Updated 2/25/2019: Phoenix Merchant Services’s website (merchantservicesmx.com) is currently for sale and it no longer appears to be an operational business. Its alternate website (phoenixlegalsupportny.com) is no longer available, nor is the website of its DBA, Centaurus Holdings, Inc. Though Phoneix Merchant Services is listed as an “active” business with the state of New York, merchants should be aware the the company could be winding down its operations. We will therefore not update this review at this time but continue to monitor the company’s status.
Phoenix Merchant Services (merchantservicesmx.com, phoenixlegalsupportny.com), also known as “Phoenix Legal Support,” is a merchant account provider based in Brooklyn, New York. The company’s name and exact specialty can be confusing due to its different DBAs and websites, but it has separate names because its founder, Alexander Mirvis, offers legal consulting as well as IT services. For this reason, Phoenix Merchant Services and Phoenix Legal Support should be considered the same entity. Phoenix Merchant Services is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Walnut Creek, California, and of BMO Harris Bank N.A., Chicago, Illinois. The company is headquartered at 8734 23rd Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11214.
Key Points
- Sales & Marketing: Phoenix Merchant Services does not appear to hire independent sales agents and has not received any complaints about its sales practices.
- Costs & Contract: Phoenix Merchant Services offers a month-to-month contract with no early termination fee.
- Complaints & Service: Phoenix Merchant Services has received fewer than 10 public complaints.
- BBB Rating: Phoenix Merchant Services does not have a profile with the Better Business Bureau at this time.
- Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Phoenix Merchant Services
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
We cannot find any negative Phoenix Merchant Services reviews, which is a good indication that the company is not a scam or a ripoff. Phoenix is also not showing any complaints under its alternate name of “Phoenix Legal Support.” It’s possible that the company’s merchant base is small enough that complaints haven’t filtered out to public forums yet, or that some complaints intended for Phoenix are mistakenly filed against its backend processor. However, there is no evidence that this is actually occurring. Given the company’s clean complaint record, we have assigned it an “A” rating at this time. Phoenix provides a phone number on its website, but it’s unclear whether this line can be used for customer support.
Industry Scores & User Ratings
The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for Phoenix Merchant Services at this time. Phoenix Legal Support does have a BBB profile, which is currently showing an “A+” rating, but this profile does not appear to field complaints about Phoenix Merchant Services. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.
Processing Rates & Fees
Phoenix Merchant Services discloses most of its rates and fees on its website, and a company representative has stated in the comment section below that the rates shown are its standard terms. The full breakdown of fees and contract terms is as follows:
Check/Debit Cards: 0.05% + $0.09 (Above Interchange) (Visa/MasterCard/Discover) or Lower depending on how much you process.
Credit Cards: 0.05% + $0.09 (Visa/Master Card/Discover)
American Express Credit: 0.39% + $0.19
Debit Network Access $0.09
Voice Auth. Fee: $1.00
AVS (per trans) $0.09
Retrieval Fee $5.00MONTHLY FEES:
Monthly Service Fee: $5.00
Paper Statement Fee: $2.50 (Optional)
Monthly Minimum: $0.00ANNUAL FEES:
Annual Fees: $0.00
PCI-DSS Compliance Fees: $79.00 (Annual or Quarterly)OTHER FEES:
Chargeback Fee $35.00
Per Batch $0.25
Early Termination Fee $0.00
Taken as a whole, these contract terms are highly competitive for the industry. There are no merchant complaints related to Phoenix’s pricing or contract terms, so these numbers appear to be accurately quoted. Even so, merchants should be sure to request and review all relevant documentation, including any long-term equipment leases. Given the information we have right now, we will assign the company an “A” rating in this category.
Bottom Line
Phoenix Merchant Services rates as a reliable merchant services provider according to our rating criteria. The company has not received any complaints in public forums under either of its DBAs, and it advertises highly competitive rates and fees. Even when dealing with an “A” rated provider, merchants should be sure to fully read their contracts.
Overall Rating
