Merchant Services, Inc. Customer Reviews
Merchant Services, Inc. Overview
Merchant Services, Inc. is a merchant account provider that acts as either a DBA or a subsidiary of National Payment Processing. The company claims to have been “recognized in 2009 and 2010 by Inc. Magazine as one of The Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies in the U.S.” and to employ over 300 people. Merchant Services, Inc. should not be confused with MSI Merchant Services Incorporated, a subsidiary of The Federated Group. The two companies appear to be entirely separate and unrelated organizations.
Merchant Services, Inc.’s products and services include credit card terminals, mobile phone processing, virtual terminals, an online payment gateway, check management, gift and loyalty programs, point-of-sale systems, and recurring billing. The company offers a phone support line on its website, but it’s not clear what this line’s hours of operation are. Jason Moore is listed as the president of Merchant Services.
Online reputation and reviews
Merchant Services has received over 40 negative complaints in public forums. It can be difficult to identify complaints directed at this specific company due to its generic name, but the confirmed complaints tend to cite undisclosed contract terms, unauthorized debits, hidden fees, aggressive telemarketing, and poor customer service. The company has received some alarming complaints regarding the use of “slamming,” a tactic in which a provider poses as a merchant’s current processor in order to trick that merchant into signing a new contract. This could conceivably occur on accident given the company’s name, but there is a large enough body of such complaints to be worthy of a mention.
Legal actions and lawsuits
In 2013, Merchant Services settled a 2010 class action lawsuit that alleged that the company misrepresented and omitted the costs, term, early termination penalties, and other provisions of its contracts, forged signatures and modified contracts and authorization forms, violated rules of MasterCard and engaged in improper collection efforts by making unlawful credit inquiries on the personal credit reports of the personal guarantors who signed the agreements. As a condition of the settlement, the company agreed to register any fictitious business names that they intend to use, such as “Merchant Services” and, if the company continues to use rate comparison sheets to include the following information on the paperwork:
- the name of the registered independent sales organization involved in the transaction
- the entity through which bankcard processing services would be provided
- the entity through which leasing services (if any) would be provided
- the fact that processing rates are estimated and that higher rates may apply depending on the type of card, including mileage and rewards cards
- the fact that equipment leasing is optional
- the fact that a cancellation fee will apply for early termination
The company also agreed to have sales representatives leave with the prospective customer a copy of the cost comparison sheet and a current business card containing his or her current business address, phone number, and email address.
Have you used Merchant Services for your business? Rate the company at the top of this post and tell us about your experience in the comment section below:
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Recent User Reviews
Despite being asked every time they call, Merchant Services continues to call our company trying to solicit business/information. We have gone so far as to threaten taking them to court for a Harassment Injunction. Now, they just hang up as soon as I start to tell them to stop calling.
These people have called twice in one hour. I’m the manager at a small non profit. I’m always open to listening to calls (sales) to see if we can save money. But I always do my research! This place is a joke obviously.
They called posing as my merchant service company, they stated there was an error in the price increase and wanted to know if I read the warning on my last two statements. During the conversation they wanted me to sign on to my account and review the last two statements for the warning. I did that, then they wanted me to email the last two months statements to her? If they were my company would they have them? They are to call back with updates on my rates? Not sure if they were recording and if I answered “yes” to any of the conversation. BEWARE OF THIS SCAM !
We have continued to get calls from them regarding “credit card fees”, if we are paying the lowest amount. They are very rude. I have verified in the past that they have NOTHING to do with our processor that we use. They stopped calling for a while, and now have started calling again after we requested them to stop calling. Once I told them I was not interested, they continued to keep talking and sounded condescending while laughing at me. Be aware.
Scammers. Pretended to be the processing company I’m using. Questioned what company they’re called two times. He tried to gloss over it quick. I even threw out another processing company’s name to pretend I’m using and he hesitates for half a second. Claims to “oversee” all the companies. Complete BS anyone with half a brain can see through. Said there are overcharges and I should have got letters and I never responded. I never responded because there’s no such thing! They’re literally phishing for info. This company needs to be shut down. They probably scammed the more gullible people out there.
I spent several hours on the phone with three different representatives, trying to cancel my account with this company. I still haven’t been able to get out of there. The reps are very limited in what they can do, and pass the issue on to someone else when they hit a wall. No one to whom I spoke knew how to do the cancellation themselves, and they all kept asking me to repeat over and over the basic information–my business name, last four numbers of my social security number, address, etc. The last one to whom I spoke disconnected me when I told him the email he said he’d sent me hadn’t yet come through.
