Cypress Bay Solutions Reviews & Complaints
Overview
In the below review, we explore the intricacies of Cypress Bay Solutions, a merchant account provider linked to a network of related companies with a history of mixed reputations. As we unpack the details, we'll scrutinize various aspects of their services, including their rates and fees, contract terms, and the common complaints raised by users. We evaluate the industry ratings they've received, explore feedback from employees, and investigate the marketing tactics employed by the company.
Our article also includes a critical assessment of user reviews and provides an insightful look into the history of Cypress Bay Solutions and its affiliations with other companies in the Certified Payment Processing family. We'll shed light on the payment processing capabilities of Cypress Bay Solutions, the business management tools they offer, and discuss their location and ownership details. The pros and cons of their services are weighed, alongside an analysis of customer reviews and the company's record regarding lawsuits and fines.
We assess Cypress Bay Solutions' customer support options, delve into their processing cost experiments, and present an overview of their online ratings. This thorough examination extends to a detailed look at the company's fees, rates, and costs, including insights into their equipment-related fees and overall cost comparisons. Finally, we review the experiences of employees and sales tactics used by the company, culminating in our concluding thoughts and ratings for Cypress Bay Solutions as a credit card processing provider.
About Cypress Bay Solutions
Cypress Bay Solutions is a merchant account provider that appears to be a reseller of First American Payment Systems and a member of the Certified Payment Processing family of companies. These companies include Certified Payment Processing, Altiras Advisors, Axis Payments, Intrepid Payment Processing, Summit Merchant Solutions, Apex Merchant Group, and TransTech Merchant Group, all of which are either poorly rated on CPO or no longer operational.
Cypress Bay Solutions History
Founded in 1991 and based in the Carrollton, Texas area, Certified Payment Processing was an all-purpose credit card processor that also operated under the names Summit Merchant Solutions and TransTech Merchant Group. All three companies shared the same CEO, Tony Norrie, who is currently the CEO of Altiras Advisors. A former employee of Apex Merchant Group has stated in the comment section of our Apex Merchant Group review that Apex Merchant Group’s portfolio was merged with Certified Payment Processing following the March 2015 settlement of legal action against Apex in the state of Minnesota and that Axis Payments and Intrepid Payment Processing were later launched as DBAs of Certified Payment Processing. All of these brands are now inactive except for Altiras Advisors, and Cypress Bay Solutions is their most recently created DBA. As of 2022, the Cypress Bay Solutions website features a “by Deluxe” in addition to its usual logo. Though there is no other information we can find about this, it appears that Cypress Bay Solutions is now a part of the Deluxe business and payment services brand.
Cypress Bay Solutions Payment Processing
Cypress Bay Solutions provides payment processing capabilities for various transaction types, including debit, credit, EMV chip and PIN, and mobile/contactless payments like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay. They also offer EBT and eCheck processing, along with gift and loyalty card services. Their hardware and software solutions are PCI compliant, ensuring secure transactions.
Business Management Tools
The company offers a merchant portal for business management, allowing clients to view transaction details, manage inventory, and set goals based on sales trends. This portal also provides 24/7 access to merchant statements, processing details, dispute reports, and deposit information, with customizable reports to track important metrics.
Location & Ownership
Cypress Bay Solutions is a registered ISO of Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Better Business Bureau lists the company's address at 2501 Parkview Dr Ste 207, Fort Worth, TX. Matt Stoddart is listed as the principal for Cypress Bay.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| 24/7 professional support. | Numerous customer complaints. |
| Zero setup fee. | High early termination fee. |
| Competitive pricing. | Mandatory monthly fee. |
| Gift and loyalty programs. | Three-year contract. |
| Recurring billing option. | Non-disclosure of full terms. |
| Uses independent resellers. |
Cypress Bay Solutions Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Total Online Complaints | 35+ |
|---|---|
| Live Customer Support | No |
| Most Common Complaint | Bad Leads |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
Review of Cypress Bay Solutions Complaints
Our research has uncovered over 35 negative reviews of Cypress Bay Solutions across various platforms, with accusations labeling the company as a scam or ripoff. These critiques, shared by both clients and former employees, highlight issues such as fictitious appointments, subpar leads, aggressive sales tactics, concealed fees, and difficulties in accessing customer service. We welcome and encourage you to share your personal experiences with Cypress Bay Solutions in the comments section below for a more comprehensive understanding.
Cypress Bay Solutions Legal Overview
There are no recorded class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints against Cypress Bay Solutions to date. Individuals seeking to address grievances without resorting to litigation are advised to report their issues to appropriate oversight organizations.
Assessing Cypress Bay Solutions Customer Support
Cypress Bay Solutions provides a customer support number, a general sales phone line, and an email form for inquiries on its website. However, this level of customer service provision does not meet the benchmark set by leading payment processors known for outstanding customer support.
Contact Information for Cypress Bay Solutions Support
- (844) 929-0956 – General Customer Support
Since its establishment in 2017, Cypress Bay Solutions has faced consistent criticism, and current evidence does not suggest an improvement in customer experience compared to its predecessors. Given the volume and nature of complaints, it is crucial for Cypress Bay Solutions to enhance its customer service efforts.
