Is Soar Payments the Best Choice for High-Risk Businesses?

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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.

Soar Payments

Rating
A
5/5
full starfull starfull starfull starfull star

Pros and Cons of Soar Payments

Pros

High-risk specialization
Quick account approval
Diverse payment solutions
Transparent sales practices
A+ BBB rating

Cons

Undisclosed pricing details
Potential cancellation fees
Equipment leasing options
Possible hidden charges
No 24/7 support

Overview

In this review of Soar Payments, we provide a clear look at their credit card processing services, focusing on their specialization in high-risk merchant accounts. We’ll cover the range of solutions they offer, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce tools, and highlight which types of businesses are best suited for their services. Along the way, we’ll examine customer reviews to reveal common trends and concerns, while also discussing their pricing, contract terms, and the details of their service packages. This review aims to give business owners a balanced perspective on Soar Payments and help determine whether they are the right fit for their payment processing needs.

About Soar Payments

Screen Capture of Soar Payments Homepage
Sour Payments Homepage

Founded in 2015, Soar Payments is a merchant account provider that specializes in high-risk and offshore credit card processing for U.S  based businesses.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Soar Payments processes all major debit and credit cards for high-risk merchants. Despite its focus on hard-to-place business types, the company is also capable of serving standard-risk business types. Soar Payments is partnered with (link unavailable) to offer its merchants tools for handling disputed payments.

EMV Card Readers and Swipers

EMV card readers and swipers are tools for businesses that accept credit and debit card payments. These devices enable secure transactions by reading the embedded chip in cards, which is more secure than traditional magnetic stripes.

e-Commerce Solutions

e-Commerce solutions are for businesses looking to operate online or expand their digital presence. These solutions provide a comprehensive platform for setting up online stores, managing product listings, processing payments, and handling customer orders.

Mobile Solutions

Mobile solutions are increasingly important as consumers shift towards using their smartphones for a wide range of activities, including shopping and payments. These solutions enable businesses to offer mobile payment options, mobile-optimized websites, and even dedicated apps.

Virtual Terminals

Virtual terminals provide businesses with a flexible and secure way to process payments remotely. Unlike traditional card readers, virtual terminals allow businesses to accept payments over the phone, via email, or through online forms, making them ideal for businesses that operate in remote or service-based industries.

POS Solutions (Shopping Carts, ACH and e-Check Processing)

POS (Point of Sale) solutions are for in-person retail transactions, but they also extend to online environments with features like shopping carts and ACH (Automated Clearing House) or e-check processing. These solutions allow businesses to manage all aspects of sales, from processing credit card payments in-store to handling electronic payments online.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Low Complaint Total

Currently, we have only identified one negative review of Soar Payments, which does not allege any fraudulent activity. In this solitary complaint, the merchant reported unauthorized charges and excessive chargeback fees, although it appears to stem from a misunderstanding regarding their risk exposure as a high-risk business. If you have your own experience with Soar Payments to share, please do so below.

Soar Payments Lawsuits

No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been found against Soar Payments. Merchants dissatisfied with their experiences and seeking resolution outside of litigation can report their issues to relevant regulatory bodies.

Soar Payments Customer Service Options

Soar Payments provides contact information including phone and email on its website, but it’s unclear if these channels are dedicated to customer support. It’s possible that the company delegates certain support responsibilities to its sponsoring banks.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB RatingN/A
Google Maps4.5
Average Payments4.5

Soar Payments BBB Rating

The BBB currently awards Soar Payments accreditation and an “A+” rating. The BBB has received 0 complaints filed against the company, but the BBB profile has only been active since July 2018.

What Merchants Say

Soar Payments has had 0 informal reviews posted to its BBB profile. However, a previous review reflects merchant satisfaction with customer service:

Great place to go for high risk merchant services! I love the consistent communication and how each day during the approval process I was updated on the status of my application. There were no surprises or request for more information once the underwriting process started. Soar Payments did an amazing job getting me approved through *** for my merchant account! Would highly recommend for all businesses needing a merchant account for e-commerce services.

This review reflects the unique level of service required to serve high-risk merchant account providers.

An “A” Performance Overall

Given Soar Payments’ clean complaint record, 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 Sour Payments

Soar Payments has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating based on 17 user reviews on Google Maps.

Positive Feedback

Great place to go for high risk merchant services! I love the consistent communication and how each day during the approval process I was updated on the status of my application. There were no surprises or request for more information once the underwriting process started. Soar Payments did an amazing job getting me approved through EMS for my merchant account! Would highly recommend for all businesses needing a merchant account for e-commerce services.

