TRU Payment Processing: Card Processing Reviews & Complaints
(877) 878-1177 Company Overview
Founded in 2002, TRU Payment Processing is a merchant account provider that also operates under the names TRU Processing, Truly360, and Matthew Focht Enterprises. The company’s most up-to-date website appears to be that of Truly360, but Truly360 primarily emphasizes its ability to help businesses set up Apple Pay integrated payment processing for retail, automotive, spa, restaurant, medical, and gym merchant accounts.
TRU Payment Processing
TRU Payment Processing appears to process all major debit and credit cards. Their website mentions EMV readers, POS terminals, mobile payments, and NFC payments.
Virtual Terminal Services
TRU Payment Processing’s virtual terminal services allow businesses to process credit and debit card payments over the phone or via email, without the need for a physical card reader. This is ideal for businesses that don’t have a storefront or need to process payments remotely.
Payment Gateway Services
TRU Payment Processing’s payment gateway services enable businesses to accept credit and debit card payments securely and easily via their website. The payment gateway is fully customizable and integrates with major e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and more.
POS Systems
TRU Payment Processing offers a variety of POS systems that are designed to meet the needs of businesses in various industries. Whether you’re looking for a traditional countertop terminal or a mobile POS, TRU Payment Processing has a solution that can help you process payments quickly and securely.
E-Check Processing
TRU Payment Processing’s e-check processing services enable businesses to accept electronic checks, which can be processed quickly and easily. This is ideal for businesses that need to process large volumes of payments or have recurring payments.
Gift and Loyalty Card Programs
TRU Payment Processing offers gift and loyalty card programs that can help businesses increase customer loyalty and drive sales. These programs are fully customizable and can be integrated with POS systems and e-commerce platforms.
Location & Ownership
At the time of our last update, TRU Payment Processing’s website stated that the company was a reseller of Chase Paymentech’s (now Chase Merchant Services) merchant solutions, and it also stated that the company is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, California. Its website no longer lists this information. Matthew Focht is the CEO of TRU Payment Processing, which formerly listed its headquarters at 6965 El Camino Real, Suite 105-700, Carlsbad, California 92009. However, Truly360 has recently moved to Rancho Santa Fe, California, which may be the new base of operations for its affiliated companies as well.
Table of Contents
- Costs & Contract: Appears to offer a multi-year contract with…
- Complaints & Service: Complaints number fewer than 10 on…
- BBB Rating: Has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received…
- Sales & Marketing: Does not appear to rely on independent sales agents but has received…
TRU appears to offer some basic payment processing services
TRU Payment Processing Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Total Online Complaints | <10 |
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | N/A |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
Low Overall Complaint Total
We are currently able to locate approximately 7 negative TRU Payment Processing reviews, none of which outright accuse the company of being a scam. The most commonly cited issue is the company’s equipment lease cost, although multiple clients also mention difficulty canceling service and confusion about the company’s rate match guarantee. These TRU Payment Processing reviews appear to mention Matthew Focht, itstru.com, TRU Processing, and TRU Payment Processing in more or less equal measure. The total number of complaints is lower than expected for a company of TRU’s time in business, but the complaints themselves often describe fees of $495 or more. If you have your own TRU Payment Processing review to make, please do so in the comments below.
Reputation Management
Truly360 has also received a large number of positive testimonials in Google reviews and on Glassdoor. It is important to note that Truly360 specializes in reputation management and search optimization for businesses, which is a service that helps to make negative reviews less visible and positive testimonials more visible. This raises the possibility that TRU is also exerting some influence over which of its own user reviews are visible to a casual Google user. For this reason, business owners are advised to be thorough when researching the company and to look past the very first results that appear in search engines.
TRU Payment Processing Lawsuits and Fines
We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against TRU Payment Processing. Dissatisfied merchants who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
TRU Payment Processing Customer Support Options
The company’s low complaint rate has raised its score, but we have lowered our rating for the company to a “B” in this section due to the severity of some complaints.
