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Should Businesses Trust Eliot Management Group for Transactions?

Name: Eliot Management Group
Item: Eliot Management Group
Rating: 2
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: October 3, 2025

Maintained Since: June 16, 2011

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

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.

Eliot Management Group

Rating

2/5

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Pros

Multiple payment options

Secure, reliable processing.

Advanced payment equipment.

Cons

Potential cancellation fees

Three-year contract term

Non-transparent pricing

Expensive equipment leasing

High processing rates

Overview

In this review of Eliot Management Group, we provide a detailed look at their services, contract terms, and overall reputation. We cover their payment processing options, including credit and debit card transactions, ACH payments, mobile solutions, and gift card programs, as well as the POS systems they offer and how they perform for businesses. Customer and employee feedback is explored to highlight both positive experiences and ongoing concerns, including allegations of predatory practices and issues with sales tactics. We also address legal challenges, such as lawsuits and the $4.9 million fine imposed by the FTC on their parent company, First American Payment Systems, for deceptive practices. By evaluating EMG’s rates, fees, transparency, and customer support, this review aims to give readers a balanced perspective on the company’s operations and whether its services are a good fit for their business needs.

About Eliot Management Group

Screen Capture of Eliot Management Group Homepage — Eliot Management Group

Eliot Management Group is a mid-size merchant account provider based in Fort Worth, Texas, that appears to have opened its doors in 1999. Eliot Management Group and may be under the same ownership as (or have ties to) Appstar Financial,Apex Merchant Group, Trans Tech Merchant Group, Summit Merchant Solutions, First American Payment Systems, and Certified Payment Processing, as suggested in several merchant reports. Although no public information exists to verify these claims, most of the mentioned companies share very similar complaints and contract details. Several Eliot Management Group reviews from customers and employees also suggest connections to these other business names.

First American Payment Systems Lawsuit

EMG parent company was ordered by the FTC to pay $4.9 million to small businesses over “deceptive practices”. It’s unclear what part of this is EMG’s fault, but it is worth noting regardless.

Products & Merchant Services

Credit Card Processing

Eliot Management Group (EMG) provides merchant services and processes all major debit and credit cards for various business sectors. Their offerings include ACH transactions, gift card solutions, Firstview data processing, check reading, cash advances, PayPal integration, next-day funding, and American Express’s Optblue program.

POS Systems

EMG supplies a range of point-of-sale (POS) systems, including countertop, wireless, and mobile options. These systems are designed for ease of use and efficiency, featuring inventory management, employee management, and sales reporting. EMG offers a variety of credit card processing equipment from brands such as Sound, EPOS, Tetra, SwipeSimple, Pax, Dejavoo, Moby, Ingenico, and Paytrace, along with the (link unavailable) payment gateway for online transactions.

Mobile Payments

EMG provides mobile payment solutions enabling businesses to accept payments via smartphones or tablets, utilizing SwipeSimple for mobile transactions.

Virtual Terminals

EMG’s virtual terminal solutions allow businesses to process payments online or over the phone. These terminals are designed with security and user-friendliness in mind, offering features such as recurring billing, fraud prevention, and customizable payment pages.

Gift and Loyalty Programs

EMG offers services to create custom gift cards and loyalty programs. These programs are intended to help businesses boost customer retention and encourage repeat patronage.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Comprehensive Analysis of Eliot Management Group Reviews

Our detailed examination has uncovered more than 225 negative Eliot Management Group (EMG) reviews across various consumer protection platforms. These reviews frequently describe EMG as engaging in predatory practices. Compared to other providers of similar size, EMG has amassed a significantly higher volume of complaints. Central to these grievances are accusations of hidden fees, unauthorized account debits, challenges in resolving disputes, difficulties in service cancellation, and substandard customer support. The root of many of these issues appears to be deceptive sales tactics and a reliance on fine print rather than transparent communication. Aside from responses to Better Business Bureau complaints, EMG seems to prefer contract enforcement over customer satisfaction resolution. We encourage those with firsthand experiences with Eliot Management Group to share their feedback in the comments section below.

Eliot Management Group Customer Support Overview

EMG advertises 24/7/365 phone support on its website. However, given the volume and nature of the complaints, potential clients should temper their expectations regarding the quality of support offered.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Rating	4.43
Google Rating	4.5
Yelp Rating	2
PissedConsumer Rating	1.5
Average Rating	3.1

Eliot Management Group BBB Rating

Eliot Management Group has an average customer review rating of 4.43/5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, based on 21 customer reviews. The company has 7 complaints closed in the last 3 years, with none closed in the last 12 months. Common themes in the reviews include appreciation for efficient customer service and issues related to charges and service problems.

Negative Feedback

I opened an account for my company to process credit cards through Eliot Management Group. They sent me a USB credit card reader and said they would install the software on my computer. This was August 11, 2015. They never sent their tech support person to install the credit card processing software. They have charged my company more than 1900.00 in monthly fees and more than 6000.00 in PCI compliance fees. On March 3rd 2021, I sent them a signed letter asking them to close my account and today I got more PCI Compliance charges, and when I called them they tell me they did not receive an email that I have confirmation they did receive. I resend the email and they say they have no way of checking if the email was received.

Positive Feedback

We made some bank changes recently and have had a couple of issues where charges have been rejected, each time I have reached out to ****** in customer service and the problem has been resolved within a couple of hours. Very Simple to use and great customer service!!

