Merchant One Review: A Gateway to Effortless Payments

Overview

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida, Merchant One is a payment processing company that has effectively served over 350,000 businesses across various industries, including retail, restaurant, e-commerce, business-to-business, hospitality, and trade shows & events. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services encompassing credit card transactions, virtual terminals, point-of-sale systems, and payment gateway services. It's important to note that MO is a Fiserv reseller specializing in selling and servicing Clover products. While some of these products are accessible through MO's primary terminal placement software, others require upfront payment, such as the Clover Station or Clover Mini. As a prominent payment processor, Merchant One strongly emphasizes security and compliance by strictly adhering to PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). This commitment ensures a robust and secure environment for their payment processing services.

Offers

The company stands out for its comprehensive merchant services, offering tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses.

Integrations: Merchant One understands the importance of seamless integration with various business tools. Their platform offers easy integrations with popular software and applications, ensuring a smooth workflow and enhanced efficiency for businesses of all sizes.

Detailed reporting: The robust reporting feature of Merchant One's business software offers merchants detailed insights into their transactions. By using the software, businesses can access comprehensive reports, ranging from sales trends to customer behavior, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize cash flow and operations.

Gift cards: Merchant One's gift card solutions enable businesses to implement effective marketing strategies and enhance customer loyalty. The customizable gift card feature allows businesses to create branded cards that resonate with their brand identity.

Credit and ACH payment: Merchant One facilitates credit card, debit card, and ACH payments, catering to a broader range of customer preferences. This flexibility ensures that businesses can accommodate diverse payment methods, enhancing the customer experience.

24/7 customer support: Customer support is a top priority for Merchant One. With round-the-clock assistance, businesses can rely on timely and practical support to address any concerns or issues, ensuring smooth operations at all times.

Fast turnaround: Speed is crucial in the world of business, and Merchant One understands this. They offer a quick turnaround, ensuring businesses can quickly set up their payment processing systems and accept payments without unnecessary delays.

Real-time transaction monitoring: With real-time transaction monitoring, businesses can instantly stay informed about their financial activities. This feature adds an extra layer of security and enables quick decision-making based on up-to-the-minute data.

Recurring billing: For businesses that rely on subscription models or recurring billing cycles, Merchant One provides a reliable solution. This feature streamlines the billing process, automating recurring payments and reducing administrative overhead.

Top Features

Merchant One optimizes their services through a user-friendly mobile app, complimentary systems, and equipment, tailoring its features to elevate operational efficiency for businesses in the digital realm.

Mobile app: Merchant One's mobile app is designed to empower businesses on the go. A user-friendly interface allows merchants to accept debit and credit card payments anywhere, providing flexibility and convenience in managing transactions.

Free systems and equipment: Despite the lack of free trials, the company provides cost-free merchant accounts and tools to get you started swiftly. Free POS systems and equipment like card readers enable businesses to kickstart their payment processing journey without a significant upfront investment.

No application fee or setup fees: Merchant One is committed to supporting businesses without burdening them with upfront costs. The company promises no application or setup fees, ensuring that businesses can start accepting payments without worrying about additional expenses.

Setbacks 

High fees, long-term contracts, complicated early termination processes, and a lack of transparency may serve as deal-breakers for businesses seeking clarity and flexibility.

Hidden fees

Many customers complain about the hidden high fees at Merchant One. There are additional charges that the company doesn't mention upfront, like the $99 annual fee. Businesses need to be aware of hidden fees like non-qualified rates, padded assessments, interchange not passed on returns, PCI compliance fees, statement fees, monthly minimum fees, and monthly settlement fees.

Long-term contract

One significant drawback of Merchant One is its three-year contract commitment. Although not clearly stated on their website, numerous reviews highlight this extended contract duration. In certain instances, the company fails to mention it altogether. This extended commitment could potentially hinder businesses, limiting their flexibility to adapt to changing needs or explore alternative service providers.

