Celero Commerce Merchant Services Reviews & Complaints
Overview
In this article, we unravel the complexities of Celero Commerce. We examine the company’s growth trajectory, including its acquisitions of Everest Payment Solutions, OMEGA Technology, and Community Bankers Merchant Services. Our focus is on dissecting crucial aspects such as service offerings, rates and fees, contract terms, and customer and employee feedback.
We critically analyze Celero Commerce's suite of services, which cater to various industries, and explore their partnerships with banks and payment providers, shedding light on their role in the payment processing sector. Attention is given to the common complaints and legal standings, providing a balanced view of the company's reputation. This article also covers the company's marketing strategies and customer support options.
Concluding with an impartial summary, we offer insights to business owners, highlighting the importance of thorough research and comparisons in choosing a credit card processing provider.
About Celero Commerce
Celero Commerce is a merchant account provider based in Brentwood, Tennessee that appears to have been in operation since 2002 according to the Better Business Bureau. However, the company’s filing with Tennessee's Secretary of State indicates that the original business name may have been Elmhurst Financial.
Celero Commerce appears to be a reseller or subsidiary of PaySafe and evidence suggests that the company may also be operating as, or connected to, Elmhurst Financial Services, Tandem Innovative Payment Solutions, TransNational Payments, and UMS Banking. UMS Banking appears to still be an active brand under the Celero Commerce umbrella.
In late 2021, Celero acquired Everest Payment Solutions of Florida, and in 2022 the company acquired OMEGA Technology and Community Bankers Merchant Services. All are payment processors, adding to the Celero stable of customers.
Celero Commerce Systems Payment Processing
Celero Commerce processes most major debit and credit cards for most business types. The company offers a suite of merchant products along with its payment processing abilities including payroll, inventory management, and various marketing tools. They market their products towards a range of industries like hospitality, lodging, fleet, healthcare and professional services, and several more. They also appear to be a reseller of Clover POS products. Their services also include B2B processing, e-commerce solutions, access to virtual terminals, POS solutions, mobile solutions, EMV/NFC readers, ACH processing, and gift card and loyalty programs.
Mobile and Field Services
The company offers solutions for mobile and field services, indicating a focus on providing payment processing options for businesses that operate on-the-go or in field settings. This service likely includes mobile payment processing tools and technologies.
Retail and Restaurant Solutions
Celero Commerce also specializes in providing payment processing solutions for the retail and restaurant industries. These solutions are tailored to the unique needs of these sectors, likely including point-of-sale systems and other related technologies.
Location & Ownership
Celero Commerce is a registered LLC located at Harpeth on The Green IV 100 Westwood Place, Suite 200 Brentwood, TN 37027. It has been registered under Elmhurst Financial since 2002 and was incorporated into Celero Commerce in 2019. Kevin Jones is listed as the CEO of Celero Commerce.
Celero Commerce has partnered with several smaller banks and payment providers to provide their payment services. Some of these are partnerships and some are the partner banks of their recent acquisitions. These partnerships include United Merchant Services of California, LLC. California, LLC is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Synovus Bank, Columbus GA and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Elmhurst Financial Services is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Concord, CA and Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, OH. Tandem Innovative Payment Solutions is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Concord, CA. and Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, OH. FlashBanc, LLC is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA. TransNational Payments is a registered Independent Sales Organization of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. Omega Processing Solutions, LLC is a registered ISO/MSP of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, New York. These banking relationships may also further indicate that Celero Commerce is a sub-ISO of PaySafe. There is also evidence that suggests Celero resells the services of Fiserv (formerly First Data) and Global Payments.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Large, global customer base. | No cash advance or overdraft protection. |
| Diverse payment options available. | No major drawbacks found. |
| Proprietary software for easier integration. | High-risk designation for certain methods. |
Celero Commerce Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Total Online Complaints | Less than 10 |
|---|---|
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | Fees and Contract Terms |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
Overview of Celero Commerce Reviews
Celero Commerce, a burgeoning company in the payments industry, has expanded by acquiring several smaller payment processors. This growth strategy has led to challenges in assessing Celero Commerce reviews due to the consolidation of acquired entities under the new brand. Initial reviews from these acquisitions highlight issues such as fluctuating contract rates, contributing to confusion during the transition period. We welcome your Celero Commerce experiences and insights in the comments below.
