Compare Merchant Accounts-7 Things to Know!
If you’re shopping around to compare merchant accounts and the sales rep fails to mention any of the 7 items below, be sure to ask.
Remember, just because they don’t bring them up doesn’t mean they won’t be charging you for them.
Do they work with clients that have credit issues?
Tough question to ask – but you will save a lot of time and frustration by asking this question right away if you fall into this category. Many processors will not approve accounts if the merchant has a FICO score below 600, and some sales people will avoid the question altogether, as they get paid for a submitted account. You end up wasting valuable time submitting applications & support documents only to get the door slammed in your face when your application gets declined. Getting declined for something sucks, we understand that. That’s why we have partners that specialize in working with clients with credit issues.
Do their credit card merchant accounts require you to sign a 2-3 year contract?
And then if you cancel early for any reason, will they charge you a cancellation fee ($200.00-$500.00)?
Do they charge you an annual fee?
A lot of companies that offer cheap merchant accounts (especially those offering you a “free” terminal) will charge you a yearly fee that ranges from $30.00-$200.00. They’ll either call it an annual fee, membership fee, or a risk assessment fee.
Do not confuse this fee with the new PCI compliance fee that took effect in 2010. Beginning then, all merchants that have a merchant account have to pay an annual fee for PCI compliance certification.
Do they want you to lease a terminal?
Depending on your equipment, you’ll be paying $30.00+ per month for 36-48 months in a non-cancelable lease. Most leasing companies will not give you a break for paying the lease off early – and you’ll also pay a “lease buy-out fee” at the end of the lease (approx 10%). Overall, you’ll end up paying 5-10 times the amount of a cash purchase.
Beware of some ‘free terminal’ offers.
When you compare merchant accounts for retail processing, remember that there is no such thing as a “free” terminal. Most providers that offer credit card merchant accounts and so-called “free” terminals make up the difference by charging you high credit card processing rates, annual fees, & then require a 2-3 year written commitment from you. By the end of the first term you will have paid much more in excessive fees for the “free” terminal than you would if you had just bought one. Remember, you can always purchase an inexpensive refurbished terminal – they are fine. Most have a 1-year warranty – and processors will usually swap out your terminal for free if it ever breaks or malfunctions, as long as you’re still processing with them.
We currently offer a free terminal/software placement program for our US clients with no annual or early termination fees.
Do they offer after hours support?
Be sure to ask about after hours support. Do they provide 24/7 live support in case of card issues at night or during the weekends? The last thing you want is to lose sales due to card related issues because of long hold times or lack of after hours support.
Do they offer a compatible internet gateway?
If you have a website and you need to compare merchant accounts for credit card processing online, it’s critical that your shopping cart be compatible with the processor’s online payment gateway. Check to be sure your shopping cart will communicate with the processor’s payment gateway – before signing up for an internet merchant account.
Are you shopping for a better rate? Let us save you money!
Most merchants are unaware that interchange rates are adjusted as much as 2x per year. Over the course of several years, those adjustments can hike up a merchant’s rate and cost the merchant thousands in processing fees. Contact us via the form above, or call us today at 888-383-8056. Chances are, we can save you up to 25% over your existing rates and fees!
Why do businesses choose to work with The Transaction Group?
- We aim for 100% customer satisfaction. We understand that the customer comes first. At the end of the day, if the customer is not happy, we’re not happy.
- We offer a FREE rate analysis to every business. In most cases, we can save a business up to 25% on existing rates and fees. But if we can’t beat a customer’s rate, we’re upfront from the start. We don’t waste the customer’s time.
- We are reliable and always available. If a customer has any concerns, we’re available even after business hours. We’ll address any issues immediately.
- We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all.We provide solutions based on the specific requirements of each and every business. What’s best for one small business may not work for another.
- We have a fast & easy setup process. In most cases, we offer a fast and easy approval and set up. While some high risk businesses can have longer underwriting times, we keep the customer informed throughout the process and work for fast approvals.
- We have solutions for every business type. From low-risk card-present credit card processing solutions to payment processing solutions for high risk e-commerce stores, we’ve got it all.
