Dharma Merchant Services 2023: Reviews & Complaints

Dharma Merchant Services Logo
5/5
full star idicating a 5 out of 5 star rating full star idicating a 5 out of 5 star rating full star idicating a 5 out of 5 star rating full star idicating a 5 out of 5 star rating full star idicating a 5 out of 5 star rating

How did they treat you? ▼

Company Overview

Founded in 2007, Dharma Merchant Services is a merchant account provider based in San Francisco, California. A certified green eco-friendly business, the company advertises that it donates a percentage of its net profits to non-profit organizations. Dharma Merchant Services is a low-cost payment processing option for the healthcare industry, including for hospitals, EMS, rehab clinics, walk-in clinics, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and veterinarians. The company prominently advertises interchange-plus pricing and Level 2 and 3 processing.

Dharma Merchant Services Payment Processing

Dharma Merchant Services has recently partnered with Clover to provide mobile phone processing and tablet-based POS options for merchants. Dharma is offering the Clover Mini station for a purchase price of $499 and a monthly fee of $10, which includes Clover's PRO software set. The company also resells the flagship Clover POS solution at $1,349 per device, which includes a full cash drawer, built-in fingerprint scanner, and high-speed printer. For mobile EMV payments, Dharma is offering Clover Flex. Dharma’s preferred EMV terminal solution is the FD-130 terminal, which allows EMV processing, Chip-and-PIN acceptance, tip adjustment, and PIN bypass.

Point of Sale Systems

The company offers point-of-sale systems tailored for both retail and restaurant environments. These systems allow businesses to manage sales, inventory, and customer information.

Virtual Terminal

Dharma Merchant Services' virtual terminal enables merchants to process credit card payments without the need for physical equipment. This is particularly suitable for phone or mail order transactions.

Mobile Payments

With their mobile payment solutions, Dharma Merchant Services allows businesses to accept payments through mobile devices, giving flexibility to merchants who operate in various locations.

Merchant Cash Advances

Dharma Merchant Services offers merchant cash advances, providing immediate funding to businesses based on their credit card sales.

E-Commerce Solutions

Dharma provides e-commerce solutions designed to make online sales seamless. This includes integration with popular shopping carts and secure payment gateway options.

Non-Profit Discounts

The company has a specific focus on offering services to non-profit organizations, providing them with special rates and tailored solutions to suit their unique needs.

B2B Processing

Dharma Merchant Services also specializes in Business-to-Business (B2B) processing, offering specific solutions to facilitate payments between businesses.

Reduced Rates For Restaurants

Dharma also recently lowered its rates for restaurants, bars, and quick-service restaurants. In order to meet the needs of these low-average-ticket businesses, Dharma is now offering a rate of interchange plus 0.15% plus $0.07 to this particular industry type.

Location & Ownership

Dharma Merchant Services is a registered ISO/MSP with Synovus Bank, Columbus, Georgia. The company itself is headquartered at 3739 Balboa Street #105 San Francisco, CA 94121. Jeff Marcous is the co-founder and CEO of Dharma Merchant Services.

Dharma Merchant Services Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint N/A
Recent Lawsuits No

Low Complaint Volume

We are currently only able to find one Dharma Merchant Services review that accuses the company of being a ripoff or a scam. There are only a handful of complaints to be found against the company across all consumer protection websites, and most of these complaints either state that their applications were rejected by Dharma or vaguely describe “bad” experiences. Nearly all of the available online reviews about Dharma are positive testimonials. If you have your own Dharma Merchant Services review to make, please do so in the comments below.

Dharma Merchant Services Lawsuits and Fines

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Dharma Merchant Services. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Dharma Merchant Services Customer Support

This generally spotless complaint record is likely a product of the company’s transparent marketing and rate structure, but an effective customer support staff might also play a large role. Dharma’s website provides an email form and designated local and toll-free customer support phone numbers. These channels appear to do a great job of handling issues even when compared with top-rated credit card processors for customer service.

Dharma Merchant Services Customer Service Number

  • (866) 615-5157 – Toll-Free Customer Support

Other Support Options

Dharma Merchant Services Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports 2

No BBB Complaints

Dharma Merchant Services has been an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau since 2010 and has an “A+” rating as of this review. The company has had 2 complaints through the BBB in the past 36 months. 1 complaint was resolved to the satisfaction of the client. The other complaint was resolved to the dissatisfaction of the client or received no final communication.

An “A” Performance Overall

Considering Dharma’s clean complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. Readers should note, however, that there are good reasons to view the BBB’s information with skepticism.

Dharma Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties Yes
Monthly & Annual Fees Yes
Processing Rates Interchange +
Equipment Leasing No

Fully Transparent Rates

Dharma Merchant Services advertises interchange-plus pricing (interchange plus 0.15% plus $0.07 per transaction for in-store payments, interchange plus 0.20% plus $0.10 per transaction for e-commerce payments, and interchange plus 0.15% plus $0.07 for restaurants) and no long-term service agreements. The company claims to charge a $20 monthly fee that includes PCI compliance, and there is a $25 account closure fee upon termination of service.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Dharma Merchant Services also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. The company’s service, called MX merchant, charged a rate of interchange plus 0.20% plus $0.10. According to the company, the platform is free to use, meaning no gateway fee is imposed. However, additional fees for other features of the platform exist. The platform also charges ACH processing for $25 per month, B2B processing for $20 per month, recurring billing for $10 per month, and an account updater for $25 per month. Additional rates and fees, including technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates may apply to these e-commerce services.

Level 2 and Level 3 Processing Services

In addition to its traditional merchant services, Dharma Merchant Services also advertises that it provides Level 2 and Level 3 processing for B2B and B2G transactions. Level 2 and Level 3 processing rely upon different interchange rates than traditional consumer credit transactions. Accommodating those rates requires different payment processing technology from a merchant account provider to transmit the amount of data required to facilitate the transactions. These services are reserved for B2B and B2G purchases.

Ideal For High-Volume Businesses

Dharma is best suited for businesses processing over $10,000 per month, so the company will refer most merchants processing below that to another provider. The company offers especially low rates for enterprise-level processors, specifically offering discounted rates for retail merchants processing over $100,000 per month.

No Contract Complaints

Interchange-plus pricing is the most transparent pricing model available, and the company’s additional fees appear to be well below industry averages. These figures, coupled with the general absence of complaints regarding the standard Dharma Merchant Services contract, merit an “A” rating according to our criteria.

We also encourage readers to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.

Dharma Merchant Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Uses Independent Resellers No
Telemarketing No
Misleading Marketing No
Discloses All Important Terms Yes

Complete Pricing Disclosure

Dharma Merchant Services appears to utilize its client network, its website, and community outreach efforts to market its services. There is no indication that the company partners with independent sales entities at this time. Additionally, the Dharma Merchant Services website actively promotes interchange-plus pricing and lists the company’s full fee schedule for anyone to view.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

No Red Flags

We cannot find any negative Dharma Merchant Services reviews regarding the company’s sales approach at this time; we therefore award the company an “A” rating in this category. That said, it is always a wise idea to get a professional analysis of your contract with a third-party statement audit.

Our Dharma Merchant Services Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

According to all available information, Dharma Merchant Services rates as an exemplary credit card processing provider. The company appears to offer transparent pricing and excellent customer service, and its eco-friendly and non-profit initiatives are sure to be appealing to many businesses. Readers are encouraged to read their contracts carefully even when dealing with a highly rated payment processor.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did Dharma Merchant Services Treat You?

4 User Reviews

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