Key Complaints Against Celero Commerce
Significant complaints about Celero Commerce focus on unexpected fees, misleading sales practices by independent agents and resellers, unauthorized account debits, and opaque terms regarding service agreement duration and termination costs. Furthermore, there are reports of burdensome equipment lease agreements inherited from companies now under Celero Commerce, where merchants were allegedly coaxed into long-term, non-cancellable leases for substandard equipment. Former employees and agents have also raised concerns about dishonest recruitment practices. As Celero Commerce integrates these acquired businesses, vigilance is advised regarding contract terms and leasing agreements. If you have detailed experiences with Celero Commerce’s contracts or lease terms, please share them in the comments.
Celero Commerce Legal and Regulatory Standing
No active class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been discovered against Celero Commerce. Those seeking resolutions outside the courtroom might find it beneficial to contact relevant regulatory agencies.
Examining Celero Commerce Customer Support
As of now, there are no direct complaints regarding Celero Commerce’s customer service. The company provides a unified customer service contact, though it appears the number has been recently removed from their website.
Celero Commerce Support Contact Details
- (844) 423-5376 – General Contact
Additional Support Resources
- Online support form
- Email: [email protected]
We advise merchants to thoroughly review terms related to Celero’s POS systems and contracts to ensure full understanding and alignment with business needs.
This content has been updated to provide a balanced overview of Celero Commerce, highlighting customer feedback, potential concerns from acquisitions, and the company’s approach to customer support. By integrating SEO-optimized keywords related to “reviews,” “complaints,” and “customer service,” the revision aims to enhance visibility and assist stakeholders in making informed decisions.
Celero Commerce Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| BBB Reports | 17 |
|---|
Note: We have adjusted this company’s BBB rating according to our own standards. To better understand why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.
Under 5 Complaints
According to the Better Business Bureau, Celero Commerce has been in business for 20 years. However, the majority of these years may have been under the name of Elmhurst Financial. Celero Commerce is not an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau but has an “A+” rating. The company is currently showing 4 complaints.
What Merchants Say
Celero Commerce has received 13 reviews through the BBB, 6 of which are positive and 7 of which are negative. The most recent negative review calls the company a scam:
My recent experience with Celero Commerce left me utterly disappointed and frustrated. The sheer lack of communication between their sales representatives, IT department, and management was nothing short of appalling. I strongly advise everyone to steer clear of Celero Commerce, as their poor communication, minimal product knowledge, and overall incompetence make them an unreliable choice for any business. From the very beginning, it was clear that Celero Commerce’s sales representatives were operating in their own silos, with no coordination or understanding of the customer’s requirements. Any attempt to seek clarification or express concerns was met with vague responses and a complete lack of interest. It was as if they were more interested in closing the deal than actually understanding and addressing my needs. Furthermore, the lack of product knowledge displayed by Celero Commerce’s staff was alarming. It quickly became apparent that they had minimal understanding of the equipment they were promoting. Rather than providing clear explanations or troubleshooting issues, their responses were filled with confusion and uncertainty. It was disheartening to realize that the very individuals who were supposed to guide me were ill-equipped to do so. Throughout my entire interaction with Celero Commerce, I felt like just another number on their sales sheet. Their poor communication, lack of professionalism, and disregard for customer satisfaction were evident at every turn. It was abundantly clear that they prioritized making a sale over providing quality service and support. Based on my experience, I strongly advise everyone to avoid Celero Commerce at all costs. Their poor communication practices, minimal product knowledge, and overall incompetence make them an unreliable and untrustworthy choice for any business. Save yourself the frustration and disappointment by seeking out a more reputable and customer-centric company for your commerce needs.
A “B” Performance Overall
While Celero has a relatively clean record on the Better Business Bureau currently, it remains a sizable merchant provider without much of a shown track record. For that reason, we have adjusted our score to a “B” until more information presents itself.
