First Merchant Payment Systems: Reviews & Complaints

Name: First Merchant Payment Systems
Item: First Merchant Payment Systems
Rating: 4.5
Author: Phillip Parker

By Phillip Parker

Last Updated: October 2, 2023

1 User Comments

First Merchant Payment Systems Rating

4.5/5

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(239) 936-2530 View Pricing

Company Overview

First Merchant Payment Systems, founded in 2001, is a merchant account provider serving small to mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. It is worth mentioning that First Merchant Payment Systems could potentially be confused with First American Payment Systems; merchants are advised to keep in mind that these are unrelated entities. According to the company’s website, First Merchant Payment Systems offers interchange-plus pricing and resells Clover POS systems.

Article Summary

Before we dive in, here’s a short summary of what we’ll cover:

First Merchant Payment Systems’ various payment processing services.
There are few online complaints about FMPS.
There is little available information about the company’s contract, although it does offer interchange-plus pricing.

First Merchant Payment Systems Payment Processing

First Merchant Payment Systems processes all major debit and credit cards for small to mid-sized businesses. Their services include Clover and PTech POS systems, EMV swipers, mobile solutions, e-commerce solutions including shopping carts, access to a payment gateway, QuickBooks integration, Level 3 B2B processing, cash discounts, and payroll solutions.

Payroll Solutions

First Merchant Payment Systems offers payroll and HR solutions aimed at handling administrative tasks like payroll, taxes, HR issues, benefits, and insurance, thus allowing businesses to focus on their core operations. The solutions include features like flexible input options, direct deposit, new-hire reporting, electronic on-boarding, and various HR tools including a help desk, job description wizard, and advanced HR toolkits.

Cash Discounts

The Cash Discount Program by First Merchant Payment Systems is designed to save on credit card processing fees by shifting these costs to customers while providing discounts for cash payments. The program implements a 4% customer service fee on all transactions which is discounted for customers paying in cash, effectively covering the cost of transaction processing. The program is free for merchants processing over $15,000 per month and costs $39.00 for those processing under $15,000 per month.

On The Fly POS

On The Fly POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed for various business types including restaurants, cafes, and retail stores. It aids in processing payments, managing staff, organizing inventory, and generating reports. The system offers features like a digital menu board, kitchen display system, a mobile app for online ordering, and contactless payment options, aiming to modernize the order and payment process, and enhance customer engagement and satisfaction¹.

Industries

First Merchant Payment Systems extends its services to a variety of industries, demonstrating versatility in catering to different business types. Some of the industries served include Restaurants, Auto Repair, Beauty & Fitness, E-Commerce, Service Industry, Lodging & Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail Industry, and Veterinarians. This range of industries shows the company’s capability to provide tailored payment processing solutions to meet the diverse needs of different business sectors.

Location & Ownership

First Merchant is headquartered at 5216 Summerlin Commons Blvd #100, Fort Myers, FL 33907 and is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California. Kevin Winter is the company’s president and co-founder and Ryan Winter is the VP of sales.

Costs & Contract: Appears to offer variable contract terms depending on…
Complaints & Service: Has received fewer than…
BBB Rating: Has an “A+” and has received 0 complaints and…
Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to hire independent sales representatives and has not…

First Merchant Payment Systems payment processing — **First Merchant Payment Systems offers most basic payment processing services**

First Merchant Payment Systems Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

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

Low Complaint Total

As noted, we were only able to locate one First Merchant Payment Systems review outside of the BBB. This indicates that First Merchant has a responsive and capable customer support team, although it is also possible that complaints intended for First Merchant could instead go to the company’s backend payment processor. If you have your own First Merchant Payment Systems review to make, please do so in the comments below.

First Merchant Payment Systems Lawsuits

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

First Merchant Payment Systems Customer Support Options

The company’s website offers a general contact number and an email form. Still, the lack of detailed information on First Merchant’s support options prevents us from qualifying it as a top-rated merchant account provider for customer service. At this time, the low volume of First Merchant Payment Systems complaints inclines us to award the company an “A” in this category.

First Merchant Payment Systems Customer Service Numbers

(866) 936-2530 – Toll-Free Support
(239) 936-2530 – Local Office

Other Support Options

Support form
Customer service email address at [email protected]

First Merchant Payment Systems Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports	0

Sole Complaint

First Merchant Payment Systems has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since February 2019 and currently maintains an “A+” rating. The company has received 0 complaints through the BBB over the last 3 years. First Merchant has also received no informal reviews on its BBB profile.

