Evaluating Kibopay Merchant Services: Fees, Customer Reviews, and Risks

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.

Kibopay

Rating
B
4/5
full starfull starfull starfull starempty star

Pros and Cons of Kibopay

Pros

Low Complaint Volume
Mostly Positive Reviews

Cons

Affiliation with Merchant Lynx
Affiliation with Paysafe
Complaints of Unexpected Fees

Overview

Listen to this episode about Kibopay

In this review of Kibopay, we’ll provide an overview of the company’s merchant services and examine the potential risks and controversies surrounding its operations. We will also investigate Kibopay’s partnerships for payment processing hardware and POS systems. Customer reviews and third-party ratings of Kibopay will also be covered in detail to provide a window into customer satisfaction. Our goal is to provide a balanced review, highlighting both the strengths and potential pitfalls of working with Kibopay, to provide insights needed to make an informed decision.

About Kibopay

a screen capture of the kibopay homepage
Kibopay Homepage Screen Capture

Kibopay markets merchant accounts, mainly promoting a surcharge pricing model, also known as “dual pricing” or “cash discount” pricing. This model shifts credit card transaction fees to customers, eliminating processing costs for businesses. We’ll explore the pricing and risks associated with Kibopay’s surcharge model later in this article.

Relationship with Merchant Lynx

Evidence suggest Kibopay resells services for Merchant Lynx, which would mean businesses receive payment processing through Paysafe. Both Paysafe and Merchant Lynx have numerous complaints about service quality and customer support. Although unconfirmed, online reviews from unhappy customers claim Kibopay is partnered with Merchant Lynx.

Evidence Supporting Reseller Theory

Further evidence supporting this reseller theory includes:

  • Kibopay is not listed on Visa’s approved service provider registry.
  • The company doesn’t disclose its processing bank on its website, unlike standard industry practice.

Affiliated Businesses

Kibopay’s founders also operate a merchant cash advance business, Cash Bouy, Inc. Other affiliated entities include:

  • Kibo Cash
  • Kibo Merchant Solutions
  • Kibo Pay

Unrelated Entity

Note that Kibo Commerce, a similarly named company, appears unrelated to Kibopay or its founders.

Products & Merchant Services

Kibopay offers a standard range of credit card processing services and hardware, including:

Free Equipment Offer

Additionally, the company promotes that it offers services with “free equipment,” however, it is unclear as of this writing if accepting equipment at no cost comes with rental fees or commitments. Business owners considering Kibopay are strongly encouraged to fully understand any possible obligations regarding free equipment offers.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Suspicious Testimonials and Reviews

Kibopay has hundreds of glowing reviews from seemingly satisfied customers, which is uncommon in the payments industry and warrants further investigation. Upon reading the reviews, it appears that a high percentage of them are likely related to a campaign by Kibopay to incentivize customers for positive reviews in exchange for possible kickbacks in the form of credits toward monthly fees. Additionally, the reviews have the appearance of potentially being part of a reputation management campaign, similar to those we have encountered with several other processors. Business owners researching these reviews may want to dig further into their validity. In our opinion, providing current customers with credits and bonuses for positive reviews leads to a skewed and artificial picture of a company’s service quality.

Questionable Endorsements

One “expert” website has published a review of Kibopay (Top 5 Merchant Services), but the website appears to be a “pay-to-play” site that publishes positive reviews in exchange for compensation. Not only is the review thin on actual details surrounding service quality, but the site also lists some of the most poorly rated processors in the industry as the “best” providers – such as promoting Leaders Merchant Services as their “#1” choice. Due to this, we are not factoring the “Top 5” review into our calculation of Kibopay’s rating.

Negative Reviews

Kibopay does suffer from a small number of negative reviews offering insight into surprise fees and dissatisfaction with service and support, which we cover in the following section.

Important Consideration

It is worth noting that, due to Kibopay’s affiliation with other service providers, dissatisfied clients may file complaints about Merchant Lynx and Paysafe instead of naming Kibopay. If you have experience with Kibopay, please leave a comment in our comments section below, as it will help us better understand the overall sentiment surrounding this provider.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop5
BBB RatingN/A
Trust Pilot5
Review ManipulationLikely

PaymentPop Rating for Kibopay

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about Kibopay on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

Talech made running my café so much smoother. The system is super intuitive, and I was able to train my team in just one afternoon. I love how easy it is to customize menus and track sales in real-time. It gives me the flexibility and control I need without overcomplicating things.

No BBB Rating

Kibopay is not listed with the Better Business Bureau, nor does it have listings with Google Maps or popular crowd review websites like Yelp. This suggests that the company’s market share is small in the greater context of the merchant processing industry and that clients are generally satisfied with the company’s services. Of the customer reviews that do exist, the vast majority are on TrustPilot and appear to be manipulated through a reputation management campaign as mentioned above.

Examples of Positive Reviews

So far I have been very pleased with the services of KiboPay. The representative made the transition to the company simple. I had an issue with a component in my system and had it replaced with little hassle. My restaurant is experiencing an increase in business due to the ease of transactions.

Kibo Pay has been a game changer for us. The customer service is amazing. I have spoken with Mike K on multiple occasions and he never disappoints. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend changing your credit card processing system today.

Kibo pay is economically great for a small business like ours. Kibo has worked smoothly for our practice. They’ve been very helpful and responsive to any help we’ve needed or questions we’ve had.