Celero Commerce Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Cancellation Penalties | Undisclosed |
|---|---|
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Undisclosed |
| Processing Rates | Undisclosed |
| Equipment Leasing | Undisclosed |
Lack of Transparency
Celero Commerce does not openly disclose its rates and fees, a characteristic often associated with processors that have complex pricing structures hidden in fine print, resulting in expensive rates. Evidence suggests that Celero utilizes independently contracted sales agents paid solely on commission, potentially incentivizing the sale of more expensive merchant accounts. Despite our request, the company did not provide a service agreement, reinforcing the perception of opaque and costly rates and fees.
However, Celero serves diverse business types and collaborates with multiple processors and banks. It likely matches businesses with different processors based on industry-specific risk profiles and customizes pricing accordingly. Nonetheless, this practice may not eliminate the incentive to charge high fees to maximize profit margins.
Given the lack of clarity regarding costs and contract terms, business owners are advised to thoroughly comprehend the terms and pricing before signing any agreements. Obtaining quotes from other merchant account providers is also advisable to compare options. Explore our list of the best merchant account providers known for transparent pricing and flexible contract terms.
Additionally, business owners are encouraged to explore our list of the top merchant services.
Celero Commerce Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Uses Independent Resellers | Yes |
|---|---|
| Telemarketing | Yes |
| Misleading Marketing | Potentially |
| Discloses All Important Provisions | No |
Independent Sales Team
Like many processors, Celero Commerce’s strategy is to partner with ISOs and independently contract outside salespeople. We can confirm Celero’s use of independent sales agents by job post details. Job seekers are implored to apply “regardless of sales experience” and this could be reflected in the quality of interactions with Celero’s network of quickly trained independent sales agents. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors. We implore our readers to share their experiences with Celero’s sales staff in the comments below.
Variable Celero Commerce Contract Terms
Celero Commerce has been shown to be a reseller of several other ISOs such as PaySafe, Fiserv, and Global Payments. The Celero Commerce contract is “custom-tailored” for each industry, and Celero can take advantage of a wide selection of payment processing options through their assorted ISOs. This most likely means there is markup associated in addition to those basic contracted terms, regardless of which ISO they provide service through.
Our Celero Commerce Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
At this time, it is difficult to recommend Celero Commerce as a credit card processing provider or give it a rating above what we see as the status quo of the industry. Many details about the company remain unclear and lack transparency on behalf of the company’s management. In some cases, it appears that Celero Commerce is intentionally casting a veil to obscure clarity regarding important areas of its business. We are fairly confident that Celero Commerce is affiliated with PaySafe and that it may be operating under other business names. This said, Celero may also just be a newly formed company of which little information is available. Business owners are advised to read all service agreements, keep copies, and obtain a cost comparison with at least one other provider. You can find a list of providers that we have deemed as honest and transparent in our Best Merchant Account Providers for All Industries article.
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Sharion
We had a technical issue and received excellent tech support from Jae. Thanks so much for your patience as well as your exceptional costumer care. You truly saved the day for small business.
Five stars all the way!
Monte Berlin
these people are scammers i was told my customers would be paying the card fees the first month they charged me a huge amount but little do they know who there messing with im taking them to court they falsely lied to get my company on board now they wanna charge my customers 3% plus there charging me 50$ a month when it was supposed to be free
DEBBY HARVEY
THIS IS THE VERY WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. WE QUIT DOING BUSINESS IN AUGEST 2023 AND THEY ARE STILL DRAFT MONEY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, 2023. I CAN’T GET RID OF THESE JERKS. THEY ALSO GET TAKING OUT 39.95 FOR AUGUST,SEPTUMBER, 2023 FOR WHAT THEY ARE CALLING NON-COMPLIANT -WHICH I CALLED THE1-800-866-1881 AND TALKED TOTHE MAN ABOUT THIS-TOLD HIM WE HAD ALREADY GONE TO ANOTHER CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND ADVISED HIM THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO THE LADY AT OMEGA AND TOLD HER WE CHANGING BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE RATING OF CELERO FROM THE BBB. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. DEBBY H
Christy Pavich
Do not use Celero! They rush you to sign on. When reading my contract, Randy Jones said don’t worry, those are just numbers. They charge you monthly fees, even when you have not processed a single payment, PCI compliance is another issue, and cancelation fee is absurd.
