Electronic Merchant Systems Customer Reviews

This business is a scam do not use to process payments on your merchant for your small business they will steal and lie and hold your funds even removing those funds from your business account and lie never telling you any of this! All my calls are recorded she lied and I’m submitting to the FTC and state attorney general’s office!

EMS HAS BEEN horrible to me where do I start. Unjustified Withholding of Funds

EMS has withheld a substantial amount of money from my business under the guise of a “verification process.” Despite my customer providing extensive proof of payment—emails, phone calls, and even a photograph of their debit card—EMS demanded that my customer call their bank with EMS on the line. This invasive demand strained my customer relationship and disrupted my operations. Additionally, EMS transferred the funds into an inaccessible bank account, raising concerns about their internal practices. EMS is effectively exploiting small businesses by holding funds as an interest-free loan while continuing to charge processing fees.

Partial Release of Funds and Bribery

As of January 6, 2025, EMS has released only $2,581 of the $7,000 they withheld, leaving $4,000 still on hold. This partial release happened only after I complied with their demand to delete negative reviews—a blatant act of bribery. EMS’s willingness to release funds contingent on review deletion, while still withholding a significant portion, proves their actions are not about “risk” or “verification.” If EMS genuinely believed the transactions were fraudulent, they wouldn’t use those same funds to cover their fees or offer partial releases in exchange for removing public criticism.

Termination Without Justification

EMS has now terminated my account, cutting off my ability to use their services and deleting my processing history and transaction records. Terminating my account while holding $4,000 for an arbitrary 120 days is unjustifiable. If I can no longer use their services, there is no reason for them to retain my money.

Manipulative and Unethical Practices

EMS’s representatives have shown a pattern of manipulation and negligence. On January 3, 2025, a representative named Mike assured me my funds would be released if I deleted my reviews. After I complied, EMS claimed additional approvals were needed, leaving me feeling tricked and betrayed. On January 6, 2025, I was bounced between departments, with no one taking responsibility or providing real answers. This disorganized and evasive behavior reflects a deliberate tactic to avoid accountability.

Financial and Emotional Toll

EMS’s actions have devastated my business. I invested heavily in advertising on platforms like Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, expecting a return on that investment. Instead, EMS’s withholding of funds has left me unable to pay employees, cover expenses, or operate effectively. The emotional toll has been equally severe, causing immense stress and depression during what should have been a joyous holiday season. This is not just a financial issue—it is an attack on my livelihood and well-being.

Legal and Ethical Violations

EMS’s actions may constitute violations of several legal principles, including:

1. Breach of Contract: Withholding funds without justification.

2. Unjust Enrichment: Benefiting from holding client funds while continuing to charge fees.

3. Consumer Protection Violations: Coercing me into removing negative reviews under false pretenses.

4. Negligence and Fiduciary Duty: Failing to handle client funds with transparency and accountability.

A Call to Action

To EMS: Release every dollar you are holding, including the $4,000 still on hold. If my account is terminated, there is no justification for continuing to hold my funds for 120 days. I demand full payment immediately.

To other business owners: Avoid EMS at all costs. Their practices are unethical, exploitative, and harmful. If you have been affected, consult an attorney and consider joining or initiating a class action lawsuit. Report EMS to consumer protection agencies, including the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general.

Contact Information

My name is Jaquon Brownridge, owner of Student Loan Free. For further inquiries or to join forces against EMS, please reach out to me at 866-281-1401 or 347-440-2284. Together, we can hold EMS accountable for their predatory practices.

Sincerely,

Jaquon Brownridge

It is a scam company. It is as plain as simple as that. They will hold your money citing chargeback ratio and they will use every wrong chargeback to support their claims and even call customers to scare them into filing a chargeback for already refunded transactions. They have around $14500 of our money on hold. They don’t communicate anything and let your money go into risk reserve so they can hold it for longer periods. We have won every chargeback and whenever we are close to getting below 2% threshold then somehow we get a chargeback for already refunded transaction and EMS says they can’t do anything about it and it has to affect the ratio. This is simply fraud to hold your money. Stay away from them!!!

This business is a scam and nothing will lead me to not believe they are not a scam.

Stay Away from EMS – Unethical Practices and Withholding Funds

Title: Stay Away from EMS – Unethical Practices and Withholding Funds

I’ve been a loyal customer of Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) for a long time, but my recent experience has been absolutely unacceptable. EMS has unjustifiably withheld a substantial batch of my payments. Despite my customer providing proof of payment, including phone calls, emails, and even a picture of their debit card, EMS refused to release the funds and demanded unnecessary verification, causing undue stress for both of us.

To make matters worse, EMS transferred my client’s funds to a bank account I do not have access to. This is alarming and unethical—where did the money go? It feels like EMS is using my funds as an interest-free loan at my expense.

This occurred during the critical holiday season when small businesses like mine depend on cash flow. I can’t process payroll, pay rent, or meet financial obligations. EMS continues to charge me processing fees while withholding my funds, leaving me in a financial bind. How can I pay fees when my money is locked away?

Despite multiple attempts to resolve this, including speaking to customer service, EMS informed me that they won’t release my funds for 120 days, which is unreasonable considering I have no chargebacks or disputes. My client declined to call their bank live, but EMS still withheld the payment, which is highly suspicious.

Other business owners have had similar experiences, with many complaints on platforms like BBB. EMS seems to have a pattern of withholding funds without explanation, which could be violating fair business practices.

I’m consulting with my attorney and exploring legal options. If you’ve been affected, I encourage you to take action as well. We need to stand together and hold EMS accountable for their unethical practices.

