National Card Solutions 2023: Reviews & Complaints

National Card Solutions Logo
2/5
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How did they treat you? ▼

Note: As of 2022, the website for National Card Solutions is down. We believe the company is out of business. (https://editorialrm.com/) We will no longer be updating this profile.

An Organization With Many Names

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, National Card Solutions is a merchant account provider that serves standard-risk business types across the United States. National Card Solutions appears to share ownership or to be otherwise affiliated with three other credit card processors called Performance Merchant Alliance, United Card Solutions, and Direct Processors. All four companies have similar websites and promotional language, and all four appear to be represented by Jeff Easter, an online reputation management specialist.

Merchant account provider reviews reflect that National Card Solutions is a DBA of Prestige Payment Systems. That affiliation would explain the company's connection to Easter, as Prestige Payment Systems is ripe with negative reviews and allegations of unethical business practices among merchants. United Card Solutions and Direct Processors are also both confirmed DBAs of Prestige Payment Systems.

Our own independent research has revealed a number of potential links between Performance Merchant Alliance, Prestige Payment Systems, and a company called National Paymentech. Merchants are advised to inquire as to whether National Card Solutions has any previous or current affiliation with Prestige Payment Systems, and specifically what Jeff Easter's role is in all of the companies that have been identified in this review.

National Card Solutions Payment Processing

Prestige Payment Systems appears to process most major debit and credit cards. Their website gives little info on what exactly services they offer, but if the websites of their DBAs are any indication, we can assume that the company offers POS solutions including mobile readers and countertop terminals, e-commerce solutions, telephone payments through a virtual terminal, PCI compliance, EMV, and gift card options for merchants.

The Jeff Easter Connection

It is unclear at this time whether Jeff Easter is the owner of these companies, an employee of these companies, or a PR representative hired by these companies, but he is listed as the primary contact in three separate press releases about each organization. The Better Business Bureau also lists him as the principal of Performance Merchant Alliance. We have found some evidence that National Card Solutions was at one point partnered with BlueSquare Resolutions.

Location & Ownership

National Card Solutions is a reseller of First Data (now Fiserv) products and services through i3 Verticals, LLC, and therefore utilizes Wells Fargo as its acquiring bank. National Card Solutions appears to have been launched in August 2015 and is located at 111 SW 5th Ave #2675, Portland, OR 97204.

Table of Contents

  • Costs & Contract: Resells three-year agreements with First Data (Fiserv) that include…
  • Complaints & Service: Complaints number more than 25 on…
  • BBB Rating: Has no rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received 0 complaints and 0 reviews in…
  • Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to hire independently contracted agents but has…
National Card Solutions payment processing

National Card Solutions offers standard payment processing services

National Card Solutions Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints 25+
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint Sales Tactics

Over 25 Complaints

We are currently able to locate over 25 negative National Card Solutions reviews, some of which state that the company is a scam or a ripoff. Common complaints center around misrepresentation of rates, nondisclosure of contract terms, exorbitant leasing costs, and poor customer service. Many of the National Card Solutions complaints refer to a sales agent named Jon Erickson, but it’s unclear what his role is at National Card Solutions. National Card Solutions has received fewer complaints than United Card Solutions and Direct Processors, but the complaints have been tonally similar to those other companies and have been posted at a steady rate. If you have your own National Card Solutions review to make, please do so in the comments below.

National Card Solutions Lawsuits and Fines

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against National Card Solutions. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

National Card Solutions Customer Service Options

We have assigned National Card Solutions a “D” rating in this section due to the fact that there may be no substantive difference between the service provided by National Card Solutions and the service provided by its related companies.

We have located a single National Card Solutions customer service number:

(844) 838-3091 – Toll-Free General Customer Service

National Card Solutions also offers a customer support form on its website.

The National Card Solutions website states that the company offers 24/7 customer support by phone, but this number does not appear to do a good job of resolving merchant issues in-house. We therefore do not consider National Card Solutions to be a top-rated merchant account provider for customer service.