Negative Feedback

So far they are horrible they keep giving me the run around with my application. Soar payments did not provide me with the complete list of required and additional information that would be needed.

If you have assistant or help this may not affect you. If your in business for yourself and do not have a lot of time, good luck.

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

Soar Payments distinguishes its contract terms based on merchant risk levels, offering different conditions for low-risk versus mid to high-risk merchants.

Mid to high-risk merchants are presented with a two-year agreement, which auto-renews for one year. Included is an early termination fee of $495, waived upon completing the initial term. The contract features two-tiered pricing, where mid-qualified merchants may receive rates as favorable as 2.49% per transaction. High-risk merchants incur a gateway fee of $15 monthly and $0.25 per transaction, with ACH debit transactions carrying a $15 monthly fee and a 2.50% transaction rate. A $45 chargeback fee applies to all merchants under this tier, surpassing the common $25 industry charge. Specific fees and terms for Soar Payments may adjust based on the merchant’s risk assessment.

Low-risk merchants benefit from month-to-month agreements with interchange-plus pricing, featuring a base rate of 0.05% for both swiped and keyed-in transactions, without interchange markup. Additional fees include a $10 monthly on-file fee, a $25 minimum processing threshold, $10 per month gateway costs plus $0.10 per transaction, and a $19.95 monthly PCI non-compliance fee. Chargeback fees for low-risk accounts are set at $15, compared to the higher $45 for mid to high-risk accounts.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Soar Payments offers virtual terminal and payment gateway services, with fees structured according to risk level. Mid to high-risk merchants face a $15 monthly gateway fee plus $0.25 per transaction, whereas low-risk merchants are charged $10 monthly plus $0.10 per transaction, in addition to standard rates.

Read Terms Thoroughly

Soar Payments promotes free terminal offerings for standard-risk merchants, suggesting that free terminal use extends for the contract’s duration, with potential fees for non-return as per the company’s guidelines. Merchants are encouraged to fully review and comprehend the terminal agreement terms prior to service commitment.

Merchants seeking competitive options are advised to review our selection of the best merchant services.

No Contract Complaints

Without public merchant complaints regarding Soar Payments’ contract terms, it’s challenging to compare its competitiveness with the most affordable merchant accounts available. However, the absence of negative feedback does not impact its current assessment. Individuals with insights into Soar Payments’ contracts, including details on PCI compliance or monthly minimum fees, are encouraged to contribute in the comments below.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Soar Payments Sales Approach

Soar Payments appears to primarily market its services through referral partnerships with other ISOs and independent agents. Like many high-risk merchant account providers, the company positions itself as a referral option where ISOs can send their hard-to-place merchants for offshore processing. Soar Payments also pursues its own merchants directly through advertising. We are currently unable to locate any Soar Payments reviews that accuse the company’s sales representatives of unethical conduct. This compares favorably to our list ofbest credit card processors.

An Abundance of Claims

At the time of our previous update, most pages of the Soar Payments website mentioned that the company has been voted the “#1 High Risk Credit Card Processor,” that “98.7% of accounts are approved,” and that the company offers “High Risk Rates as Low as 2.49%.” Merchant should take claims like these with a grain of salt, as they rely either on unvetted third-party reviewers, the company’s own internal metrics, or a “teaser” rate that isn’t close to a merchant’s effective rate. Since that update, Soar Payments appears to have removed much of this language from its site.

“A” Rated For Now

Soar Payments retains its “A” rating due to its clean complaint record, but merchants should remain skeptical when reading its promotional materials. If you suspect that Soar Payments is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.

Soar Payments Competitors

Compare Soar Payments to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Soar Payments is currently considered a reliable high-risk merchant services provider, based on the information available. However, the transparency of its pricing structure and contract terms remains limited, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive evaluation. As of now, this particular credit card processor has not secured a spot on our list of top recommendations for high-risk merchant accounts. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that this assessment could evolve as Soar Payments continues to establish its reputation and track record among merchants. Their ongoing performance and transparency will play a crucial role in determining their standing in this competitive market.

Read Actual User Reviews

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

Contact Soar Payments

Contact & Customer Support
CEOAdam Carlson
Headquarters21 Waterway Ave Ste 300, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Toll-Free General Customer Service(888) 225-9405
Fax(281) 725-6594
Websitesoarpay.com