TRU Payment Processing Customer Service Number
- (877) 878-1777 – Toll-Free Customer Support
Other Support Options
- Customer support form on its website
TRU Payment Processing offers live phone support to its merchants but does not qualify as a top-rated payment processor for customer service at this time.
TRU Payment Processing Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
Online Ratings Summary |
|
|---|---|
| Total Complaints | 1 |
| Resolved Complaints | 0 |
Clean Complaint Record
TRU Payment Processing currently has an “A+” rating with the BBB and has had 1 complaint in the past 36 months. The 1 complaint was resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final reply.
An “A” Rating for Now
TRU’s low complaint total inclines us to agree with the BBB’s rating for now, but the company’s complaint resolution responses to its previous complaints will be worth monitoring going forward. Merchants should also note that there are reasons to be skeptical of BBB ratings.
TRU Payment Processing Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Cancellation Penalties | Up To $495 |
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
| Processing Rates | 1.00% - 4.99% |
| Equipment Leasing | Yes |
Long-Term Contract
According to multiple business owners’ reports, the standard TRU Payment Processing merchant agreement is a multi-year agreement with an early termination fee of up to $495, a variable monthly minimum fee, and a long-term, non-cancellable month equipment lease of the Clover POS system through First Data Global Leasing. In the company’s current Truly360 incarnation, these terms may also include Google search and reputation management costs.
Beware Equipment Leases
Detailed reports of the TRU Payment Processing fees, including per-transaction fees, annual fees, and PCI compliance fees, are unavailable at this time. However, any contract with a $495 early termination fee and a 48-month lease through First Data (now Fiserv) is hard to recommend for businesses. The lease is an especially unfavorable deal that costs thousands of dollars over the life of the lease for equipment that can be purchased for less than $500. This possibility alone is enough to exclude TRU from our list of the cheapest merchant accounts. We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant accounts.
Potentially Expensive Terms
As with the company’s sales and marketing practices, the number of complaints about the TRU Payment Processing contract terms is relatively low. However, the content of those complaints has reduced the company’s score to a “C” at this time. If you have any information about the standard TRU Payment Processing contract, please share that information in the comment section below this review.
TRU Payment Processing Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
Key Points |
|
|---|---|
| Uses Independent Resellers | No |
| Telemarketing | Possible |
| Misleading Marketing | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Inside Sales Team
TRU Payment Processing appears to utilize a combination of inside sales agents, referral programs, and online advertising to market its services. There is no evidence at this time that the company operates as a “hiring mill.” However, we have located a handful of TRU Payment Processing reviews that describe misrepresentation or nondisclosure by sales agents, specifically in relation to the company’s 48-month equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
A Detailed Sales Complaint
One of the most recent TRU Payment Processing complaints filed against TRU Payment Processing was actually filed with the Better Business Bureau against the Truly360 brand. In this TRU Payment Processing complaint, the merchant makes the following allegations:
Truly360 representative, ****** ********, disclosed to me a contract with Truly360 that was totally cancelable at any time for a cancellation fee of $495. And without my knowledge or consent he entered me into a lease with ***** **** [probably First Data – ed.] and Truly360 Merchant account. No contract was given to me at the time of signing. Once I received the letter from ***** ****, ON Nov 2, 2016, alerting me to a 48 month non-cancelable lease, I contacted ***** **** that same day and requested and received a copy of the contract. I also contacted Truly360 that day, and after many calls and requests, I finally received a copy of the contract from Truly360, approximately 10 days after signing. The contracts are different. The one that Truly360 showed me on the Ipad had a cancellation fee of $495. ***** **** did not. I never signed a lease with ***** **** nor did I supply my social security number or date of birth.
[…]
Truly360 represents themselves by being with ****** [probably Google – ed.] and are coming to take updated pictures for the ****** search engine. He comes in with a ****** logo on his shirt and starts to sell the ****** Growth package.
