Can You Trust CCNow With Your E-commerce Payments?

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CCNow

Rating
D
2.5/5
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Pros and Cons of CCNow

Pros

Secure online retail solution.
Supports WordPress eCommerce plugins.
Good for low volume sellers.
Easy to use.
Set up in 24 hours.
No monthly fees.

Cons

No active website (as of 2023).
Not paying merchants.
Poor customer service response.
Unanswered customer service phone.
High transaction fees.
Complaints of fund-holds.

Note: As of 2023, the CCNow website is down. It's currently unclear what this means in relation to the status of the business. We will update as more information comes to light.

Overview

In this review of CCNow, a merchant account provider focused on e-commerce solutions for small to mid-sized businesses, we examine their rates, fees, contract terms, and the quality of their customer support. We’ll look at both user and employee reviews to present a balanced perspective on CCNow’s reputation and effectiveness. The review highlights key features such as payment processing capabilities, multi-currency support, and fraud prevention tools that add value for online businesses. We’ll also discuss CCNow’s industry ratings, common complaints, and areas of concern, providing readers with a clear and well-rounded understanding of the company’s services and its position in the e-commerce payments market.

About CCNow

CCNow is an Iceland-based merchant account provider specializing in e-commerce solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. Founded in 1998, the company was originally headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by Digital River, which sold CCNow to Snorasson Holdings in January 2013.

CCNow payment processing
Some of CCNow's services

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

CCNow provides payment processing services for small to mid-sized e-commerce businesses, accepting most major debit and credit cards. Their offerings include PCI Level 1 security, e-commerce solutions with integrated shopping carts, a free demo account, weekly payments, support for 25 currencies, auction services, and marketing solutions.

Currency Support

CCNow supports multiple currencies, allowing merchants to cater to a global audience. By enabling purchases in local currencies, businesses can offer a seamless shopping experience.

Fraud Prevention

CCNow places a high priority on security, implementing robust fraud prevention measures to protect merchants and customers. Using advanced security protocols like SSL encryption, CCNow ensures that sensitive information is secure during transactions.

Shopping Cart Integration

CCNow integrates seamlessly with popular shopping cart platforms, making it easy for merchants to add their payment processing service to existing e-commerce websites.

Customer Support

CCNow provides comprehensive customer support to help merchants manage their payment processing. Offering multiple support channels, including email and phone, they address questions and concerns promptly.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Understanding CCNow’s Customer Feedback

Our analysis has identified over 50 negative CCNow reviews, with some customers labeling the service as a scam or ripoff. A notable number of these reviews date back to 2010 or earlier, stemming from unsatisfied customers who engaged with the CCNow Marketplace. Complaints often center on the purchase of defective products or items that were never delivered, coupled with criticisms of CCNow’s customer support as being ineffective or seemingly absent. This level of service does not meet the expectations set by leading payment processors known for excellent customer service. Additionally, there are reports of CCNow favoring customers in disputes, without promptly notifying merchants about chargebacks. We encourage those with firsthand experiences to share their CCNow reviews in the comments section below.

Assessment for High-Risk Merchants

With a significant rise in complaints in recent years, CCNow’s rating has been adjusted as a cautionary note to high-risk merchants. The company has faced criticism for the prevalence of fraudulent transactions within its online marketplace, compounded by a reported lack of customer support, suggesting that CCNow’s Marketplace might not be the ideal platform for e-commerce operations.

Customer Support Infrastructure at CCNow

CCNow provides customer assistance through an email address and a dedicated phone line. Recent complaints have highlighted issues related to fund holds and delayed payments, with merchants expressing difficulty in obtaining timely support. While CCNow’s status as a non-U.S. processor catering to certain high-risk sectors may account for some of these challenges, it does not fully mitigate the frustration experienced by merchants.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports1
Sitejabber Rating1.2
Trustpilot Rating2.6
Our Rating2.5
Average Rating1.82

BBB Rating Analysis

CCNow has no customer rating and a grade of “A+” based on 0 customer reviews.

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about DalPay on the BBB.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about DalPay on the BBB.

Sitejabber Rating Analysis

CCNow has an average customer review rating of 1.2 stars on Sitejabber based on 16 customer reviews. Common themes in the reviews include held and missing funds.

Negative Feedback

CCNOW stopped paying and when the balance reached 50K I stopped receiving payments with them. DalPay is the same company as CCNow working from Snorrason holdings. Some time ago they really paid me for the goods, but for the last time they are silent and owe me 50.000 USD! Bjorn Snorrason, Matt Lind, Thorsten Feldstadt and Bill Wysocki continue fooling people, CCNow website says that “Registrations are temporarily disabled” and dalpay.is is still working (the same menu scheme as CCNow) and dalpay.com takes the money from other people. Just be careful, they owe 50.000 and are silent, I had luck to reach them by phone and they said they don’t have the money now and they don’t know when it will be paid. All people scammed by CCNow – DalPay is the same company, let them help to stop fooling fair sellers.
– Complaint from April 25, 2019

I previously used CCNOW but they stopped making payments, likewise I stopped using the service. I lost a few hundred dollars and counted myself lucky.

