Platinum Choice Bancard Reviews & Complaints

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Company Overview

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.

Platinum Choice Bancard Payment Processing

PCBancard processes all major debit and credit cards for most business types, including some high-risk. Their services include POS solutions from Clover, EMV card readers and swipers, e-commerce solutions including virtual terminals and payment gateways, mobile solutions, cash advances and loans, check and ACH payments, B2B Level 2 and 3 processing, invoicing, and gift cards.

Merchant Processing Solutions

Platinum Choice Bancard (PCB) offers a range of merchant processing solutions for various industries. The company provides customized payment processing services, including credit, debit, and gift card processing, to suit the unique needs of each business.

Mobile Payment Processing

PCB also offers mobile payment processing services for businesses that require on-the-go transactions. The company's mobile processing app allows merchants to accept credit card payments using smartphones or tablets, providing a convenient payment option for customers.

E-commerce Solutions

For businesses operating online, PCB offers e-commerce payment processing solutions. The company provides secure and reliable online payment gateways, ensuring smooth and safe transactions for both merchants and customers.

POS Systems

Platinum Choice Bancard provides point-of-sale (POS) systems for businesses looking to streamline their payment processes. Their POS systems come with a variety of features, including inventory management and employee tracking, to help businesses manage their daily operations more efficiently.

Data Security and Fraud Protection

PCB takes data security seriously, offering end-to-end encryption and tokenization to protect sensitive payment information. The company also provides fraud protection tools to help merchants identify and prevent fraudulent transactions.

Location & Ownership

The company was founded in 2009 and has a corporate address located at 420 Boulevard, Suite 206, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey 07046. Platinum Choice Bancard is a registered ISO of Synovus Bank, Columbus, GA; Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, OH; and Wells Fargo Bank, Concord, CA. Gary Wishnia is listed as the CEO of Platinum Choice Bancard.

PCBancard payment processing
PCBancard offers standard payment processing services
Pros & Cons
Pros: Cons:
Innovative technology. Misleading marketing practices.
Eliminates most business fees. Cancellation penalties.
Diverse processing solutions. Variable processing rates.
Equipment leasing required.
Equipment issues.
Non-disclosed terms.
High early termination fee.
Inconsistent customer service.

Platinum Choice Bancard Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints 10+
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint Poor Service
Recent Lawsuits No

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.

Contact Details for Platinum Choice Bancard Customer Service

  • (888) 537-7332 – Toll-Free General Customer Service
  • (973) 324-2251 – Work Inquiries

Additional Customer Support Channels

Providing phone and email support aligns with industry standards, yet Platinum Choice Bancard should enhance these services to compete with leading merchant accounts known for exceptional customer support.

Platinum Choice Bancard Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Reports 1

No Complaints

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.

Platinum Choice Bancard Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Cancellation Penalties Yes
Monthly & Annual Fees Yes
Processing Rates Variable
Equipment Leasing Yes

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.

Platinum Choice Bancard Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Uses Independent Resellers Yes
Telemarketing Likely
Misleading Marketing No
Discloses All Important Terms No

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.

Our Platinum Choice Bancard Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

Platinum Choice Bancard rates as an above-average credit card processing provider according to our standards. Its complaint rate over the past two years has lowered its rating slightly, but there are no indications of egregious conduct by company representatives. Platinum Choice Bancard’s overall rating may be susceptible to change once more information is known about its contract terms, sales practices, and customer service. Until then, business owners should compare it to top-rated overall merchant account providers.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

How Did Platinum Choice Bancard Treat You?

8 User Reviews

  • Don Bruce

    Platinum Bad Choice Bancard. Every month new fees and total nonsense. Annual fees charged multiple times every year. They are chasing me down for $600 they say I owe but have never given me a bill of particulars and have their creditors hounding me. I am going to send a letter to the regulatory agency in Virginia about this company. Whenever there is a problem they refer you back to your rep and the rep can’t do anything. Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Stay away from these people.

  • Christian Thrash

    This company is a SCAM! Visit BBB to see their reviews and history of billing fees. They will not provide any information on closing your account. If you are a merchant they failed our security tests provided by DELL. Go with the big banks Like Chase , Wells Fargo etc. Chase has now put this company on their list of companies to watch for fraudulent charges.

  • Mike Velenga

    I went though a lot of credit card processing companies when I first opened my store. It took about 3 different companies over-charging me, lying to me, and treating me like nothing but a number untill I signed up with Platinum Choice Bancard. Their customer service is great, their fees are low, and they actually care about helping my business grow. Thank you for making my life easier and caring about my business, Platinum Choice Bancard!!!

  • Tom

    Just had a 2nd phone call from scheduler for Platinum choice. He claimed they ARE the interchange. And that, “the credit card companies give the names of companies to them that are no longer high risk. So that they can lower our rates.” They claim not to be either a bank or a 3rd party processing company, rather they ARE the interchange.

  • James Faulkner

    Doing business with Platinum Choice Bancard has been a true pleasure. I have always found them to be above grade when it comes to service and they are always available to help with any issue I may have.

    TWO THUMBS UP! FOR PLATINUM CHOICE BANCARD.

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