Mainstream Merchant Services 2023: Reviews & Complaints
(866) 674-1020 Company Overview
Mainstream Merchant Services is a merchant account provider based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The company is a reseller of TSYS Merchant Solutions and has been in business since 2007.
Article Summary
Before we dive in, here’s a short summary of what we’ll cover:
- Mainstream Merchant Services’ various payment processing services.
- The company has received very few complaints online.
- The company’s contract appears slightly better than the industry average.
Mainstream Merchant Services
Mainstream Merchant Services processes all major debit and credit cards for most business types. Their services include mobile payments, POS solutions, virtual terminals, and cash discounts. Poynt, Mynt, Vital, Ordyx, as well as Revel Systems are listed as POS solutions offered by Mainstream Merchant Services.
Location & Ownership
The company is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA. The company’s headquarters can be found at 11720 Amberpark Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30009. The president of Mainstream Merchant Services is Jerome Vignale.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Offers a three-year contract with an…
- Complaints & Service: Has received fewer than…
- BBB Rating: Has no rating with the Better Business Bureau and has…
- Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to hire independent sales agents and has not…
Mainstream Merchant Services Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
Low Complaint Total
We are able to find very few negative Mainstream Merchant Services reviews on non-BBB websites, and none of them accuse the company of scamming or ripping off its merchants. The available complaints mention unexpected fees, fund holds, and unavailable customer service, but there does not seem to be a consistent theme among complainants. In fact, there are many positive reviews in our comment section and the company appears to address issues directly. If you have your own Mainstream Merchant Services review to make, please do so in the comments below.
Mainstream Merchant Services Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Mainstream Merchant Services. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Mainstream Merchant Services Customer Support Options
In fact, the company is showing primarily positive testimonials on sites like Glassdoor.com, Merchant Circle, and in the comment section below this review. This positive online reputation suggests that the company provides ample customer support for its merchants and is able to resolve most of its users’ complaints in-house. The Mainstream Merchant Services website provides phone support numbers for clients, and these channels appear to function at a level similar to top-rated credit card processors for customer service.
Mainstream Merchant Services Customer Service Number
- (866) 674-1020 – Toll-Free Customer Support
Other Support Options
- Customer support form
- Customer service email address at [email protected]
Mainstream Merchant Services Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
Online Ratings Summary |
|
|---|---|
| BBB Reports | 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.
No Complaints
Mainstream Merchant Services has no rating with the Better Business Bureau based on 0 complaints in the past 36 months.
An “A” Performance
We agree with the BBB’s former rating of “A” at this time.
Mainstream Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Cancellation Penalties | Yes |
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
| Processing Rates | Interchange-Plus (Variable) |
| Equipment Leasing | Likely |
Three-Year Service Agreement
According to employee reviews and a copy of the Mainstream Merchant Services contract, the company offers a three-year contract that automatically renews for successive two-year terms unless canceled via written notice at least 30 days before the expiration of the initial term. A representative of the company, Chad Rapper, contacted us to inform us that the company offers Interchange-plus or Cash Discount pricing depending on a business owner’s needs. It appears that the mark-up over Interchange-plus may vary from customer to customer, as Mr. Rapper did not supply exact rate pricing.
Clients who cancel service before the expiration of the initial three-year term or who submit their notice within the last month of the initial contract will be subject to an early termination fee of $250.
The contract also includes a monthly minimum fee of $20, a chargeback fee of $20, a monthly PCI compliance fee of $6.95, a regulatory fee of $3.95 per month, other associated fees depending on the service provided, and an Interchange-plus pricing structure.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, Mainstream Merchant Services also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. However, pricing is not disclosed on either of those services. The company’s standard contract refers to a $10 payment gateway fee. Additional rates and fees, including technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates may apply to these e-commerce services.
Contract Clarification
A company representative contacted us recently and offered two points of clarification regarding these fees. First, the virtual terminal fee is only charged to businesses that actually use the virtual terminal service. Second, the company allows clients to cancel their contracts within the first 90 days of service with no strings attached. Although this gives businesses a chance to test the company’s hardware, systems, and support without making a long-term commitment, it still doesn’t allow them to escape the contract if the situation deteriorates after the third month.
Industry-Average Terms
Overall, the company’s fees are close to industry averages but not quite competitive with the cheapest merchant account providers. However, we have assigned an average grade of “B” in this category because of the company’s three-year contract. It is our belief that long-term, automatically renewing agreements are not beneficial to merchants, and we cannot recommend the company’s contract terms due to the inclusion of this clause. There are also a couple of public complaints regarding Mainstream’s $250 cancellation fee, but it appears that most of the company’s customers are satisfied with the rates and fees they receive.