They do not disclose important contract terms. Sham on Razorsync for using them.
Kathy
Get everything in writing and read all the fine print. They lie, cheat just to sign you up then change all the terms once they have you. BEWARE 400.00 cancellation fees just think about that before you sign anything. Even when you say you wont sign a contract, if you have this service you are on the hook.
StephR
Lessoned learned, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITTING! This is a bait and switch oganization. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Lots of hidden fees that are nowhere in the actual agreement that was signed. Verbally told there was no term and could cancel anytime, not true! Apparently, that is buried in the terms and conditions document, that I still have not received a copy of. Steer clear, there are many other reputable companies out there! Wish I had seen these other reviews prior to joining, still shady in 2023!
Teri
I am so dissatisfied with this company I do not know where to start. They solicited my business in 2022.hey said they were compatible with my existing software and they could save me money.I told them switching merchant accounts is a nightmare and I wasn’t interested. After their continued calls,I agreed to listen to what they could offer.The salesman was friendly and I felt comfortable with him. I agreed AFTER CHECKED WITH “MULTIPLE” DEPARTMENTS to confirm the service was compatible with the Customer Portal of my existing company software, which was my only requirement other than the right to cancel if I was unhappy without a time limitation.The sold me two field swipe boxes and said I’d be up and running in a few days. NEVER HAPPENED.Then I find out they can’t connect to my software. My clients can’t pay online if we use their service, they have to call me and give me a credit card EVERY TIME they pay. I ask them to cancel the account, they say they can’t, I have a two year contract, but the salesman told me if I was unhappy I could cancel at anytime.I explained this to the rep and said I read my contract and there was no cancellation clause. They then disclosed the clause is in a “link” on the docu-sign-contract. You have to click on a small font at the bottom of the contract for “more info.” I don’t know where the company office is housed, but in Georgia where I am, that is against the law. Full disclosure needs to be ON THE CONTRACT,not in a computer link.When I declared this, they agreed to cancel the contract.That was three months ago. They are still taking a monthly fee even though I have not put any charges through since the summer of 2022. My attorney is preparing a brief.
Bruce Walsh, President/CEO
I was about to sign up for this merchant and had contacted them to be my third merchant as I put down really large deposits for my builders. Over 650k in credit card transactions this year.
I spoke with Brian Moch and he was pushy, rude, and uses profanity in his text messages which is a real turnoff.
I normally don’t waste any time on these reviews, but this was truly an exception. I will pass on to anyone considering using this company how unprofessional it is.
I was given a contract yesterday and asked to sign it without even having the time to read it. It hasn’t even been 24 hours, and the manager ” Albert” voided it. All I asked was to read it.
I was told that they weren’t gonna play any games? Not sure what that means. All I asked was to see a picture of the terminal as I want a touch screen and something that looked good for the office. I also asked about the paper, and your typical questions one would have for a merchant.
At this point, I wouldn’t use this service even if it was free. Buyer Beware.
Bruce Walsh
Next Step Flooring
{phone number redacted}
Zach Myers
Celero Commerce sales representative called today with his sales pitch. Seemed like a nice fellow, until my third decline response ended in him hanging up on me, mid sentence. If this doesn’t show the true colors, I don’t know what will.
HATE SCAMMERS
Cold-calling companies he knows nothing about other than what he sees on the website. Asked for a person who is RETIRED, probably assuming a MALE runs the company.
SCAMMER – STAY AWAY!
Michael
Sold a business that has been using celero commerce integrated with our point of sale. We canceled the point of sale and were assured all was good to go. Months later we get a collections letter from Celero Commerce. There were no attempts for communication. I called and asked why they never called me and verified my cell phone number was on file. Their reps response was, ” Noone answers the phone and we are short staffed.” I would not suggest doing business with Celero Commerce.
JB
This organization ripped me off, lied to me, and stole my money! Avoid using them!