This updated content aims to provide a balanced perspective on Cypress Bay Solutions, focusing on customer reviews, legal standing, and support services. Incorporating SEO-optimized keywords related to “reviews,” “complaints,” and “customer service,” this revision is designed to enhance visibility and offer valuable insights for individuals researching Cypress Bay Solutions.
Cypress Bay Solutions Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| BBB Reports | 10 |
|---|
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.
15 Complaints
The Better Business Bureau currently gives Cypress Bay Solutions an “A+” rating and does not award the company BBB accreditation. The company’s profile is currently showing 9 complaints in the last 36 months. Only 1 of the 9 complaints was resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant.
What Merchants Say
Cypress Bay Solutions has also received 1 negative informal review to its profile. The most recent review describes difficulty canceling service and calls the company a scam:
Still CROOKS!!! Literally running scam shows! Theyve been harassing my family and using the wrong names (for my family) for the past month. Who are you???
Clients in this position may benefit from taking the steps to cancel their account without paying a fee.
A “C” Performance
We have adjusted the BBB’s rating to a “C” based on the company’s high complaint total and poor resolution ratio.
Cypress Bay Solutions Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Cancellation Penalties | Yes |
|---|---|
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
| Processing Rates | 1.00% - 4.99% |
| Equipment Leasing | Yes |
Standard Contract Details
While Cypress Bay Solutions doesn’t disclose its rates and fees on its website, insights from Cypress Bay reviews suggest that the company follows similar contract terms as its associated entities. Typically, businesses can anticipate a three-year agreement with automatic yearly renewals, an early termination fee ranging between $495 to $595, an annual fee of $95, a monthly minimum fee of $25, an annual PCI compliance fee of $124.75, and assorted additional charges. Explore our list of the top providers offering the best merchant services for more options.
Equipment-Related Fees
Complaints about Cypress Bay Solutions highlight various fees, including a $12.95 monthly equipment rental fee, a steep “non-returned equipment charge” of around $700, a cancellation fee ranging from $250 to $500, and equipment leases imposing charges for the remaining lease period upon cancellation. Specific monthly costs for these leases are not consistently reported, suggesting they may not always be bundled with the merchant account as previously done.
Affordable Alternatives
Given the association with poorly rated providers, Cypress Bay Solutions’ rates and pricing may not be advisable presently. It’s essential for business owners to thoroughly review contract terms and engage with trusted agents. Opting for a cost-effective merchant account provider is likely to offer more competitive pricing and favorable contract terms.
Cypress Bay Solutions Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Uses Independent Resellers | Yes |
|---|---|
| Telemarketing | Yes |
| Misleading Marketing | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Telemarketers and Outside Agents
Cypress Bay Solutions appears to market its services through a combination of preset telephone appointments and independent sales agents. These combined strategies are typical of companies within the Certified Payment Processing network and are often linked to elevated complaint totals from clients. We are currently able to find a moderate number of negative Cypress Bay Solutions reviews about the company’s sales tactics, with a repeating theme of undisclosed fees and unwanted sales calls. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Complaints From Sales Agents
There are also dozens of public Cypress Bay Solutions complaints from current and former employees that describe bogus appointments, worthless leads, and discomfort with the company’s reputation among businesses. These Cypress Bay Solutions reviews sound very similar to complaints filed against other First American Payment Systems companies, which leads us to believe that Cypress Bay Solutions has embraced its parent company’s sales model wholeheartedly. Below are a few sample complaints from Glassdoor:
They just pull leads from Google and like to call potenial customers liars. When they are the ones lieing about calling and setting up the appointments
Like every sales job, they make the potential sound so amazing. They tell you they set appointments for you so you don’t have to cold call… Sounds great, but it’s a flat out LIE!! I went to FOUR leads on my first day and NOBODY knew I was coming! felt that much more stupid… We’re suppose to lie and say “no I’m not a sales person,” but the merchants know instantly. No different than any other sales job. PLUS, they are not sending me generated leads every day. When I want one I have to call them. Go to one, call them for another one. The only thing I accomplished was wasting gas driving to these different companies to look like an ignorant sales rep in training. The first guy that called even left a sad puppy voicemail on my phone because I started to back out of training the first time– when I realized I had to drain BOTH my tablet AND phone for 6 hours to do their training webinar. I found a way, managed to stick it out, only to find out they don’t stick to their word!
As a new agent selling CC services and equipment you are given a few hour webinar training and that is it. They don’t provide any real training on rates charged but tell you to call your team leader when you get stuck. The intro package has no promotional materials to leave with prospective customers or even some blank business cards with a logo and a place to put your name and phone number. New agents are set up for frustration and failure. Fully commission or mileage reimbursement so have to rely on closing sales alone.
More of the Same
We have assigned Cypress Bay a “D” rating in this section based on the fact that it uses the same playbook as its low-rated predecessors. If you have been deceived by a Cypress Bay Solutions sales agent, you can renegotiate your rates with a third-party statement audit.