We always encourage readers to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Mainstream Merchant Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Uses Independent Resellers | No |
| Telemarketing | No |
| Misleading Marketing | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Inside Sales Team
Mainstream Merchant Services appears to utilize strategic partnerships and in-house, W2-employed sales agents to market its services. We consider this hiring practice to be preferable to the use of independent sales agents, as in-house agents tend to receive more support and training. The total lack of Mainstream Merchant Services reviews regarding the company’s sales team supports the likelihood that its agents are well-trained and held to ethical standards.
This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Potentially Misdirected Complaints
We have located one complaint that mentions aggressive sales calls, but Mainstream Merchant Services responded to this review and assured the reviewer that the company does not use telemarketers or auto-dialers to sell its services. It could be that this complaint was intended for Main Street Processing, which has a similar name and a history of aggressively cold-calling businesses.
No Misleading Marketing
In particular, Mainstream Merchant Services receives remarkably strong reviews from its employees on Glassdoor.com, and it’s likely that this satisfaction results in a positive experience for the company’s clients. It is also worth noting that the company does not list any deceptive rate quotes or misleading promotions on its website. However, if you suspect that Mainstream Merchant Services is overcharging you, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.
Our Mainstream Merchant Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Mainstream Merchant Services rates as a reliable credit card processing provider according to all available information. The company is showing very few merchant complaints, but its contract terms appear to be just slightly more competitive than industry averages. Our rating for Mainstream Merchant Services is likely to change as its BBB profile continues to amass more client feedback. For now, readers should compare the company’s pricing to the top overall payment processors to get the best deal.
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How Did Mainstream Merchant Services Treat You?50 Responses
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Scott Parr
Our company has been doing business with Mainstream since 2017. At the end of April, a charge back for $4000 was attempted by Mainstream without notification but was blocked by our security we have on our accounts. Mainstream has locked our account without notification and is holding over $100,000.00 of our money. I have not been able to get this resolved or get the President of Mainstream to speak with me over the phone. Today is May 18 2022 and every Credit Card Transaction is still being held by Mainstream.
Leandra Perfall
Hello, Scott! Happy to get you to the right person regarding your chargeback scenario. Some merchants don’t realize, when a dispute is made against your business, it is the card holder’s BANK that takes the funds back from your account, not the processor (MainStream). And no bank would notify you of this, prior to taking the funds. If that were the case, it would give merchants the opportunity to take their money and close the bank account.
If you have a dispute against you, you are required to respond to it. Also, since you put a security block on your account, funds won’t deposit until the block is released… Again, another issuing bank action, NOT MainStream. These are legal actions that any processor has to abide by. If you just contact our Help Desk, and get to our Customer Service team, they can assist in getting you over to our chargeback specialists so you can proceed properly with the action against you. All of our merchants are treated the same.. Big and small businesses, with quality customer service, professional care and on legal terms. Hope this helps!
George Kisling III
I utilized Mainstream services since 2015. I retired in 2020, and was charged $39.10 for 13 months (payments automatically taken from my account). When I discovered the charges, I cancelled my account. Discovering at new charge of $250 for an early cancelation fee! I was told that my contract automatically renewed for a 2 year Period after the first 3 years! This sounds like an illegal EVERGREEN clause! I would never do business with with this company again.
Leandra Perfall - Regional Sales Manager
Hi George, any and all concerns regarding early termination fees can be managed by your sales rep at MainStream. We also have 24 hour support for all of your billing needs. Did you not close your account with us when you retired? Was the business closed? We always make accommodations for those who close stores or have a change over in ownerships. Please notify your sales rep and they will work this out with you.
Every company has a minimum processing fee, if you don’t process cards without cancelling an account, to keep your account active and maintained. This was the small automated fee you were getting monthly. Happy to help with your fees, if you just contact your sales rep to manage this for you. Thanks!
Chad
Hello George, this situation seemed out of the ordinary for us so I also looked into it further. What Leandra was thinking might have been the case did turn out to be accurate which was was that when you retired, we weren’t notified you were no longer going to be processing and service wasn’t canceled so we had no way of knowing you were stopping. As for the cancellation fee, I spoke with our customer support team and I found out who your rep was so you need to reach out to him and he can work with you on that fee.
Laser Therapy Health
We’ve been working with Jeff Carrick and mainstream creidt card merchant for almost 5 years now. They are trustworthy and reliable. As we’ve grown, our rates have gone lower instead of higher. Jeff makes sure we are on an exchange that keeps us at the most cost effective overall processing rate. We’ve been pitched by so many credit card processing firms and banks over the years. We remain loyal to mainstream and Jeff because they do not fluctuate on the processing rate agreed upon. Reliable, trustworthy and helpful 24/7 customer service. If you are a business and and count every penny like we do, you need a mainstream. They have your best interest at heart.
