ProMerchant Review: Fees, Complaints, Comparisons & Lawsuits
(888) 712-3316 Founded in August 2018
ProMerchant is a Boston-based merchant account provider that offers credit card processing for most standard-risk business types. The company is owned and operated by former managers of Flagship Merchant Services, but a company representative has stated that ProMerchant does not have any current relationships or plans to start a relationship with Flagship, iPayment, or Paysafe. One ProMerchant executive also founded a payment processor called Ascension Payments, but that brand appears to have been shuttered in favor of ProMerchant.
In August 2021, food ordering company Waitr acquired ProMerchant along with Flow Payments and Cape Cod Merchant Services.
ProMerchant Payment Processing
ProMerchant processes all major debit and credit cards for standard and high-risk businesses. Their services include POS solutions, EMV card readers and swipers, mobile solutions, virtual terminals, access to the Authorize.Net payment gateway, other e-commerce solutions including shopping carts, and MOTO payments.
ProMerchant Location & Ownership
ProMerchant is a registered ISO/MSP in association with Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, and some merchant accounts may be referred to a registered ISO/MSP of HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Buffalo, NY, and Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Walnut Creek, CA. The company is headquartered at 501 Boylston St, Floor 10, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Kevin Murphy is the co-owner and managing director at ProMerchant, while Geno DeAngelis is the director of support.
ProMerchant Review Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: ProMerchant offers a month-to-month contract with interchange-plus pricing. The company uses the Authorize.Net payment gateway to facilitate e-commerce transactions.
- Complaints & Service: ProMerchant complaints number fewer than 10 on public complaints forums.
- BBB Rating: ProMerchant currently has an “A+” rating and has received 0 complaints and 0 reviews in the last 3 years. The company has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2018.
- Sales & Marketing: ProMerchant does not appear to hire independent sales agents and has not received any complaints about its sales practices.
ProMerchant offers standard payment processing services
ProMerchant Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Clean Complaint Record
We are unable to locate very many negative ProMerchant reviews, and there is no evidence that the company is a scam or a ripoff at this time. We are also unable to locate any negative reviews of Ascension Payments. Given the lack of public complaints, we do not see any reason to lower ProMerchant’s rating in this section. One ProMerchant review on this website claims that the company never sent hardware, however. If you have your own ProMerchant review, please leave it in the comment section below.
ProMerchant Lawsuits
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against ProMerchant. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
ProMerchant Customer Service Options
The ProMerchant customer support page lists a dedicated customer support phone number and a contact form for merchants.
We have located a single ProMerchant customer service number:
(888) 712-3316 – Toll-Free General Customer Service
This is consistent with our expectations of top-rated merchant accounts for customer service, but it will not have a positive impact on ProMerchant’s rating until there are more public reports of merchant experiences.
ProMerchant Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Complaints | 0 |
| Resolved Complaints | 0 |
No BBB Complaints
ProMerchant currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and was formerly BBB-accredited since November 2018 but is no longer accredited. The company has received 0 complaints in the last 3 years.
What Merchants Say
There are no informal reviews on the ProMerchant profile from the last 3 years. Previously, 6 informal reviews on ProMerchant BBB conveyed why no complaints have been filed against the company. All 6 of the reviews were positive in tone, giving a rating of 5 out of 5 in each case. The most recent review touched upon ProMerchant’s pricing and customer service:
I am very satisfied with the pricing and customer service at ProMerchant and will recommend them to others!
Excellent customer service is a benchmark of a top merchant account provider. Merchants should review their options for high-quality customer service.
An “A” Performance
Due to the company’s clean record, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. However, there are good reasons for merchants to regard all BBB ratings with some skepticism.
ProMerchant Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Item | Result | >
|---|---|
| Swiped Rate | Interchange + 0.5% + $0.15 |
| Keyed-In Rate | Interchange + 0.5% + $0.15 |
| Virtual Terminal Rate | 2.90% + $0.30 |
| Payment Gateway Fee | $25 Per Month |
| Batch Fee | $0.10 |
| Early Termination Fee | None |
| PCI Compliance Fee | Undisclosed |
| Equipment Cost | N/A |
Month-to-Month Contract
ProMerchant publicly advertises a month-to-month contract with either interchange-plus pricing or membership-style pricing. Under its standard interchange-plus plan, the company appears to charge interchange plus 0.50% plus $0.15 per transaction. Under its membership-style plan, it charges an undisclosed monthly fee but does not add a markup above interchange on each transaction. ProMerchant does not publicly address whether it charges a monthly minimum fee or PCI compliance fee but does not charge early termination fee. Instead, the company offers its customers month-to-month plans.
