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In this review of High Risk Commerce, a provider specializing in merchant services for high-risk businesses, we examine the full range of their offerings including merchant accounts, payment gateways, recurring billing, fraud prevention tools, and virtual terminals. We look closely at their pricing structure, transaction limits, contract terms, and the reliability of their support and overall service. The review also highlights customer feedback, user ratings, and potential areas of concern such as undisclosed terms, equipment leasing, and unclear cancellation policies. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether High Risk Commerce is a reliable option for your business needs.
About High Risk Commerce
High Risk Commerce Homepage
Founded in 2014, High Risk Commerce is a merchant account provider that specializes in high-risk business types. The company appears to be either a DBA or a subsidiary of Conquest Financial, as the two companies share an address and their owners share last names. Conquest Financial is a reseller of Elavon products and services, but High Risk Commerce may be partnered with a number of backend processors and acquiring banks in order to serve a wide range of high-risk businesses. Notably, single transactions made through High Risk Commerce cannot exceed $750.
Products & Merchant Services
Payment Processing for High-Risk Merchants
High Risk Commerce provides payment processing services tailored for high-risk merchants, including industries like online gambling, pharmaceuticals, and adult entertainment. These sectors face higher regulatory scrutiny and associated risks, and High Risk Commerce aims to offer secure and reliable transaction processing.
Recurring Billing
High Risk Commerce offers solutions for recurring billing that automate the regular collection of payments from customers.
Fraud Detection
High Risk Commerce provides fraud detection services to help businesses protect themselves from fraudulent activities. These services include real-time monitoring and advanced tools designed to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions.
Processes Over 120 Currencies
High Risk Commerce supports the processing of payments in over 120 currencies, making it possible for businesses to operate on a global scale.
Virtual Terminals
High Risk Commerce provides virtual terminals that allow businesses to process payments using any internet-connected device. Virtual terminals offer a flexible solution for managing transactions in real-time.
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
No Negative Reviews Found
We are currently unable to locate any negative High Risk Commerce reviews, which is a positive sign that the company isn’t a scam or ripoff. The High Risk Commerce brand appears to have been launched in 2014, which means that it’s had enough time to amass negative feedback. In addition, Conquest Financial, its parent company, has received a low-to-moderate number of complaints about its sales tactics and contract terms. These factors suggest that High Risk Commerce should have received at least one complaint by now, but the company has managed to keep its record clean. This is a good indication that High Risk Commerce avoids the problems that clients have complained about with its affiliated company. If you have your own High Risk Commerce review to make, please do so in the comments below.
High-Risk Commerce Lawsuits
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against High Risk Commerce. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
High Risk Commerce Customer Support Options
It should be noted that there are a fewcomplaints that directly accuse the manager of High Risk Commerce of being an untrustworthy individual in other ventures. Since these complaints are essentially unsupported character attacks and do not relate specifically to High Risk Commerce, they will not be factored into this review. High Risk Commerce offers phone and email support to all of its clients, but these channels are not enough to qualify it as a top-rated payment processor for customer service.
Industry Scores & User Ratings
Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop
5
BBB Rating
N/A
PaymentPop Rating for High Risk Commerce
Negative Feedback
There are no negative reviews published about High Risk Commerce on the PaymentPop website.
Positive Feedback
We’ve worked with a few high-risk processors before, and High Risk Commerce has been the most straightforward. They explained the terms clearly upfront, and we haven’t had any surprises. Processing has been reliable, and the account setup was handled professionally.
No BBB Profile
The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for High Risk Commerce at this time. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review. It should be noted that Conquest Financial last had an “A+” rating.
Processing Rates & Fees
Transparent Pricing Range
Publicly available information about the standard High Risk Commerce contract is scarce, with the company not providing copies of its contract or merchant agreement on its website. However, the FAQ section reveals that single transactions cannot exceed $750. Moreover, the company specifies rates between 2.20% to 4.50% plus $0.35 for swiped and keyed-in transactions. Notably, offshore merchant accounts may incur a higher rate, potentially reaching up to 4.50% plus $0.35. This rate is notably higher than the industry average but is common among high-risk merchants. High Risk Commerce also emphasizes no setup fees.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
Apart from its in-store payment processing services, High Risk Commerce advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway services, yet pricing details remain undisclosed. It’s reasonable to infer that the company’s standard transaction rate of 2.20% to 4.50% plus $0.35 applies to online transactions as well. Additional rates and fees, such as gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and extra transaction rates, are typical for these e-commerce services.
Expectations for High-Risk Merchants
As a provider catering to high-risk merchants, High Risk Commerce likely offers varied contract terms based on factors like business size, type, and processing history. Businesses in high-risk sectors should anticipate higher-than-average per-transaction fees and potential requirements for cash reserves to process payments. Consequently, businesses should not anticipate pricing from High Risk Commerce to rival that of the most economical merchant accounts in the industry.
Beware of Equipment Leases
While there are no complaints specifically mentioning issues with High Risk Commerce’s pricing, businesses should be cautious regarding potential early termination fees and equipment leases. Some complaints against related companies allege early termination fees of up to $700 and equipment leases through Northern Leasing Systems. Although not specific to High Risk Commerce, this serves as a cautionary note for businesses. Generally, businesses should avoid contracts with extended terms and high early termination fees and opt to purchase equipment when feasible. It’s worth noting that most credit card terminals can be bought for under $500.
No Contract Concerns
The absence of complaints related to High Risk Commerce’s pricing suggests satisfaction among most merchants. If you possess insights into the standard High Risk Commerce contract, including any PCI compliance fees or monthly minimum fees, feel free to share in the comments section below this review.
The High Risk Commerce rates page
Employee Reviews & Sales Practices
No Sales Complaints
High Risk Commerce appears to utilize referral partnerships and traditional advertising to market its services. There is no evidence that the company hires a large team of independently contracted sales agents or engages in aggressive telemarketing tactics. There are also no negative High Risk Commerce reviews that describe unethical conduct by the company’s sales team.
Variable Rate Quotes
The High Risk Commerce website states that its rates will vary, but that they typically fall between 2.2% plus $0.35 and 4.5% plus $0.35. This rate quote isn’t exactly deceptive, but readers should not rely on it as an accurate indicator of the effective rates they will pay. If you suspect that High Risk Commerce is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to find and eliminate charges.
Conquest Financial Sales Tactics
It should be noted that Conquest Financial has received a handful of negative complaints related to its telemarketing practices, but these complaints do not mention High Risk Commerce as the cause of the issue.
High Risk Commerce Competitors
Compare High Risk Commerce to competitors that earned top marks.
High Risk Commaerce is rated as a reliable high-risk credit card processing provider. Notably, the company has not been the subject of public complaints, even though it appears to be affiliated with Conquest Financial. At present, High Risk Commerce seems to function at a level comparable to leading high-risk credit card processors. High Risk Commerce remains a promising option, though businesses should still compare its offerings against other top-rated high-risk payment processors to ensure they are making the most informed decision possible.