Our Cypress Bay Solutions Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Cypress Bay Solutions rates poorly as a credit card processing provider according to our rating criteria. The company appears to simply be the latest in a long line of poorly rated providers formerly based at 3350 Boyington Dr. in Carrollton, Texas. We will continue to monitor this company and any spinoff businesses going forward. For now, businesses will likely obtain better pricing and service from a top-rated all-purpose merchant account provider.
If you found this article helpful, please share it!
Meharena
What a rip-off- no customer service they hide once you sign up; they charge a lot of money; stay away from them
Randy Chenevert
Representative did not disclose $40 monthly equipment rental banking draft fee!!!
glen
they will rip you off do not use them. I have never in my life been so f*** over in my life. So any companies wanting a credit card company do not even think of this company, I lost a lot of time and money trying to deal with their customer service. They are cons, They raise your fees without notice and sneak it though your bank account. The machines are garbage will not last a year, then no warranty, then charge you for new one to replace. Please people do not use this company they will rip you off
Roderick
After experience problems with the equipment provided by CBS, I reached out to the company but was unable to reach anyone. After several days, I finally searched online for an alternative number and the results showed that CBS was permanently closed. In a panic, I quickly begin to search for another card processing company. After a few weeks passed and after I had already signed with another processing company, I reached out to CBS to find out that a third party customer service department was handling their inbound phone calls. They put me in contact with Victoria from CBS by email who then attempted to address my concerns but I had already signed with another company. She then sent me the information to close my account with CBS with a huge buyout fee that I thought was unreasonable considering that the only reason I was with another company is because I could not get in contact with anyone at CBS. I was then told that I could continue to pay 20-30 per month as a min charge until the contract expired. Well I eventually found out that the charges were over 100 a month even though I was not processing any payments with CBS. Again, I made several attempts to contact someone from the management team at CBS and no one would email me or return my phone calls. After two months of paying the fees I put a stop payment on my account and then someone from CBS called me from the collections department. Extremely difficult company to deal with and I strongly recommend anyone to not do business with this company.
T Jimenez
The worst ever customer care Manager3/5/2021.
Just received a statement after months.
I had made a call to close my account back in Sept 2020.
The person I needed to speak w wasn’t available.
They claim they attempted 1 call to me . Which I never received or a message on my phone.Nit even a letter following up my verbal request to cancel my account because my business closed because of Covid-19.
I moved , left my forwarding address
With post office.
Since closing my verbal request to close my business in Aug 2020
I receive my very first bill from them 3/4/2021 which was fwd to me, from my old post office. Showing that they had been continuing to deduct payments for credit card services since Aug 2020.
Due to serious illness
Then Due to covid
Then Due to moving
Due to not paying closer attention to our cc monthly bill, this company got away with charging for services that I never used from Aug 16 2020 to Jan31 2021, 5 months at 45.45 per month. When speaking with the Manager at the customer service number 1 844 929 0980 on 3/5/2021
Who refused to be reasoned with. I told him to kiss my….. I was infuriated by his coldness and lack of understanding. Of course he hung up on me. I’ve contacted my bank.
He informed me everything I did on record. Even though he knew I’d tried to close my account and neither of us followed up. I lost money. For nothing reasonable. They could care less!!!! Such an attitude!
Terri Jimenez
Brenda
This is the absolute worst company for credit card processing. The stick you with “surprise” charges, and can’t give a valid explanation. We canceled them on1-28-21. They didn’t cancel our account until 2-4-21. So, we were charged another annual fee. We processed NO transactions with them in February, as we closed the account in January. We were charged $59.10. Whenever I called to ask why, all they could do was go over the list of monthly charges. I then spoke to a supervisor named Tawny Hamilton, who stated our account wasn’t closed sooner because our contact wasn’t up until February, and “as a courtesy”, they waited to close it to avoid charging early termination fees. Calling BS on that. They stand to make more from those fees than my monthly fees. I reminded her that my new company would have paid any and all fees. I asked her to provide documentation where it states that, “as a courtesy”, my account wouldn’t be closed upon request so I would not incur early termination fees. She, of course, can’t provide any. I requested a credit for all charges and explained to her that I have documented everything and the next call would be from my attorney. Sop…the waiting game begins. It would be awesome to see a lot of people get on board with a class action lawsuit!!
Julian Cruz
Cypress bay solutions is the worst card transaction company I have ever dealt with. The salesman was extremely pushy, to the point where it was borderline harassment. He lied about fees that I would be charged and didnt give my my contract paperwork because he had to “overlook it” until a day before I canceled my account. I canceled my account over a month ago and have already been charged twice for monthly fees since canceling. I requested a full refund, and was told by the individual I was in contact with that I might not get my refund even though their salesman blatantly lied! I am starting a campaign locally in the Lubbock TX area to prevent this company from taking advantage of anymore individuals.
Christie
They flat out lie! They tell you that you can cancel at anytime. No fees. Monthly fee is 9.50
Blah blah on the contract the rep marked big “×” over pages saying they are waving all of this. Then I am charged first month 9.50. 2nd month 36+ then 95+ then third 36 + when I called they said it is not marked out on their copy of contract and will 495.00 to cancel the service.. and the 95.00 charge was a yearly fee. Which on my contract was waved..
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip