Main Street Processing Review
(214) 261-4611 A Processor of Several Names
Main Street Processing is a Richardson, Texas-based merchant account provider that appears to be an alternate business name of Datalink Bankcard Services, Tier 1 Processing, TriData, Inc., Venture Processing, and Consolidated Payment Services. There is also evidence to suggest that the company operates under the names Challas Group and Wholesale Banc. Given its affiliation with Datalink, Main Street is most likely a First Data or Merrick Bank reseller.
Main Street Processing Location and Ownership
The Main Street website at one point stated that the company’s “experience in payment processing extends back as far as 1989,” but it’s likely that this phrase refers to the founding year of Datalink Bankcard Services rather than that of Main Street. It should be noted that Main Street, Datalink, Tier 1, TriData, Venture Processing, Challas Group, Wholesale Banc, and Consolidated Payment Services all appear to have been different names used by the same entity at various points over the past 25 years. Steve Odom is listed as the principal for TriData, Inc., Consolidated Payment Services, and Datalink Bankcard Services.
At the time of our last update, the Better Business Bureau listed Scott Stauffer, the vice president of Datalink, as the principal for Main Street Processing, while Steve Odom is currently listed as its CEO. Scott Stauffer also served as the vice president of operations at Crescent Processing Company (now Talus Payments) from 2006 to 2009, although there does not appear to be a link between Crescent and Datalink at this time. Tier 1 Processing has a very limited web presence but appears to share an address with all of these companies at Klonopin) sa=X&ei=5GCTVJ-3CZLnoASAt4GwAw&ved=0CB0Q8gEwAA” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>3505 Token Dr, Richardson, Texas 75082. Main Street Processing is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California and of Merrick Bank, South Jordan, Utah.
Main Street Processing Review Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Main Street Processing appears to offer a three-year contract with a termination fee of $250 or more.
- Complaints & Service: Main Street Processing has received more than 30 public complaints.
- BBB Rating: Main Street Processing has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received 3 complaints and no reviews in the past 3 years.
- Sales & Marketing: Main Street Processing appears to hire independent sales representatives and has received numerous serious complaints about its sales practices.
- Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Main Street Processing
Main Street Processing Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | 30+ |
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | Sales Tactics |
Moderate Complaint Total
There are a few dozen negative Main Street Processing reviews, many of which refer to the company as a scam or a ripoff. By far the most common complaints are related to the company’s telemarketing tactics, as merchants describe aggressive, unwanted sales calls that occasionally involve misrepresentation of the caller’s identity and pricing. Other, less-common complaints include undisclosed fees and inadequate agent training and compensation.
Continuous Slamming Complaints
There is evidence online to suggest that Tier 1 Processing, a DBA of Main Street Processing, may be engaging in a tactic called “slamming.” Slamming occurs when an agent calls a merchant and poses as the merchant’s existing provider. The agent may claim that the merchant’s account has been “red-flagged” for high rates or insist that interchange fees have recently gone down, which requires a rate review for the merchant’s account. Some complainants have mentioned that “Main Street Processing” is a name that is sometimes given by agents calling from the same phone numbers as Tier 1 Processing. Merchants should understand that Visa and MasterCard will never contact them for a rate review, and they should be sure to contact their processor directly if they suspect that they’ve been contacted by an impostor.
Main Street Processing Lawsuits
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Main Street Processing. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Main Street Processing Customer Support Options
The Main Street Processing website provides an email contact form for merchants but doesn’t appear to list its phone number anywhere. Generally speaking, merchants should not expect quality customer support when the company they’re trying to contact doesn’t even provide a phone number.
Main Street Processing Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Product & Service Complaints | 0 |
| Billing & Collection Complaints | 0 |
| Advertising & Sales Complaints | 3 |
| Guarantee & Warranty Complaints | 0 |
| Delivery Complaints | 0 |
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.
Over 10 Complaints
The Better Business Bureau currently awards an “A+” to Main Street Processing but has not accredited the business. Main Street’s BBB profile has received 3 complaints in the past 36 months. All 3 of the complaints related to advertising or sales issues. Main Street has successfully resolved 0 complaints, or the complaints were resolved to the merchant’s dissatisfaction or did not receive a final evaluation from the merchant.
Related BBB Accounts
Main Street Processing’s DBA Tier 1 Processing currently has no rating with 0 complaints in the past 36 months, and Datalink Bankcard has an “A+” with 1 complaint in the past 36 months. Since the BBB lists all of these companies at the same address and even lists some of them as sharing the same ownership, it is unclear why it assigns different ratings to each business.
