In this review of Humboldt Merchant Services, we will provide a detailed overview of the company’s payment processing solutions, including credit card processing, point-of-sale systems, and e-commerce solutions. We will discuss the pricing structure, contract terms, and customer feedback to give you a clear understanding of what Humboldt Merchant Services offers. Additionally, we will examine the transparency of their fees, the quality of their customer support, and the overall satisfaction levels reported by their clients. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of whether Humboldt Merchant Services meets your business’s payment processing needs.
About Humboldt Merchant Services
Humboldt Merchant Services is a merchant account provider located in Tempe, AZ, that began doing business in 1993. HMS is a U.S. subsidiary of a Canada-based credit card processor called Moneris Solutions. HMS specializes primarily in providing credit card processing and electronic payment services for high-risk business types. The company’s primary website also contains a link to a separate, PCI compliance-related site (hbmspci.com) designed to provide PCI support for clients.
Humboldt Merchant Services Homepage
Humboldt Merchant Services Products and Services
Payment Processing
Humboldt Merchant Services offers comprehensive payment processing solutions for businesses. Their services are designed to handle a variety of transactions securely and efficiently, accommodating all major credit and debit cards.
EMV Card Readers and Swipers
The company provides EMV card readers and swipers, which are essential for secure payment transactions. These devices support chip-enabled cards, reducing the risk of fraud.
NFC Payments
Humboldt Merchant Services also supports NFC (Near Field Communication) payments. This technology allows for contactless transactions, providing a convenient and fast payment option for customers using smartphones or contactless cards.
Check Processing
In addition to card payments, Humboldt Merchant Services offers check processing services. This solution enables businesses to accept and process checks efficiently, ensuring funds are quickly and securely transferred.
POS Solutions
The company delivers point-of-sale (POS) solutions that meet the diverse needs of businesses. These systems are equipped to manage sales transactions, inventory, and customer interactions.
Gift and Loyalty Programs
Humboldt Merchant Services provides gift and loyalty programs aimed at enhancing customer engagement and retention. These programs are designed to reward customers and encourage repeat business.
Payment Gateways
For businesses with an online presence, Humboldt Merchant Services offers payment gateways. These gateways facilitate secure online transactions, providing a reliable platform for e-commerce activities.
Virtual Terminals
The company also provides virtual terminals, which allow businesses to process payments online without the need for physical hardware. This solution is ideal for remote transactions, enabling payments to be accepted from any location with internet access.
Recurring Billing
Humboldt Merchant Services supports recurring billing, beneficial for subscription-based businesses.
Humboldt Merchant Services Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints
<10
Live Customer Support
Yes
Most Common Complaint
N/A
Recent Lawsuits
No
Positive Customer Feedback
At the time of our review, only a limited number of Humboldt Merchant Services reviews were found on public forums, with some dating back to 2009 or earlier. The majority of complaints center around fund-holds or denied applications, issues commonly associated with high-risk providers like Humboldt. However, there is no indication of systemic problems with the company’s fraud prevention policies. Considering its size, Humboldt Merchant Services maintains a relatively low review rate. If you have your own experience with HMS, we encourage you to share it in the comments below.
Legal History and Penalties
Our search has not uncovered any ongoing class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Humboldt Merchant Services. Customers seeking alternative avenues for resolution are advised to report their concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.
Humboldt Merchant Services Customer Support
Humboldt Merchant Services provides a dedicated phone line and email address on its website, along with live chat support for PCI compliance queries. Given this range of support options, we assign HMS a rating of “A” in this category.
Humboldt Merchant Services Customer Service Number
Humboldt Merchant Services received Better Business Bureau accreditation in September 2011 and has an “A+” rating. Within the past 36 months, 1 complaint has been filed against Humboldt Merchant Services. The 1 complaint was resolved to the satisfaction of the merchant.
What Merchants Say
In addition to the 1 complaint, Humboldt has also received 1 negative informal reviews to its profile. The most recent review describes being rejected for processing:
I started the application with them on 7/28/2021, they kept asking for paperwork I kept getting them paperwork that they requested. On 8/6/2021 they finally came back and said no to the account.So if you need a merchant account don’t waste your time, they will drag your account out and then waste your time.
An “A” Performance
Humboldt’s overall complaint total is well within the “A” range for a provider of its size. We agree with the BBB‘s rating.
Humboldt Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Contract
Rates & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties
Yes
Monthly & Annual Fees
Yes
Processing Rates
1.00% - 4.99%
Equipment Leasing
Likely
Overview of Humboldt Merchant Services Contract
An archived version of the Humboldt Merchant Services (HMS) contract from 2007 indicates a one-year term with a $20 monthly minimum fee, a $10 monthly maintenance fee, a $159 early termination fee, and a variable annual fee. While it’s unclear if there have been substantial changes to HMS’s rates and contract terms since then, variations are likely, particularly for high-risk accounts.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Costs
Humboldt Merchant Services extends its offerings to include virtual terminal and payment gateway services. Specific pricing for these services isn’t publicly detailed. Usually, additional fees like gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and extra transaction rates are part of such e-commerce services.
