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Is Platinum Choice Bancard the Right Merchant Services Provider for You?

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Platinum Choice Bancard

Rating
B
4/5
full starfull starfull starfull starempty star

Pros and Cons of Platinum Choice Bancard

Pros

Innovative technology
Mobile payment options
Diverse processing solutions
Fraud prevention tools
Merchant cash advances

Cons

Misleading marketing practices
Cancellation penalties
Variable processing rates
Equipment leasing required
Equipment issues

Overview

In this Platinum Choice Bancard review, we’ll provide a clear overview of their credit card processing services, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce tools. We’ll highlight which types of businesses may benefit most, while also examining customer reviews to reveal common trends and concerns. Along with services, we’ll cover pricing, contract terms, and specific features so you know what to expect. By the end, you’ll have the insights needed to decide whether Platinum Choice Bancard is the right fit for your business’s payment processing needs.

About Platinum Choice Bancard

Screen Capture of Platinum Choice Bancard Homepage
Platinum Choice Bancard Homepage

Platinum Choice Bancard is a merchant account provider primarily serving small to mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. There is evidence that the company is an ISO of First Data (now Fiserv). Platinum Choice is also able to provide some high-risk merchant accounts.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Platinum Choice Bancard (PCBancard) processes all major debit and credit cards, including services for high-risk businesses. Their offerings include Clover POS solutions, EMV card readers and swipers, e-commerce solutions such as virtual terminals and payment gateways, mobile payment options, cash advances and loans, check and ACH payments, B2B Level 2 and 3 processing, invoicing, and gift cards.

Merchant Processing Solutions

Platinum Choice Bancard provides a variety of merchant processing solutions tailored to different industries. These services include customized payment processing for credit, debit, and gift cards.

Mobile Payment Processing

For businesses that require mobile transactions, PCBancard offers a mobile payment processing service. Using the company’s mobile processing app, merchants can accept credit card payments via smartphones or tablets.

E-commerce Solutions

PCBancard supports online businesses with secure e-commerce payment processing solutions.

POS Systems

Platinum Choice Bancard supplies point-of-sale (POS) systems aimed at streamlining payment processes. These systems include features such as inventory management and employee tracking.

Data Security and Fraud Protection

PCBancard prioritizes data security by offering end-to-end encryption and tokenization to safeguard sensitive payment information. They also provide fraud protection tools to help merchants detect and prevent fraudulent transactions.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Customer Reviews and Complaints

Our search uncovered over 10 negative reviews of Platinum Choice Bancard, with several alleging the company as a scam or ripoff. The primary grievances in Platinum Choice Bancard complaints involve unexpected higher rates, undisclosed monthly fees, substantial cancellation fees, and challenges in contacting customer support. This consistent pattern of complaints over the past two years has adversely affected the company’s rating since our previous review. We encourage readers with their own experiences to share a Platinum Choice Bancard review in the comments section below.

Legal and Regulatory Status of Platinum Choice Bancard

No current class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been found against Platinum Choice Bancard. Clients preferring to resolve their issues without litigation are advised to consider reporting to appropriate supervisory bodies.

Platinum Choice Bancard Customer Support Overview

Platinum Choice Bancard lists both a phone number and email address for customer support on its website. There’s a possibility that First Data (now Fiserv) might provide after-hours support, although this isn’t explicitly mentioned on their site.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop5
BBB RatingN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Platinum Choice Bancard

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about Platinum Choice Bancard on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

Platinum Choice Bancard handled everything without unnecessary steps or delays. They didn’t make a big deal out of the process—just got us what we needed and let the system do its job. It’s been a reliable part of our operations ever since.

Platinum Choice Bancard BBB Rating

Platinum Choice Bancard has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2011 and currently maintains an “A+” score. The company has received 1 complaint in the past 36 months.

An “A” Performance

In light of the company’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we agree with the rating assigned by the BBB.