What Merchants Say
In addition to those 7 complaints, the company has received 0 informal reviews on its BBB profile in the past 36 months. Before our last update, the most recent review expressed frustration with persistent, unwanted sales calls:
This business continues to call my business several times a day stating they want my company info on charges and accounting info. I have asked them to STOP calling me and they refuse. I have blocked them several times and they continue to call from a different number each time. They ask for my account and credit card info, I want the calls to stop and they refuse. This company needs to be looked into right away as they harass business owners.
Merchants finding themselves in similar situations would benefit from researching how to shut down sales calls.
A “D” Performance
At the time of our last review, the BBB displayed a notice at the top of Main Street’s profile stating that in January 2017, the BBB identified a pattern of complaints related to misleading sales tactics. In response, Main Street Processing assured the BBB that it will institute a randomized “call audit” procedure to identify agents who may not be adhering to the company’s disclosure requirements. In light of Main Street’s BBB profiles for all of its business names, we have adjusted its rating to a “D.”
Main Street Processing Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Item | Result | >
|---|---|
| Swiped Rate | 1.00% - 4.99% |
| Keyed-in Rate | 1.00% - 4.99% |
| Membership Fee | Undisclosed |
| Early Termination Fee | $250+ or Liquidated Damages |
| Batch Fee | $0.35 |
| PCI Compliance Fee | Undisclosed |
| Equipment Lease Terms | 48 Month (locked) |
Three-Year Agreement
According to merchant complaints, Main Street Processing’s contract terms are simply Datalink Bankcard’s contract terms. Datalink’s merchant agreement and outlines a three-year agreement with automatic renewal for two-year terms, an early termination fee of $250 or Liquidated Damages, and a “membership fee” of an undisclosed amount. There may also be additional fees charged in the form of Mid-Qualified and Non-Qualified fees, and some merchants report being signed into long-term equipment leases without their knowledge.
Serious Red Flags
Datalink Bankcard’s standard contract receives a “D” rating from CardPaymentOptions.com, so we would ordinarily extend the same rating to Main Street Processing. However, the reports of misrepresentation by the company’s sales agents under both the Main Street name and the Tier 1 name incline us to lower the company’s rating to an “F.” There is very little transparency surrounding Main Street Processing’s pricing, and there is evidence that the company’s sales staff actively tries to misrepresent its identity and its pricing to merchants. It seems unlikely that merchants will receive the chance to negotiate fair contract terms if they cannot first receive full disclosure from Main Street Processing. We urge merchants to instead opt for a reputable credit card processor to get the best rates and service. If you have any specific knowledge of the company’s pricing and fees, please share that information in the comment section below this review.
Main Street Processing Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Employs Independent Resellers | Yes |
| Advertises Deceptive Rates | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Cold Calls and Outside Agents
Main Street Processing appears to primarily utilize telemarketing and independent sales agents to market its services, a strategy that is commonly linked to high complaint rates within the industry. In fact, the company’s tactics closely resemble a “hiring mill” policy designed to land accounts through aggressive cold calling and unsolicited in-person pitches at the expense of a high internal turnover rate. There are multiple Main Street Processing complaints (found here, here, here, and in the comment section below this review) that describe high-pressure phone sales tactics, repeated unwanted calls, misrepresentation and confusion of the company’s name, poor internal training, and inadequate support for agents.
Aggressive Sales Tactics
Merchants should also take note of the apparent affiliation between Tier 1 Processing and Main Street Processing. Of all of the companies within the TriData/Datalink family of businesses, these two names have been most frequently associated with slamming tactics according to merchant complaints. To its credit, the Main Street Processing website does not list any deceptive rate quotes, but it also does not provide much detail about the company at all, including its location or ownership. Overall, we feel that the company’s sales and marketing tactics warrant a “D” rating according to all available information. If you suspect that Main Street Processing is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.
Our Main Street Processing Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
A Substandard Option All-Around
Main Street Processing rates very poorly as a merchant services provider according to our rating criteria. The company has received a large number of complaints related to its marketing tactics and is part of a larger family of businesses that does not rate well on CardPaymentOptions.com. Main Street Processing can improve its overall rating as one of the worst-rated payment processors on this site by reducing the number of complaints related to its sales tactics and by more fully disclosing the relationships between its various alternate business names.
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Molly
I got a call from a man asking for the person who is in charge of the merchant services. I said “I’m sorry, we’re not interested,” and hung up. I get at least two of these calls a week.
I get a call IMMEDIATELY back, saying, “Can I just speak to *my boss’s name*? This isn’t a sales call.” I asked him his name and where he was calling from.
Damien, “My name is Damien, I’m calling from your merchant service. My number is 1 855 409…”
Me, “Okay Damien *writes down numbers as he says them.”