Customer Satisfaction and Contract Acceptability
The scarcity of complaints regarding HMS’s contract terms suggests a general acceptability among its clients, earning HMS an “A” in this aspect. However, it’s important to recognize that high-risk merchant account providers may not align with the pricing of the most economical merchant accounts due to differing risk profiles. If you have current insights into HMS’s contract terms, sharing your experience in the comments would be valuable.
Humboldt Merchant Services appears to offer an independent agent/reseller program, which suggests that the company employs independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent sales agents can often result in a pattern of nondisclosure at the point of sale, which usually leads to numerous complaints from clients. However, the Humboldt Merchant Services review record is nearly spotless. It therefore appears that the company either doesn’t rely heavily on an independent sales team or that it oversees its agents with an uncommon degree of diligence for this industry.
Humboldt also does not list any misleading rate quotes or unrealistic guarantees on its website. If you suspect that Humboldt has added hidden fees to your monthly statement, you can check your pricing with a third-party statement audit.
Humboldt Merchant Services Review Summary
All available information points to Humboldt Merchant Services (HMS) as a trustworthy credit card processing provider. The company maintains an impressive record with very few complaints in public forums, and there is no evidence to suggest that it engages in any deceptive practices. This transparency and customer satisfaction underscore its reliability, providing peace of mind to businesses considering its services.
Though more detailed information about HMS is yet to surface, we are confident in assigning it an overall “A” rating. Standard-risk businesses should still compare HMS’s pricing with that of top-rated merchant account providers to secure the most advantageous deal. Evaluating multiple options is essential to ensure your processing needs are met with the best possible value and service.
Contact Humboldt Merchant Services
Contact & Customer Support
President
Adam McDonald
Headquarters
1600 N Desert Dr #101, Tempe, AZ 85281
Customer Service
877-387-5642
Website
hbms.com
Top Performing Humboldt Merchant Services Competitors
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Reader Comments, Testimonials & Complaints
3 User Reviews
Richard Smith
I’ve been with HBMS for about a year. I signed up with them through an agent. I haven’t had any problems until the past month. They’re still billing me and processing recurring charges, but no new charges. I received a letter in the mail, not an email, that my account was moving to a new platform on July 1st and I needed to collect the information from them to set up on my end.
I’ve called and left voice mail messages almost a dozen times, sent emails asking for a call back multiple times. I’ve yet to hear anything from them.
At this point I definitely don’t think they care about my business. Using our backup payment processor for all transactions has been much easier so if they ever respond I’ll probably cancel the account. I guess if I don’t hear from them, I’ll have to pay my attorney to reach out to them. Based on my experience I would recommend avoiding them.
I was referred to Humboldt/HBMS by a friend. These people are very straight forward, they disclose everything and are very upfront about their practices.
The agent listened and worked with me on what I wanted and how I wanted my application to be processed.
I am really glad that my friend referred me to them. We have an adult novelties business so our business is considered high risk. While dealing with HBMS I also worked with EMS and Payment Cloud Inc. Stay away from Electronic Merchant Systems, and Payment Cloud Inc. These other two businesses don’t give a damn about their customers. Just go and read the reviews about them. I highly recommend HBMS and there is a reason why there are so many positive reviews about HBMS on here and other places on the internet.
Great job guys!
CPO
Hello Andy,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
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Richard Smith
I’ve been with HBMS for about a year. I signed up with them through an agent. I haven’t had any problems until the past month. They’re still billing me and processing recurring charges, but no new charges. I received a letter in the mail, not an email, that my account was moving to a new platform on July 1st and I needed to collect the information from them to set up on my end.
I’ve called and left voice mail messages almost a dozen times, sent emails asking for a call back multiple times. I’ve yet to hear anything from them.
At this point I definitely don’t think they care about my business. Using our backup payment processor for all transactions has been much easier so if they ever respond I’ll probably cancel the account. I guess if I don’t hear from them, I’ll have to pay my attorney to reach out to them. Based on my experience I would recommend avoiding them.
This post will help: Best Adult Merchant Accounts
-Phillip
Andy Az.
I was referred to Humboldt/HBMS by a friend. These people are very straight forward, they disclose everything and are very upfront about their practices.
The agent listened and worked with me on what I wanted and how I wanted my application to be processed.
I am really glad that my friend referred me to them. We have an adult novelties business so our business is considered high risk. While dealing with HBMS I also worked with EMS and Payment Cloud Inc. Stay away from Electronic Merchant Systems, and Payment Cloud Inc. These other two businesses don’t give a damn about their customers. Just go and read the reviews about them. I highly recommend HBMS and there is a reason why there are so many positive reviews about HBMS on here and other places on the internet.
Great job guys!
CPO
Hello Andy,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!