Calpian Commerce Review
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.
Calpian Commerce
Rating
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
We are currently able to locate four negative Calpian Commerce reviews, and none of these accuse the company of being a ripoff or a scam. The issues most commonly cited by complainants are fund holds, unexpected fees, and difficulty cancelling the service. It’s also worth noting that Pipeline Data was the subject of a high number of complaints during its time, specifically regarding its harsh cash reserve policy, long-term holds (up to 180 days) of large amounts, and poor customer service through both Pipeline Data’s subsidiaries and Cynergy Data. The various products and subsidiaries of Calpian are also showing moderate-to-high complaint totals. Although Calpian has a low complaint total for the brief time it has been active, the company’s subsidiaries and the reputation of Pipeline Data have lowered its score in this section.
Industry Scores & User Ratings
| Product & Service Complaints | 0 |
|---|---|
| Billing & Collection Complaints | 6 |
| Advertising & Sales Complaints | 0 |
| Guarantee & Warranty Complaints | 0 |
| Delivery Complaints | 0 |
Note: We have adjusted this company’s BBB rating according to our own standards. To better understand why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.
Calpian Commerce has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since May 2015 and is currently showing an “A” rating. The company has received six total complaints on its BBB profile in the past three years, with all of these related to billing or collection disputes. Four complaints have been resolved successfully, while two complaints were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the complainants. The company has also not received any informal reviews on its profile. Given Calpian’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we have slightly adjusted the BBB’s rating to an “A-.”
Processing Rates & Fees
Calpian Commerce and its subsidiaries appear to offer contract terms through Cynergy Data that include a three-year service agreement with an early termination fee of $350, a PCI Compliance fee of approximately $185, and various other assorted fees. Since there are many companies within the Calpian Commerce network of businesses that offer merchant services, it is very likely that these terms vary from provider to provider. Agents likely have some freedom to alter contract terms as they deem necessary, and these terms may change depending on a merchant’s size, business type, and time in business. Merchants are advised to read their contract terms carefully and ensure that they have all the requisite information about the account. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Calpian Commerce contract, please leave that information in the comment section of this review.
Calpian Commerce Competitors
Compare Calpian Commerce to competitors that earned top marks.
Bottom Line
Calpian Commerce rates as an average merchant services provider according to all available information. The company’s relationship with the now-defunct Pipeline Data and its subsidiaries is the greatest cause for concern with Calpian Commerce, but there has not been a significant amount of complaints filed against the company recently. The company’s overall rating will likely change as it continues to grow and develop a reputation.
