In this review of iATS Payments, we will provide a detailed overview of the company's credit card processing services tailored for non-profits. We will discuss the various services they offer, including point-of-sale systems and online payment solutions, and identify the types of organizations that benefit most from their services. We will also examine client and customer reviews to highlight common trends and any potential concerns. Additionally, we will cover the company's pricing structure, contract terms, and the specific services included. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of whether iATS Payments is the right fit for your organization's payment processing needs.
About iATS Payments Overview
Founded in 1999, iATS Payments is a merchant account provider catering to non-profit organizations. The company offers online, mobile, and Salesforce-integrated fundraising solutions to organizations in the US, Canada, and the UK. iATS Payments allows non-profits to receive donations from credit cards, debit cards, ACH deposits, and international donors. The company relies on First Data for its back-end processing.
In 2021, iATS Payments' parent company First American Payment Systems, was acquired by deluxe. Deluxe appears to be operating iATS as its own brand under the deluxe label.
iATS Payments specializes in processing all major debit and credit cards for nonprofits. Their services include handling international payments, ACH, credit card transactions, and more through both their mobile app and website.
Nonprofit Payment Processing Solutions
iATS Payments offers payment processing solutions specifically designed for nonprofits. Their system allows organizations to securely and efficiently process credit card and ACH payments from donors. The platform supports multiple payment options, including one-time gifts, recurring donations, and pledges.
Online Fundraising Tools
iATS Payments provides online fundraising tools to help nonprofits enhance their donor reach and fundraising efforts. They offer secure, customizable online donation forms that can be integrated into a nonprofit’s website or used in email campaigns to streamline the donation process.
Event Management Features
To simplify organizing fundraising events, iATS Payments includes features like customizable event registration forms, ticketing, and attendee tracking. These tools help nonprofits manage events more efficiently, leading to improved donor engagement and increased donations.
Brickwork CRM Software
iATS Payments offers Brickwork, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software tailored for nonprofits. Brickwork provides valuable data and insights about donors, enabling organizations to build stronger relationships and develop more effective fundraising strategies.
Mobile Processing
With the rise of mobile transactions, iATS Payments provides mobile processing capabilities. This feature allows nonprofits to accept donations through smartphones or tablets, offering greater convenience for both organizations and their donors.
Security and Compliance
Security and compliance are key aspects of iATS Payments' services. The company adheres to PCI compliance standards to ensure secure transaction processing and provides fraud prevention measures to protect donors' financial information.
iATS Payments Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints
<10
Liver Customer Support
No
Most Common Complaint
Rates & Fees
Recent Lawsuits
No
Low Complaint Total
We’ve only located a few iATS Payments reviews, none of which characterize the company as a scam or a ripoff. One complaint available online mentioned high fees, with details provided in the costs & contract section of the review. If you have your own iATS Payments review to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.
iATS Payments offers a 1-year contract with an automatic 6-month renewal, notable for not including early termination fees. Exact pricing details are not prominently displayed, but client feedback suggests a flat rate ranging from 2.49% to 3.20% plus $0.26 per donation.
Though specifics on fees are scarce, one online review cited high charges without providing exact figures. iATS Payments caters to non-profits with various services, including Salesforce integration, online and mobile payments, while confirming a flat transaction fee for each donation. The company’s website does not clearly state whether PCI compliance fees are charged or the extent of monthly subscription fees. However, it specifies the absence of payment gateway fees and set-up fees.
Mobile donation clients receive a complimentary card reader compatible with Apple and Android devices, using iATS Payments’ mobile app. As a registered ISO of First Data Europe Limited, the company does not engage in long-term equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing. Instead, iATS Payments focuses on its proprietary mobile card reader and online payment platforms.
An “A” Overall
iATS Payments stands out with its transaction rate for non-profits, although it’s slightly higher than some competitors. The company’s attractive contract features include no set-up fee, gateway fee, early termination fee, or equipment lease. However, the absence of detailed information on potential monthly fees might affect the overall cost-effectiveness of their services. Considering the balance of factors, iATS Payments is given an “A” rating.
According to its website, iATS Payments uses in-house sales agents and third-party referral partnerships to sell its services. The company dedicates a portion of its website to its list of partners. Many of those partners help integrate iATS Payments online donation solutions onto their websites and as well as integrate them into their Salesforce platforms. The company’s online donation form can be integrated into organizations’ websites to accept credit card and ACH payments.
No Deceptive Advertising
To its credit, iATS Payments does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors. We therefore award it a grade of “A.” If you suspect that iATS Payments is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.
Our iATS Payments Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
iATS Payments provides a wide range of credit card processing solutions specifically designed for non-profit organizations. Their offerings enable non-profits to accept both online and mobile donations and seamlessly integrate those payments into the organization’s Salesforce suite. With short-term contracts, no extra fees, and a straightforward flat-rate fee structure, iATS Payments delivers flexible solutions. However, despite these advantages, the company does not yet rank among the leading non-profit merchant account providers.
