
Agree with our rating?
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Agree with our rating?
Leave a comment below
Note: As 0f 2021, it is unclear whether Dun & Bradstreet does any business in the merchant processing industry. We will continue to monitor this situation, and if you have any information, please let us know below.
Founded in 1841, Dun & Bradstreet is a publicly-traded company that provides credit assessments and financial analysis for businesses. Although it does not process payments or provide merchant accounts, the company has formerly partnered with Change Merchant Solutions to provide merchant services for its business clients. This means that business owners who wished to obtain a merchant account through Dun & Bradstreet were referred to Change Merchant Solutions for the setup and maintenance of the account. However, in 2021, CMS was purchased by Fortis and absorbed into their brand. We can’t currently find any information saying that the relationship was continued with Fortis or that Dun & Bradstreet are still in the merchant processing business.
Dun & Bradstreet is primarily recognized as a corporation that provides commercial data, analytics, and insights for businesses. Their services typically include business credit reports, supplier risk management, compliance solutions, and sales and marketing solutions among others.
In 2022, the FTC charged Dun & Bradstreet over allegedly deceiving the public and its customers. According to the FTC, “To settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it engaged in deceptive and unfair practices, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has agreed to an order requiring substantial changes in the firm’s operations that will benefit small- and mid-sized businesses. Under the proposed order, D&B will also provide refunds to certain businesses that purchased the company’s products in the belief that using the products would improve their business credit scores and ratings.”
Dun & Bradstreet is headquartered at 5335 Gate Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32256, while Change Merchant Solutions is located at 2575 Northlake Cir, Westlake Village, California 91361. Anthony Jabbour is the CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, and Jeff Cole is listed as the president of Change Merchant Solutions.
Key Points |
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Total Online Complaints | <10 |
Live Customer Support | Yes |
Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Recent Lawsuits | Yes |
We are currently able to locate over 2 dozen negative Dun & Bradstreet reviews, but none of these are related to its merchant services offering. There are also 0 complaints about Change Merchant Solutions to be found, indicating that the company is not a scam or ripoff. Both complaint totals are impressive for the companies’ respective sizes and amounts of time in business. If you have a Dun & Bradstreet review to make, please do so in the comment section below.
As mentioned above, Dun & Bradstreet was leveled with an FTC charge of deceiving customers in 2022. As per the FTC, “To settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it engaged in deceptive and unfair practices, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has agreed to an order requiring substantial changes in the firm’s operations that will benefit small- and mid-sized businesses. Under the proposed order, D&B will also provide refunds to certain businesses that purchased the company’s products in the belief that using the products would improve their business credit scores and ratings.”
We will assume for now that the majority of the company’s merchants are satisfied with the service they receive. Change Merchant Solutions advertises 24/7/365 phone support, which is probably supplied by its backend processor. The company’s complaint record earns it an “A” at this time, but its customer support options don’t quite stack up when compared to top customer service processors.
Online Ratings Summary |
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BBB Reports | 0 |
Since Dun & Bradstreet does not actually supply any credit card processing services, we previously chose to consult the Better Business Bureau profile for Change Merchant Solutions in this review. Change Merchant Solutions was been accredited with the BBB since April 2015 and had an “A+” rating with 0 complaints in the past 3 years before it was merged with the profile of Fortis.
Change Merchant Services had also received 5 informal positive reviews on its BBB profile, but it should be noted that these reviews are not subject to verification by the BBB. The most recent review conveyed the quality of the company’s customer service:
Great customer service, fast help, and reliable processing. Low rates, and intuitive back end reporting. worth the switch.
Great customer service is a benchmark of a top merchant account provider and should be considered by and business before signing into a contract.
Given the company’s clean complaint record with the BBB, we agree with its rating. Readers should be aware, however, that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.
Key Points |
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Cancellation Penalties | No |
Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
Processing Rates | Interchange-Plus |
Equipment Leasing | Unclear |
Dun & Bradstreet offered contracts through Change Merchant Solutions, meaning that Dun & Bradstreet’s merchant services clients would receive the standard terms offered by Change Merchant Solutions. As CMS was purchased by Fortis, it’s now unclear if this is still the case.
Unfortunately, there is very little publicly available information about the standard Change Merchant Solutions contract at this time. The company advertises interchange-plus pricing with a $10 monthly statement fee, a free terminal, and no early termination fees or setup fees. Although these terms are generally favorable, the specific language of the company’s contract may include other fees or undisclosed costs. It is also likely that the company’s “free terminal” requires the client to remain under contract with the company for a minimum period of time. Businesses that sign up with Change Merchant Solutions through Dun & Bradstreet will also receive two free months of business credit reporting from Dun & Bradstreet.
Given Change’s advertised terms and the total lack of Dun & Bradstreet complaints related to its contract terms, we have assigned it an “A” rating for the time being. Business owners are encouraged to compare Change Merchant Solutions’ pricing to the cheapest merchant accounts. If you have any specific knowledge of the Change Merchant Solutions contract (including any PCI compliance fees or monthly minimum fees), please share that information in the comment section below this review.
We also encourage readers to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Key Points |
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Uses Independent Resellers | No |
Telemarketing | Unclear |
Misleading Marketing | No |
Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Dun & Bradstreet appears to market its merchant services exclusively to its existing business clients at this time. There is no clear way to access information about its credit card processing services on its website, and it does not appear to have issued any kind of public announcement about this service. The company’s processing partner, Change Merchant Solutions, appears to market its services through traditional advertising and strategic partnerships, and we have found no Change Merchant Solutions or Dun & Bradstreet reviews that describe deception by the company’s sales team.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Change Merchant Solutions actively promotes interchange-plus pricing, which is the most transparent pricing model available, but it does not disclose its exact markup in its official materials. Overall, we can find no evidence of deceptive outbound sales tactics by Dun & Bradstreet (or any real marketing to speak of). We have therefore assigned the company an “A” rating in this section. If you suspect that the company is charging you undisclosed fees, however, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to spot hidden charges.
Dun & Bradstreet rates as a reliable credit card processing provider according to our rating criteria. The company’s processing partner, Change Merchant Solutions, has a clean complaint record across all consumer protection forums at this time. However, we have not located many details about its contract terms or sales practices at this time. Readers should be sure to inquire about all possible terms before signing up for service, and to compare Dun & Bradstreet’s contract terms to those offered by top-rated payment processors.
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Braxton Jamie
Dun & Bradstreet Merchant Services has truly revolutionized my business operations! From the get-go, their seamless integration process made accepting payments a breeze. The cutting-edge analytics tools provided valuable insights, helping me make informed decisions and optimize my revenue streams effortlessly.
I can’t stress enough how their top-notch customer support team has been a game-changer. They are always available and resolve any issues promptly, ensuring uninterrupted business flow. With Dun & Bradstreet Merchant Services, I’ve experienced increased transaction security, which has built trust with my customers, leading to higher satisfaction and repeat business.
It’s not just a service; it’s a partnership! I’ve seen a significant boost in my bottom line since switching to Dun & Bradstreet Merchant Services, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to any business owner seeking a reliable, efficient, and innovative payment processing solution. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!