Its no surprise that I read the reports of failed payments, lies and deception. You only need to review the annual accounts for Snorasson Holdings to realise this company is in severe difficulty

Whilst in 2015/6 they were turning over a few million USD with positive profits, something happened in 2017 when the company turnover started to decline rapidly. The 2019 accounts report a total turnover of only 600,000 USD with massive losses. – Possibly something to do with money laundering and loss of services as part of the pacnet group: https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl5055.aspx

I also suspect the company will be filing bankruptcy very soon and you would be wise not to use any of the services offered as it is unlikely they have any money in the bank to pay anyone.

Its a real shame because its so difficult living in Thailand to find a global payment gateway and I have struggled to find a suitable alternative. Maybe they should give the service back to Digital River

I genuinely feel sorry for those that have lost thousands and really hope they find a way to recover their money. I suspecct those owed a few hundred may never see the funds.

One thing is for sure, it would be nice to know the truth and I think CCNOW/Snorasson owe this much to their customers. Its hard to know if these financial problems are due to mis management or if the money has been embezzeled by the Directors, in which case they should be in prison

And I thought Paypal were bad!
– Review from July 13, 2021

Positive Feedback

I’ve previously reported about delay in payment, however CCNow finally paid all the amount owed and I must admit they are definitely not fraud. They are just experiencing temporary problems with their disbursement bank which will be fixed soon. My advice to all clients with delays in payment is just have patience, CCNow will definitely pay you, but in the meantime you do not make them a favor posting negative reviews on the internet. This way you only make problem worse, a better approach is to have a little more patience.
– Review from June 27, 2017

Trustpilot Rating Analysis

Wholesale Payments has an average customer review rating of 2.6 stars on Trustpilot based on 4 customer reviews. Common themes in the reviews include poor customer service.

Negative Feedback

Worked well for my online sales for a couple of years but then after a period of sales inactivity they closed my account without notice and when I still had some money in it. No reply to my emails either, never got my closing balance paid to me.

Positive Feedback

Easy to setup, regular payouts. Great company!

Processing Rates & Fees

Country-Specific Pricing

CCNow offers various pricing plans tailored to different countries. For businesses in the U.S., the company charges a one-time sign-up fee of $39.95 and applies a transaction fee of 4.9% plus $0.40. Clients with monthly sales exceeding $50,000 are eligible for volume discounts. There are no additional monthly or annual fees, nor are there any early termination fees. This pricing model differs from those of most other e-commerce merchant services providers, making direct comparisons challenging.

Higher Pricing Than Competitors

While CCNow’s per-transaction fee of 4.9% plus $0.40 is higher than that of most e-commerce competitors, the company supports a broader range of business types, including digital goods and auction-style sellers. Although its setup fee is competitive compared to Authorize.Net, it is higher than that of free services like Stripe or Braintree. We recommend that business owners explore our list of the top providers of merchant services.

Complaints Regarding Fund Holds

Recent complaints have highlighted issues with CCNow’s fund-hold policies. Many businesses report not receiving payments for extended periods, with withheld amounts sometimes totaling thousands of dollars. While fund holds are not uncommon among high-risk and international credit card processors, CCNow’s communication about its fraud prevention policies appears lacking, resulting in a lower rating in this aspect.

Overall Costly Terms

The company’s transaction fees may pose challenges for many standard-risk businesses due to their high cost. Although its flexible contract and wide range of acceptable business types could attract international, high-risk, and digital goods businesses, an increasing number of complaints raise concerns about its suitability for these sectors.

Lawsuits & Legal History

To date, no major class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been filed against CCNow. Merchants seeking to address grievances without resorting to legal action are advised to report their concerns to appropriate oversight bodies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

No Sales Complaints

CCNow primarily markets itself through its website and through strategic partnerships. There is no indication at this time that the company employs an in-person sales force, and we cannot find any CCNow reviews that complain of misleading or aggressive sales tactics. This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

No Misleading Marketing

There is also no indication that CCNow engages in deceptive advertising in its official materials. The company provides a tool to help clients browse its transaction rates by country, and this tool appears to accurately quote the company’s fees. If you suspect that CCNow is charging you undisclosed fees, however, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.

CCNow international pricing
CCNow’s international rates tool

CCNow Competitors

Compare CCNow to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

CCNow currently rates as an average credit card processing provider for e-commerce businesses. The company’s complaint volume has surged considerably over the past two years due to issues surrounding fund holds. Additionally, customers who have ordered through the CCNow MarketPlace are expressing concern over a worrying pattern of fraudulent transactions. While standard-risk businesses might still find CCNow to be a viable option, high-risk merchants may be vulnerable to negative experiences. These businesses would be better served by opting for a top-rated high-risk merchant account provider instead.

Read Actual User Reviews

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