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Before You Partner with National Bankcard Systems: Read This Review

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Maintained Since: May 3, 2012

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.

National Bankcard Systems
Rating
C
3/5
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Pros

Diverse Solutions: Offers a range of payment processing options including POS, terminal, and mobile processing
Value-Added Services: Provides services like Quickbooks integration, online reporting, check processing, and loyalty programs​
No Contract: Offers month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees​
24/7 Support: Provides round-the-clock customer support​
Free Equipment: Offers free hardware such as card readers for mobile processing

Cons

Three-Year Contract: Involves a three-year contract with a $250 early termination fee unless equipment is purchased upfront​
Misleading Marketing: Uses misleading marketing tactics, including deceptive rate quotes​​.
Additional Fees: Lacks transparency about additional fees like gateway or PCI compliance fees, and statement or chargeback fees​
Complaints on Service: Some complaints about service quality, including issues with fund holds and difficulty in resolving problems
Independent Resellers: Utilizes independent sales agents, which can lead to higher complaint rates and issues with service representation​​.

Note: As of 2023, the National Bankcard Systems Inc. website is down. It's currently unclear what this means for the status of the company. If you have any information about the company, please let us know in the comments below.

Overview

In this review of National Bankcard Systems Inc., we’ll take a detailed look at this long-standing player in the credit card processing and merchant account industry. We’ll cover their rates, fees, contract terms, and common complaints to help you understand what to expect when working with them. The review will also assess their marketing tactics, transparency, and customer satisfaction based on user feedback and industry reviews. We’ll explore the company’s range of payment processing solutions, including advanced point-of-sale systems, mobile payment options, and security features designed to protect businesses and customers. Additionally, we’ll touch on the company’s ownership, location, and what differentiates them from other similarly named providers. This article offers a balanced and straightforward overview of National Bankcard Systems Inc., helping business owners decide if their services are the right fit.

About National Bankcard Systems

National Bankcard Systems Inc., established in 1997, is a multi-million dollar credit card processing vendor and merchant account provider. The company also operates under several DBAs including The Merchant Store, The Merchant Equipment Store, and US Point of Sale. National Bankcard Systems is a member service provider for First Data (now Fiserv), Elavon, iPayment (now Paysafe), Total Merchant Services, and Cardservice International.

Not to Be Confused With National Bankcard

It is worth mentioning that National Bankcard Systems could potentially be confused with National Bankcard, a New York-based merchant account provider. There is no connection between the two companies.

National Bankcard Systems payment processing
A selection of National Bankcard Systems' payment processing services

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

National Bankcard Systems processes most major debit and credit cards for most business types. Their services include EMV card swipers, MOTO, virtual terminals, access to multiple payment gateways, mobile and wireless processing, ACH, and e-commerce solutions.

Cutting-Edge Point-of-Sale Systems

National Bankcard Systems, Inc. offers cutting-edge point-of-sale (POS) systems that help streamline business operations and enhance efficiency. These systems come with built-in features like inventory management, employee tracking, and customer relationship management.

Mobile and E-commerce Payment Processing

Understanding the importance of digital payment methods, National Bankcard Systems, Inc. provides mobile and e-commerce payment processing solutions. These services enable merchants to accept payments via smartphones, tablets, and online stores.

Integration with Popular Software

National Bankcard Systems, Inc. offers integrated payment solutions that can easily connect with widely-used software systems and applications.

International Payment Processing

As a provider of global payment processing services, National Bankcard Systems, Inc. helps businesses expand their reach by supporting international transactions.

Security Measures

National Bankcard Systems, Inc. places a strong emphasis on security and fraud prevention, utilizing advanced encryption and tokenization technologies to safeguard sensitive data.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Insights into National Bankcard Systems Reviews

Our analysis reveals that there are a limited number of negative reviews about National Bankcard Systems on various platforms, excluding the BBB. While some software vendors have raised concerns about unpaid services, these issues are not directly tied to the core performance of National Bankcard Systems as a merchant services provider. Despite these isolated incidents, the overall number of complaints over the past four years is relatively low, suggesting that National Bankcard Systems generally maintains a commendable standard of service. Nevertheless, customer complaints regarding inadequate customer service, unexpected fees, and unauthorized charges necessitate attention. It is worth noting, however, that these do not constitute a prevailing trend against National Bankcard Systems. We welcome and value your personal experiences and reviews of National Bankcard Systems in the comments section below to further enrich our understanding and perspective.

Evaluation of National Bankcard Systems Customer Support

While some customer support complaints might be associated with larger affiliated payment processors, the absence of comprehensive support information on National Bankcard Systems’ official website is notable. The company does provide a phone number and email address for customer assistance, but the effectiveness and responsiveness of support via these channels are not fully clear. Given this scenario, National Bankcard Systems has not yet reached the benchmark of a top-tier customer service provider. Nevertheless, potential improvements in this area could significantly enhance their standing in the industry.

