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Company Overview
Entrust Bankcard is a Mesa, Arizona-based merchant account provider that was founded in 2006. The company offers both traditional and high-risk merchant accounts. According to the LinkedIn profile of former Entrust Bankcard CEO Nathan Reis:
“Entrust Bankcard was sold to Aurora Payments, a large payments industry ISO in 2014. Entrust Bankcard was a two time Inc 500 | 5000 fastest growing private companies in the US. Sales operations began to wind down in May of 2012.”
This seems to suggest that the Entrust Bankcard brand was discontinued upon its acquisition by Aurora Payments, but the company’s website is active and it has received public complaints within the last few years. Additionally, the company lists Bill Richardson as its current CEO. The change in leadership following its acquisition by Aurora Payments may indicate that it still operates as a DBA of that company. This review will treat the company as an active entity for now, despite some evidence that it has been rebranded and restructured multiple times.
Entrust Bankcard Payment Processing
Entrust Bankcard processes most major credit and debit cards for high-risk businesses. They particularly focus on retail and online businesses. Among their offerings are iProcess mobile processing, swipe-safe chargeback protection, an online payment gateway, a virtual terminal, e-commerce solutions with 24/7 support, MOTO payments, gift card and loyalty programs, and POS solutions.
Point-of-Sale Systems Offered by Entrust Bankcard
Entrust Bankcard claims to provide customizable point-of-sale (POS) systems designed to cater to different industries such as retail, hospitality, and healthcare. These systems are said to be user-friendly and offer various features, including inventory management and integration with accounting software.
Mobile Payment Processing Capabilities
The mobile payment processing service offered by Entrust Bankcard allows businesses to accept payments using a smartphone or tablet. This feature can be particularly useful for businesses operating outside of traditional brick-and-mortar settings or those looking to offer more convenient payment options for their customers.
E-Commerce Payment Gateway Integration
Entrust Bankcard’s e-commerce payment gateway integration is designed to provide businesses with a seamless online payment experience. The company claims to offer easy integration with popular shopping carts and e-commerce platforms.
Virtual Terminal Solutions
Entrust Bankcard offers a virtual terminal service for processing phone and mail orders, enabling businesses to handle remote transactions securely through an internet-connected device.
Security Measures and Fraud Prevention
Entrust Bankcard claims to prioritize security and fraud prevention by adhering to industry standards such as PCI compliance and implementing advanced security measures. Businesses should verify the company’s security practices to ensure their customers’ data is adequately protected.
Location & Ownership
Entrust Bankcard appears to share a large number of current or former employees with Allied Commercial Financial, MobiSquad, and Paradigm Direct, all credit card processors based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Nathan Reis was the previous CEO of Entrust Bankcard, and was also listed as the current founder and CEO of a company called blueacorn.co. The website now mentions Bill Richardson as the current CEO. Entrust Bankcard is a registered ISO/MSP of Merrick Bank and of HSBC Bank, N.A., Buffalo, New York. The company is headquartered at 1255 W. Baseline Road, #D288, Mesa, AZ.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Offers a three-year contract with…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number more than 50 on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: Appears to hire independently contracted agents and has…
Entrust Bankcard Reviews and Complaints
Here's What Their Clients Say
Complaint Summary
Total Online Complaints
50+
|
Live Customer Support
Yes
|
Most Common Complaint
Hidden Fees
|
Recent Lawsuits
No
|
Moderate Complaint Total
We have found over 50 negative Entrust Bankcard reviews, many of which accuse the company of being a ripoff or a scam. Common themes among complaints include undisclosed fees, persistent sales calls, difficulty reaching a representative after signing the contract, exorbitant equipment lease costs, and poor customer service. This is a moderate-to-high complaint total for a company of Entrust Bankcard’s size, and the content of the reviews is very consistent from post to post. If you have your own Entrust Bankcard review to make, please do so below.
Entrust Bankcard Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Entrust Bankcard.
However, we did uncover evidence of a 2011 lawsuit brought against Entrust by what appears to be a client that previously had a contract with the company. The case seems to have centered around a contract, and the plaintiff won the case against Entrust and was awarded at least $5000.
Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Entrust Bankcard Customer Support Options
The company’s complaint rate declined rapidly after 2013, which supports the CEO’s assertion that sales operations wound down in May of 2012. Even if businesses are no longer being marketed to under the Entrust Bankcard name, it’s possible that some business owners are still dealing with Entrust due to the company’s long-term merchant agreements.
