Is Inovio a Strong Choice for Your Payment Processing Needs?

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All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

Inovio

Rating
A
5/5
full starfull starfull starfull starfull star

Pros and Cons of Inovio

Pros

Global scalability
Secure transactions
Fraud prevention tools
E-commerce support
Multi-currency support

Cons

Undisclosed pricing details
Potential hidden fees
Contract term ambiguity
Equipment leasing options
Transparency concerns

Overview

In this review of Inovio, we take a closer look at the company’s credit card processing services. Their offerings include point-of-sale systems, mobile payments, and e-commerce options built to support a wide range of businesses. We’ll highlight which types of businesses may benefit most from these services. We’ll also examine customer reviews to identify common trends and concerns. In addition, we’ll cover the company’s pricing, contract terms, and included services. By the end, you’ll know whether Inovio is the right fit for your payment processing needs.

About Inovio

Screen Capture of Inovio Homepage
Inovio Homepage

Formerly known as “Argus Payments,” Inovio is an online payment gateway provider owned by North American Bancard. The company operated independently as Argus Payments until 2014, when North American Bancard acquired it. It was rebranded as Inovio in 2016. It is unclear at this time whether Argus Payments (and, by extension, Inovio) has any connection to Argus Merchant Services. Despite their similar names, they do not share branding, and Argus Merchant Services currently operates without any apparent link to North American Bancard. Most evidence suggests that Argus Merchant Services and Argus Payments are separate entities, but a lack of details about Argus Payments’ ownership and history makes this difficult to confirm. According to some merchant reviews, Inovio might also be associated with or somehow related to Humboldt Merchant Services.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Gateway

Inovio offers a payment gateway with a variety of features, including a virtual POS, hosted checkout services, multiple APIs, PCI compliance, point-to-point encryption, tokenization, fraud protection, international payments, data reporting and analytics, recurring billing, automated chargebacks, 3-D Secure card validation, and card-on-file payments.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Minimal Complaint History

Our search has revealed no negative Inovio reviews online, indicating that the company likely operates legitimately. The recent rebranding of the company may contribute to its lack of complaints. Interestingly, no complaints have been identified against Argus Payments, either. While Inovio’s payment gateway seems to be satisfactory for most merchants, its association with North American Bancard could potentially lead to future complaints. We encourage you to share your own Inovio experience in the comments below.

Inovio Legal Standing

No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been found against Inovio at this time. Unsatisfied merchants seeking recourse can report issues to relevant regulatory bodies.

Inovio Customer Support

Reports indicate that North American Bancard, Inovio’s partner, has faced criticism for prolonged wait times and inadequate customer service. As Inovio may rely on North American Bancard for certain support matters, new users should inquire about available support channels. Inovio provides a client support email address but does not offer a dedicated customer support phone number.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop2.3
BBBN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Inovio

Negative Feedback

I have had a very poor experience with Inovio. In the short time I dealt with them they mistakenly charged my account a $65 monthly fee twice even after they admitted it was a mistake and promised me a refund. When I received my refund it was only $117 and not $130. After I canceled my account they charged me a $500 early cancellation fee despite nothing that I had signed stated anything about this fee. I do not know if they are intentionally malicious or just incompetent but regardless they are very unprofessional.

Positive Feedback

Inovio has been an absolute game-changer for our business! Their cutting-edge solutions have streamlined our processes and boosted productivity significantly. From the moment we implemented their services, we noticed a remarkable improvement in our efficiency and overall performance.

Their team’s expertise and support have been invaluable, making the transition seamless and stress-free. Inovio’s innovative approach to problem-solving has allowed us to stay ahead of the competition, providing us with a clear competitive edge. The results speak for themselves – increased revenue, satisfied clients, and a motivated workforce.

Working with Inovio has been a breath of fresh air, and we couldn’t be happier with the partnership. Their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement aligns perfectly with our business philosophy. We highly recommend Inovio to any company looking to revolutionize their operations and achieve outstanding results.

No BBB Profile Available

The Better Business Bureau does not currently maintain a profile for Inovio. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.

Processing Rates & Fees

Custom Pricing Likely

Public details on Inovio’s rates and fees are limited, although its gateway agreement is accessible online. This agreement mentions a separate fee schedule that is provided once terms have been negotiated, suggesting tailored pricing.

The agreement specifies an early termination fee equal to 50% of the remaining fees due upon contract cancellation. This could indicate custom pricing arrangements or reflect Inovio’s e-commerce solutions being offered as part of North American Bancard merchant accounts, potentially allowing North American Bancard representatives flexibility in setting Inovio’s pricing and fees.

Terms May Resemble North American Bancard’s

Merchants with North American Bancard have reported unexpected monthly and annual fees and rates higher than initially anticipated. Given Inovio’s relationship with North American Bancard, it is advisable for merchants to thoroughly review their contracts, as Inovio’s terms might not align with the most affordable merchant accounts available.

An “A” For Now

With scant definitive information on Inovio’s pricing and an absence of complaints regarding its payment gateway agreement, Inovio currently holds an “A” rating in this category. However, merchants should diligently inquire about all potential terms associated with North American Bancard. If you possess insights into Inovio’s standard contract details, such as monthly minimum or PCI Compliance fees, sharing this information in the comments section would be greatly appreciated.

Merchants are also encouraged to explore our list of the best merchant accounts for more options.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

No Sales Complaints

Inovio appears to market its products primarily in partnership with North American Bancard and through traditional advertising. There is no indication at this time that the company employs independently contracted sales agents to sell its products, and we cannot find any Inovio reviews that accuse the company’s sales team of unethical conduct. This compares favorably to our list ofbest credit card processors.

Review Terms Carefully

Inovio’s focus on e-commerce technology means that it has less incentive to push unsavory merchant account contract terms on merchants than traditional merchant account providers. That having been said, North American Bancard has a poor reputation when it comes to rate quoting and fee disclosure. Inovio merchants should therefore clarify the terms of their contract with the company that is supplying the merchant account, especially if that company is not Inovio. If you suspect that you have had undisclosed Inovio fees added to your contract, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.

Inovio Competitors

Compare Inovio to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Inovio currently stands out as a reliable payment gateway provider, based on the information available. Their services have proven to be dependable, earning them a favorable reputation among merchants. Despite this, their affiliation with North American Bancard (NAB) raises concerns, given that NAB is rated poorly compared to leading payment processing companies. This association remains a potential issue that business owners should consider.

However, it’s worth noting that we have not found any evidence of dissatisfaction among Inovio merchants. This strong record of customer satisfaction reflects well on Inovio’s service quality. Nevertheless, given their connection with NAB, we will closely monitor Inovio’s performance, adjusting our rating as we receive more merchant feedback. For now, prospective clients should weigh this relationship carefully while evaluating their payment processing options, ensuring they receive the most reliable and trustworthy service possible.

Read Actual User Reviews

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Inovio

Contact & Customer Support
Founder and General ManagerConal Cunningham
Headquarters21650 Oxnard Street, Suite 1200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Toll-Free General Customer Service(866) 267-2246
Websiteinoviopay.com