Should You Trust Payment Advisors With Your Merchant Account?

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.

Payment Advisors

Rating
A
5/5
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Pros and Cons of Payment Advisors

Pros

High-risk specialization
Multiple payment methods
Competitive pricing plans
Fraud prevention measures
Positive customer feedback

Cons

Undisclosed contract terms
Potential higher fees
Possible hidden charges
Equipment terms undisclosed
No 24/7 support

Overview

In this review of Payment Advisors, we take a closer look at the company’s credit card processing services. Their offerings include point-of-sale systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce features designed to support different types of businesses. We’ll highlight which businesses may benefit most from these services. We’ll also review client and customer feedback to identify common trends and concerns. In addition, we’ll cover pricing, contract terms, and included services. By the end, you’ll know whether Payment Advisors is the right fit for your payment processing needs.

About Payment Advisors

Screen Capture of Payment Advisors Homepage
Payment Advisors Homepage

Founded in 2014, Payment Advisors is a merchant account provider that specializes in serving high-risk business types. Payment Advisors claims that it is partnered with 15 different banks and is capable of placing new CBD merchants, marijuana dispensaries, online firearms vendors, remote tech support, payday loans, and other extremely hard-to-place merchant types. Federal banking regulations create difficulties for these sorts of merchants, making Payment Advisor’s banking network an asset to those companies.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Payment Advisors specializes in processing major debit and credit cards, particularly for high-risk businesses. Their services include credit and debit card processing as well as the following:

ACH and e-Check Processing

Payment Advisors offers ACH (Automated Clearing House) and e-check processing services, which enable businesses to electronically transfer funds between bank accounts.

Check Cashing

The check cashing service provided by Payment Advisors is designed to help businesses convert checks into cash quickly and efficiently.

Cashless ATM Processing

Cashless ATM processing allows businesses to provide customers with the convenience of paying electronically while mimicking the experience of an ATM transaction.

Chargeback Control Assistance

For businesses facing frequent chargebacks, Payment Advisors offers assistance in managing and reducing chargebacks. Their services aim to mitigate the financial and operational impact of chargebacks by offering tools and strategies that help businesses better track transactions, respond to disputes, and reduce fraudulent claims.

Offshore Processing

Payment Advisors also provides offshore processing solutions for businesses that operate internationally or in high-risk industries. Offshore processing allows businesses to process payments through banks located outside their home country, which can help reduce processing fees and offer more flexible payment options in global markets.

Aggregator Solutions

For small businesses or startups that don’t have the volume or infrastructure for a dedicated merchant account, Payment Advisors offers aggregator solutions. These solutions enable multiple businesses to pool their transactions into a single account, simplifying the payment process and providing access to payment processing without the need for individual merchant accounts.

“0% Processing”

Payment Advisors’ “0% Processing” service offers an alternative pricing model where merchants pass on the processing fees to customers instead of absorbing the cost themselves.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Low Complaint Total

Our research has uncovered only a single negative Payment Advisors review, with no evidence suggesting fraudulent activities. This lone review points to suboptimal customer service experiences. As a specialized firm established in 2014, Payment Advisors’ relatively small client base within a niche market is a likely factor in the limited feedback. Nevertheless, maintaining such a clean complaint record, particularly in high-risk sectors known for challenges like fund-holds and account closures, is commendable.

Payment Advisors Lawsuits

No outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been identified against Payment Advisors. For merchants seeking alternative ways to address dissatisfaction, reporting to supervisory organizations could be an effective approach.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop5
BBB RatingN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Payment Advisors

Negative Feedback

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

Positive Feedback

Payment Advisors took the time to understand how our business operates before offering a solution. They weren’t pushy, just helpful and informed. Since onboarding, the service has been consistent and the reporting tools make reconciling our payments easier.

No BBB Profile

The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for Payment Advisors at this time. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

While there isn’t publicly available information about the standard Payment Advisors contract, it’s likely that the company’s pricing will vary significantly from one merchant to another. Payment Advisors primarily serves high-risk industries, where it’s common for merchants to encounter higher rates, six-month rolling reserves, and stringent chargeback limits. Despite the absence of complaints about Payment Advisors’ contract terms, indicating satisfaction among most users, it’s plausible that merchants could incur monthly minimum fees, PCI compliance fees, and early termination fees through the company.

Expect Higher Prices

Considering its focus area, merchants shouldn’t anticipate Payment Advisors’ pricing to align with the cheapest merchant accounts available. If you possess any insights about the standard Payment Advisors agreement, please share them in the comment section below.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Inside/Outside Sales Team

Payment Advisors appears to market itself via online advertising and referral relationships. The company has partner-oriented materials on its website that suggest that it utilizes ISO, sub-ISO, or independent reseller relationships, but there is no hard evidence that it maintains an outside sales team. We are unable to locate any Payment Advisors reviews that describe unethical sales tactics by the company or its management team, and the Payment Advisors does not feature any deceptive rate quotes or guarantees.

Payment Advisors Rate Quotes

The Payment Advisors website advertises “0% Processing,” which appears to be some sort of cash discount or zero-fee program. This type of pricing plan surcharges customers to compensate for the cost of merchants’ transaction fees, which means that it isn’t necessarily deceptive of the company to advertise 0% processing. Merchants should ensure that they understand the full scope of the plan before signing up for it. If you suspect you are being overcharged by Payment Advisors, you can double-check your bill with a third-party statement audit.

Payment Advisors Competitors

Compare Payment Advisors to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Payment Advisors rates as a reliable option for many high-risk business types. While the company appears relatively small and new to the industry, it has not accumulated significant negative reviews, which speaks well of its early reputation. However, as with any high-risk merchant account provider, businesses should anticipate stringent application protocols and potentially less competitive pricing due to the nature of high-risk processing.

It’s essential that merchants carefully compare Payment Advisors’ pricing against that of other top-rated high-risk payment processors. This comparison will help ensure they are receiving the best possible terms and value for their business needs. By understanding their unique risk profile and carefully vetting available options, merchants can make a more informed decision that secures their financial interests while managing the challenges inherent in high-risk processing.

Read Actual User Reviews

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

Contact Payment Advisors

Contact & Customer Support
PresidentSteve Duniec
General Customer Service(704) 651-6850
Fax(866) 302-8143
Websitepayment-advisors.com