I strongly advise against using EMS. Their actions have caused me financial hardship and strained my business relationships. There are many other payment processors that treat clients with respect. EMS must release my funds immediately and stop these harmful practices.

Sincerely,

Jaquon

Stay away from this company! You have been warned. Their risk deprtment is a joke. They called one of my customers and scared him – he didn’t know who EMS was. It turned into a chargeback – we refunded it before that(long time customer) and they closed my account. This has been a horrific experience from the start. This is a third rate credit card processor.

DO NOT do business with this company!!! WARNING!!!!! Horrible processor. HIgh rates. Mabe me take a rserve. One big scam. There must be something wrong with this company. Not sure how they stay in business. I am filing a complaint with the Ohio atornet generals office.

Ems horrible processing company beware!! I’m contacting better business bureau, they have over charged me for the last time their cancellation fee is horrendous. Customer service is uneducated I must have 8 names to this company just to answer a few simple questions. Worst mistake in my 32 year career.

I am having the worst experience with EMS. I opened a small business, and all my client transactions were never sent to my bank account. I have been trying to cancel my account, which has been impossible. I won’t recommend them.

This is been the worst experience ever. First – I signed up for an account with a payment processing and gateway company for my online business named Bankful. The rep for this company is excessively delayed in responding to my questions and does not provide key details about THEIR process. I complete two site verifications (surprise) – two separate visits because of the company’s mistake and misinformation – only to get to the last phase of the process and my account is still not active to process payments. On top of that – NOW they have me calling ANOTHER gateway company to set up the portal – which is what they had led me to believe they do themselves. And this third-party company has no account of my business at all. I would never recommend them to anyone. I’m currently searching for other alternatives.

This company steals money from you. I started selling my artwork online as digital downloads. This was clearly posted in the listing and under terms. I got a message from EMS that they were cancelling my account because I had accrued more than 4 chargeback. I had a heart attack right after opening my store, followed by COVID. The rep that I spoke with was rude, yelling at me, saying that I had not supplied the products. When I explained to him that they were digital downloads so there is no way that they didn’t receive their orders. I also post in the listing that if they have issues with their downloads to notify me, and I will make sure that they receive their order. When I told him that he shut up. He had nothing to come back at me with. However, I got a letter from them that they are withholding my funds, thousands of dollars for 210 days until the complaints were resolved. 210 days is 7 months. Noone else does that. It’s a scam. They probably keep your money and invest it, and then give you your money back after they have made a big profit. I recommend this company to NOONE. They dishonest and do not help merchants at all.

WORST CEO OF 2022 Daniel Neistadt. WORST CEO

Worst company ever stole $37k from my comapny and hangs up phone, rude, will not respond, they play fumble football with the phone and cover each other lies. Email to start a legal battle to get our money back! Sales@lonestarskoolie.com

Absolute worst company I’ve dealt with. I process very few credit card transactions but they continually increased their pricing and then tried to charge my a $600 cancellation fee. They’re a joke.

Worst company ever! Customer service is horrible! Don’t even have an email for customer service. Can’t get problems resolved. Horrible!

Absolutely the worst credit card process company we have used in our office in the last 20 years!!!!!!

Stay damn far from this company btw what’s there legal name seems like there hiding it lol

They did not explain anything regarding the 2 year contract and monthly fees which makes this place a scam!!!!!!!! Crazy fees to cancel!! They should be ashamed

If you’re looking for a Merchant CC processor, This is not the company you want to deal with if you’re a new business. Except you want your funds held for an unreasonable amount of time for any reason as their RISK department so wishes. Their rules are not spelled out, and they will give you any amount of time as a wait period while they hold onto your rolling reserve for as long as they want. Nothing this company says, is ever on the agreement you sign.

Their chargeback processing fee is the highest I’ve seen $45 per chargeback, that is besides the % charged on CC and as monthly fees.

You need to steer clear of this company if you wish to grow. they’re still holding my reserve funding for 210days. I’ve never heard of that from any cc company whatsoever for chargebacks, I’ve asked other people who uses different companies, and the most i heard was 120days, some 90days, 60days. but this crooked company with their rude Customer service Representative in Risk Department Emma, they will frustrate the life out of you. I’m currently seeking help to get my funds with them with the consumer protection agency, Any other assistance to get this good for nothing company to operate by the book is welcome.

Opened an account, was told $29.95 monthly subscription fee, however they charged $75 per month. When I was frustrated, wanted to close the account, they want termination fee $595.00. This company is fraud.

Trying to close my account cost over $600.00 in fees.

Then they tried to push it out one more year.

Feels like fraud when you send in a document then they say it’s for 2022 not 2021. Stay away!!!!!!

Steals money from you without telling you!!! Money that is not in the agreement!

EMS is the worst Merchant service I’ve never deal with. They keep stealing my money from my bank account without my consent. This company is not helping small companies. They are the biggest scam. They are all lying and very contradicting each other. I’m currently shocked and I’m in pain. They are still holding 15% of my money. They’re me a lot of money. The little money I’ve saved so I can feed my kids for the rest of the week is gone. EMS took my money from bank account. I can’t even sleep.

This processor is AWFUL! They’ll hold your money for months on end just trying to figure out their own mistake! Jake Barnhart “Account Executive” who is apparently the “highest person you’ll ever be able to talk to” is useless and spineless. No one takes responsibility for their mess ups and they just blame others. The fees are significantly higher than any other processor also. Overall, waste of time and money.

DO NOT USE!

They are the worst! A predatory company. As new businesses we already have cards stacked against us without companies like this betting on and looking to profit from our defeat! Avoid this company at all costs!!!!!