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Intrepid Payment Processing Review

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Maintained Since: January 25, 2016

We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

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.

Intrepid Payment Processing
Rating
D
2.5/5
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UPDATE 2/8/2019: The Intrepid Payment Processing website (intrepidpaymentprocessing.com) is not active at this time, nor are the websites of its affiliated companies Certified Payment Processing (cpp-360.com) or Axis Payments (axispayments.net). It is possible that Intrepid Payment Processing’s management has shifted its focus to Cypress Bay Solutions, which shares the same address as Certified Payment Processing. We will therefore no longer update this review.

Intrepid Payment Processing (intrepidpaymentprocessing.com) is a merchant account provider that appears to be a DBA of Certified Payment Processing and a reseller of First American Payment Systems products and services. A former employee of Apex Merchant Group has stated in the comment section of our Apex Merchant Group review that Apex Merchant Group’s portfolio was merged with Certified Payment Processing following the March 2015 settlement of a legal action against Apex in the state of Minnesota, and that Intrepid Payment Processing and Axis Payments are newly launched DBAs of Certified Payment Processing. The commenter further states that the CEO of Apex Merchant Group, Andrew Frankel, is now “running” Certified Payment Processing. There is some evidence that a new company called “Cypress Bay Solutions” has been created as yet another DBA of Certified Payment Processing.

Intrepid Payment Processing claims to have existed for over 10 years, but its social media profiles have only been active since August 2015. The Intrepid Payment Processing website lists an address at 3350 Boyington Dr., Suite B, Carrollton, Texas 75006, which is also the address for Certified Payment Processing, Summit Merchant Solutions, TransTech Merchant Group, and Axis Payments. The company is a registered ISO of Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Key Points

  • Sales & Marketing: Intrepid Payment Processing hires independent sales agents and has received a high number of complaints about its sales practices.
  • Costs & Contract: Intrepid Payment Processing appears to offer a multi-year contract through First American Payment Systems with an early termination fee of $495.
  • Complaints & Service: Intrepid Payment Processing has received more than 20 public complaints.
  • BBB Rating: Intrepid Payment Processing has a “B-” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received 25 complaints in the past three years.
  • Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Intrepid Payment Processing

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

We are currently able to locate more than 20 negative Intrepid Payment Processing reviews, some of which explicitly accuse the company of being a scam or a ripoff. Merchant complainants commonly cite aggressive telemarketing tactics, hidden fees, unreachable customer service, expensive equipment leases, and fund holds, while employees describe fake appointments, poor leads, and late payouts. The company’s low overall complaint total is actually disproportionately high for a business that appears to have been operational for only a few years. In addition, the available complaints are severe in nature and strikingly similar to complaints that have been filed against Certified Payment Processing, Axis Payments, and other First American Payment Systems companies. This has earned it a “C” rating.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
Product & Service Complaints8
Billing & Collection Complaints7
Advertising & Sales Complaints10
Guarantee & Warranty Complaints0
Delivery Complaints0

Note: We have adjusted this company’s BBB rating according to our own standards. To better understand why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.

The Better Business Bureau currently assigns a “B-” rating to Intrepid Payment Processing and has not granted the company accreditation. The BBB has received 25 complaints related to Intrepid in the past three years, with 10 related to advertising or sales issues, eight having to do with product or service problems, and seven due to billing and collection disputes. Intrepid has successfully resolved 13 complaints, while the remaining complaints either were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final response from the merchant. In light of Intrepid’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we have slightly adjusted the BBB’s rating to a “C” at this time.

Processing Rates & Fees

The Intrepid Payment Processing website does not disclose any of the company’s pricing or fees. However, as a reseller of First American Payment Systems, the company probably offers pricing and fees that are similar to those offered by First American Payment Systems. More specifically, employee complaints indicate that Intrepid operates as a DBA of Certified Payment Processing under the same ownership as Apex Merchant Group, which would mean that it likely offers a three-year agreement with automatic renewal for one-year terms, an early termination fee of $495 to $595, an annual fee of $95, a monthly minimum fee of $25, an annual PCI compliance fee of $124.75, and a number of other, miscellaneous fees. Some fees mentioned in merchant complaints about Intrepid include a $95 annual fee, a $495 early termination fee, and a monthly equipment lease fee of $90 for a single terminal.

In general, we do not see any reason to recommend Intrepid Payment Processing’s pricing at this time. The company’s affiliation with poorly rated providers suggests that merchants should request and review all contract terms and rate disclosures. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Intrepid Payment Processing merchant agreement, please share that information in the comment section below this review.

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Bottom Line

Intrepid Payment Processing rates poorly as a merchant account provider according to our rating criteria. The company’s sales approach and contract terms appear to be indistinguishable from those used by First American Payment Systems, Certified Payment Processing, and Axis Payments. We will continue monitoring merchant feedback for this company and its associated companies.