ProMerchant also does not disclose whether it sells or leases payment processing equipment, but a company representative has stated that ProMerchant does not lease any processing equipment or sell it for a profit.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
In addition to its storefront payment processing services, ProMerchant also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services, provided by Authorize.Net. A typical merchant agreement through Authorize.Net includes a transaction rate of 2.90% plus $0.30, a gateway fee of $25 per month, and a batch fee of $0.10. However, as a reseller of its services, ProMerchant reserves the right to alter these terms and conditions.
No Merchant Complaints
Despite the fact that ProMerchant’s interchange-plus quote is higher than many of its competitors, there are no ProMerchant complaints over pricing to be found in public forums. This indicates that most ProMerchant users are satisfied with the rates and fees that they receive. However, merchants are still encouraged to compare ProMerchant’s pricing to the cheapest merchant accounts to see if they can get a better deal. We also encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts. If you have any knowledge of the standard ProMerchant contract, please share it in the comment section below this review.
ProMerchant Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Employs Independent Resellers | No |
| Advertises Deceptive Rates | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
No Evidence of Independent Agents
ProMerchant appears to market its services with a combination of an in-house sales team and online affiliate marketing. A company representative has confirmed that all of its agents operate out of a single office with direct supervision from managers. Moreover, we cannot find any ProMerchant reviews that would be indicative of a large independent sales operation. This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors. If you suspect that you are being charged hidden ProMerchant fees, we recommend obtaining a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate excessive charges.
Previous ProMerchant Rate Quotes
At the time of our previous update, ProMerchant maintained a partnership with CreditCardProcessing.net, an affiliate marketing website that offers favorable placement based on ad purchases by processors. This strategy is also used by Flagship Merchant Services. ProMerchant’s profile on CreditCardProcessing.net advertised a rate of interchange plus 0.50% plus $0.15 per transaction. Interchange-plus is the most transparent pricing model available, and there was no evidence that ProMerchant listed this quote deceptively. A company representative has since stated that ProMerchant no longer advertises on CreditCardProcessing.net.
Our ProMerchant Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Still a Very New Processor
ProMerchant rates as a reliable merchant services provider more or less by default, as the company simply doesn’t have much merchant feedback at this time. The company’s advertised pricing has the potential to be competitive, but its Flagship pedigree inclines us to wait for further merchant reports. We will continue to monitor merchant feedback regarding the company and adjust our ratings accordingly. For now, merchants are likely to have a better experience with a top-rated merchant account provider.
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KATHLEEN JACOBS
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THE COMPANY. I called last week to perhaps use their service. The rep I spoke so Sheena told me she would have an approval for me within 24 hours. The next day they emailed and asked for more information that was fine no problem. I have now emailed this person twice and called twice to see what was happening and to ask why I had not even had the decency and courtesy of a response yes or no. VERY VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I NOW IF THEY DID APPROVE US WOULD NOT USE THEIR SERVIE. TOO MANY OTHER GOOD ONES OUT THERE
Michael
I am dissapointed with my ProMerchant.
From promising me on two occasions to be able to use their services to two hard inquiries on my credit without an explanation as to why I was denied, ending with a quick goodbye like this is just another lead is dissapointing.
I am disgusted with how they conducted themselves.
Horrible!
TERRI MCCOY
DO NOT use. I was told that I would received my card reader within 5 days and after 3 weeks and being promised it time and time again that I would receive it my my fuction. , I never received. My function is tomorrow and now have no way to take credit cards.
VERY UPSET.
Terri McCoy
robin walker
Just signed up with ProMerchant and immediately requested they cancel my account. I asked a simple and basic question which caused them to put a hold on my account. I have had no problems with transactions for the past 10+ years and I did not ask for anything out of the ordinary. This made no sense to me that a customer can’t ask a basic question. I actually didn’t ask them to DO ANYTHING. I just wanted an understanding. Instead of answering the question they shut me down. We will see if their no contract no penalty policy works.
Theresa A sullivan
After a 72 month lease with Prestige processing with excessive fees and lease for the equipment = $3578. I have finally found a good processing firm- Pro Merchant- month to month contract- no cancellation fees, no leasing on their equipment. No hidden fees. $7.95 a month plus a per transaction fee and various low rates between the different credit cards. I am very happy since April 2019…Been a good switch! Their customer service is quick Usually within the hour if not sooner after contact..and my representative is Alex, and talks me through every thing to be sure I understand…