Damien, “Can you just repeat those numbers back to me?” (In a VERY rude tone, I assumed to make sure I’m actually writing it down.”
Me, “Uhhh 1 855 409…”
And then he finished off the number. I then asked, “So what, exactly, is this call in regards to?”
Damien *growing increasingly impatient and rude*, “I have on record that you were charged too much, so I wanted to call to make sure that your account was credited. There should be something marked as ‘adjusted’ or ‘credited’ in your May statement.”
I came online and googled the phone number and read all of these comments.
I will update you if he calls back, but clearly it’s just an aggressive sales call.
Deby
Had someone call from Main Street told me they were working with WorldPay to fix an over charge that we had encored. It was BS they try to get your info and then switch your Merchant company. I caught them in 2 lies and then called them on it. Bad People….
Jeff
Deceptive sales practices. This company contacted me implying that they were my merchant services processor. A quick look at their Better Business Bureau complaints page will show you that this is standard practice for this organization. They have “Strict disclosure policies regarding the identity of our company” (you’ll see that response to every complaint), but it must not include telling the caller who they are at the beginning of the call.
Micheal
Had to leave this processor. They could not support my merchant business at the same level other processors could. I believe they are a small outfit with a limited staff.
Rico brown
I was called by a lady named angle and she claimed she was with Main Street services and that she was looking for overbilling on merchant accounts. A faced her a statement after she showed me a quick way to see if I’m over the national average of 2%. She told me to take the bill amount and divide it into the amount I processed that month.. It came to 4.9%!! I was so mad and didn’t even know I was being overbilled.. To mKe a long story short I found out I was paying over 3.29% on my mid qualified card cause I type in my cards.. She quickly sent me a proposal to lower my rates and put me on a wholesale program of .05 and 5 cents a transaction from 25 cents a transaction.. My bills are now 80$ less than usual and I would recommend this company to anybody they really do look for over charges and they mean what they say.. The only things I can see bad about them is they are aggressive when it comes to telemarketing but also very aggressive at lowering your rates.. I’m a 100% example I have saved over 1,000 in a year already from the rates I used to have.. And they did even try to lease me a terminal they gave it to me for free..
CPO
Hi Rico,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
hannah
(855)409-2667 kendra called, same review as all prior complaints..this company is not to be trusted
julie lawson
a woman named Kendra from the “fees” department called me to ask for my last merchant statement to be faxed to her because i was owed fees back. She insisted she was an employee of my merchant co. after i hung up i called a number i had to pry out of her and it was for main street processing. such a scam!! They should be out of business!!!
Josh
Please don’t do any business with this company Mainstreet Processing they are rude and it’s all a scam they’re lawyers and you’re trying to get your business so you’re not trying to stop you from being overcharged
Dr. Rama Kakarlapudi DMD
Sonja Jones called said she was with a company that makes sure we are not being overcharged. Wanted most recent credit card statement. I told her we didn’t have time . She called back several times with me giving same response. I then told her I’d fax to her when I had time so give me your name & fax #. She then called me back asking had Ifax yet. I said no and she would see it when I faxed it, when I have time. They are misrepresenting themselves as a 3rd party acting like their sole job is to get overcharges taken care of.
Linda Kilpatrick
Girl called said she was with a company that makes sure we are not being overcharged. Wanted most recent credit card statement. I told her I didn’t have time to mess with her. She called back several times with me giving same response. I then told her I’d fax to her when I had time so give me your name & fax #. She finally said Samantha & gave me fax #. She then called me back asking did u fax yet. I said no and she would see it when I faxed it, when I have time. (Which of course, I never did). Now a lady named Ms Davis just called saying same thing. They are misrepresenting themselves as a 3rd party acting like their sole job is to get overcharges taken care of. I even asked if they were a credit card processing company and Ms Davis told me no!!
Shelley Provident
I got 2 calls in 2 days. The woman I spoke with did NOT know how to handle the fact that I asked the right questions and did not just say OK to the BS she was pushing. I told her that she was harassing me when she wanted to continue to call back. I refused to provide her with MY information when she wanted to analyze my rates. She wanted to call me back. I told her if I was interested I would call her back. When she argued about calling me and I said no, she hung up on me. I knew from the get go, when they could not tell me what part of our business they were referencing I knew this was not on the up and up.
George newsome
This is the best company that I have ever found. No hidden fees and rates are below 2%.
CPO
Hi George,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Paul
Was contacted by someone named Monique at Mainstreet Services 1-855-409-2667 and she said she was with my credit card processor and that we were being overcharged. She wanted my statement to confirm the rates we were being charged. I told her if she was with my processor she would have that information already. I told her this was a scam and they keep calling. Beware.
