Transparent Merchant Services Review | Expert & User Reviews

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Transparent Merchant Services Rating
5/5
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Call Transparent Merchant Services Call Transparent Merchant Services (623) 920-0231 View Pricing

Budget-Friendly Pricing

Transparent Merchant Services 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.

Transparent Merchant Services Payment Processing

Transparent Merchant Services appears to process most major debit and credit cards. They offer POS solutions through Ingenico, Walker mobile payment equipment, the Poynt 5 terminal, PCI compliance through Conformance, and a payment gateway, though it is unclear which gateway they use.

Transparent Merchant Services Location & Ownership

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 1776 N. Scottsdale Rd #845 Scottsdale AZ 85257. 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 complaints number fewer than 10 on public complaints forums.
  • BBB Rating: Transparent Merchant Services has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received 0 complaints in the past 3 years.
Transparent Merchant Services payment processing

Transparent Merchant Services offers standard payment processing services

Transparent Merchant Services Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Key Points

Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support Yes
Most Common Complaint N/A

Clean Complaint Record

We have found very few negative Transparent Merchant Services reviews on the usual consumer protection websites, and there are no suggestions online that the company is a ripoff of any kind. This overall lack of Transparent Merchant Services complaints is a positive indicator that the company provides excellent customer support for its merchants and resolves issues in a timely fashion. If you have your own Transparent Merchant Services complaint to make, please do so in the comments below.

Transparent Merchant Services Lawsuits and Fines

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against Transparent. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Transparent Merchant Services Customer Service

Transparent Merchant Services offers phone support during business hours as well as chat support and email support for its merchants. It also features a small blog on its website with some useful information for merchants.

We have located multiple Transparent Merchant Services customer service numbers:

(623) 920-0231 – Toll-Free General Customer Service
(866) 316-9993 – Fax

Transparent Merchant Services also offers a dedicated email support address at [email protected] as well as live chat support and a support form through its website. 

Transparent Merchant Services Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

Online Ratings Summary

Total Complaints 0
Resolved Complaints 0

No Complaints

Transparent Merchant Services currently has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and was formerly accredited since June 2014 but no longer is accredited. 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.

Transparent Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Key Points

Swiped Rate Interchange Plus $0.09 or $0.15
Keyed-in Rate Interchange Plus $0.09 or $0.15
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 three pricing plans: Pro and Elite. The Pro plan charges a flat monthly fee of $64.97 and a per-transaction fee of interchange plus $0.15, 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 it’s 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 lower-tier 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 Transparent Merchant Services rates 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. We would still encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts and to check their Transparent Merchant Services contract thoroughly.

Transparent Merchant Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

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 reviews that accuse the company’s sales staff of deception or nondisclosure, indicating that the company places an emphasis on forthright sales pitches.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

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.

Transparent Merchant Services pricing calculator

Transparent Merchant Services’ pricing calculator

Our Transparent Merchant Services Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

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 almost 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.

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Your Comments & Reviews

How Did Transparent Merchant Services Treat You?

1 Responses

  • Rita Carnevale

    I’ve left many different forms of messages for their sales dept. to contact me as a potential customer, but my efforts were fruitless. Can you imagine a company not responding to a potential customer’s numerous messages???? I shudder to think how they treat their existing customers!!!! **POOR SALES SERVICE**

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