card-payment-options-logo
card-payment-options-logo

Transparent Merchant Services Review

Phillip Parker

I'm the creator of this website and a professional merchant account rate and fee negotiator. I help businesses drastically lower their processing costs with existing or new merchant account services. I've also appeared in popular publications such as INC Magazine, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Computer World Magazine, and several others. Contact me if you need advice with your credit card processing.

Schedule a call with me today. I don’t sell merchant accounts but I can help you:

  • Choose the right processor for your business.
  • Lower your fees with your current processor.
  • Offer guidance with funding holds and TMF Match List.
  • And more! Just ask!

Transparent Merchant Services Overview

Rating

5/5
Transparent Merchant Services Logo

Connect

Website
(888) 510-2937

Most Recent Comment

Tell us about your experience with Transparent Merchant Services in the comment section below.

Rating

5/5
Transparent Merchant Services Logo

Connect

Website
(888) 510-2937

Most Recent Comment

Tell us about your experience with Transparent Merchant Services in the comment section below.

*Earning your trust is our highest priority. We live by the same values we expect to see from the companies we review: Honesty, transparency and respect. With this in mind we wish to inform you that we may in some cases, but not all, receive referral income if you choose a provider that we recommend. This income does not influence our strict editorial standards or our recommendations. Our mission is to provide you with the best information regardless of generating income.

UPDATE 2/26/2019: Transparent Merchant Services and Vantage Payments have been acquired by Nuvei and will soon be dissolved into the Nuvei brand entirely. We therefore will no longer update this review. For up-to-date information about this company, see our Nuvei review.

Budget-Friendly Pricing

Transparent Merchant Services (trytransparent.com) is a merchant account provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company offers standard credit card processing solutions for all business types, but what sets it apart from most of its competitors is its unique pricing model. Similar to Payment Depot or BaseRates Merchant Services, Transparent Merchant Services charges merchants a flat monthly rate with a per-transaction fee of interchange plus a fixed dollar amount. This means that Transparent does not keep a percentage of each sale for itself, which could make it appealing for merchants with high average tickets who want the cheapest credit card processing possible.

Linked to Vantage Payments

Transparent Merchant Services is under the same ownership as Vantage Payments but the two companies operate as completely separate entities. According to the Better Business Bureau, Transparent Merchant Services was founded in 2008. The Transparent Merchant Services website states that its merchant accounts are provided by Base Commerce, LLC, a registered ISO/MSP of Synovus Bank. The company is located at 4040 East Camelback Road, Suite 215, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. Dustin Sparman is listed as a managing partner at Transparent Merchant Services.

Transparent Merchant Services Review Table of Contents

  • Sales & Marketing: Transparent Merchant Services does not appear to hire independent sales representatives and has not received any merchant complaints about its sales practices.
  • Costs & Contract: Transparent Merchant Services offers a month-to-month contract with no early termination fee.
  • Complaints & Service: Transparent Merchant Services has received fewer than 10 public complaints.
  • BBB Rating: Transparent Merchant Services has an “A+” with the Better Business Bureau and has received zero complaints in the past three years.
  • Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Transparent Merchant Services

Contact Transparent Merchant Services

Phone: (888) 510-2937
Website: TryTransparent.com
Address: 4040 East Camelback Road, Suite 215, Phoenix, Arizona 85018

Highest Rated & Lowest Cost Processors

Fattmerchant Logo
See Our Review
VIsit Their Website
Payline Logo New
See Our Review
Visit Their Website

Transparent Merchant Services Rates, Fees, and Costs

Transparent Merchant Services Rates, Fees, and Costs

Key Points

Swiped Rate Interchange Plus $0.09 or $0.19
Keyed-in Rate Interchange Plus $0.09 or $0.19
Early Termination Fee None
PCI Compliance Fee $99 Per Year
Equipment Lease Terms $9.95 Per Month or Free

Two Plans to Choose From

Transparent Merchant Services offers two pricing plans: Pro and Elite. The Pro plan charges a flat monthly fee of $49.97 and a per-transaction fee of interchange plus $0.19, but it is intended for merchants who process up to 500 transactions per month. The Elite plan comes with a $99.97 monthly fee and a per-transaction fee of interchange plus $0.09 and is designed for merchants who process over 500 transactions per month. For merchants who process over $100,000 per month or $1.2 million per year, the company also offers custom Enterprise merchant account pricing.