Google Rating for Eliot Management Group

Eliot Management Group has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating based on 114 user reviews on Google

Positive Feedback

Great customer service. They always there with an excellent assistance. Would recommend to anyone. very helpful and knowlegble. Thank You

Negative Feedback

They wouldn’t let me make charges over $1000 until we “built a relationship” first. Most of my business is catering, and I take large deposits. Square doesn’t care as long as it’s under $50k so I went to them.

Yelp Rating for Eliot Management Group

Eliot Management Group has a 2 out of 5 star rating based on 26 user reviews on Yelp.

Positive Feedback

Trustworthy company with amazing customer service. It’s so nice having a real live person help you with any and all questions you may have. Reps are transparent, honest, and go over any and all questions you may have.

Negative Feedback

These people have been jerking us around for almost a year. That’s a year that their services have not worked. Months of not returning calls. Months of problems. Months of lies. Months and months of taking our money. Months and months of not have a single successful transaction. Now trying to hold us to a contract. This is hands down the worst company we have ever dealt with. Period.

PissedConsumer Rating Analysis

Eliot Management Group has a 1.5-star rating based on 10 customer reviews on PissedConsumer, ranking 67 of 199 in the Cards category. The majority of consumers express dissatisfaction, with common complaints about poor customer service, misleading information, and unexpected fees.

Negative Feedback

Stole money, charged me over $1000. The rep lies to you to get you signed up thinking you’re paying the cheapest rates, then you’re in contract for years that you have to pay huge amounts to get out of. Rates may be cheap, but they double and triple charge it, and on top of everything, have huge monthly fees. Please never use this company; they shouldn’t be in business. They will cause you a massive headache.
– Review from February 8, 2022

Horrible. Basically, they trap you forever and never let you leave unless you pay a $500 fee. Lots of liars and misleading information when you sign up.
– Review from September 4, 2019

Positive Feedback

Happy client, great service. We have used their service for over a year, still very happy. Great rates and I like that I have a local person to help me.
– Review from November 21, 2018

Source: PissedConsumer

Processing Rates & Fees

Eliot Management Group Pricing

The costs and fees associated with an Eliot Management Group merchant account are subject to variation based on the agent setting up the account and the negotiation skills of the business owner. Many customers have reported that the actual fees exceeded their initial quotes and that undisclosed fees surfaced after the account setup.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Apart from its in-store payment processing services, Eliot Management Group also offers a virtual terminal and a payment gateway powered by FirstPay.Net. However, specific pricing details for these services are not provided on the website. Additional rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and extra transaction rates, are typical for these e-commerce services.

Three-Year Contract Terms

Eliot Management Group’s standard merchant account agreement includes an annual PCI Compliance fee, reportedly around $125 per year. It also encompasses a three-year service agreement that automatically renews for one-year terms and an Early Termination Fee (ETF) of $495, in addition to credit card processing fees and other recurring charges. All fees are automatically debited from the client’s linked checking account. There exists only a limited window to cancel service before the agreement renews. Additionally, Eliot Management Group appears to collaborate with Northern Leasing for equipment leases, which, due to Northern Leasing’s unfavorable reputation, prevents it from being competitive with the industry’s cheapest merchant accounts. We recommend business owners also explore our list of the best merchant accounts.

Eliot Management Group offers e-commerce solutions, including access to a payment gateway.

Lawsuits & Legal History

While not directly related to its merchant services, EMG has faced legal actions:

– In 2018, a class-action lawsuit was initiated by former sales employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act for unpaid commissions.
– A 2012 class-action lawsuit by former employees accused the company of violating minimum wage laws across multiple states.
– A 2020 lawsuit from a client alleged EMG intentionally leased defective equipment without offering resolutions or refunds, which was settled in favor of the plaintiff.
– In 2022, EMG’s parent company, First American Payment Systems, was fined $4.9 million by the FTC for engaging in deceptive practices.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Independent Sales Team

Eliot Management Group seems to rely primarily on an “agent hiring mill” marketing strategy, wherein the company actively recruits and hires both independently contracted sales agents and internally employed sales representatives. Additionally, the company engages heavily in telemarketing and appointment setting by telephone. This marketing practice does not compare favorably to the provider in our list of best credit card processors.

Many Sales Complaints

Based on customer complaints, it appears that agents are either poorly trained in the terms and conditions of Eliot Management Group’s merchant account agreement or are encouraged to omit important details during the account setup process. This is evidenced by numerous customer reviews claiming surprise over fees and service commitments, and complaints of misleading sales tactics. At a minimum, customer complaints suggest a lack of oversight that allows many agents to engage in deceptive sales practices. It also appears that Eliot Management Group often enforces the contracts even when businesses claim that an agent misled them. If you are stuck in an expensive Eliot Management Group contract, you can lower your costs without switching by seeking a third-party statement audit.

Eliot Management Group Competitors

Compare Eliot Management Group to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Eliot Management Group ranks among the worst credit card processing providers in the industry according to our rating criteria. Similar to the companies with which it is allegedly affiliated, Eliot faces numerous complaints of deceptive sales tactics from agents, nondisclosure of critical fees and conditions, and inadequate customer support when clients seek to resolve issues or cancel service.

To improve its standing, Eliot Management Group must address its unfriendly, predatory contract policies while eliminating complaints about deceptive sales tactics, unauthorized debits, and subpar customer support. A commitment to greater transparency and customer care would help the company align with the industry’s best practices, potentially elevating its rating in the future.

Read Actual User Reviews

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All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Eliot Management Group

Contact & Customer Support
CEO	Ron Dictheris
Headquarters	101 Summit Ave #914, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Toll-Free General Customer Service	(844) 898-0337
Local Office Contact	(817) 317-9150
Additional Support Channels	Online Contact Form
Website	https://emgway.com/

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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