Location & Ownership
iATS Payments is headquartered at 1188 West Georgia Street, Suite 600 Vancouver, BC Canada. The company is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, First Data Europe Limited, Chase Paymentech Solutions, Fifth Third Bank, National Association, Cincinnati, OH, and the Canadian Branch of U.S. Bank National Association and Elavon
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In the late 2000s, as a broke college student struggling to make ends meet, I was contacted by a merchant services company after uploading my resume to a job listings website. This company promised substantial commissions and ongoing residual income for simply persuading businesses to accept credit card payments. It seemed straightforward enough—after all, what business doesn’t need to process credit card payments? Following a phone interview with a persuasive “sales director,” I found myself embarking on what I believed would be an easy job that would significantly boost my bank account with reliable monthly income and large sales commissions. However, the lessons I learned would profoundly change my life in ways I could never have imagined.
After completing my sales training, I hit the ground running, eager to make sales. This broke college student was determined to improve his financial situation! My first attempt at a cold call, with no prior appointment, ended with a burly man in his 50s yelling at me to leave, claiming he had been “totally robbed” by someone like me before. As I hastily exited, puzzled and intimidated by his reaction, I couldn’t help but wonder what he meant. Throughout the day, I encountered similar hostility from other business owners, all expressing disdain for the industry I had been so excited to join that morning. Confused and curious, I decided to shift my approach from selling to listening.
I quickly uncovered that the merchant services sector was riddled with unethical practices, including hidden fees, deceptive marketing, fine-print traps, and much more. It dawned on me that I had nearly been tricked by a dubious company into selling overpriced services under contracts with long-term commitments, all without being fully aware of what I was promoting. Outraged, I resigned from that company but learned that there were indeed ethical credit card processing companies that treated their clients fairly. Over the next four years, I worked for one such company, assisting hundreds of businesses in securing cost-effective processing solutions. Yet, I also met many more who had been misled and trapped in onerous service agreements. Determined to help people steer clear of these unscrupulous providers, I launched this website in my spare time, dedicating myself to researching and sharing my findings on every merchant account provider I could investigate.
Gradually, more and more business owners began to discover my articles. As word spread, search engines started to rank my content highly, amplifying its reach. My efforts were making a difference! Eventually, the website garnered enough traffic to enable me to leave my job and focus on it full-time, a journey that has now spanned over a decade. This path has not been without its challenges; unscrupulous company owners have tried to intimidate and sue me into silence on several occasions. Yet, I have stood firm against each threat. Here I am, continuing to publish reviews and articles, hoping to safeguard others from the pitfalls of the credit card processing industry.
If you believe in my mission and wish to contribute, please share my articles on your websites and social media. Thank you for visiting!
Testimonials & Complaints
How Did iATS Payments Treat You?
2 User Reviews
Steve Johnsen
The Church in Denver
I agree that iATS’ pricing is pretty good, but their web tools are barely usable and customer service has gone downhill tremendously. It is impossible to get any kind of meaningful reports about donation categories or total donations per user. On a separate issue, I have contacted them more than a dozen times for the past three months. Most of my emails are ignored . Most of my phone calls to customer service go to voicemail and are ignored. Occasionally I have gotten a response promising follow-up support on my issue but it never comes.
Stephen Loewenstein
Ner L'horeinu, Inc.
I am sorry to say this, but we are very dissatisfied with IATS. We, unfortunately signed up with IATS indicating a rather small monthly amount of charges. However, by mistake, we charged over thee days, 575000 dollars to on AMEX card holder’s account. IATS was very upset. We did everything in our power to prove to IATS that these charges were legitimate. We had our donor whose cards were used call them. We had AMEX in Argentina write them to say that they guarantee the charges will not be disputed. We begged them to contact AMEX directly to find out how they can be protected that the charges can not be declined. We offered a notarized letter from the donor. NOTHING would satisfy them or allow them to go the extra mile. Instead the are HOLDING our money for “at least” six months, although that had no trouble collecting their fee immediately. We even requested after two months that they, at least release a portion of it. They only want to punish us for going over our agreed limit and keep the money for themselves even though they have many avenues to ensure the charges will never be disputed. I never worked with such and inflexible company in all my 45 years in the Charity business.
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Steve Johnsen
I agree that iATS’ pricing is pretty good, but their web tools are barely usable and customer service has gone downhill tremendously. It is impossible to get any kind of meaningful reports about donation categories or total donations per user. On a separate issue, I have contacted them more than a dozen times for the past three months. Most of my emails are ignored . Most of my phone calls to customer service go to voicemail and are ignored. Occasionally I have gotten a response promising follow-up support on my issue but it never comes.
Stephen Loewenstein
I am sorry to say this, but we are very dissatisfied with IATS. We, unfortunately signed up with IATS indicating a rather small monthly amount of charges. However, by mistake, we charged over thee days, 575000 dollars to on AMEX card holder’s account. IATS was very upset. We did everything in our power to prove to IATS that these charges were legitimate. We had our donor whose cards were used call them. We had AMEX in Argentina write them to say that they guarantee the charges will not be disputed. We begged them to contact AMEX directly to find out how they can be protected that the charges can not be declined. We offered a notarized letter from the donor. NOTHING would satisfy them or allow them to go the extra mile. Instead the are HOLDING our money for “at least” six months, although that had no trouble collecting their fee immediately. We even requested after two months that they, at least release a portion of it. They only want to punish us for going over our agreed limit and keep the money for themselves even though they have many avenues to ensure the charges will never be disputed. I never worked with such and inflexible company in all my 45 years in the Charity business.