This updated content aims to offer a balanced overview of National Bankcard Systems, integrating insights from user reviews, legal status, and customer support evaluation. Incorporating SEO-optimized keywords such as “reviews,” “complaints,” “customer service,” “customer reviews,” and “customer complaints,” the article is designed to enhance online visibility and offer valuable insights for individuals and businesses considering National Bankcard Systems’ services.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Rating1.57

National Bankcard Systems BBB Rating

National Bankcard Systems has been an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau since 2000 and currently scores an “A+”. The company’s alternate business name of “The Merchant Equipment Store” has been accredited since 2004 and is showing an “A+” rating. Given the fact that these two companies share the same address and upper management, we will combine their BBB profiles for the purposes of this review.

National Bankcard Systems Complaint Record

Within the last 36 months, 1 complaint has been registered on one of the company’s BBB profiles.

An “A” Performance Overall

Given the company’s overall complaint rate, we agree with the BBB’s grade at this time.

Processing Rates & Fees

A Wide Range of Possible Fees

National Bankcard, as a member service provider for several large processors, exhibits a wide variation in contract terms. This variability, reflected in customer complaints, includes undisclosed fees, challenges with canceling services, billing discrepancies, charges for unnecessary equipment warranties, and rates that were higher than anticipated. Given that the processors National Bankcard partners with have received mixed reviews regarding their contract terms, caution is recommended when considering National Bankcard’s services.

Three-Year Contract

Information gathered from official responses to complaints indicates that National Bankcard Services (NBS) typically enforces a three-year contract with a $250 early termination fee, which is waived if the client pays for equipment upfront. Business owners should scrutinize their contracts, paying special attention to early termination fees and PCI Compliance fees, to ensure the agreement aligns with their needs.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

National Bankcard Systems promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway services, offering a proprietary gateway and services through Authorize.Net, Verisign, and Payment Clearing. The website mentions fees of $4.95 and $39.95 for its own and Authorize.Net’s software, respectively, without clarifying if these are one-time or recurring fees. Additional charges, such as gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and transaction rates, are generally applicable to these e-commerce solutions.

Send Us Your Documents

National Bankcard Systems’ contract terms may not align with the most competitive merchant account offerings. If you have insights into the standard NBS contract, your input in the comments section below would be highly valuable.

National Bankcard Systems payment gateway National Bankcard Systems offers access to multiple payment gateways, including its own

Lawsuits & Legal History

To date, there are no class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints filed against National Bankcard Systems. For customers seeking amicable resolutions to disputes, it is advisable to report their grievances to the appropriate supervisory authorities. This approach offers a constructive way to address concerns outside the legal system.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Team

National Bankcard Systems utilizes outside sales agents in offices across the country to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is usually tied to elevated complaint rates, and in the case of National Bankcard Systems, it appears to be a minor issue. We have found a handful of National Bankcard Systems reviews accusing the company’s agents of misrepresenting or failing to disclose fees, although specific fee amounts are unavailable.

Possible Complaint Dilution

National Bankcard Systems is partnered with five different processing companies. It is therefore possible that some of the complaints that would normally be targeted toward National Bankcard Systems are being funneled to the online profiles of these other entities. However, it’s nearly impossible to chart whether and how often this might occur. The company’s use of multiple websites and business names also clouds the issue to some extent, as does the similarity of its name to that of National Bankcard.

No Deceptive Ads

As a point in its favor, the company does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. The company’s low complaint total has qualified it for an “A” rating for this section. If you suspect that National Bankcard Systems is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.

National Bankcard Systems Competitors

Compare National Bankcard Systems to competitors that earned top marks.

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Bottom Line

National Bankcard Systems secures an above-average position among credit card processing providers based on our comprehensive rating system. Despite its use of external sales agents—a method often associated with increased customer complaints—National Bankcard Systems manages to maintain a relatively clean online complaint record. This indicates a level of service and support that rises above the common pitfalls associated with third-party sales strategies. Additionally, the company partners with larger backend processors, which have sometimes received unfavorable reviews; yet, this does not seem to have negatively impacted its overall customer satisfaction significantly.

However, while National Bankcard Systems demonstrates several strengths that commend its services, it has not yet reached the status of a top-rated credit card processor within our evaluation framework. Potential clients should be aware that, although it ranks well, there may be areas within its service model, such as transparency and direct customer engagement, that could benefit from improvements to elevate its standing further. Prospective customers are encouraged to scrutinize the details of their service agreements and consider how National Bankcard Systems compares to other leading providers in the industry to ensure the best fit for their processing needs.

Location & Ownership

National Bankcard Systems is located at 5725 US 290, Austin, Texas 78735. National Bankcard Systems is a Registered ISO/MSP of BancorpSouth, Tupelo, Mississippi; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California. Peter Estep is the company’s president, while LinkedIn lists Chris Ortega as director.