Month-to-Month, No Termination Fees

Both pricing plans come with a month-to-month agreement with no early termination fees or setup fees, but the company does charge a $99 annual PCI Compliance fee on the third billing cycle. The company also offers point-of-sale equipment that can be either rented for $9.95 per month, purchased outright for $249, or given for free to businesses that process over 300 transactions per month. Overall, these terms are reasonably competitive for the credit card processing industry and very transparent, although merchants will want to run the numbers based on their transaction volumes and the applicable pricing tiers before signing up.

Highest Rated E-Commerce Processors

host merchant services logo
See Our Review
VIsit Their Website
Fattmerchant Logo
See Our Review
Visit Their Website

Transparent Merchant Services BBB Rating Summary

Transparent Merchant Services BBB Rating Summary

Key Points

Product & Service Complaints 0
Billing & Collection Complaints 0
Advertising & Sales Complaints 0
Guarantee & Warranty Complaints 0
Delivery Complaints 0

No Complaints

Transparent Merchant Services currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since June 2014. The company’s BBB profile has only existed since June 2014 as well, but it has not accumulated any formal complaints in that time. There are also no unverified reviews posted about the company in the BBB’s “Reviews” section.

An “A” Performance Overall

Given the company’s clean complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating. This strong performance with the BBB is a major reason why we recommend Transparent for dentist merchant accounts, pharmacy merchant accounts, mechanic merchant accounts, and other professional services.

Highest Rated Online Store Creators

shopify logo
See Our Review
VIsit Their Website
Selz Logo
See Our Review
Visit Their Website

Truth In Marketing & Advertising

Truth In Marketing & Advertising

Key Points

Employs Independent Resellers No
Advertises Deceptive Rates No
Discloses All Important Terms Yes

Clean Complaint Record

Transparent Merchant Services appears to utilize traditional advertising methods and in-house, W2-employed sales agents to market its services. This tactic is generally preferable to hiring mill strategies because it ensures a greater degree of control over agents’ conduct. We are currently unable to locate any Transparent Merchant Services negative reviews that accuse the company’s sales staff of deception or nondisclosure, indicating that the company places an emphasis on forthright sales pitches.

Understanding the Rate Calculator

As of this review, the Transparent Merchant Services website features a tool for calculating your potential savings through the company. This tool is useful for merchants who are currently on Interchange-plus pricing because it draws a direct comparison between Transparent’s markup above interchange and a merchant’s existing markup above interchange. Merchants who are on tiered pricing should note that the tool assumes an average interchange rate of 1.6%, which may be more or less than the average interchange rate each merchant typically receives.

True to Its Name

To its credit, the company’s website does not promote any outright deceptive “teaser” quotes. Transparent’s pricing is fully disclosed for anyone to view, which is a major reason why we consider it a top-rated merchant account provider.

Sales & Marketing Example

Our Opinion Of Transparent Merchant Services

Transparent Merchant Services Logo

Huge Potential for Savings

Transparent Merchant Services rates as a quality merchant services provider according to our rating criteria. The company offers month-to-month agreements with transparent pricing and is not showing any complaints online. The one potential drawback for merchants to consider is that the company’s pricing, though transparent, may not be the most cost-effective option for certain business types. As a general rule, merchants who process fewer transactions at larger volumes are best served by the company’s pricing model.

For more information on the company, see the Transparent Merchant Services website or call (888) 510-2937.

Phillip Parker - Creator of CardPaymentOptions.com
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Instagram

Why I'm Qualified to Write About Credit Card Processing

I’m a small business owner who previously worked in the credit card processing industry. I started this blog in 2009 to help other business owners by exposing credit card processors that engage in unethical marketing, rate and fee trickery, and fine-print-contract schemes. Over the last decade, I’ve reviewed hundreds of merchant services providers which has helped to educate over 5 million businesses on the nuances of credit and debit card acceptance. I’ve appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Inc. Magazine and a host of other publications to offer insight on the subject of card acceptance. 

I offer merchant account and credit card processing consultation for the following needs:

  • Selecting the right credit card processing services for your business.
  • Reducing credit card processing fees with your current merchant account provider.
  • Negotiating credit card processing fees when changing merchant accounts.
  • Strategies for reducing and recovering funding holds and chargebacks.

 

Schedule a call with me today!

