Overview
In this review of Merchant Focus, we will provide a detailed overview of the company's credit card processing services. We will cover the range of services they offer, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile payment solutions, and e-commerce capabilities. The review will identify the types of businesses that might benefit from these services. Additionally, we will examine client and customer reviews to highlight common trends and potential concerns. The article will also address the company's pricing structure, contract terms, and specific services provided. By the end of this review, you will understand whether Merchant Focus meets your payment processing needs.
About Merchant Focus
Merchant Focus, also known as “Established Merchant Focus,” is a small to mid-sized merchant account provider based out of Dublin, Ohio. The company was established in 2004 and appears to focus solely on providing credit card processing services. Merchant Focus also has a sister company called “Established Merchants Only” that serves businesses with over $250,000 in credit card sales per year. Merchant Focus was founded by the two co-founders of e-onlinedata, which they sold in 2007 to PowerPay (now EVO Payments International). The founder of PowerPay, Steve Goodrich, is now a partner at Merchant Focus. Merchant Focus also acts as the processor for the mobile credit card processing services Inner Fence and AppNinja's Swipe.
![](https://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MerchantFocus-homepage.webp)
Merchant Focus Products and Services
Payment Processing
Merchant Focus offers merchant accounts for most business types and industries. Their services include e-commerce credit card processing, an online payment gateway, POS solutions, and mobile card acceptance hardware. Merchant Focus utilizes Authorize.net for its payment gateway and e-commerce processing services.
![Merchant Focus payment processing](https://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/merchant-focus-payment-processing.jpg)
Manning
Stay away from Merchant Focus. Its a Scam operation run by complete idiots who only want to take advantage of small businesses. I was with Merchant focus for about 3 months and I have all regrets from first to last day. I’m an idiot for staying this long but am glad I can cut my losses. The chargeback dept is so atrocious and incompetent. They will run your company to the ground. Beware!!
AS
This business is a scam, don’t ever use them. They take advantage of small business owners with no regard for proper customer service. They charged me month upon month for a service I wasn’t even using. I had spoken once with a salesperson to see if I was eligible for their payment processing app, was told my business was under review, and then charged monthly without any warning. A good business would have called me to confirm my business was approved, reached out when they saw I wasn’t using the service (yet still being charged), and provided a full refund when I finally realized who they were (the charges were labeled non-descriptively in my bank statements so I had no idea what it even was. Do not do business with these guys!!
Karen
Terrible customer service us led us to cancel their service.
We are a PTA, which means that account ownership changes frequently. During our account transition, I called the customer service organization to clarify the Personal Guarantee in their paperwork (something typically waived for a 501c3 organization). What a nightmare! The rep actually said, “Is there a question in there? … You need to sign whatever the paperwork says.” When I asked for copies of our previously signed agreements, he wouldn’t help because I was not yet on the account. Forward to the next day, the former Treasurer call to access our paperwork. Took him over an hour on the phone just to procure this documentation.
Decided to try another channel, one which might actually care about their customers. Their business development department put me in touch with our account manager, who immediately waived the Personal Guarantee due to our nonprofit status.
After submitting the required paperwork to transfer the account, we requested verification of the transfer several times. Never heard back from them. Only after we canceled the account did we hear anything.
Maybe they had decent customer service at some point. Unfortunately, my organization only encountered untrained, unhelpful phone jockeys. Their message of being a “full service” provider is a joke.
Konrad
I wish I could give a negative star rating instead! This company ripped me off. I had terminated with them using the form they provided by Drew (account manager), and for some reason there has been charges every single month after that. I had to close out my bank account because they didn’t stop this. I called and emailed and all he could say was that they received the termination form, that does not explain these charges. I advice you to use another payment processor.
Terence Samlson
The issue I had with merchant focus is they were not truthful upfront. Signed up and got approved for account. After transaction were deposited I notice they were much smaller than the actual transaction amount. I called in and was told my account had a 10% reserve and reserved will be return to me in 6 months. I didn’t like it because we were not told this upfront. We continued processing for a few weeks until the deposits stopped. After calling in we were told our account was on 100% reserved until I submit requested information. After submitting information that was requested they then requested more information, then after submitting more information, they then wanted more information. They could have asked for everything at once but the string you along for weeks and weeks while the review submitted info. Well, I got tired and I called and cancelled my account.
Brigette Leach
I was very unhappy with Merchant Focus in the process of trying to close an account through AppNinja/Swipe.
Phillip CPO
Can you explain the problem you had?