National Card Solutions Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
Total Complaints 0
Resolved Complaints 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.

A Clean Profile

National Card Solutions currently has no rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB-accredited. The company has received 0 complaints in the last 36 months. Previously the company had received 2 complaints: 1 complaint related to product or service problems and 1 other related to an advertising or sales issue. National Card Solutions has responded to both complaints, however, the complaints were not resolved to the merchant’s satisfaction or did not receive a final response from the merchant.

What Merchants Say

National Card Solutions has also received 1 informal negative review previously. The review warns merchants considering the company not to trust them:

No, do not trust these people. You will be disappointed. There is nothing up and up about them.

It appears that this merchant may benefit from taking the proper steps to find a reputable service provider.

A “D” Performance Overall

In light of the company’s complaint total, resolution efforts, and corporate affiliations, we have adjusted the company’s rating to a “D” at this time.

National Card Solutions Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Swiped Rate 3.25% + $0.09
Keyed-in Rate 3.25% + $0.09
Virtual Terminal Rate Up to 2.90% + $0.30
Payment Gateway Fee None
Payeezy Pro Plan Fee $19.95 Per Month
Annual Fee Up to $197
Helpdesk Fee $15 Per Month
Inactivity Fee $99+ Per Month
PCI Compliance Fee $150 Per Year
Early Termination Fee $250
Equipment Lease Costs Up to $77 Per Month
Equipment Lease Terms 48 Month (locked)

Three-Year Contract

Information on National Card Solutions’ pricing structure is sparse. The company’s website offers little insight into the company’s rates and fees despite offering several different First Data (Fiserv) program guides as a point of reference. Since National Card Solutions is a DBA of Presti[pge Payments, this review will rely on information from its pricing structure.

Prestige Payment Systems offers three-tiered pricing for qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified merchants with rates as high as 3.25% plus $0.09. The agreement includes a PCI compliance fee of $150, which is billed annually. Merchant reviews reflect other fees from these contracts, including a $50 annual fee, a $15 monthly “help desk” fee, and a $10 monthly statement fee. Some merchant complaints state that the company’s standard early termination fee is $250.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its storefront payment processing services, National Card Solutions also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway. The company utilizes Payeezy, the First Data (Fiserv) payment gateway, for its e-commerce platform. Payeezy offers two types of plans to merchants, the Basic Plan and the Pro Plan. The Basic Plan charges no gateway fee but imposes a rate of 2.90% plus $0.30 per transaction. The Pro Plan charges a gateway fee of $19.95 per month but a transaction rate of 1.89% plus $0.23.

Beware Equipment Leases

National Card Solutions, like Prestige Payments, also appears to lease terminals through First Data Global Leasing, which typically offers 48-month, non-cancellable leases that cost up to $77 per month. As a general rule, we do not advise merchants to enter into contracts that include long-term, non-cancellable equipment leases. This is because most credit card processing equipment can be purchased in full for a one-time cost of under $500, while most equipment leases cost thousands of dollars over four years. Accordingly, we do not consider the company’s contract terms to be even remotely competitive with the cheapest merchant accounts available.

Many Merchant Complaints

The complaints that National Card Solutions and its affiliated businesses have received serve as testaments to the low value of these leases. We have accordingly lowered our grade for National Card Solutions in this section to a “D.” See the National Card Solutions/BlueSquare Resolutions Program Guide, the National Card Solutions/First Data Program Guide, or the National Card Solutions/i3 Verticals Program Guide. We also encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.