 

Get Your Processing Fees Refunded

In this article we explore a little known tactic for recovering excessive merchant account fees. Did you know that... Read more.
View Article
Checklist

How to Report Bad Credit Card Processors

July 28, 2020 22 Comments

Before you jump straight to reporting a merchant account provider, be sure you have exhausted all of your options with the company itself. Take notes and record the names of with whom you spoke, their titles and what they told you. This is important because most agencies will not get involved unless you have made a good faith effort to settle the disagreement directly.

Read More »

Best Providers for Web Developers

July 21, 2020 No Comments

Are you looking for a simple payment processing solution for your clients? This list of the best payment tools for web developers includes online providers that offer basic APIs as well as full-service providers with broad integration options… Learn more in this list of the best payment processors for web developers.

Read More »
Accounting on a computer

Top Processors for QuickBooks

July 21, 2020 7 Comments

Do you need a merchant account provider that integrates with QuickBooks? We have compiled the following list of top merchant services providers that offer QuickBooks integration. Most of these credit card processors have highly rated customer service and low pricing, and all of them allow you to export data to QuickBooks either directly or indirectly… Learn more in this list of best merchant account providers for QuickBooks integration.

Read More »
Credit card payment

Best All-Purpose Merchant Accounts (U.S.)

May 7, 2020 3 Comments

This list of the best merchant accounts in the United States will help you choose the right credit card processor for your small business. These merchant services companies serve all general business types and are known to offer transparent pricing and quality customer service… Learn more in this list of the top U.S. merchant accounts.

Read More »
High Risk image

Best High Risk Merchant Accounts

December 30, 2019 2 Comments

If your business requires a high risk merchant account, then this list of the best merchant accounts for high risk will help you find the best high risk credit card processor for you… Learn more in this list of best high risk merchant accounts.

Read More »
Insurance image

How to Fight Chargebacks and Win

September 10, 2018 13 Comments

Find out how to successfully dispute customer chargebacks. You can contest chargebacks by supplying evidence that counters the customer’s chargeback claim and then submitting the following evidence to your merchant account provider. Learn more about how to fight chargebacks in this article.

Read More »
High Risk image

How to Get Out of a Merchant Account Contract

July 20, 2018 13 Comments

Cancelling a merchant account contract without paying an Early Termination Fee (ETF) can be one of the most difficult problems a small business owner can face. In fact, most business owners who encounter this issue are often caught by complete surprise because the cancellation fee was never revealed during the account setup process. Learn more about how to cancel a merchant account in this article

Read More »
Scam

Worst Merchant Accounts

July 5, 2018 26 Comments

This list of the worst merchant account providers will help you avoid merchant account scams and credit card processing ripoffs… Learn more in this bad merchant accounts article.

Read More »

Leave Your Review For Transparent Merchant Services

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

  • Readers Choice of 2020

    Fattmerchant
    Why Fattmerchant
    Fattmerchant has passed our review with flying colors due to a highly-reviewed support, and rock-bottom fees, a month-to-month service agreement, no cancellation fees, no hidden fees, and having wide variety of processing solutions. See our full Fattmerchant review. You can also visit Fattmerchant’s website, or call (866) 397-9826 for all the details on their services.

    Getting Declined?
    Are you getting declined because of your business type or credit history? Check out PaymentCloud for hard-to-approve merchant accounts, or call  (888) 506-7859.

    • We'd love to hear your thoughts on Transparent Merchant Services

    Post a Comment Now
    Copyright

    Copyright © CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. (Digital Fingerprint: 0d38c6720f0d78a701b74d58653af608). Getting paid to re-write this page? Click here to earn a reward.

    Any unauthorized copying and reproduction of the content of this page, including all meta data and computer code, is strictly prohibited. While the information in the above article is believed to be accurate as of its publish date, the author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material, which is provided “as is,” and without warranties. Any and all use of trade names and/or marks are for identification purposes only and shall not be construed as a claim of affiliation, or otherwise, with CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. ("CPO") in any form. The sole purpose of the material presented herein is to alert, educate, and inform readers. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. We may earn revenue if you obtain services from a provider that we recommend. See this page to learn how we support our operations.

    O% Markup + $0.08
    Per Transaction
    The highest rated processor on CPO. Month-to-month, no contract, no PCI Compliance fees, no batch fees, no statement fees, no downgrade fees, no junk fees of any kind.
    See Who It Is
    Facebook
    Instagram
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    © Copyright 2009 - 2020 CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.