Early termination complications

Based on various reviews, Merchant One enforces an early cancellation fee of $25 per month for the remaining contract period or a flat fee of $295, whichever is higher. Consequently, clients might face early termination costs ranging from $295 to $875. This significant financial burden is especially detrimental to small businesses, restricting their freedom to choose and effectively binding them to a service they may not want. Additionally, some reviews report that some funds remain frozen post-termination, hindering cash flow.

Pricing

Merchant One presents an appealing fee structure to businesses, starting with a welcoming $0.00 set-up fee, providing an easy entry point for initiating payment processing services. In addition to this, the Terminal Placement Program is available, offering added convenience for merchants. The qualified swiped rate ranges from an enticing 0.29% to 1.55%, ensuring competitive pricing for in-person transactions. Similarly, the qualified keyed-in rate falls within the range of 0.29% to 1.99%, providing flexibility to accommodate various payment methods. With a modest monthly fee of $13.95, businesses benefit from a predictable and manageable cost structure. MO further enhances its appeal by offering flexible equipment lease terms, catering to the unique needs of diverse business types. To add a layer of transparency and customization, the option for Interchange Plus pricing is also available, giving businesses a tailored approach to payment processing fees.

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Security & Compliance

Merchant One prioritizes compliance and security, aligning with industry standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Advanced fraud prevention measures, including real-time transaction monitoring, are in place to promptly identify and mitigate potential fraudulent activities. Ensures their clients are protected through payer authentication. MO promises Payment gateway data security; however, they don't provide specific details about the technologies they use to ensure secure transactions.

Merchant One Reviews

On the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Merchant One has received a 1.52-star rating alongside an A grade. Their reviews predominantly express dissatisfaction, citing high rates, unreturned phone calls, spam calls, hidden fees, and unprofessional customer service reps. After processing it through MO's card reader, one business owner was dismayed to find a missing payment from their account. He then discovered his account had been terminated without any prior notification. Despite the negative feedback, it's worth mentioning that MO has actively responded to these concerns and complaints on the BBB platform, indicating a commitment to addressing customer issues and improving service.

In contrast, Trustpilot presents a more positive narrative with a 4.9 rating. Customers on Trustpilot praise the helpfulness of various customer representatives, highlighting an overall excellent customer service experience. One positive review reports that he got all the help he needed and more from a customer service rep. Another customer said that the company's reps showed empathy and professionalism. And will stop at nothing to satisfy their customers.

Businesses should consider positive and negative feedback to make informed decisions aligned with their needs. However, it's essential not to rely solely on customer feedback. Given the tendency for individuals to be more vocal about negative experiences, it's crucial not to let such reviews disproportionately influence final decisions.

How Do I Contact Merchant One?

If you’re looking to initiate the application process or get in touch with Merchant One, several convenient options are available. New Customers can reach them at (800) 610-4189, and if you're looking for general phone support, call (800) 910-8375. Although they don't have a live chat feature, you can email their support team at support@merchantone.com or inquire about information at info@merchantone.com. For those who wish to send a message directly for a free quote, a contact form is available on the "Contact Us" page. Lastly, their address is 524 Arthur Godfrey Road - 2nd and 3rd Floor, Miami Beach, FL 33140. These contact channels allow users to choose the best method that suits their preferences or urgency.

Takeaway

Merchant One, a prominent credit card processor, caters to the needs of over 350,000 businesses with its seamless integrations, detailed reporting, and continuous customer support. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Miami Beach, the platform specializes in Fiserv's Clover products and prioritizes security through adherence to PCI DSS standards. While MO offers an appealing fee structure featuring a $0.00 set-up fee and competitive transaction rates, potential drawbacks include a mandatory three-year contract and early termination fees. Despite mixed customer reviews on platforms like BBB and Trustpilot, Merchant One's focus on security, transparency, and a comprehensive suite of services positions it as a noteworthy player in the payment processing realm. Businesses considering MO should carefully assess their specific needs in light of the platform's advantages and potential limitations. 

Explore alternative service providers through our comprehensive comparison tool to make well-informed decisions. Additionally, consider checking out our curated list of the best credit card processing companies for valuable insights and detailed information on top-performing options in the industry.

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