- Sales & Marketing: It's unknown whether Everest Merchant Services hires independent sales representatives, but the company has received a moderate number of merchant complaints about its sales practices.
- Costs & Contract: Everest Merchant Services appears to offer a multi-year contract with a $495 early termination fee.
- Complaints & Service: Everest Merchant Services has received more than 15 public complaints.
- BBB Rating: Everest Merchant Services currently has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau based on four complaints in the past three years.
- Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Everest Merchant Services
Everest Merchant Services Review
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.
Everest Merchant Services
Rating
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
We’ve located over 15 Everest Merchant Services negative reviews on non-BBB consumer protection websites (including the comment section of this review), most of which cite an inability to reach any customer service representatives from EMS to resolve the stated problem. Other complaints mention unexpected fees and nondisclosure of contract terms, as well as internal issues at the company. The company’s website provides an email form and a telephone number that may or may not be related to customer support; it’s also possible that the company relies on Priority Payment Systems for its customer support in addition to its payment processing. Regardless, EMS does not appear to have a very responsive or readily available customer service team.
Industry Scores & User Ratings
| Product & Service Complaints | 1 |
|---|---|
| Billing & Collection Complaints | 2 |
| Advertising & Sales Complaints | 1 |
| Guarantee & Warranty Complaints | 0 |
| Delivery Complaints | 0 |
As of this update, Everest Merchant Services (EMS) has been assigned an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not accredited. Of the four complaints filed against EMS, one was related to the product or service, one was related to an advertising or sales issue, and two had to do with billing and collection. All four went completely unaddressed. In light of the company’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we agree with the BBB’s rating.
Processing Rates & Fees
Because EMS appears to resell the services of Priority Payment Systems, the standard EMS contract is likely to be very similar to the standard Priority Payment Systems contract, which includes a $495 early cancellation fee and PCI compliance fees of up to $185. One complaint does mention that EMS offers interchange-plus pricing, although this particular merchant did not end up receiving the appropriate rates.
EMS advertises a number of different guarantees and promotions, so it is reasonable to assume that the terms of an EMS contract will include provisions addressing these promotions. Even so, merchants are encouraged to carefully review any contract they are given, regardless of a sales agent’s guarantees.
Everest Merchant Services Competitors
Compare Everest Merchant Services to competitors that earned top marks.
Bottom Line
EMS rates as an average merchant account provider largely because of its BBB rating and complaint record. The company’s rating may improve once more is known about its contract terms, but the known details are not especially competitive. As always, merchants are advised to carefully research the company before signing any contracts.
