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Before You Choose MSG Payment Systems: Key Details to Know

Name: MSG Payment Systems
Item: MSG Payment Systems
Rating: 5
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 23, 2025

Maintained Since: April 16, 2014

+ Advertising Notice

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.

MSG Payment Systems

Rating

5/5

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Pros

Comprehensive payment solutions

POS system offerings

Cash advance options

e-check processing

EMV card readers

Cons

Potential cancellation fees

Variable contract terms

Possible equipment leasing

Limited pricing transparency

Potential setup fees

Overview

In this review of MSG Payment Systems, we take a detailed look at the company’s payment processing solutions, including credit card processing, point of sale systems, and e-commerce services. We examine their pricing, contract terms, and customer feedback to provide a clear picture of what the company offers. The review also considers fee transparency, the quality of customer support, and overall merchant satisfaction. By the end, you will have a solid understanding of whether MSG Payment Systems is the right fit for your business’s payment processing needs.

About MSG Payment Systems

Screen Capture of MSG Payment Systems Homepage — MSG Payment Systems Homepage

MSG Payment Systems is an Urbandale, Iowa-based merchant account provider that specializes in providing payment processing for member-based organizations. Founded in 1998, the company originally operated under the name of “Member Service Group.” According to the company’s website, it focuses its merchant services on business in the jewelry, retail, newspaper/publishing, professional services, telecommunications, and energy/utilities industries.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Payment Processing involves handling transactions between customers and businesses. This service ensures that payments are executed securely and efficiently, accommodating different payment methods and channels.

EMV Card Readers and Swipers

EMV Card Readers and Swipers are hardware devices used to process card payments. EMV card readers handle chip-enabled cards, enhancing security for transactions, while card swipers read magnetic stripe cards, enabling payment acceptance at retail locations.

POS Solutions

POS Solutions include systems for managing transactions at the point of sale. These systems integrate various payment methods and help businesses track sales, manage inventory, and handle customer interactions through dedicated terminals.

ACH and e-Check Processing

ACH and e-Check Processing services facilitate transactions through Automated Clearing House (ACH) networks and electronic checks.

Cash Advances

Cash Advances are financial services that provide businesses with immediate funds based on future credit card sales.

QuickBooks Integration

QuickBooks Integration connects MSG Payment Systems’ payment processing with QuickBooks accounting software. This integration allows for automatic synchronization of transaction data with accounting records.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Few Complaints Found

We were unable to discover any negative MSG Payment Systems reviews on commonly visited consumer protection websites, indicating the company’s trustworthiness and reliability. This suggests that MSG Payment Systems efficiently resolves issues internally, preventing them from escalating to public forums. If you have feedback or a review regarding MSG Payment Systems, we encourage you to share it in the comments below.

Legal Standing and Penalties

To date, there have been no reported class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints against MSG Payment Systems. Dissatisfied customers seeking recourse can explore options with relevant regulatory bodies.

MSG Payment Systems Support Channels

MSG Payment Systems offers phone and email contacts on its website. While it remains uncertain whether the company outsources customer support to its processor, its commendable track record suggests reliable customer service. This level of service could potentially rival that of top-rated payment processors known for exceptional customer support.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	5
BBB Rating	N/A

PaymentPop Rating for MSG Payment Systems

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about MSG Payment Systems on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

With MSG Payment Systems, everything just works. The system is straightforward, the reporting tools are easy to navigate, and we’ve never had an issue with payments going through. It’s the kind of reliability every business needs behind the scenes.

MSG Payment Systems BBB Rating

MSG Payment Systems is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has been in business for 12 years. As of this review, the BBB is reporting an “A+” rating with 0 complaints filed in the last 36 months.

An “A” Performance

Due to MSG Payment System’s clean record, we agree with the BBB’s rating of an “A.” Readers should note, however, that there are reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

Definitive details on MSG Payment Systems rates or contract specifics are limited. It appears that MSG Payment Systems may offer varied service packages tailored to the unique requirements of different businesses. Business owners are advised to inquire about potential early termination fees, PCI compliance fees, monthly minimums, statement fees, and other applicable charges. Businesses should also consider negotiating for Interchange-plus pricing where feasible.

The company’s website provides information on its payment and virtual terminal services but does not clearly state the terms for equipment leases or gateway fees. Although various hardware options are presented, the specifics of how these are offered to clients remain unclear.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In its online offerings, MSG Payment Systems highlights its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. Features such as recurring payments, secure data storage, electronic invoicing, custom payment pages, and detailed reporting are included. However, the specific pricing for these services is not disclosed on their website. Typically, additional rates and fees, like gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and transaction rates, are associated with such e-commerce services.

No Contract Complaints

The lack of MSG Payment Systems complaints regarding their pricing suggests that the company’s terms might be well-received by customers, potentially aligning with the industry’s most affordable merchant accounts. We invite those with direct experience regarding MSG Payment Systems contract terms to share their insights in the comments section of this review.

Additionally, we recommend our readers explore our list of top merchant account providers for further options.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

In-House Sales Team

MSG appears to market its services through an inbound sales team and through strategic partnerships. There is no evidence to suggest that the company employs independent sales agents, and we have found no MSG Payment Systems reviews that accuse the company’s sales staff of unethical conduct.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

If you suspect, however, that MSG is adding hidden fees to your monthly bill, you can double-check them with a third-party statement audit.

No Deceptive Quotes

MSG Payment Systems also does not appear to list any misleading rate quotes or unrealistic guarantees in its official materials. In light of these factors, we are awarding MSG an “A” in this category.

MSG Payment Systems Competitors

Compare MSG Payment Systems to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

MSG Payment Systems stands out as a reliable credit card processing provider based on our rating standards. With zero complaints across consumer protection websites and no signs of deceptive sales practices, the company maintains a solid reputation. However, our assessment may evolve as more information emerges about its contract terms or when the Better Business Bureau (BBB) establishes a profile for MSG Payment Systems.

For now, readers can secure the most favorable deal by comparing MSG Payment Systems’ pricing and services with those of top-rated merchant account providers. This will ensure businesses are making the best possible choice for their payment processing needs while remaining informed about their options.

Read Actual User Reviews

See User Reviews Write a Review

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

Contact MSG Payment Systems

Contact & Customer Support
CEO	Paul Huntley
Headquarters	10555 New York Ave, Suite 101, Urbandale, Iowa, 50332
Toll-Free Customer Support	(888) 697-8831
Fax	(515) 334-7461
Additional Support Channels	Online Contact Form
Website	msgpay.com

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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