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Crescent Processing Company Review

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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.

Crescent Processing Company

Rating
F
1/5
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Updated 8/12/21: Google lists Crescent Processing as permanently closed, and it appears that the company has redirected its efforts into a newly created DBA, Merchant Processing Company. Its website (crescentprocessing.com) formerly redirected to a website for “Merchant Processing Company,” which shares similar branding with Crescent Processing. The company is also likely in operation as Talus Pay, which was originally created as a DBA of one of Crescent’s affiliated companies, Future Payment Systems. Talus Payments is headquartered at Crescent Processing Company’s old address. See our Merchant Processing Company review and our Talus Pay review for up-to-date information about this company.

Crescent Processing Company Payment Processing

Founded in 2006, Crescent Processing Company (crescentprocessing.com) is a merchant account provider located in Dallas, Texas. The company uses TSYS for its card processing network but appears to handle the customer service of its merchant accounts directly. Aside from providing credit card processing services, Crescent also supplies PIN debit processing, check services, gift card processing, electronic signature capture, and merchant cash advances. Crescent Processing Company is also affiliated with two newer providers called Park Central Company and Future Payment Technologies. The evidence suggests that both Park Central and Future Payment Technologies are DBAs or wholly owned subsidiaries of Crescent. Crescent Processing Company is a registered ISO/MSP of Synovus Bank, Columbus, Georgia.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

High Complaint Total

For a provider of its size and time in business, Crescent Processing Company has a high number of complaints. In particular, there are many complaints about the company posted by former sales agents on Ripoff Report. The common themes among the merchant complaints are claims of higher-than-quoted processing fees and other unexpected/undisclosed fees, and that agents failed to disclose a $495 cancellation fee in connection with a three- to four-year auto-renewing contract. Several merchants have also reported that Crescent continued to debit fees even after the account was canceled.

Poor Customer Service

A few reviews also indicated a poor level of customer service and long wait times when attempting to resolve problems. Most of the problems appear to be traced back to the sales agent as the source of the problems due to non-disclosure of terms and fees; however, Crescent’s business practices seem to allow for these types of problems to occur.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
Product & Service Complaints137
Billing & Collection Complaints86
Advertising & Sales Complaints64
Guarantee & Warranty Complaints0
Delivery Complaints1

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.

As of this review, Crescent Processing Company is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau. Previously, the BBB reported 288 complaints filed in the last 36 months against the company. Yet, inexplicably, the BBB awarded Crescent an “A“ rating. Of the 311 complaints, 137 are regarding service problems, 86 with billing and collection disputes, and 64 with advertising and sales issues. Of the total, 48 were not resolved to the merchant’s satisfaction, and 4 were not resolved at all. Based on the amount of complaints and the fact that some have gone completely unresolved, we are adjusting the rating to an “F” for the purposes of this review. You can learn more about why we adjust BBB ratings in our rating criteria.

Processing Rates & Fees

Crescent Processing Company Contract

Pricing and contract terms seem to vary based on the merchant and the agent setting up the account. However, Crescent’s standard contract appears to be a four-year automatically renewing contract with a $495 Early Termination Fee (ETF). It is unclear at the time of this update if the company also charges an annual or monthly PCI Compliance Fee. Merchants are encouraged to carefully read and understand their contracts before signing with the company.

Crescent sales agents also appear to receive additional commissions for selling credit card terminal leases that may come with additional and expensive contracts. This reviewer advises to never lease processing hardware because it is the most expensive way to obtain it. Buy your equipment and shop around before purchasing it.

If you have any additional information about Crescent Processing’s fees or contract, please leave it in the comment section of this review.

Crescent Processing Company Competitors

Compare Crescent Processing Company to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Crescent Processing Company has received a low rating in this review because of its heavy use of independent resellers, unfavorable underwriting policies, and high complaint count. Now that it is no longer in business as Crescent, we suggest reading our reviews for Merchant Processing Company and Talus Pay, which are the new names Crescent is operating under.