High Risk Pay Card Processing Reviews & Complaints

High Risk Pay Logo
4.5
full star full star full star full star empty star

How did they treat you? ▼

Company Overview

High Risk Pay is a merchant account provider that focuses primarily on serving high-risk business types. High Risk Pay claims to have been founded in 1997, but it is unclear which of its alternate brand names was founded in 1997. There is no record of HighRiskPay.com as an active website prior to 2008. The company has been linked to multiple other business names, including the following brands and URLs:

  • S & A Global, Inc.
  • Netpay Bankcard
  • High Risk Experts, LLC
  • Global Payment Services
  • Merchant Account Providers

Global Payment Services lists the same address as High Risk Pay and displays branding at the top of its website for Group ISO. This could mean that High Risk Pay is a DBA or sub-ISO of Group ISO.

High Risk Pay Payment Processing

High Risk Pay processes most major debit and credit cards for high-risk business types. They claim to serve a wide range of industries, including e-commerce, travel, e-cigarette, CBD, high-volume, startup, bad credit, international, MLM, and adult businesses. Their services include access to a payment gateway, a virtual terminal, mobile solutions fast approval, POS terminals and swipers, e-commerce solutions, chargeback protection, fraud protection, B2B and B2C processing, data reporting and analytics, recurring billing, and continuity subscription.

ACH Processing

High Risk Pay offers ACH (Automated Clearing House) processing for electronic check transactions, enabling immediate payment transfers over the internet that are verified and processed shortly after receipt. The ACH processing service requires only a routing and account number for transactions, with fees being a fixed amount per transaction rather than a percentage fee​.

Chargeback Prevention

High Risk Pay's Chargeback Prevention Program is aimed at reducing the occurrences of chargebacks which happen when cardholders dispute transactions without contacting the merchant first. Through this program, High Risk Pay provides alerts to merchants helping them address disputes proactively before they escalate to chargebacks, thus potentially reducing fees, penalties, and the risk of losing processing privileges​.

“Instant” Approval

High Risk Pay offers an instant approval service for high-risk merchant accounts with a stated 99% approval rate, aiming to get businesses operational quickly. They charge no application fee, setup fee, or contractual obligations, and approve applications within 24 hours, even for applicants with bad credit, while also providing next-day funding and chargeback prevention as part of their service package​.

Location & Ownership

High Risk Pay does not list its acquiring bank and is headquartered at 27702 Crown Valley Pkwy Ste D4-120, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694. David Anderson is the office manager at High Risk Pay and Ami Cohen is the vice president of High Risk Pay.

High Risk Pay business types
Some of the business types High Risk Pay services
Pros & Cons
Pros: Cons:
Diverse industry acceptance. Limited bank options.
Approves high-risk businesses. Higher fees typically.
Supports international transactions. Stricter contract terms.
Flexible payment solutions. Longer approval time.
Enhanced security measures. Increased chargeback risks.

High Risk Pay Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support No
Most Common Complaint N/A
Recent Lawsuits No

Low Complaint Total

Our research identified only a limited number of High Risk Pay reviews. None label the company as a ripoff or scam, but some issues were noted, including a complex signup process and abrupt account closures. A particularly concerning complaint on the BCA suggested potential misrepresentation of banking relationships and unusual application requests, including demands for personal PayPal login credentials and unorthodox home visits for photo documentation. This specific allegation, if true, raises serious concerns, but no further evidence or similar allegations have surfaced to corroborate this claim. If you have experiences with High Risk Pay, please share your review in the comments below to enhance our understanding of their practices.

High Risk Pay Lawsuits

We have found no outstanding class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints against High Risk Pay. However, due to the company’s generic name, detailed information is challenging to locate. Clients seeking non-litigious ways to address their issues with High Risk Pay are advised to report them to relevant supervisory organizations.

High Risk Pay Customer Support Options

High Risk Pay’s website lacks specific customer support contact information, falling short of the standards set by top-rated payment processors known for excellent customer service. General contact channels provided may offer some level of customer support, but more detailed and direct support options would significantly enhance customer experience and trust.

High Risk Pay Customer Service Number

  • (800) 956-1277 – Toll-Free Support

Other Support Options

High Risk Pay Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports 1

Clean Complaint Record

The Better Business Bureau currently assigns High Risk Pay an “A+” rating and has granted the company accreditation since 2014. The company has received 0 complaints in the last 36 months.

What Merchants Say

High Risk Pay currently has 1 reviews on its BBB profile, which is positive. A previous negative review described a lengthy signup process:

Very deceptive advertising. The ’24 Hour Approval’ in particular. I’m 6 weeks in so far and have completed a very invasive screening process (giving logins to personal financial accounts, having ‘inspectors’ visit my home, etc …) and have all but given up at this point. It’s gotten to the point where they rarely even reply to my emails.

Businesses that fail to obtain approval can improve their future chances by understanding why their merchant account application was denied.