Well into the meeting he presents the merchant account and ****** machine. He states this is a free machine if we purchase the ****** package. He sells this as a package with a $199 dollars a month fee. It is at this time, with witnesses, that this conversation took place:
Me: I have no intention of getting into any contract or lease. I am still in a lease with ***** **** that ends in 2 months.
Rep: You can cancel at any time
Me: What is the cancellation fee?
Rep: I will waive it
Me: No offense but the merchant business has a lot of turnover. So tell me, if you were no longer working for this company, what would it cost me to terminate early?
Rep: $495
Me: Totally? For everything? (the ****** machine was on my desk and I made a circular motion over it).
Rep: Yes, totally
Business Partner: We can handle that
At no time did the rep disclose the ***** **** Lease. I was not given copies at the time of signing. I discovered the lease when I received the letter and immediately contacted Truly360 stating I was going to cancel the entire contract. I contacted ***** ****, stating I did not enter into a lease agreement.
Truly360’s Response
It is important to note that Truly360 categorically denied most details of this TRU Payment Processing review in its responses. However, if the client’s version of events is accurate, then this would indicate that Truly360 is engaging in an increasingly common sales tactic within the credit card industry. Specifically, this tactic involves a merchant account provider strongly promoting a business service “program” that is unrelated to credit card processing, but then requiring that businesses sign a long-term equipment lease and processing agreement in order to participate in the larger “program.” This approach is usually profitable for providers because the margins on leased credit card equipment are incredibly high. In fact, here is an excerpt from a company representative’s response to the TRU Payment Processing complaint cited above:
By signing a 4 year lease and combining processing we are able to eliminate ALL upfront fees with our marketing services and completely get rid of all of our fees after 4 years. With the profit we earn from the credit card processing we are able to continue to provide incredible marketing services for essentially NO cost to the business after the initial 4 years.
Some Cause for Concern
TRU’s overall number of sales complaints is low for a company that has been in business as long as TRU Payment Processing has, but the specific TRU Payment Processing review content has lowered the company’s score to a “B” until we have more information about TRU Payment Processing’s current sales approach. If you suspect that TRU Payment Processing is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden fees.
Our TRU Payment Processing Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
TRU Payment Processing rates as an average credit card processing provider according to our rating criteria. The company’s contract terms have the potential to be very expensive, but it hasn’t received a large enough complaint volume to warrant serious concern at this time. Due to Truly360’s expertise in online reputation management, businesses are encouraged to be diligent when researching the company and to compare its costs to those of top-rated credit card processors.
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Donald V Fargnoli
Absolutely agree. Got taken with fraudulent cancellation fees, among other things. Matt Strom is the man responsible there. This company is a bad joke.
Judy Brown
Horrible scam. They should be ashamed of themselves. They change their name all the time . When they came to me it was Truly 360.
This post will help: How to Report Bad Credit Card Processors
-Phillip
FAz
These guys are no good. Stay away. Customer service is an F.
This post will help: Best Merchant Accounts for Great Customer Service
-Phillip
Judy Brown
They say they are a trusted partner of GOOGLE . But I seriously doubt this. They suggest they will increase your visibility on Google- for only $150.00 a month but they do nothing. The sales rep that sold me this scam came and went from tru360.com ! They say they will reimburse you for any contract fees you are currently in! They didn’t! They say they will reimburse you 110% if their processing fees are more than what you were paying! THEY DON’T. THEY SAY YOU HAVE FREE CLOVER SERVICES BUT the money you are actually paying goes to Clover which my small business cannot afford for the next 4 years unless I pay $4000. It hurts worse than being burglarized to be scammed.
Ramona Kearns
Magazines were the subscription pitch and I want to cancel because it is just too much paper. I’m told that they can’t cancel my subscription because the Magazine companies are already paid. I’m looking into this bs further.