Merchant Payment Services Reviews & Complaints
A Harbortouch Reseller
Founded in 1990, Merchant Payment Services is a merchant account provider that serves most standard-risk business types in the United States. The company appears to be a reseller of Harbortouch, and it specializes in retail merchant accounts, restaurant merchant accounts, and spa merchant accounts.
Merchant Payment Services Payment Processing
Merchant Payment Services processes all major debit and credit cards for most business types. Their services include EMV readers and card swipers, POS solutions, including HarborTouch for restaurants, mobile solutions, virtual terminals, gift and loyalty programs, check and ACH processing, cash advances, and seasonal-only processing options.
Merchant Payment Services Location & Ownership
Merchant Payment Services is a registered ISO/MSP of BMO Harris Bank N.A., Chicago, IL, Fresno First Bank, Fresno, CA, and Citizens Bank N.A., Providence, RI, and is headquartered at 63 Bellbrook Plaza Bellbrook, Ohio 45305. Thomas Griffith is the president of Merchant Payment Services.
Merchant Payment Services Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
|---|---|
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Clean Complaint Record
Our research indicates that there are few or no negative Merchant Payment Services reviews accessible beyond those on the Better Business Bureau. This could be a positive indicator that the company operates legitimately and is not involved in fraudulent or deceptive practices. Given that Merchant Payment Services has been active since 1990, the scarcity of public complaints is noteworthy. We encourage you to share your experience with Merchant Payment Services in the comments below, particularly if you have a review to contribute.
Merchant Payment Services Lawsuits
As of our latest update, no substantial class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been filed against Merchant Payment Services. Merchants seeking to resolve grievances without litigation may find value in reporting their concerns to appropriate supervisory bodies.
Merchant Payment Services Customer Service Options
Merchant Payment Services provides telephone support during regular business hours, with a possibility of outsourcing after-hours assistance to its backend credit card processor. This approach aligns with common practices in the industry.
We have identified the following customer service number for Merchant Payment Services:
(800) 454-3158 – Toll-Free General Customer Service
While Merchant Payment Services does not offer a dedicated email support address, they do provide a customer support form on their website, facilitating additional communication channels.
Their customer service options have generally been effective in addressing merchant concerns, positioning them alongside leading merchant account providers in terms of customer service.
Merchant Payment Services Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| Total Complaints | 0 |
|---|---|
| Resolved Complaints | 0 |
Under 5 Complaints
Merchant Payment Services currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2004. The company has received 0 complaints to its BBB profile in the past 3 years.
What Merchants Say
Merchant Payment Services has not received any informal reviews, although it should be noted that these reviews are not subject to authentication by the BBB. There was a previous review, which described an undisclosed annual fee and an early termination fee from Harbortouch:
To Whom It May Concern, We have tried to resolve this issue several times without success. It appears that there may be fraud/scam and/or misrepresentation involved. If this isn’t resolved or proven otherwise, we will contact the proper authorities, including the Federal Trade Commission. **** ******** Regional Sales Manager for Merchant Payment Services, contacted The Car Medic saying he/company he worked for represented the BBB. He provided us with a Statement Analysis by merchant Payment Services showing us that he/company could save us money by using their merchant account services. This analysis did NOT include any annual fee of $79. (The contract says “if applicable”, but never says that it did apply nor did this analysis reflect it). If you are now saying that this $79 applies to our contract prior to Aug 1, then the analysis was distorted and misled us into believing this “savings” he claimed that we were getting. Also, if this contract change applies, it begins in August for the upcoming year, Aug 1, 2017 through Aug 1, 2018, after our cancellation. Mr. Donohoo provided us with a Merchant Transaction Processing Agreement with Merchant Payment Services and Account Setup Form with Harbortouch. These were signed by **** ******, owner of The Car Medic, on 3/27/17. When **** ******* was contacted about finalized copies, he said these were the only copies of the agreement that we would receive. He also repeatedly stated that this was a month-to-month agreement with Harbortouch. We were anticipating that we were going out of business, so *********** and Merchant Payment Services were contacted, We were told that *********** required Merchant Account Cancellation Form be submitted and machine be returned. The cancellation form was submitted Aug 1, 2017 and the machine was received by *********** on Aug 14, 2017. A call was made to Harbortouch on Aug 2, 2017, spoke to ******* who verified that this was a month-to-month agreement and there were no termination fees. We are requesting that *********** stop their threats and requesting a payment of $1,145, which was never presented in writing as to how this amount was determined using our month-to-month contract. We were never notified in advance of the amount or when they were going to access the business bank account for this withdrawal resulting in a $25 fee on Aug 3, 2017, which you need to refund, incurred by us for insufficient funds. The only letter received from Harbortouch regarding cancellation just referenced returning the processing equipment with no mention of cancellation fees. We are requesting that Merchant Payment Services return $79 that was withdrawn on Aug 2, 2017 from our business account for an annual fee beginning in Aug 2017. When calling on Jul 14 to inform **** ******* about the cancellation procedures since he was our point of contact, we discovered he was no longer with the company, so calls were forwarded to *** ********. We were then told to go through Harbortouch for cancellation procedures. The Merchant Cancellation Form was signed on Aug 1, 2017, so there should not be any annual fee charge. We are requesting the BBB investigate what is going on with these agreements with these companies, request resolution to these charges/withdrawals and respond as to whether **** ******* with Merchant Payment Services misrepresented the fact that they were sponsored or supported by the BBB.
