compared to other providers of similar size and tenure. The company’s potential could be further realized by transitioning to month-to-month contracts without cancellation fees, enhancing its appeal for business owners. While Card Payment Solutions shows promise, businesses are still encouraged to review the company’s pricing thoroughly and compare it with the competitive offerings of top-rated merchant account providers.
| President | Dan Christopher |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 514 2nd Loop Rd Ste A, Florence, South Carolina 29505-2848 |
| Toll-Free Support | (800) 359-0710 |
| Fax | (812) 226-4290 |
| Additional Support Channels | Online Contact Form |
| Website | cardpaymentsolutions.com |
