Paysafe Overview
A Rapidly Growing Payment Processor
Also known as “Paysafe Group,” Paysafe is a UK-based merchant account provider that has acquired multiple large payment processing subsidiaries during the past five years. The company was formed in 2015 as a rebranding of Optimal Payments, and it was subsequently acquired in August 2017 by two private equity firms called The Blackstone Group and CVC Capital Partners. Its major acquisitions under both the Optimal Payments and Paysafe brands include Skrill, Meritus Payment Solutions, MeritCard Solutions, Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions, and, most recently, iPayment.
Paysafe Headquarters and Ownership
Paysafe is a registered ISO/MSP of Merrick Bank, South Jordan, Utah, and is headquartered at 41 Victoria St, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2LH. Joel Leonoff is the president and CEO of Paysafe, who has also served as the CEO of Skrill since 2015..
Paysafe Review Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Paysafe offers variable pricing terms among its many products and services.
- Complaints & Service: Paysafe has received more than 100 public complaints.
- BBB Rating: Paysafe’s California location currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received eight complaints in the last three years.
- Sales & Marketing: Paysafe maintains different sales practices at each of its subsidiary organizations.
- Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Paysafe
Paysafe Statement Analyzer
Find hidden fees, pricing errors, and overcharges in your Paysafe merchant account statement. Not with Paysafe? That's ok, we can find excessive fees in any credit card processing statement. We've already found $1,156,834 in hidden fees this year! Submit a recent statement to try it out for free!
Our unbiased reviews are supported, in part, by helping you find highly rated merchant accounts. You can learn more here.
Our Opinion of Paysafe
An Average Option for Most Merchants
Paysafe rates as a fairly standard merchant services provider according to our rating criteria. Paysafe Group itself is more of a parent corporation managed by equity firms than an actual payment processor, so the quality of its products and services will vary according to the policies of its subsidiary branches across the globe. In general, the various Paysafe sub-brands have established their own industry reputations ranging from average to below-average. Merchants are therefore more likely to have a better experience through a top-rated merchant account provider.
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About Phillip Parker
Thank you for reading my review. I hope that it has helped you with your research.
Why I'm Qualified to Write About Credit Card Processing
I'm a former credit card processing sales director who left the industry to start my own a small business. From the time that I starting working in the merchant services industry to when I left to write about it, I've been on the pulse of payments for nearly 15 years. It didn't seem fair to keep this insider knowledge to myself, so built this website to help small business owners research which service providers to use and how to save money on rates and fees. I've reviewed hundreds of companies, read thousands of user reviews, and learned the pricing tricks of every provider. If you have questions about credit card processing, you can find the answers here. I can help you save money with your current merchant account or help you find a new one. Message me here to get started.
Get started right away! I've help businesses save $1,156,834 this year alone! Submit a recent statement and I'll take a look at it for free.
First of all, they lure you in telling you no early termination penalty, no monthly fees, yadayadayada. It’s all false. After looking into the small amount of information they give you, in order to sign up you have to give your account information then they send you a document online to sign. Well, make sure you read all terms and conditions for every little thing. There is an early termination fee and there are all kinds of extra monthly fees you agree to if you sign up. I called them and said I did not want to go through with the service. When they asked why I mention early termination and extra fees. They then sent me an “Adendum” that stated no early termination fees- Hum, I wonder how many people they got away with not sending that adendum to. I still cancelled of course. Never even received any processing equipment or set up my online account. But the monthly charges to my account began the following month. They did allow me to cancel the service the same day after I requested to speak to management. Its been 2 months and I have had 3 fraudulent charges to my account. The first 2 charges it took a few phone calls and emails to get them reimbursed. I’m typing this as I have just now discovered the third fraudulent charge and I’m currently waiting on refund.
Stay away, stay far away from these thieves.
This post will help: 5 Places Where Processors Hide Fees In Your Contract
-Phillip
After 2 months of not using their services, I attempted to cancel by sending in a cancellation document. They claim it wasn’t sent properly and proceeded to charge me over $700 over the course of a year instead of contacting me. I will be doing whatever it takes to get my my money back.
