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In this review of Schmooze Inc., we take a closer look at the company’s credit card processing services. Their offerings include point-of-sale systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce features designed to support a variety of businesses. We’ll highlight which businesses may benefit most from these services. We’ll also review client and customer feedback to show common trends and concerns. In addition, we’ll cover pricing, contract terms, and included services. By the end, you’ll know whether Schmooze Inc. is the right fit for your payment processing needs.
About Schmooze, Inc.
Schmooze Homepage
Schmooze, Inc., founded in 2001, is a merchant account provider for businesses ranging from retail stores, hotels, and restaurants to e-commerce businesses. Schmooze, Inc. is a reseller of credit card processing services supplied by Nationwide Payment Solutions.
Products & Merchant Services
Payment Processing
Schmooze, Inc. facilitates debit and credit card transactions for a range of business types.
EMV Card Readers and Swipers
Schmooze, Inc. provides EMV card readers and swipers that enable businesses to accept chip-enabled credit and debit cards. These devices help businesses comply with security standards designed to reduce fraud by reading the secure chip on modern payment cards.
POS Solutions – POSNow
Schmooze’s POSNow solution is a point-of-sale system designed to help businesses manage their transactions, inventory, and customer interactions in a streamlined way. The system integrates with payment processing and other business operations, offering a comprehensive tool for retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
Mobile Payments
Schmooze’s mobile payment solutions offer businesses the ability to accept payments via smartphones and tablets, making them ideal for on-the-go sales or mobile vendors.
Virtual Terminals and Payment Gateways
Schmooze partners with (link unavailable) and PayTrace to offer virtual terminals and payment gateways that allow businesses to process payments without physical card readers. This is for remote transactions or businesses that handle customer payments over the phone or online.
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
Parent Company Complaints
There are only a few complaints found regarding Schmooze, Inc., with around 8 complaints lodged against its closely affiliated parent company, Nationwide Payment Solutions. Some accusations label the parent company as a scam or ripoff. Notably, a group of former employees have raised issues over unpaid residuals, which the company has robustly rebutted. Additionally, around five merchant complaints exist, including concerns about nondisclosure of PCI compliance policies and confusion over contract duration. If you have a Schmooze, Inc. experience to share, please add it in the comments below.
Schmooze Lawsuits
No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been discovered against Schmooze. Merchants seeking non-litigious means to address issues are encouraged to report to supervisory organizations.
Industry Scores & User Ratings
Online Ratings Summary
BBB Rating
N/A
Google Maps
5
Average Rating
5
PaymentPop Rating for Schmooze Inc.
Negative Feedback
There are no negative reviews published about Schmooze Inc on the PaymentPop website.
Positive Feedback
Schmooze has been a great way for us to stay connected with our community. The platform is user friendly, the engagement tools are built with intention, and it’s helped us create more meaningful interactions with our members. It’s simple, effective, and actually enjoyable to use.
Schmooze, Inc. BBB Rating
Though Schmooze is not an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau, it presently holds an “A+” rating. The complaint resolution log shows 0 merchant issues within the last 36 months. The company has also not received any informal reviews on its BBB profile, although it should be noted that these reviews would not be subject to verification by the BBB.
An “A” Performance Overall
Given the company’s clean BBB profile, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time, but merchants should be aware that there is reason to be skeptical of the BBB’s reviews.
Google Maps Rating for Schmooze Inc.
Schmooze Inc. has a 5 out of 5 star rating based on 5 user reviews on Google Maps.
Positive Feedback
Always quick to help with any of your queries. Amazing service!
Negative Feedback
There are no negative reviews published about Schmooze Inc. on Google Maps.
Processing Rates & Fees
Termination Policy
Schmooze, Inc. partners with Nationwide Payment Solutions to offer its merchant services, adhering to a contract that reflects standard industry conditions, adaptable based on the merchant’s scale, industry, and duration in business. This agreement encompasses a flexible termination policy allowing merchants to terminate their services at any time without incurring a termination fee, provided they give a 60-day advance notice. If this notice is not provided or the remaining 60 days of the contract are not served, the merchant is subject to an early termination fee of $250 or $500. Nevertheless, Schmooze, Inc. states on its website that this fee can be waived if the 60-day notice is adhered to.
Nationwide Payment Systems specifies fees including an initial setup fee of $125, a monthly minimum fee of $25, an annual fee of $69, a PCI compliance fee of $99 per year, an annual regulatory reporting fee of $12, and a monthly support fee of $10.
Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing
Schmooze, Inc. also promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway services, available through PayTrace and Authorize.Net. The specific rates and fees for Schmooze, Inc. services are determined by the chosen payment gateway provider.
Schmooze Contract Terms
Only one online complaint regarding Schmooze, Inc.’s contract terms has been found, arising from a misunderstanding of the termination policy. While the contract offered may not be the most competitive compared to the cheapest merchant accounts available, it represents one variation of the Nationwide Payment Solutions Merchants contract as offered by Schmooze, with potential for further savings through negotiation.
Highlighting Schmooze, Inc.’s virtual terminals and payment gateways, featuring PayTrace and Authorize.Net.
Employee Reviews & Sales Practices
Schmooze Sales Approach
Schmooze appears to market its services through its partnership with Nationwide and through referral programs, and it is unclear at this time whether Schmooze employs independent sales agents. There are currently zero negative Schmooze reviews that mention its sales team.
No Misleading Quotes
The company also does not appear to engage in deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials. If you have had any experience with the Schmooze sales team, please describe that communication in the comment section of this Schmooze, Inc. review. Additionally, if you suspect that Schmooze is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to spot and eliminate hidden charges.
Schmooze, Inc. Competitors
Compare Schmooze, Inc. to competitors that earned top marks.
According to our rating system, Schmooze, Inc. stands as a reliable merchant services provider. The company has no complaints lodged against it online, and the few complaints filed against its parent company appear to lack credibility. Schmooze’s pricing seems to align with industry averages, but it notably offers reasonably competitive termination policies. Nonetheless, even when working with a highly rated provider, merchants should meticulously review their agreements, negotiate terms assertively, and compare costs with those offered by top-rated credit card processors.