An “A” Performance Overall

Given the company’s complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time.

First Merchant Payment Systems Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Key Points
Cancellation Penalties	Unclear
Monthly & Annual Fees	Possible
Processing Rates	Interchange +
Equipment Leasing	Likely

Unclear Contract Terms

There is almost no publicly available information about the standard First Merchant Payment Systems contract. The lone complaint we could locate outside of the BBB was found in the comment section of this review, and this complaint expressed general dissatisfaction with First Merchant’s contract terms. The author did not offer any specific information regarding fee amounts or contract length, so we aren’t inclined to lower First Merchant’s grade by any significant degree.

The company’s website does advertise that it offers interchange-plus pricing, the most transparent model in the industry. Additionally, the company advertises a “free terminal” promotion with alternative options through Clover. However, it is not disclosed as to whether or not the company resells Clover POS terminals or leases them under the terms and conditions of its contracts.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its storefront payment processing services, First Merchant Payment Systems also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. According to the company’s website, its interchange-plus pricing model also extends to its e-commerce platform. Additional fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, and batch fees typically apply to these e-commerce services.

Share What You Know

There is no clear indication as to whether or not this credit card processor’s contract terms are competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts at this time. If you have any knowledge of the standard First Merchant contract (including any PCI compliance fees or early termination fees), please leave that information in the comment section of this review.

First Merchant Payment Systems payment gateway

First Merchant Payment Systems offers e-commerce solutions including access to a payment gateway

First Merchant Payment Systems Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Key Points
Uses Independent Resellers	No
Telemarketing	No
Misleading Marketing	No
Discloses All Important Terms	No

Inside Sales Team

First Merchant does not appear to hire independent sales agents to market its services, although this was unconfirmed as of this update. There are very few negative First Merchant Payment Systems reviews, and those that are available do not cite aggressive or deceptive sales strategies. This is a strong indicator that the company’s sales reps are well-trained and subject to adequate oversight.

No Deceptive Advertising

First Merchant does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. The company’s low complaint total has qualified it for an “A” rating for this section. If you suspect that First Merchant Payment Systems is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.

Our First Merchant Payment Systems Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

According to our rating criteria, First Merchant Payment Systems rates as a reliable credit card processing provider. The company boasts a low complaint rate and there is some indication that First Merchant employs an entirely in-house sales and support staff. First Merchant reviews do not indicate that the company is a ripoff or scam operation. However, readers are advised to read the terms of any contract they are given carefully and compare its costs to those of other top-rated providers.

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About The Author

Phillip Parker

Phillip Parker is an independent card payment expert specializing U.S. and Canadian point-of-sale, e-commerce, and mobile payment acceptance. He has nearly two decades of experience in credit card processing as a journalist and consultant. Phillip is the creator of this website and has written over 1,500 articles covering numerous payment acceptance topics. He has also published critical reviews about most merchant services providers currently in operation.

Expert Guidance

Phillip has consulted businesses of all sizes from mom-and-pop shops processing $10K per month to enterprise level organizations processing in excess of $300MM annually. His specialties include:

– Merchant Account Statement Auditing
– Rate & Fee Negotiation
– Processor & POS Selection
– Software Integrations
– Risk Assessment
– Fraud Prevention
– General Processing Advice

Schedule a Consultation Here

Phillip’s Top Picks

Phillip has researched and reviewed over 1,000 merchant services providers over the last 15 years. He also owns multiple businesses that accept credit card payments. If you are looking for an ethical credit card processor that doesn’t hide fees or lock you into expensive contracts, see Phillip’s merchant account picks here.

In The Media

In addition his contributions on CPO, Phillip has also been quoted in several major publications such as The Los Angeles Times, INC Magazine, Miami Herald, Computer World, and numerous others. If you would like to interview Phillip for your story or podcast, please reach out here.

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Your Comments & Reviews

How Did First Merchant Payment Systems Treat You?

1 Responses

russ

March 21, 2013

first merchant payment systems are horrible! i have been a customer of theirs for 7 years now. it is time consuming to compare other companies and rates. it is tricky to figure out the fees to compare to other companies because there are so many fees and charges. when i find myself with one full week i will do some research and change companies.

they do nothing. and the few times i contact them they are useless. and they make over 2% of every dollar i bring in. it is such a racquet. do not use them!!

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