National Card Solutions offers point-of-sale solutions among other services

National Card Solutions Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers No
Advertises Deceptive Rates No
Discloses All Important Terms No

Heavy on Telemarketing

National Card Solutions appears to utilize telemarketing and an in-house sales team to market its service. The company does not appear to utilize independently contracted sales agents, but we have found a low-to-moderate number of negative National Card Solutions reviews that mention misrepresented fees and undisclosed contract terms. A specific sales agent is named in most of these National Card Solutions complaints, but the issue may not be confined to him. The number of these complaints has risen steadily since we first published this National Card Solutions review and is above average for a company that is this new to the industry. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

Similar to United Card Solutions

United Card Solutions, a Portland, Oregon-based company that appears to be related to National Card Solutions, has received a high number of complaints regarding nondisclosure or misrepresentation by sales agents. It is unclear at this time whether United Card Solutions employs a different sales team or offers different contract terms than National Card Solutions, but the similarities in complaints suggest that the two companies may follow similar sales strategies. If you are concerned that National Card Solutions is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.

An Insider Account

According to an email we have received from a former employee, National Card Solutions trains its agents to tell business owners that their equipment lease from First Data (Fiserv) is actually a program fee to cover the cost of processing and that their rates will be 0% for PIN debit transactions and 1% for standard credit card transactions with no interchange on top. These rates are unrealistically low and highly misleading. This informant states that the “program fee” can ultimately cost anywhere from $59 to $399 per month as part of a 48-month, non-cancellable equipment lease. This is an increasingly common tactic we have seen among some poorly rated providers, and it will lower the company’s score further if similar reports continue to come in.

Our National Card Solutions Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

Poorly Rated in All Categories

National Card Solutions rates as a substandard merchant account provider according to our rating criteria. The company has not received the same volume of negative feedback as its affiliated businesses, but the available complaints paint a very familiar picture. Merchants should not assume that National Card Solutions will offer better service or lower rates than United Card Solutions, Direct Processors, Prestige Payment Systems, National Paymentech, or Performance Merchant Alliance. Like its affiliated companies, National Card Solutions is on pace to make our list of the worst merchant account providers in the industry.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did National Card Solutions Treat You?

21 User Reviews

  • Viviana

    This company is now representing itself as Pay Partners. The sales agents will completely lie to your face to get you to sign up. Once you’re transferred to another department it’s completely different. Everything you were told and promised was a lie. On top of the the customer service or representative handling your account is horrible and unprofessional. Please beware, I got an uneasy feeling almost immediately after my application and with every person I talk to it gets worse.


    This post will help: Find and Eliminate Fees In Your Monthly Bill

    -Phillip

  • Layla

    DO NOT LISTEN TO WHATEVER THEY TELL YOU!
    I would not be struggling in debt if I’ve read the lease extremely carefully and have not been affected by their rushing on phone about signing the lease. I was young and wanted to help my family business so of course I would do anything to help us saving cost. Unfortunately it’s totally opposite. Their lease is for 48 months non-cancelable. No matter what happen to you or your business. You have to pay even though u have to shut down your business and return their equipments. They charge you triple price than other company (I just figured it out after a while comparing the statements). I tried to work with them and explain to them about our situation that we could not continue running the business because the issue with the landlord so we would like to return the equipment and terminate the lease. They told me that we still have to pay for 30 months left ($115/month) non-cancelable. WTF?? We closed our business bank account and just received a letter from them saying that if we don’t pay they will “report to certain credit reporting agencies”. BBB should jump in and shut this business down. They just want to rip off people!!!

  • Irvin Zimmerman

    Jon Erickson called me wanting to set me up to process credit cards for my small business saying he can cut my CC processing fees in half but alas they went up 2 1/2 times/ 5 times what he promised. He left his cell number to call if I had any problems, just call him & he would take care of any issues, but I could never get a hold of him. Jon Erickson is a CROOK!! as is everyone connected with National Card Solutions or First Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    If anyone is interested I would like to file a Class Action Suit against ALL these CROOKS.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS & GOD BLESS EACH and EVERYONE.

    • Brenda

      Irvin, I had the same salesman and same issues as you. I am still trying to get out of this BS. Now Prestige is taking over, I praying they can help. I sent 2 units back to them as they would not work here. Apparently First Data has not received them back so they can cancel my Lease.

