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Is Sterling Payment Technologies the Right Merchant Account Provider for You?

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Maintained Since: June 21, 2011

We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

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Sterling Payment Technologies
Rating
C
3/5
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Pros

Strong security standards.
No hidden fees
Competitive rates

Cons

High early termination fee
Customer service issues
Deceptive business practices
Unexpected charges reported
Inconvenient hours.

Overview

In this review of Sterling Payment Technologies, we’ll examine the company’s services and operations to better understand its place in the credit card processing market. We’ll cover rates, fees, and contract terms to highlight potential costs and concerns for clients, while also reviewing common complaints, industry ratings, and employee feedback to provide a balanced perspective on its reputation. Our analysis will explore Sterling’s payment processing capabilities, the solutions it offers across different business sectors, and its marketing strategies for attracting and retaining customers. We’ll also consider user experiences, customer support quality, and any legal matters the company has faced. Finally, we’ll summarize Sterling Payment Technologies’ strengths and weaknesses to give businesses a clear picture of whether its services are the right fit.

About Sterling Payment Technologies

Screen Capture of Sterling Payment Technologies Homepage
Sterling Payment Technologies Homepage

Sterling Payment Technologies is a merchant account provider based in Tampa, Florida, that has been in the credit card processing industry since 2001. Sterling was acquired by EVO Payments International in January 2017 and is now a seller of EVO contracts and services.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Sterling Payment Technologies provides one payment solution for all major credit and debit cards, EMV, high-speed, dial and wireless systems, eCommerce gateways, gift, fleet, and Electronic Benefits Card processing.

eCommerce Gateways

Sterling’s eCommerce gateways are intended to facilitate online transactions. These gateways are designed to help businesses process payments over the internet securely and reliably.

Custom Applications

Sterling Payment Technologies creates custom applications for businesses of various sizes and types. These applications serve industries such as retail, restaurants, B2B, internet services, mail and telephone orders, lodging, and petroleum.

EMV Payments and Security Solutions

Sterling offers solutions for EMV payments, aiming to increase the security of card transactions. These solutions include point-to-point encryption (P2P), tokenization, and out-of-scope options to secure payment processing.

Mobile Solutions and Cloud-Based POS Reporting

The company provides mobile payment solutions, enabling businesses to process transactions on-the-go. Sterling offers cloud-based POS reporting platforms, which allow businesses to manage and access their transaction data from various locations.

Enhanced Security Features

Sterling Payment Technologies implements advanced security measures, such as point-to-point encryption and the SHA-2 security certificate. These features are designed to protect sensitive payment information and reduce the risk of data breaches.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Evaluating Sterling Payment Technologies Feedback

Our research has identified over 30 negative reviews for Sterling Payment Technologies across various consumer platforms, with a small fraction labeling the company as fraudulent or deceptive. Predominant issues in these Sterling Payment Technologies complaints encompass non-disclosed fees, substandard customer service, and unwarranted charges post-cancellation of service. Although a company representative has addressed many of these complaints on the day of posting, it appears that these efforts did not fully satisfy the concerns of some merchants. We encourage you to share your experiences with Sterling Payment Technologies in the comments section below.

Sterling Payment Technologies Customer Support Overview

Sterling Payment Technologies provides a comprehensive customer support system, including a telephone number for direct assistance and an online contact form. Customer service is accessible 24/7, with specific hours for B2B merchant services from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm CT.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop1
BBBN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Sterling Payment Technologies

Negative Feedback

We are a Nonprofit Organization that had been with Sterling Payments Systems, or EVO, since 2016. We unfortunately got caught in a bate in switch scheme. Even after disconnecting the device used with Sterling, we were being charges a large Non Compliance Fee. We attempted to resolve the issue on numerous calls. We finally closed our account and did not receive any disclosure of fees. We did locate an old contract back in 2016 that discussed early termination fees. Our contact would have expired in June and it would have cost us much less just to keep the account active with no transactions. I feel this was misleading to our organization and terms for an early termination fee should be excluded after a number of years. I will be working with management to try to get credited. I certainly hope management will see we attempted to resolve the issue in good faith. Respectfully Submitted, Benjamin Shumaker, President of Indian Rivers Humane Society, West Point, VA

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Sterling Payment Technologies on the PaymentPop website.

Sterling Payment Technologies BBB Merged Profile

As of this update, the Better Business Bureau has merged the Sterling Payment profile on its site with that of EVO Payments and is reporting an “A+” rating. Previously, Sterling had its own profile with 9 complaints filed in the previous 36 months.

Since the larger EVO profile does not necessarily reflect the activities of its subsidiary Sterling Payments, we will not include the BBB’s rating in our score at this time.

Processing Rates & Fees

Sterling Payment Technologies Contract Terms

The standard Sterling Payment Technologies agreement entails a three-year commitment through Chase Paymentech, automatically renewing for one year. It includes an early termination fee of $395, a PCI Compliance fee (also known as an annual fee), which may reach up to $150, an undisclosed monthly minimum fee, and a tiered pricing structure. It seems that certain Sterling Payment Technologies fees may vary based on the agent setting up the account and the business’s size, type, and tenure. While the Sterling Payment Technologies contract terms may have changed following its acquisition by EVO Payments International, we have not found information regarding its updated contract.

Comparative Pricing

Primarily, negative Sterling Payment Technologies reviews highlight dissatisfaction with the company’s early termination fee and contract duration. These contract terms appear slightly costlier than industry averages, leading us to assign Sterling a “C” grade in this aspect. For more details, refer to the Sterling Payment Technologies Merchant Agreement.

Lawsuits & Legal History

To date, no major class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints against Sterling Payment Technologies have been discovered. Those looking for non-legal avenues to address grievances with the company are advised to report their issues to appropriate regulatory entities.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Team

Sterling Payment Technologies appears to utilize ISOs and independent sales agents to market its services. These practices often result in an elevated complaint rate for a company, as it is difficult for any business to monitor the conduct of independent sales entities. In this case, we are able to locate multiple Sterling Payment Technologies reviews that report nondisclosure of contract terms at the point of signing, specifically with respect to the company’s early termination fee. A company representative has responded to many of these negative Sterling Payment Technologies reviews, claiming that it is company policy to disclose this fee upfront. The company does not appear to engage in any deceptive advertising strategies in its official materials.

Sterling Payment Technologies Competitors

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Bottom Line

Sterling Payment Technologies is currently evaluated as an average credit card processing provider. This assessment stems from the company’s adoption of standard hiring practices and the provision of contract terms that are somewhat less competitive than what might be expected in the industry. However, Sterling’s overall rating benefits significantly from its low rate of complaints, which is notable both on platforms outside of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and within it.

To elevate its standing in the industry, Sterling Payment Technologies could enhance its overall rating by further reducing the frequency of customer complaints and improving its engagement with those complaints that are made public. More proactive and responsive communication in addressing customer issues and concerns would likely contribute positively to the company’s reputation and customer satisfaction levels. This approach would help solidify its reliability and trustworthiness as a credit card processing provider.

Read Actual User Reviews

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

Contact Sterling Payment Technologies

Contact & Customer Support
CEO and PresidentPaul L Hunter
Headquarters111 N Westshore Blvd Ste 500, Tampa, Florida 33607-4713
P.O. Box20427, Tampa, FL 33633-1403
Toll-Free General Customer Service(800) 383-0561
B2B Merchant Services(888) 564-9564
Sales and Partner Relations(800) 591-6098
Media Relations (Anton Wurr)(813) 369-6085
Additional Support ChannelsOnline Support Form
Websitecdn.sterlingpayment.com