I suggest you don’t get involved in this company. They’re awful.
This is the same as other companies filing complaints. Predatory sales rep stated for no monthly fees they can save me money in my credit card processing expenses. A small seasonal business with only about $3000 in credit card sales, I signed up. My first month’s fees were $66.50. I even called them prior to the end of month and asked again about monthly fees. The answer was no monthly fees. The company is unwilling to refund and cancel at this time. Legal action is in process
these morons will NOT STOP CALLING!!! its harrassment at this point. I have told them time and time again to take me off any call list and STOP calling. I even filed a complaint with the BBB. HORRIBLE business practice. These folks SUCK
As others have mentioned, I kept getting calls by a young lady claiming that she was “reviewing” our account and it was flagged for charges that visa was being taken to court for. She continued to claim she could get money back, asking for my statements, which I decided not to do and eventually told her to stop calling me. She could never answer my questions accurately and when I did some digging came across this site. Thanks for all the comments, that just assured me that this was a scam or a slimy way to get more customers. My calls were identical to Tamara see below.
This company is a scam. If they call you, do not give them any information regarding your business.
Run away from this company. Dishonest and crafty with their hidden fees. They will process all your transaction as a non-qualified transactions which makes your rate the highest rate they can charge. The sales rep never explained the 3 different level of rates (Qualified, Mid Qualified and non-Qualified). They trick you with the 1.59% and end up charging 3.2%. I will be looking for more reputable company to do business with.
Most of the complaints about merchant service, Inc centered around their hidden fees and dishonest dales reps. Do your homework before you sign with this dishonest company.
I was originally contacted in May 2023 talking to Mia in May/June about an issue with my current processor. We were due a refund and they were aware of it. I was then sent to an analyst named Tony. He would message me constantly abbot how I was being over charged and his Manager could do this or this, it was something every time. He then would swear he could get our refund. He messaged leading up until 7/8/23. On 08/05/23 he started again, we basically asked, in good faith for the refund again, because we are still being told he could do it. He texted me and told me to “HOLD MY BREATH, UNGRATEFUL SPECIMAN OF A HUMAN”
I also tried calling his manager because I had missed calls from that number and whoever picked up hung up. He states her name is Mary Ann Watson. I every number I had listed for the company, begging for a manager. I spoke with Netta, she asked to forward all info and all texts and promised to handle, that was on 08/09, I emailed for follow up on 08/14/23 today is 08/24/23 and no replies.
We received a call from a representative of Merchant Services, Inc claiming to be the “overseer” of our credit processing company. She told me our service was overcharging us for credit card fees and it was Merchant Services job to review our statements and correct the overcharges with our service provider. I was extremely confused and asked why our provider had not sent them the statements if they were supposed to review them. The Merchant Services Rep told me that they received a list of “at risk” clients from the credit card companies and it was their job to call, ask for the statements, review the statements and correct the overcharges. I finally called our service provider who told me all of this was untrue. I asked Merchant Services to please stop calling our business that we would work through our service provider. She told me at that time that I should allow them to educate me so I would be fully informed of the overages before talking with them. I was very much given the impression that Merchant Services was in charge of my service provider.
This company is awful and is not a partner in your business. I had a mentally unstable person dispute a charge and I sent all my documentation that the charge was valid. He disputed it again and Merchant Services decided to give him his $500 back. They refused to look at the information I sent.
Find another credit card processor!
A telemarketer for Merchant Review called my line but forgot to hang up when the voicemail kicked in. I heard an entire conversation between two agents, they were discussing how to mislead people on the phone and obfuscate “how much we are overcharging” in order to reach their “daily bonus” goal. Total scam!
I have absolutely nothing positive to say about Merchant Services Inc. They are crooks. They mislead you as well as flat out lie. I have to say that Jennifer Holloway is a pro at manipulating the conversation and leading you into believing they are someone they are not and that they can save you money in fees and etc. When in fact, it ends up costing your small business more. I am so frustrated and upset wit this company, as well as myself. I wish I would have done my homework before buying into their deception. Now I am stuck in a 4 year (no-cancellation) agreement. This is going to be a long and costly 4 years.
Merchant Services is not reputable. They keep calling us to offer their services even though we keep telling them we don’t want their services and we ask them to stop calling us. What type of company is that?