An “A” Performance

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

High Risk Pay Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties Unclear
Monthly & Annual Fees Yes
Processing Rates Variable
Equipment Leasing Unclear

Variable Contract Terms

As a specialist in high-risk accounts, High Risk Pay tailors its pricing to the specific needs of each business, considering factors such as industry type, geographic location, and processing history. The Rates & Fees section of its website reveals a starting swipe rate of 1.79% plus $0.25 for clients with favorable credit histories and a starting keyed-in rate of 2.19% plus $0.25. High-risk clients see starting rates of 2.95% plus $0.25, with potential for higher rates. A unique fee of $0.50 per transaction is applied to international and adult entertainment merchants, setting their starting rates from 3.50% to 6.95% plus $0.50, and 9.95% plus $0.50, respectively.

The website also mentions a monthly fee of $10 and specific per-transaction fees for particular business categories. It highlights the absence of application or setup fees and does not mention other common fees like early termination fees and PCI compliance fees.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

High Risk Pay extends its offerings to include virtual terminal and payment gateway services. Rates for virtual terminal services start at 2.95% plus $0.25, along with a $0.10 gateway transaction fee per purchase. Additionally, a monthly gateway fee of $10 is applicable.

High Risk Means High Fees

Businesses classified as high-risk should prepare for above-average fees and possible cash reserves on their accounts, a common industry practice to mitigate the risk of chargebacks. High-risk companies can minimize fund-holds and chargebacks by providing High Risk Pay with detailed information about their business and products upfront.

No Red Flags

High Risk Pay offers pricing that is consistent with industry standards for high-risk processors. While not the lowest, the company’s rates are competitive within its niche. For insights into the typical High Risk Pay agreement, reader contributions are welcome in the comments section below.

High Risk Pay Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Uses Independent Resellers Yes
Telemarketing Unclear
Misleading Marketing Yes
Discloses All Important Terms No

Inside/Outside Sales Team

High Risk Pay appears to market itself primarily through affiliate partnerships and independent resellers. We have not found any negative High Risk Pay sales reviews, but we have seen one complaint filed against Merchant Account Providers that mentions deceptive sales conduct. This lone complaint mentioned an undisclosed $149 fee charged after account activation, but the fact that it was posted in 2011 limits its usefulness in evaluating the company’s current practices.

High Risk Pay Rate Quotes

High Risk Pay lists multiple per-transaction rates ranging from 1.79% plus $0.25 to 6.95% plus $0.50. Each quoted rate applies to a different business type. However, the company only lists the qualified rate for each client type without mentioning the higher mid-qualified and non-qualified rates that clients will pay on most transactions. We consider this type of rate quoting to be deceptive because it could give clients an unrealistic expectation of the rates they will pay.

A “B” Rating

For now, High Risk Pay is only showing a few minor issues with its sales approach. However, if you believe that the company has misrepresented itself to you, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.

High Risk Pay rates
High Risk Pay’s rates page

Our High Risk Pay Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

High Risk Pay rates as a reliable credit card processing provider for high-risk businesses at this time. The company has a relatively clean complaint record, and some of its contract terms are competitive for the high-risk space. However, the company’s array of various business names and unclear corporate structure raise some questions about its management team. High-risk businesses are encouraged to compare the company’s pricing to that offered by top-rated high-risk payment processors before signing up.

If you found this article helpful, please share it!

Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did High Risk Pay Treat You?

1 User Reviews

  • Jeremiah Anne

    High Risk Pay has been an absolute game-changer for my business! As an entrepreneur operating in a high-risk industry, finding a reliable payment processing solution was always a major challenge. However, since partnering with High Risk Pay, those worries have become a thing of the past.

    Their team’s expertise and understanding of our unique needs have been remarkable. From the get-go, they swiftly set up a secure and seamless payment gateway, ensuring our transactions are smooth and hassle-free. The customer support is top-notch too; they’re always there to address any concerns promptly and professionally.

    Thanks to High Risk Pay, we’ve seen a significant boost in our sales and customer satisfaction. It’s refreshing to work with a company that truly values its clients and goes above and beyond to deliver results. I wholeheartedly recommend High Risk Pay to any business seeking a trustworthy payment processing partner. They’ve earned our trust, and we look forward to a long-lasting partnership!

Tell Us How They Treated You

Sharing your experience influences our rating and helps other business owners make informed decisions. Please take a moment to tell us if they are serving you well. Your email address will never be published, shared or sold. We only use it to authenticate that you are a real person and, if you select the option for it, to let you know if someone replies to your comment. Required fields are marked *

Comments must contain details about your experience. Please do not use ALL CAPS. Self-promotion, marketing content, or contact information of any kind will not be published. By submitting a comment, you are agreeing to our Comment Policy

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. (Digital Fingerprint: 0d38c6720f0d78a701b74d58653af608). Getting paid to re-write this page? Click here to earn a reward.

Any unauthorized copying and reproduction of the content of this page, including all meta data and computer code, is strictly prohibited. While the information in the above article is believed to be accurate as of its publish date, the author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material, which is provided “as is,” and without warranties. Any and all use of trade names and/or marks are for identification purposes only and shall not be construed as a claim of affiliation, or otherwise, with CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. ("CPO") in any form. The sole purpose of the material presented herein is to alert, educate, and inform readers. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. We may earn revenue if you obtain services from a provider that we recommend. See this page to learn how we support our operations.