9-25-2020 update: With no changes made to the website in the last two years and no point of contact, it can be assumed Top Tier Payment Solutions is no longer in business. If you have had recent contact with the company please let us know in the comment section below. Tier 1 Processing, which shared a business address with Top Tier Payment Solutions and was accused of the same slamming tactics, has also gone out of business.
Top Tier Payment Solutions Overview
With no functioning website or public profiles to speak of, Top Tier Payment Solutions (toptierpaymentsolutions.com) is a challenging merchant account provider to review. The available evidence suggests, however, that the company is simply an alternate business name used by the poorly rated company Tier 1 Processing. For the purposes of this review, we will operate under this assumption.
“Slamming” Allegations
We have located dozens of online complaints from the past three years alleging that Top Tier and Tier 1 engage in a process called “slamming.” Complainants claim to receive calls from Tier 1 Processing (which also goes by the name “Main Street Processing” and appears to go by the names “Challas Group” and “Wholesale Banc“) in which the caller states that the merchant’s account has been “flagged” or “red-flagged” for overpaying on processing fees. When pressed about the organization they represent, the caller states that they are with “Visa,” “Visa/MasterCard,” or, simply, “the processor.” The caller then requests information such as the merchant’s tax ID number, merchant ID number, and two months of credit card statements in order to “modify” the merchant’s rates. Merchants who question the caller’s identity or motives claim to experience high-pressure tactics, stalling, and outright deception from the caller. Merchants who consent to the caller’s requests eventually receive a contract from Tier 1 Processing/Main Street Processing/Datalink Bankcard Services and are then ushered into the signup process.
Verify Caller Identity
These online complainants allege a systemic effort by the company to attract new merchants by confusing and pressuring them into unwanted contracts. The practice of slamming is questionably legal and can result in the merchant paying thousands of dollars in excessive fees. Merchants should understand that Visa and MasterCard will never contact them for a rate review, and they should be sure to contact their processor directly if they suspect that they’ve been contacted by an impostor.
Tier 1 Processing Location and Ownership
According to the Better Business Bureau, Tier 1 Processing shares an address with Datalink Bankcard Processing at 3505 Token Dr, Richardson, Texas, 75082. The BBB also states that Steve Odom is the president of Datalink Bankcard Services.
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
Widespread Complaints
As noted above, we have located dozens of negative Top Tier Payment Solutions reviews, many of which refer to the company as a telemarketing scam. The vast majority of these complaints have to do with the company’s sales tactics, but merchants also call Top Tier Payment Solutions a ripoff with its expensive lease terms, longer-than-expected contracts, and poor customer service. Two complaints filed by former employees describe excessive employee turnover, inadequate training, delays in compensation, and completely unqualified leads.
Top Tier Payment Solutions Lawsuits
Despite numerous complaints of potentially illegal business practices, we have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Top Tier Payment Solutions. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
Top Tier Payment Solutions Customer Support Options
As of this writing, Top Tier Payment Solutions does not appear to maintain a website or publicly list a customer support number. It is likely that the company’s customer support is actually serviced by Datalink Bankcard, which receives a “C” rating in this category from CPO at this time. Neither company appears to offer the service levels we expect of top-rated credit card processors for quality customer service.
Client Satisfaction Ratings
No Rating Assigned
The Better Business Bureau currently does not assign a rating to Tier 1 Processing and has not received any complaints against the company in the past three years. The BBB states that the reason for withholding a rating is that it does not have sufficient information about the company. Given our own inability to uncover much concrete information about Top Tier Payment Solutions, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time.
Card Processing Rates & Fees
Three-Year Agreement
Most merchant complaints state that the contract provided by Top Tier Payment Solutions is actually through Datalink Bankcard, which is itself an ISO of First Data. Top Tier Payment Solutions’ standard terms and conditions (available below) outline a three-year agreement with automatic renewal for two-year terms, an early termination fee of $250 or Liquidated Damages (whichever is greater), a $0.35 batch fee, and an unspecified “membership” fee to be billed bi-annually. There may be additional fees that aren’t listed in the available documentation. Merchants also report being signed up for long-term, expensive equipment leases that they cannot cancel without paying thousands of dollars.
Unfavorable Terms
Top Tier Payment Solutions’ contract terms receive a “D” rating from us due to the multiyear term with a large cancellation fee. However, we have given Top Tier Payment Solutions an “F” in this section because of the alleged misrepresentation and nondisclosure that accompanies these contract terms. According to merchant complaints, it appears very unlikely that merchants will receive an opportunity to negotiate competitive rates with this company. Merchants should instead consider opting for a low-cost merchant provider to see the most savings. If you have any further details regarding the standard Top Tier Payment Solutions contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review. See the Datalink Bankcard Services Terms & Conditions.
Bottom Line
A Substandard Option
Top Tier Payment Solutions rates very poorly as a merchant services provider according to our rating criteria. The company faces widespread reports of deceptive sales tactics and appears to offer below-average contract terms to its merchants. Merchants who are contacted by a known Top Tier Payment Solutions phone number are advised to inquire about all possible rates and fees and to clarify the identity of the caller. The company can improve its overall rating by greatly reducing the number of complaints related to its telemarketing practices. For now, merchants will be better served by working with a top-rated payment processor.
Top Tier Payment Solutions Rating