Processing Rates & Fees

Long-Term Contract

Specific details about Platinum Choice Bancard’s (PCBancard) standard contract are challenging to verify. As a reseller of First Data (now Fiserv) products, PCBancard’s rates may align with those of First Data (Fiserv). Typically, First Data (Fiserv) offers a swiped rate of 2.69% plus $0.19 and a keyed-in rate of 3.69% plus $0.19 for merchants processing up to $50,000 monthly. For higher volumes, the rates adjust to 2.29% plus $0.19 and 3.29% plus $0.19, respectively. The contracts often include non-cancellable, long-term equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing. Purchasing EMV-enabled terminals, which can be less than $400, is generally more cost-effective than long-term leasing.

While PCBancard can modify these terms based on various factors, there is limited public information on their specific rates and fees. An early termination fee of $595, higher than the standard fee by First Data (Fiserv), has been mentioned in a complaint. Businesses should consider comparing PCBancard’s offerings with our list of the best merchant accounts.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

PCBancard also promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway services, though specific pricing details are not provided on their website. Expected additional fees include gateway fees, technical support charges, batch fees, and transaction rates for these e-commerce solutions.

Level 2 and Level 3 Processing Services

Moreover, PCBancard offers Level 2 and Level 3 processing services for B2B and B2G transactions, which utilize different interchange rates than standard consumer credit transactions. These specialized services require advanced payment processing technology for transmitting extensive data necessary for corporate credit card transactions. Businesses engaged in B2B and B2G sectors should evaluate PCBancard’s offerings in comparison to leading credit card processors.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Team

Platinum Choice Bancard appears to market its services through independent sales agents and partnerships with resellers. This practice can sometimes result in elevated complaint rates among merchants, as independent sales entities are difficult to train and regulate. In this case, we have located a handful of Platinum Choice Bancard reviews that mention hidden fees, unwanted sales calls, and misleading rate quotes.

Low Fee Advertisement

Platinum Choice Bancard advertises that it will eliminate 95% of a business’ fees. Despite this advertisement, several Platinum Choice Bancard reviews detail exorbitant early termination fees. Platinum Choice Bancard complaints mention a fee as high as $595. This compares poorly to the best credit card processors.

Recent Sales Complaints

One commenter in the comment section below this review suggested that a telephone representative described the company as “the interchange,” which is essentially meaningless, so it’s hard to know if the agent was being intentionally misleading. Other commenters say that the company will “offer this amazing deal with no cancellation” which “was not true at all,” and that “fees are more than we discussed and the lease amount is more than is written on the contract.” These Platinum Choice Bancard complaints have mostly surfaced within the past two years, which has lowered the company’s rating in this section to a “B.” If you suspect that Platinum Choice is charging you hidden fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit.

Platinum Choice Bancard Competitors

Compare Platinum Choice Bancard to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Platinum Choice Bancard stands out as a commendable credit card processing provider, according to our assessment criteria. While it has demonstrated a relatively low incidence of customer complaints in the recent past, a modest uptick in grievances has somewhat diminished its standing, albeit without any severe allegations regarding the conduct of its representatives. This suggests that while Platinum Choice Bancard maintains a reputable operational standard, vigilance in its customer interactions and complaint resolution is necessary for maintaining or improving its reputation.

The comprehensive details about Platinum Choice Bancard’s contract terms, sales approaches, and the efficacy of its customer service remain less documented, which could influence its rating in future evaluations. Business owners considering this provider are encouraged to conduct a thorough comparison with top-rated merchant account providers to ensure they secure a service that aligns closely with their financial and operational needs, ensuring transparency and reliability in their credit card processing capabilities.

Read Actual User Reviews

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

Contact Platinum Choice Bancard

Contact & Customer Support
CEOGary Wishnia
Headquarters420 Boulevard, Suite 206, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey 07046
Toll-Free General Customer Service(888) 537-7332
Work Inquiries(973) 324-2251
Websitepcbancard.com