Is National Merchant Center a Safe Choice? What Merchants Have to Say About National Merchant Center

National Merchant Center is a merchant account provider headquartered in Irvine, California. National Merchant Center was formerly operated by the CEO of the now-defunct Lucrazon, Alex Pitt, and there is evidence that the company has also done business under the name Global Processing. According to multiple merchant complaints, National Merchant Center has had multiple DBAs including the Latino Coalition, National Payment Provider, and PayPro. However, these entities are more accurately described as affiliated businesses rather than DBAs. The Latino Coalition selected National Merchant Center as its preferred payment processing partner in 2007, and one National Merchant Center complaint states that the head of the Latino Coalition served on the board of National Merchant Center. Like National Merchant Center, another company named National Payment Provider was founded by Alex Pitt, and at least one merchant complaint states that “employees of National Payment Provider made calls on behalf of the Latino Coalition.” PayPro is another name mentioned in complaints as an affiliated business of National Merchant Center, and the PayPro homepage previously redirected visitors to the homepage for Lucrazon — another Alex Pitt venture.

Ponzi Scheme Allegations

In February 2016, the designated receiver for the victim class in a North Carolina-based Ponzi scheme called “Zeek Rewards” alleged that “Payment World“, another company owned by National Merchant Center’s CEO Roman Balanko, facilitated the transfer of more than $13.1 million earned in the Ponzi scheme to a bank in Moldova through a partnership with Payza. The receiver further alleged that it is “an open question” whether those funds are still in the account or have been transferred elsewhere. The receiver’s efforts to investigate the whereabouts of these funds are currently unresolved. Although National Merchant Center is not directly implicated in any of the designated receiver’s claims, the allegations are worth noting for a few reasons. First, the claim that the CEO of National Merchant Center may have funneled profits from a criminal Ponzi scheme into an international account raises ethical questions about National Merchant Center’s executive team. Second, Lucrazon, a company that shares a founding member with National Merchant Center, is the subject of numerous merchant complaints that accuse it of being a Ponzi scheme. Third, Payza is currently the subject of a federal investigation and an alleged partner with Payment World, who is also part of the investigation. Merchants should be aware of the allegations that have been made, and more can be read about the cases here and here

Payment Processing

National Merchant Center provides payment processing for a wide range of debit and credit cards. Additionally, they offer services such as gift and loyalty card solutions, a virtual terminal for phone and online payments, check processing, QuickBooks integration, POS systems from Clover, wireless terminals, ATM processing, online reporting, e-commerce solutions, PCI compliance, chargeback protection, data breach protection, and claim to offer 24/7 customer service.

POS System Integration

National Merchant Center supports integration with various Point of Sale (POS) systems. This integration helps streamline the transaction process, combining payment acceptance, inventory management, and sales tracking into a single system.

High-Risk Merchant Services

National Merchant Center provides services tailored to businesses deemed high-risk, which often face challenges in obtaining payment processing services due to their industry or high chargeback rates. They offer secure and reliable payment solutions for these businesses.

Fraud Prevention and Data Security

National Merchant Center implements robust data security measures and fraud prevention tools to protect businesses and their customers. These measures include encryption and tokenization technologies to secure sensitive data, as well as tools for monitoring and combating fraudulent activities.

Merchant Cash Advance

For businesses in need of quick access to funds, National Merchant Center offers merchant cash advance services. This service allows businesses to receive a lump sum payment in exchange for a portion of their future credit card sales, which can be useful for large purchases or unexpected expenses.

Gift and Loyalty Programs

National Merchant Center provides gift and loyalty program solutions designed to help businesses attract and retain customers. These programs can be customized to meet specific business needs and may include features such as custom branding, mobile compatibility, and analytics reporting.

Assessing Complaint Levels at National Merchant Center

A thorough review reveals a collection of around 15 customer reviews for National Merchant Center, with several alleging experiences that led them to describe the company as engaging in scam or ripoff practices. Additionally, a significant number of complaints have been lodged concerning the company’s dealings, particularly those related to its supposed DBAs. Key concerns raised by customers include misleading or forceful sales strategies, substandard customer service, overcharging, and hidden fees. National Merchant Center has taken steps to address and resolve many of these issues, often meeting the demands of their clients. Despite a complaint volume that is considered low-to-moderate for its industry size, the serious nature of these grievances has influenced a lower rating for the company in this aspect. We welcome and encourage sharing of personal National Merchant Center reviews in the comments section below for a broader perspective.

Customer Support Insights for National Merchant Center

National Merchant Center promotes basic contact avenues through its website, including phone and email support. However, these offerings seem inadequate when juxtaposed with the industry benchmarks set by the best payment processors customer service.