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Paysafe has been taking money out of my business account for 2 months. I don’t have an account, processor or recieve any services from them. For the past 3 days. They keep telling me they can’t get a hold of anyone in the department to close the account. The representative said there is no supervisor to talk to. This all happened because I was inquiring about there services
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Some how this company has gotten my information & starting charging my account for services never received. Never signed up for this company as I use Square! Called this company June 4,2019 to cancel services I never used because they charged my bank account. They said it was canceled then a couple weeks later June 24, 2019 this company charged my account AGAIN! This time charging $139. I have canceled this again! I’ve never heard of this company & would just like for them to cancel whatever it is & stop charging my account.
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Just finished my third call to Paysafe. They are holding over $4,500.00 of our money and half of it is from May 2019. They promise the issue is resolved, however, we still don’t receive our money. Would never recommend this company to anyone!
This post will help: How to Make Your Payment Processor Release Your Money
-Phillip
Never signed up with this company and they have been taking money out of business account for a year. Contacted them and they cannot produce contract because I never signed one. They have taken over 1000.00 out of my account. They need to be shut down and going to do everything I can do make them pay me back my money they stole from me.
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Rotten customer service. They’re a credit card processing company alright, and that’s about all they seem capable of doing.
Whenever we have a chargeback, we are presented with roughly 2 to three entire business days to respond, and for them to address our response before we are out of time and have to eat the fraudulent chargeback. They have no care for us as customers and will happily let anyone place a chargeback without giving us suitable time to respond with the information of the sale.
Their phone customer service is terrible as well. We recently got a new machine as our old one was printing poorly. When asking for the new machine, the woman on the phone asked me the time we want our batch closed. I told her, but when the machine arrived, it was set to a totally different time, not even close to what I told her.
As we are unable to change the batch closeout time on the machine itself, we need to call their customer service number to get someone to do it for us. So far, I have had to call and wait on hold twice today, as the first time I was asked for our merchant ID (which I had) and Tax ID (which I did not have and needed to get from the business owner) – I was NOT asked for further information.
The second time, I was asked for Merchant ID, Tax ID, and the last four of our bank account (which is a piece of information they have never asked for and which I did not have, and had to again ask the owner for). So, now I get to wait in line again to see if they decide to add any NEW stipulations on what information is needed. All to change the batch time which they set improperly in the first place.
I just want the darn machine working properly, there’s no good reason for this to be such a hassle and it’s cut into my morning work. It’s a shame every card processing company is awful, it’s not like we have other good choices. What a shame. Terrible customer service every time we contact them throughout the years, they are just consistently unhelpful.
This post will help: Best Payment Processors for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
The are the worst!. Have been trying to resolve Merchant Account and scanner never working for over a month now.
Quick to withdraw their fees from your bank account regardless that your merchant account never worked. A plethora of Ticket #’s and false promises that you will be contacted or refunded. Wait time is 1½ hr with no resolution. STAY CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY!
This post will help: Best Merchant Accounts for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
I just found out that my account was over drown and with out me knowing. I called them and I was on hold for along time after talking to a sails rep she switch me to the people that suppose to stop the account, but know one answer the phone.
This post will help: Best Merchant Accounts for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
We went to this credit card processing company based on what we thought was a cutting edge company with a staff to support it. I have never in my life dealt with such incompetent people. The contact number on the invoice just keeps ringing, so we tried another number from their website and found out we were talking to someone in the Carbbean! They could not find our account. Really? They found it to keep taking funds out. Something needs to be done to stop them. Any ideas?
This post will help: Best Merchant Accounts for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
This company is a total rip off a scam. I never used them to process any payment and they charged a bunch of fees that I was not aware of. After we finally found out who was debiting my account, I ask the service rep about these fees and I wanted my money back. He told me that i signed a contract which I do not remember and basically told me tuff luck. The total fees for not using this service were $3200, automatically deducted from my checking account over the past year. Hidden in my transactions. I am a very small business and this kind of fraud is very devastating to my bottom line. These guys are a bunch of crooks. Be very aware.