This merchant would likely have benefited from taking the steps to cancel a merchant account without paying a fee.
An “A” Performance Overall
Given Merchant Payment Services’ low complaint total and long period of time in business, we agree with the BBB’s grade.
Merchant Payment Services Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Swiped Rate | 1.00% - 4.99% |
|---|---|
| Keyed-in Rate | 1.00% - 4.99% |
| Virtual Terminal Rate | 2.90% + $0.30 |
| Payment Gateway Fee | $25 Per Month |
| Batch Fee | $0.15 |
| Monthly Service Fee | $10 |
| Annual Fee | $79 |
| Equipment Lease Terms | 36 Month (locked) |
Variable Contract Terms
The Merchant Payment Services (MPS) website previously indicated that its standard contract is a month-to-month agreement featuring no early termination fee, no setup fees, a monthly service fee between $5 and $10, and tiered pricing. However, the company now suggests that certain conditions might apply to its “no contract” and “no cancellation fees” claims. Additionally, it hasn’t disclosed all per-transaction fees or PCI compliance fees. Despite past assurances against equipment leasing, its partnership with Harbortouch introduces uncertainty regarding this policy.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
Merchant Payment Services promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway solutions, facilitated through Authorize.Net. A typical agreement with Authorize.Net usually includes a transaction rate of 2.90% plus $0.30, a monthly gateway fee of $25, and a batch fee of $0.15. As a reseller of Authorize.Net services, MPS may modify these terms.
Harbortouch Pricing Applies
Recent updates to MPS’s website have decreased the transparency regarding its pricing and fees. Its association with Harbortouch hints at potentially adopting Harbortouch’s less favorable contract terms. One complaint highlighted a $79 annual fee and a non-cancellable equipment lease with Harbortouch. Nonetheless, the scarcity of complaints related to MPS’s pricing suggests a general merchant satisfaction with their cost structure.
Read Your Contract Carefully
Merchant Payment Services is rated “B” in this category. Its offerings do not seem as competitive with the market’s most affordable merchant account providers, yet the minimal volume of public complaints does not fully confirm higher-than-average costs. Merchants are encouraged to diligently review all contract terms. If you possess detailed information regarding MPS’s contract specifics, your input would be greatly appreciated in the comments section of this review.
Merchant Payment Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Employs Independent Resellers | Yes |
|---|---|
| Advertises Deceptive Rates | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
In-House Sales Team
Merchant Payment Services appears to primarily market itself via strategic partnerships and inside sales channels. There is no evidence that the company employs independent sales agents at this time, and we cannot find any Merchant Payment Services reviews that accuse the company’s sales team of unethical conduct.
Improved Rate Quotes
At the time of an earlier update, the Merchant Payment Services website quoted a “Qualified Internet Discount Rate” of 1.99% plus $0.16-$0.26 and a “Qualified Retail Discount Rate” of 1.5% plus $0.16-$0.26. These tiered rate quotes may be an accurate reflection of the company’s Qualified rates, but they make no mention of the higher “Mid-Qualified” and “Non-Qualified” rates that merchants will pay for the majority of their transactions. Given that we are currently unable to locate these quotes, we will not lower Merchant Payment Services’ grade in this section.
No Red Flags
Merchant Payment Services does not employ any deceptive marketing strategies and has not received negative feedback from merchants regarding its sales staff. Merchants are nevertheless encouraged to request disclosure of all possible Merchant Payment Services fees and to seek an independent third-party statement audit if you suspect that you are being overcharged.
Our Merchant Payment Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
A Solid Option for Certain Business Types
Merchant Payment Services rates as a reliable merchant services provider according to all available information. The company has received very little negative feedback from merchants, but its contract terms through Harbortouch could present some issues for merchants seeking a month-to-month agreement. For retail and service industry merchants, Merchant Payment Services could potentially be an option on par with the top-rated payment processors if it did not enforce Harbortouch’s pricing.
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Enzo Amber
I’ve been using Merchant Payment Services for my business transactions, and I must say, it’s been an absolute game-changer! The seamless payment processing has significantly improved our cash flow, and I can’t believe how easy it is to set up and use. From day one, their top-notch customer support team has been there to assist whenever I had a question or needed guidance. The platform’s security measures are impressive, giving me peace of mind knowing that my customers’ data is safe.