Entrust Bankcard Customer Service Number
- (866) 855-6732 – Toll-Free General Customer Service
Other Support Options
- Customer support form
This falls well short of our standard for the top merchant accounts for customer service.
Entrust Bankcard BBB Rating and Report
Our Better Business Bureau Profile Assessment
BBB Summary
BBB Reports
0
|
No BBB Complaints
Entrust Bankcard currently has no rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB accredited, though it previously had an “A+” rating. The company has received 0 complaints in the past three years. It also has not received any informal reviews through the BBB, although it should be noted that these reviews are not subject to verification by the BBB.
An “A” Performance
In light of the company’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we see no reason to adjust the BBB’s former grade. However, we will caution merchants against blindly trusting the grades that the BBB assigns.
Entrust Bankcard Fees and Rates
A Closer Look at the Contract
Cost Summary
Cancellation Penalties
Yes
|
Monthly & Annual Fees
Yes
|
Processing Rates
1.00% - 4.99%
|
Equipment Leasing
Yes
|
Three-Year Contract
According to merchant complaints, the standard Entrust Bankcard contract is a three-year agreement with an early termination fee of $500, higher-than-expected tiered pricing, and a long-term, non-cancellable equipment lease through MBF Leasing. Clients also describe monthly and annual fees of varying amounts, but they do not specify the names given to these fees or the frequency with which they are charged.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Entrust BankCard also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. Though the company services high-risk businesses, which often includes offshore businesses, it appears that the company only provides these services to domestic clients, high-risk or otherwise. However, pricing is not disclosed on either of those services. Additional Entrust Bankcard rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates typically apply to these e-commerce services.
Beware Equipment Leases
The most commonly cited Entrust Bankcard complaint is the use of equipment leases from MBF Leasing. These leases typically run for at least four years, cost thousands of dollars for equipment that can be bought for under $500, and cannot be canceled by merchants. Many complainants state that the full lease terms were not disclosed upon account activation. There are also multiple complaints that claim that the Entrust Bankcard fee for early termination was never disclosed.
Consistently Poor Reports
Even without reliable information about the company’s PCI compliance fees, monthly minimum fees, or statement fees, we have found enough negative feedback about Entrust’s contract terms to assign it a “C” in this section. It certainly does not appear to be competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts available. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Entrust Bankcard rates and contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review. We also encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Entrust Bankcard Jobs and Employment
Hiring Standards and Ethical Marketing Assessment
Key Points
Uses Independent Resellers
Yes
|
Telemarketing
Yes
|
Misleading Marketing
No
|
Discloses All Important Terms
No
|
Outside Sales Team
Entrust Bankcard appears to primarily market its services through a combination of telemarketing and independently contracted sales agents. This practice is commonly linked to elevated complaint rates within the credit card processing industry, and Entrust Bankcard is no exception. We have found over 30 Entrust Bankcard reviews that mention hidden fees, aggressive sales calls, and outright lies from sales representatives. There is also an Entrust Bankcard complaint from a former employee that states that the company’s “sales pitch is a hit it and quit it and there is no relationship building after the contract is signed,” and that “[m]ost of the time, you won’t be able to save merchant any money.” This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
A Clear Pattern
These Entrust Bankcard reviews about the company’s sales team are consistent with complaints that we have seen about Paradigm Direct, MobiSquad, and Allied Commercial Financial. In fact, many Entrust Bankcard reviews also mention these other companies as involved parties. This suggests that the company’s owners and executive leaders employ the same sales tactics across multiple brands. The consistency of the problems and the quantity of public grievances have combined to warrant a “D” rating in this category. If you suspect that you’re being charged undisclosed Entrust Bankcard fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.
Entrust Bankcard Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts and Opinions
Entrust Bankcard rates as a run-of-the-mill credit card processing provider according to all available information. The company’s agents routinely appear to do a poor job of disclosing its contract terms, which are more expensive than industry averages. Entrust Bankcard may no longer be an active brand, so businesses are advised to diligently research any companies that may be operated by former Entrust Bankcard owners or employees before signing up for service and compare those companies with top-rated payment processors.
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Jay Miller
Entrust is a scam operation. After being aggressively marketed & signed up, it took us a year and a lawsuit to unhook from the outrageously high monthly expenses & equipment lease.