Julie D Staubo
Never has saving money been so easy! Customer service is first class, and the process to change providers was seamless and hassle free. Thank you so much Trudy and Mainstream!
aj
How many companies will come to you with new discounted pricing without you asking? These guys, Chad came to me today and will be lowing my bill without me even asking. Thank you Chad appreciate the great service
chad
Thanks for the nice words AJ!! Mainstream believes in supporting veterans so it’s the least we can do! Thank you for your service!!
Chad
AUTO CARE USA
Trudy King, has been taking care of all 6 of our locations.
We get next day funding at a good rate better than In have seen. But the biggest thing is that if there is a problem or a question she is just a phone call away. I always have an answer within 24 hours. That’s customer service.
Aimee Long
Was having connection issues with my processor. Chad Rapper came out within 30 minutes of my phone call, spent 30 minutes correcting the problem and it’s fixed! He is truly a man of his word and the nicest to deal with!
CPO
Hi Aimee,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Aimee Long
Marmalade Tree
79 Main St
Oswego , Il 60543
The Fiahermans Wife
We are very pleased with the services provided by Mainstream merchant services. Our representative Courtney Chason is extremely efficient, warm and friendly. He makes sure we are taken care of as quickly as possible.
CPO
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Please reply to this comment with your business location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
The Fisherman's Wife
The Fisherman’s Wife
3348 Mahan Dr suite 2
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Charles Wells
Mainstream saves me considerable money over fees charged by my previous vendor. I also appreciate the personal service of Trudy King and the call center staff that support her oversight of our account. I have confidence knowing I’m supported by folks with proven industry experience who are committed to my satisfaction.
CPO
Hi Charles,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Charles Wells
Today’s Vision Katy
1350 Fry Rd
Houston, TX 77084
Teresa Bajew
Trudy King with Mainstream has been wonderful! Any time I need something she comes over or makes sure our need is satisfied. You can’t ask for a better rep. We have had numerous companies try and get us to change our processing and we don’t want to because we don’t want to lose Trudy!!!
Ruben Espinoza
Our company, Katy Stone & Gravel Inc. has been a customer of Mainstream for several years now. Our rep, Trudy King is amazing! She has saved us a considerable amount of money and is very hands on with us when we need things. You can’t ask for better than Trudy!
Gabriel Ortiz
Mainstream is a great provider and Trudy is one of the best in customer service. Any questions Trudy is there to help you every step of the way.
Trudy is very informative in finding out about tips on processing and credit card security.
CPO
Hi Gabriel,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Gabriel Ortiz
Mainstream is a great provider and Trudy is one of the best in customer service. Any questions Trudy is there to help you every step of the way.
Trudy is very informative in finding out about tips on processing and credit card security.
CPO
Hi Gabriel,
It appears that you copied and pasted the same comment. Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Gabriel Ortiz
AutoHelpers
11020 Katy Freeway Suite 103
P and P Produce
I’m very satisfied with mainstream. The service is great, every time I have a problem they are prompt and very friendly. Barbara Skinner is the best she has bent over backwards to help me. I trust her completely. I can call her anytime and she’s there helping me to straighten things out. I’ve been with her about 10 years. We have P and P Produce in Northport Alabama and I want to say thank you Barbara and Mainstream for always being there for me!
Eco2 Office
We are extremely satisfied with our choice to change to Mainstream Merchant Services. Our rep Trudy King helped us with a flawless transition and continues to check-in and confirm our needs are being met.
An example, our business was recently burglarized and the cowards absconded with some of our banking information. We were required to quickly obtain new business bank account numbers. With a quick call, Trudy not only helped us switch the services to the new accounts.. she also stopped by to check on us.
We have absolutely no hesitation when recommending Trudy to other businesses and do so often.
carol sellers
we have thoroughly loved Mainstream at the Whistle Stop in Huffman. No pressure good service and good quality. my sales rep is the best Trudy King. She’s an awesome rep for yiur company. She takes good care of us and we THAMK her for that.
Brandon Wagner
Tribeca has been a client of Mainstream for several years. I have always had a great experience from everyone I’ve dealt with. From the initial purchase and set up to tech support, everyone is really helpful. Tech support is always available, but we really never need it. We just switched machines to the new Poynt system, and it was a painless transition, and the machine is so fast we can accept chip cards twice as fast as before. I can’t be happier with Mainstream!
Mary Beth Flynn
Our rep Chad Rapper ( real name) does a great job servicing our account. He is quite quick to respond to our questions & concerns. The initial set up was a little bumpy, working out all the kinks. I was please that he personally went to each of our locations to do the initial set up himself. Even when we switched to new cc machines shortly after joining Mainstream, he himself, again went to each of our locations. Excellent customer service by Chad Rapper.
