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(844) 423-5376
Company Overview
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.
Point-of-Sale Systems
Celero Commerce offers point-of-sale (POS) systems that cater to the unique needs of different businesses. These systems include essential features such as inventory management, sales tracking, and integration with accounting software, which help streamline daily business operations.
E-Commerce Payment Solutions
The company provides an e-commerce payment solution that enables secure online payments for businesses. Celero Commerce’s solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms, making it easy for merchants and their customers to complete transactions online.
Mobile Payment Processing
Celero Commerce also offers mobile payment processing services, allowing businesses to accept credit card payments using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This feature is particularly useful for merchants operating in non-traditional settings or those looking to offer additional payment options to their customers.
Virtual Terminal
The virtual terminal service provided by Celero Commerce enables businesses to process credit card transactions over the phone or through mail orders securely. This option is beneficial for businesses without a physical card reader or those in need of an alternative payment method for remote transactions.
Fraud Prevention and Security
Security and fraud prevention are essential aspects of Celero Commerce’s payment processing services. The company follows industry best practices and employs advanced security measures to protect sensitive data and minimize fraud risks during transactions.
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. The company is also a registered ISO of Synovus Bank, Columbus GA; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Elmhurst Financial Services is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Concord, CA and Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, OH. Tandem Innovative Payment Solutions is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Concord, CA. and Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, OH. FlashBanc, LLC is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA. TransNational Payments is a registered ISO of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. 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.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Offers custom contracts based on…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number less than 5 on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating and has received 2 complaints and 8 reviews in the past 3 years. The company is not…
- Sales & Marketing: Does not hire independent sales agents and has received…
Celero Commerce Reviews and Complaints
Here's What Their Clients Say
Complaint Summary
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Total Online Complaints
Less than 10
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Live Customer Support
Yes
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Most Common Complaint
Fees and Contract Terms
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Recent Lawsuits
No
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Low Complaint Total
Celero Commerce is a relatively new company and has recently acquired several smaller payment processors. This makes it difficult to gauge the number of Celero Commerce reviews, as they have consolidated the previous websites into the new brand. We have found a few previous Celero Commerce reviews related to acquisition companies accusing them of inconsistent contract rates, with added confusion caused by the new company’s formation. If you have your own Celero Commerce review to make, please do so in the comments below.
Common Complaints
The majority of Celero Commerce complaints stem from hidden and surprise fees, deceptive sales practices on the part of independent agents and resellers, unauthorized debits from accounts, and nondisclosure of the service agreement length and cancellation fee. Additionally, multiple merchants complain of predatory equipment lease agreements through previous businesses now under the Celero Commerce umbrella. In these complaints, business owners report being misled into expensive, non-cancellable 48-month leases for cheap equipment. There are also numerous complaints filed by former employees and agents describing deceptive and misleading hiring practices.
It is unclear at this time if Celero Commerce is engaging in the same business practices as the companies that it acquired, so we encourage business owners to exercise caution by reading and understanding the terms of your service agreements and keeping copies of all documents and communication. If you have any information regarding lease terms or contracts, please leave it in the comment section below.
Celero Commerce Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Celero Commerce. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Celero Commerce Customer Support Options
Currently, there are no complaints directly related to the company’s customer service. However, Celero Commerce does not appear to offer a dedicated customer service phone number.
Celero Commerce Customer Service Number
- (844) 423-5376 – General Contact
Other Support Options
- Email address at [email protected]
We advise merchants to look closely at Celero’s POS contracts
Celero Commerce BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
BBB Summary
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BBB Reports
10
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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.
One Complaint
According to the Better Business Bureau Celero Commerce has been in business for 18 years. However, as mentioned previously, 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 and one negative customer review at this time.
What Merchants Say
Celero Commerce’s lone informal review through the BBB describes deceptive rates possibly signed under a DBA or recent acquisition of Celero:
I used this company via a dispatch software through *********. They trick you by showing low percentage rates for processing credit cards, then slam you with random fee upwards of 4% or more if customers use certain reward type cards. ********* did not answer my technical questions in a timely manner, so I dropped their program. They in turn told me I needed to contact Celero to cancel. After I contacted Celero, they pulled $395 out of my account immediately and claimed it was for early termination. The rep who handled the cancellation for me did not even make me aware of the early termination fee nor did the ********* rep. Nothing on the agreement shows an actual price for early termination, so where they got $395 is beyond me. I was also on a 90 day trial period with ********* and they charged me for the 4th month…
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.
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.
2 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 2 complaints.
What Merchants Say
Celero Commerce has received 8 reviews through the BBB, 2 of which are positive and 6 of which are negative. The most recent negative review describes held funds:
Celero commerence I recently had the displeasure of using this credit card processor for my medical practice ,I must say the experience was absolutely terrible. I will not be using them in future and urge you to avoid at all cost. They have withheld payments that were associated with another practice totally owned by another individual. My office manager worked for that practice at one time. They have no right to with hold our payments and I will be seeking legal action to recover but should not have to resort to that. Forget about calling their customer service and talking to a live person. when we finally got a person named Kyle he was very rude and and unhelpful in solving the problem. Overall, I would strongly advise against using this credit card processor.
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 and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
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Cancellation Penalties
Undisclosed
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Monthly & Annual Fees
Undisclosed
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Processing Rates
Undisclosed
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Equipment Leasing
Undisclosed
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Lacking Transparency
Celero Commerce rates and fees are not openly disclosed, which is often a hallmark of processors that charge expensive rates with difficult-to-understand pricing that is buried in fine print. This notion is also supported by evidence showing Celero’s use of independently contracted sales agents that are paid solely on commission and who often earn higher commissions by selling more expensive merchant accounts. The company resisted supplying us with a service agreement when we requested one, which further strengthens our belief that rates and fees with Celero Commerce are murky and expensive.
One caveat to the above is that Celero appears to serve a wide array of business types and has partnered with several processors and banks to do so. With this in mind, the company likely shops businesses to different processors according to industry-specific risk tolerances and customizes pricing based on the appropriate processor. This, however, does not remove their incentive to price merchant accounts as highly as a business owner will tolerate in order to obtain the highest margins on their processing.
Due to the lack of clarity regarding costs, rates, and other contract terms, business owners are advised to fully understand the terms and pricing prior to signing any paperwork. It would also be highly advisable to obtain quotes from at least one other merchant account provider. Be sure to check out our list of the best merchant account providers, which provide full pricing transparency and flexible contract terms.
We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant services.
Celero Commerce Jobs and Employment
Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment
Key Points
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Uses Independent Resellers
Yes
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Telemarketing
Likely
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Misleading Marketing
Potentially
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Discloses All Important Provisions
No
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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.
Celero Commerce Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
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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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!