Ed
I have been receiving similar calls from same company. When I told them about this site they denied it and said it MUST be mistaken. Bunch of scammers. I’ve been in retail for over 20 years and smelled a rat right away. Don’t be fooled by these scammers! Oh and I got the same call back number too! But the lady’s name is Melba that called me this time. Before it was a completely rude guy.
Gwen
This people just called me asking it I use credit cards with my business. I told her yes and she uses the line stating that the c.f. rates had recently increased and my account was flagged as being over charged. At this point I was totally confused because all of my c.f. are processed through my franchise name and not mine. I asked if she was trying to sell me something because of so I wasn’t interested. This is when she got an attitude and stated she was just trying to correct my issue and I should get my statement. When I asked her what statement she was referring to, she told me whoever processed your cc charges. I told her that I thought it was peculiar that she wasn’t sure if I accepted credit cards but was sure that my account had been flagged however, she couldn’t tell me the company that held my “flagged account.” it was at this time that she disconnected the call.
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Are you with Main Street Processing? Learn how to resolve this complaint.
Elizabeth Brown
BEWARE!!!!
AKA Mainstreet Processing. The company practices illegal soliciting. The Ghetto agents will lie claiming to give you a refund; a rebate for 12 months back; that they are your processor; that they work for the Credit Card Association; and even threats to get you to send over a statement. Businesses have told me all shorts of shocking claims these agents make, when I try to confirm receipt of the statement. The Company does nothing to stop these illegal actions. To clean things up they need to fired all the agents and old Managers for a fresh start. People need to speak up to make this company clean up their act! Contact the FTC and BBB to file complaints for the correct company DATALINK BANK CARD SERVICES so the Government can step in.
BBB link:
FTC link: https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
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Are you with Main Street Processing? Learn how to resolve this complaint.
Dayna
We received a call from a person who claimed to be with our current credit card processing company. “We have been charging you too much and we would like to fix that” they said. They called multiple times a day, very disrespectfully and then upset if I was stern with him about calling during client hours. They were persistent to a unwanted degree and would apologize saying “we just want to make sure we take care of this for you” and “My boss wants to make sure this is taken care of”. Turns out he signed us up for a second lease on a Credit Card Machine and got us into a binding contract. What a mess. Dishonest. Now that we are aware of what they signed us up for of course they are not responding and have blocked out company line. Terrible company, terrible service and obviously a scam.
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Are you with Main Street Processing? Learn how to resolve this complaint.
Jessica
This company called and the name was very similar to a merchant that we do business with. The boss assumed it was them and told me to give them bank / cc processing statements so I did. I’m freaking out reading all these horrible reviews. How exactly did they get access to take out a second lease on your credit card? Did you give them SS information or anything of that nature?
Thank you so much for all your help.
Chad
Sales person has called numerous times, very pushy, treats me like an idiot. I asked to meet in person and they said they do not do that. I told them they will not get my processor statement but we can meet in person. No luck…tons of phone calls. Waste of my time. Waste of everyones time. Processing companies are very pushy. He also said the email he sent me is a form and he can’t add or change it when I asked to include his # in the email…shady. Thanks for reading this… -Chad D
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Are you with Main Street Processing? Learn how to resolve this complaint.
Stacie
A merchant customer of mine was contacted by “Mike” from the “the bank” to inform them that CC processing rates had increased in October and that they were being charged. The rate was over 2% and this was incorrect. He needed a copy of the statement to tell them the specifics. Thankfully the customer recorded the number called back, but had to leave a voicemail with a request to call back.
Main Street called back this (11/23/15) morning. Same story. Need a copy of the statement to show refund and overcharges?????
When I asked if I could 3rd party, the current processor, could listen in on the call, the agent with Main Street was willing. When we all three (merchant, current processor and the bank) were on the line, the agent with Main Street went silent and then disappeared! The agent did not attempt to call back at the same number he reached the merchant successfully on twice this morning. I called the 504-227-7062 number recorded as the incoming call line, I immediately received an operator message that this number is no longer….. The 1-855-409-2667 # which is the main line for Main Street.
This company is a SCAM!
Bill Wright Automotive
Rep called the Dealership and claimed there was a problem with my account. Claimed to work for my credit card processing company. Obviously a scam.
Harold Stalvey
Can you give me some guidance to help resolve a slamming event that took place with a current merchant/client of mine. Thanks for this great article.
Phillip CPO
Hi Harold, a matter such as this in best directed to an attorney familiar with your states marketing and advertising laws. Which company are to alleging used slamming to market to your client?