Dorinda obsta
We have used Mainstream Merchan Services for years. We have the best sales rep, Trudy King, in their company! They honor their word, treat their clients with the utmost respect and do the best merchant services job we have seen in our last 7-years of business.
Mike Skinner
Here at M&S Furniture we are very thankful for Barbara Skinner and the work she does for us. We are able to service more customers because of Mainstream, and if there is ever a problem Mrs. Barbara is always there to help. Mainstream has saved us so much and expanded our range of business.
Arsenal Arms
Jeff with mainstream has been an awesome rep. No beating around the bush. Very helpful and very informative. I’ve been using him for almost 6 years.
CPO
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Please reply to this comment with your business location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
sophie
I have been using mainstream for one and half years. Jeff help me a lot. Whenever I have troubles, he always help me on time. They provided me two equipment in case there has something happened. I would highly recommend it to you . Thank you Jeff.
Captain's Tavern Restaurant
Jeff Carrick has done a great job all these years as our Account Executive. Every time we call him for help, he respond in a matter of seconds. We are very happy with his service. He is a great asset to your company!
CPO
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Please reply to this comment with your business location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Dawn
Our dental practice made the switch to Mainstream Merchant Services and our rep Trudy King made our experience seamless. Any time we have needed help, she has been there to take care of our needs. We really appreciate all she has done to help our practice!
Cindy Hartman
Trudy King introduced me to Mainstream. Mainstream has excellent customer service and great merchant services. Trudy and her team at Mainstream have “streamlined” our credit card transactions so we cut our work time in half! Thank you Trudy and Mainstream!!
G PINEIRO
We’ve never experienced service like we have with our rep Chris. We run a very efficient shop and his service along with expertise have help lower our over all costs and if we have any issues (which is very few), he is always there in MINUTES to fix our issues. I would recommend Chris and Mainstream out to any other business in south Florida. There is no comparison!
Janice Van Riper
Chad at Mainstream Merchant Services has been absolutely amazing. Our company has saved a lot of money since switching services. It is so comforting to know that Chad is here whenever I have a problem. I call and he is right there to assist with any glitches we may have. I have an answer to my issues immediately. Very satisfied customer. I recommend Mainstream to all by Business owner friends.
CPO
Hi Janice,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Janice Van Riper
Chad at Mainstream Merchant Services has been absolutely amazing. Our company has saved a lot of money since switching services. It is so comforting to know that Chad is here whenever I have a problem. I call and he is right there to assist with any glitches we may have. I have an answer to my issues immediately. Very satisfied customer. I recommend Mainstream to all by Business owner friends.
Kevin Pietro
I have used Mainstream Merchant Services for over 5 years now and have always had great customer service and a very reasonable rate and fees. Also, my rep Chad Rapper, has always gone above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly with my processor and if I ever have a issue he handles it quickly and professionally. From the initial set up, which he helped walk me through, to any other questions I may have, he is great to work with. I plan to stay with Mainstream for all my credit card processing needs.
Piedmont Endodontics
I am delighted to write this review for Tim Gossage with Mainstream Merchant Services. We presented Tim our merchant service statements for his review and he came back to us with an outstanding savings. His knowledge and expertise in the credit card processing made me feel comfortable with our decision to change merchant services to Mainstream.
During the exchange of equipment, Tim was at each of our locations to make sure that this transition was seamless. He coordinated times with our computer hardware tech to make sure that our processing through our computers was correctly set up and did not leave until he tested each location.
His kind and patient personality was an asset when he trained the staff on the use of the new machine. He thoroughly went through the instructions and was knowledgeable when questions were asked.
I would recommend Tim Gossage to any of our colleagues. I have appreciated his honesty and determination to see that our needs are met.
Sincerely,
Jayne Purdy
Piedmont Endodontics
John Beery
Chad Rapper is just awesome. The product he provides and the ROI is just what every merchant need!
Keith
Chad and Mainstream have earned my business by putting the $$$ back in my check book with his knowledge of the processing service he sells.
Thank Chad Great work
Jodi Behrens
I would like to say thank you to Chad at Mainstream Merchant Services!
Chad was so professional, honest, and on the up and up! I felt very comfortable giving him my info and he was honest by saying “we may or may not be able to save you money!” Guess what, he saved us hundreds! We were so pleased, not only with the savings but also with the continued support the company and staff offers.
Jodi @ The Village Grind
Jasmin Harris
My restaurants, The Original Pancake Houses Poway and Temecula made the switch to Mainstream Merchant Services in 2013 and we could not be more satisfied with our decision. In our first year we saved upwards of $12,000. The colossal savings, same day deposits and guaranteed rates is what helped make the decision for us to switch but their account management is why we stay. Our sales representative made the switch seamless and has helped with the recent EMV integration. Any time I have had to speak to customer service, Alison has handled my request with the utmost professionalism. Great company!