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Skrill moneybookers is owned by paysafe , I deposited funds last year November 2018 into my skrill account 9 days later the funds had not reflected so I contacted skrill ([email protected]) I received a case number and the soon thereafter the funds reflected. In March 2019 I made another deposit this time the amount was much more than the previous 16 days later no funds reflected I once again contacted skrill and explained I followed exact same procedure as last time and no funds reflect, I received an inquiry number and then nothing after that. No funds have reflected and zero communication from them. I have even provided them with the Bank transaction statement.
This post will help: How to Make Your Payment Processor Release Your Money
-Phillip
Company has been holding all processed credits and refunds. This has been ongoing from November 2018 to February 2019. Then they closed our account. November 26, 2018 through February 4 2019 Pay save has not deposited credits or refunds for our credit cards charged. They have closed our account and our holding our funds. I have been trying since February to get the funds released. I have talked to Mohammed 800-549-4631, Patrice Stampp 800-327-0093 and Brenda 800-549-4631. Patrice gave me a reference number 42178586. Mohammed said funds would be deposited almost a month ago. Brenda said today she is waiting for Gina from collections to release our money. I have asked many times for a manager to call us or to speak to a manager. They will not let me talk to a manager. A manager has never called. I believe this credit card processing company business practices are illegal. Do not use them.
This post will help: How to Make Your Payment Processor Release Your Money
-Phillip
Paysafe staff is stupid, and the service is the worst. Their message recording system is cheating. There is an early termination fee for 500 bucks. Don’t use paysafe!
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
they keep taking money out even though im not using their service,i put a stop on them and they changed their name twice and put it througjh,i finally had to close my account and open under new number.called paysafe after 25 minutes i hung up
This post will help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
-Phillip
Hi there
I would like to make a formal complain about this agent named: ALEXANDER SERFES who actually signed me up for the contract with PAYSAFE.
We had all the conversation and discussion before I signed up for the contract, he sent me an online form and told me everything was as per what we discussed and there was a time limit for the online contract and so I have to sign it quick. I trusted him and signed it and I was supposed to get the device FREE with ONE YEAR ADDENDUM.
However, I was charged USD180.26 since NOVEMBER 2018. I called the customer service and they informed me that I must speak to the agent. So, I called Alexander multiple times, and he assured me that all paper work was submitted for the refund, and I should be receiving them soon. However, it didn’t happen. I called him many times, I hardly could reach him and he hardly return calls or answering my emails. And by early JANUARY, he told me I would receive the refund before 15th of January after his confirmation with the manager, and again, this never happened.
And on Jan 24, he sent me a document for me to sign, I was kind of shock as he mentioned all paper work for the refund was submitted before, however, i signed and hoping I will get the refund soon.
And again, numerous calls were made to Alex, no answer at all. I sent emails to him as well, and again, no reply.
Today, I spoke to the Customer service, and Nicoleen mentioned to me that there wasn’t any request submitted for the refund.
I am not sure if there was a misunderstanding, but however, I am truly disappointed of the service from ALEXANDER SERFES which was so irresponsible as in not returning calls, giving empty promises, ignoring emails.
I hope someone will answer to this issue. I actually read all the good reviews about PAYSAFE before, and decided to go with PAYSAFE instead of other MERCHANT services, but I am so disappointed because of this agent. It is such a small issue at first, but it took 5 MONTHS, and yet I am not receiving any update or answer.
I hope someone will answer to this.
Regards
Gene Phillips
This post will help: Best Payment Processors for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
PAYSAFE? More like waste your time on hold for more than 30 min. at a time. Beware local rep released all my bank information without my authorization and I am having hell trying to get a refund for which I did NOT give my consent I am writing this review and have been on hold for the last 48 min…What A JOKE!!!!!
This post will help: Best Payment Processors for Great Customer Service
– Phillip