Performance Merchant Alliance Review

We have found more than 60 negative Performance Merchant Alliance reviews, some of which accuse the company of being a scam. Common complaints include nondisclosure of equipment lease terms, misrepresentation of rates, irritating sales calls, poor customer service, and an unprofessional work environment. This complaint total is high for a brand that has only been active since June 2015, and the damage appears to be especially severe for merchants who are stuck in undisclosed leasing agreements. Performance Merchant Alliance’s apparent affiliation with several other poorly rated companies is also a major reason for its high complaint total. These factors have lowered the company’s grade in this section to a “D.” Performance Merchant Alliance claims to offer 24/7 phone support on its website.

Performance Merchant Alliance currently has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB accredited. The company’s profile was established in September 2015, and it has received 38 complaints since then. Twenty-two complaints were related to product or service problems, 15 complaints were related to advertising or sales issues, and one complaint had to do with billing. Performance Merchant Alliance successfully resolved seven complaints, while 23 either were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final response from the merchant. Seven other complaints received a response but not a good faith effort toward resolution, and one more complaint received no response whatsoever. The BBB has cited these unresolved complaints as one major factor lowering the company’s grade.

Given the very brief time that the BBB’s Performance Merchant Alliance profile has been active, the company’s high complaint total, and its poor resolution ratio, we see no reason to adjust the BBB’s rating at this time.

The standard Performance Merchant Alliance contract (available below) is a three-year agreement through i3 Verticals with a variable early termination fee. We have found a moderate number of complaints claiming that Performance Merchant Alliance reps lied about rates or did not disclose monthly and annual fees, including a $495 cancellation fee. Complainants also consistently report that the company provides long-term, non-cancellable equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing. We do not recommend these leases because they ultimately charge thousands of dollars for equipment that can be purchased for under $500.

We have obtained a copy of the standard Freedom Card Solutions contract, and Freedom Card Solutions is a new DBA of Performance Merchant Alliance. This contract is a three-year term that includes an activation fee of $199 and an early termination fee of “an amount equal to all monthly fees due for the remainder of the existing term of the MPA, including all monthly minimum fee commitments, which in no case shall be less than four hundred and ninety-five dollars ($495.00).” The contract also comes with a four-year, non-cancellable equipment lease through Ascentium Capital LLC, a $150 annual PCI compliance fee, a $25 monthly minimum fee, a $13 monthly statement fee, and other assorted fees. These contract terms are just about as expensive as they come in the industry, and we do not recommend them for any merchant. It seems highly likely that Freedom Card Solutions and Performance Merchant Alliance offer similar if not identical contract terms.

In general, the consensus among merchants appears to be that Performance Merchant Alliance’s pricing is higher than industry averages and is improperly disclosed at the time of signing. If you have any specific knowledge of the company’s rates and fees, please share that information in the comment section below this review. See the Performance Merchant Alliance/i3 Verticals Program Guide and the Freedom Card Solutions Merchant Agreement.

Performance Merchant Alliance is a very poorly rated processor according to our criteria. The company is the subject of a high number of complaints for its size and time in business, and its available contract terms appear to be as expensive as they come within the industry. In addition, it has clear connections to multiple other poorly rated providers. At this time, we see nothing to suggest that merchants will receive a positive outcome when processing payments through this company and its affiliates.