    • Mark

      Hi Irvin, I’m with you on the class action against National Card Solutions. I was drastically misled as well and have an outrageous equipment lease and rate that I can’t get out of which is absurd. It is especially angering when you consider we have never used the equipment. Contact me about this.

        • Layla

          Hi Irvin, I got the same issue with them that they tricked me to signed a 48 months lease (non-cancelable). Unfortunately we could not keep our family business and had to close. We closed our bank account and I just received their letter about they will report us to certain credit reporting agencies. I tried to deal with them about returning the equipment and they said I have to pay for 30 months left. Insane!!!

  • Kate

    I run a small hair salon, and I felt bullied by the sales man who insisted that I was not locked in to a long term contract, but now that I want to cancel my merchant services, I’m being told that I still have to continue for 3 years or pay a huge fee.

  • jose briceno

    national cards solutions are scammers,liar if you try to cancel a contract you will pay whatever remainder balance you have with them for example if you pay 50$ a month and your contract is 4 years you end up paying $2400 but not only that you also have to finished paying the equipment and that will cost you $6000 more and the equipment real price is 500$ tops.
    they lie about everything they say and if you contact costumer service like i did they will tell you
    also the come up with different fees that don’t even make since “we are sorry there is nothing that i can do and is 7am here don’t speak so loud, why are you talking over me”
    this is the worst company i ever worked with.
    someone should do something about their scam and lies

  • Gary Levine

    I just read the earlier reviews. Read clearly. Jon Erickson is a liar plain and simple. Their subsidiary to camouflage the real culprit is merchantssolutioncenter is a total waste of time.

    Give these people a wide area of safety as it will not be anything of a problem once you sign up. Anyone is welcome to contact me to hear what happened front to back. I will start the process of finding out who the owners are and keep moving forward until this is resolved. It is a total waste of time to speak with Holli, Angela, James of anyone at merchantscardsolutions. They have no solutions other than holing the money of small businesses in their quest for ripping you off.

  • Brian Winslow

    National Card Solutions are a bunch of scammers, do not go with them. I was approached by their representative Jon Erickson via phone call (and he was extremely persistent, which should have been a red flag to begin with, but oh well.) Jon Erickson promised to waive any cancellation and setup fees, and “if they weren’t able to save me money, then I could cancel, no harm no foul.” I agreed to give them a try for a month. After a month, all of their hidden fees became apparent, and I went to cancel with them. In my contract, the “equipment lease” was listed as month to month with no cancellation, which I thought referred to processing. Nope! These scumbags have a SEPARATE fine print clause saying that you agree to processing for four years, which they happily informed me would scam me out of over a thousand dollars. Ashley Slaughter, their “cancellation expert” yelled over the phone and was completely unprofessional, and when I asked her to review the recorded phone calls pertaining to what Jon Erickson promised, she said, “Nope we don’t have those on file, we will be charging you the cancellation fee.” How convenient that they don’t record their promises to their clients. Steer WELL away from this scumbag company.

  • Lonnie Hardesty

    Comments about National Card Services …
    We discussed with the sales representative, Jon Erickson of National Card Services, that we were a web/mail order business not a business that has the opportunity to swipe the customers credit card. I believe he knew that and new that 90% of our sales would be non-qualifying sales and that their fee structure would be out the window. Again he personally knew that our business was web and phone based, not swipe and used total sales estimates to create merchant services cost comparisons. He will not talk to us about this claim and their customer service is nearly impossible to talk to. They say they will call within 24 to 48 hours and we most certainly won’t be sitting at the phone when they call so I never expect to be able to discuss this with someone of authority. Their long term lease arrangement on the equipment is a total hoax. It was initially represented as a portion of their merchant fees, which I believe it is, but then is later called the equipment lease agreement so you end up paying over $7,000 for about $500 worth of equipment.

    This company is an embarrassment to the business community and needs to be exposed for what they really are.

    Lonnie Hardesty
    Proteas of Hawaii
    [REDACTED – personal contact information]


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