Examples of Negative Reviews

Beware of Kibo pay as known as Merchant Lynx Services. The sales representative said the only fee I need to pay is the monthly fee. However, after 3 months, they began to charge me monthly fee, terminal paper fee, plus credit card terminal insurance fee. I called them, they said it is new policy. If there is a new policy, why didn’t they send it to their clients first? The sales associate said there is a month-to-month basis, so I canceled my account with them. After I closed my account, they still charged me an additional one-month fee plus terminal insurance fee, because I have to give them 30 days’ notice. I didn’t say anything. Unfortunately, it just the beginning. They have been constantly withdrawing money from my bank account for credit card processing terminal insurance fees.

I was promised from day one that I would have next-day funding and they lied. That was one of my biggest priorities when switching. That my money goes into my account next day. Martin promised me it would, and now it goes in when they feel like it, and now they are telling me I have to wait 6 months for a review of my account to see if I qualify for next-day funding. Even then, I may not qualify as they put it. I have been in business for 18 years and have never had chargebacks because I give great customer service to my customers. Something your company should think about. Don’t like being lied to. Don’t think I’ll be staying with Kibopay. – Pam Balson, owner of Pam’s Floral

Do not trust this company. They “accidentally” took $1300 out of our account and it took them 15 days to return the funds. They are continuing to deduct the wrong amount of monthly fees. And most recently deducted instead of refunded additional fees, and we are still waiting on this.

Trustpilot Rating for Kibopay

Kibopay has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating based on 546 user reviews on Trustpilot.

Positive Feedback

Could not be happier with the service and system. When my machine stopped working, they immediately sent a new working device and were very patient with me on setting up and trouble shooting throughout my entire process. Best customer service I have had with any credit card device.

Negative Feedback

I am really surprised with all the 5 star reviews on Kibo pay. I had the worst experience with Kibo – no transparency on the charges made on our account, lots of details never disclosed upfront, been told to “if find mistakes, give us a call…”. Why use Kibo if it requires constant monitoring and catching over charges… Don’t recommend using Kibo pay.

Processing Rates & Fees

Kibopay promotes that for a monthly fee of $29, it offers surcharge pricing wherein the processing fees of card transactions are passed along to the customer. However, as illustrated in the customer reviews above, other fees may be added without notice after a business begins processing with the company. Details regarding the cost of such additional fees are scarce, but it suggests that clients should closely monitor their statements for unexpected charges. Additionally, one review suggested that Kibopay may charge a cancellation fee under some circumstances. If you have any details regarding charges that you did not expect, please let us know in the comment section below.

Contract Terms and Hardware Offers

Kibopay does not appear to lock businesses into term commitments, such as agreeing to services for a period of years. However, Paysafe and Merchant Lynx suffer from a considerable number of complaints regarding such practices. Businesses that are considering any promotions for “free” hardware are advised to fully understand any obligations that may be attached to such offers.

Surcharging Risks

The temptation to pass along processing fees to customers should be done with great consideration, as doing so can have a severe impact on customer loyalty and repeat business. Additionally, the liability of maintaining compliance with state laws and card network policies are often passed to the business owner through the processor’s merchant agreement. This can subject unsuspecting business owners to hefty regulatory fines without recourse from the processor. If you are considering implementing a surcharge merchant account, we strongly recommend ensuring that such a practice is common for your industry and expected by your customers. Most importantly, check your state’s surcharging laws to ensure that you are compliant.

Lawsuits & Legal History

We did not locate any lawsuits or regulatory actions naming Kibopay or Cash Buoy. However, readers should be aware that Merchant Lynx and Paysafe have faced extensive legal issues, which are detailed in our reviews of those companies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Employee reviews for Kibopay are scarce, with just one five-star rating on Indeed stating:

I can’t stand working at a place where they micromanage every little thing you do. One of the best things about working here is they do not micromanage me at all. They have trust in me and that goes a long way. I work hard every day because I want to, not because I’m forced to. The compensation is great and I have unlimited commission potential. I make as much extra as I put into it.

However, reviews for Cash Bouy, the founders’ merchant cash advance company, paint a different picture. On Glassdoor, Cash Bouy has a 2.5 rating, with employees airing grievances about the founder and work environment. Notably, Merchant Lynx states that Cash Buoy is the “direct funder” for its merchant cash advance service, though it’s unclear how this affects employment experience at Kibopay.

Sales Practices

Kibopay does not appear to hire independent sales representatives, a positive indicator for the company’s sales and marketing practices. However, an employee review mentions that sales staff receive commissions for selling the company’s services. Kibopay’s services are likely marketed through online advertising and by Merchant Lynx and other partners. If you have experience working for Kibopay, please share your story in the comments section below.

Kibopay Competitors

Compare Kibopay to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Kibopay, a payment processing company, has raised concerns due to its suspicious testimonials and reviews, which suggest a potential reputation management campaign. The company’s lack of transparency regarding fees and pricing, along with reports of unexpected charges, has led to negative reviews from a few customers. While Kibopay does not appear to lock businesses into term commitments, its affiliation with Merchant Lynx and Paysafe, companies with a history of complaints, is a cause for concern.

The company’s surcharging model, which passes processing fees to customers, poses risks to businesses, including potential regulatory fines and damage to customer loyalty. Employee reviews are scarce, but one review praises the company’s trust and compensation. Notably, Kibopay does not hire independent sales representatives, a positive indicator for its sales practices.

Overall, businesses considering Kibopay should exercise caution and thoroughly research the company’s fees, services, and potential risks. We recommend carefully reviewing the terms and conditions, monitoring statements for unexpected charges, and ensuring compliance with state laws and card network policies.

If you have experience with Kibopay or would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment below.

Read Actual User Reviews

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