If your business accepts credit card payments, choosing a merchant services provider is a major decision that should be taken with care. The right company can save you money on processing and equipment fees, protect you from fraud, and make your life easier when questions or issues arise. The wrong company can do the opposite.
To make the best choice, be sure to pay attention to all of the following:
Company location – For the best customer service, choose a local company. Beware of the big companies that have teams of telemarketers signing people up over the phone. There’s no local representation—just an 800 number to call, with a different random person helping you each time.
Reputation – Check to see their rating at the Better Business Bureau. Take a close look at their reviews on Google and Yelp. If a few of their reviews are negative, don’t worry. They can be the best company in the world, and someone out there will complain. But if you see review after review saying things like, “we were promised such-and-such, but the rates we got weren’t even close,” that negative trend is a very bad sign.
Sales process – Work with someone who will take the time to learn enough about your business to ensure you’re getting the best credit card processing system for your needs . Otherwise you can end up overpaying for equipment you don’t need or putting your business at risk for fraud because your system is inadequate.
You should also insist on working with a merchant services company that will do a thorough analysis of your most recent merchant services statement and provide an “apples to apples” comparison. “Had you processed these exact payments on these exact cards with us, this is what it would have cost.” Avoid providers that will just throw a number out there regarding how much you’ll save if you switch to them, without providing any proof.
Equipment options – Avoid companies only have one type of credit card processing equipment that they provide to all of their clients, take it or leave it. Look for a provider that has enough options to ensure you get what you actually need.
References – Always ask for references. If they say, “oh, no, we can’t provide references because of privacy issues,” keep looking. That type of response is always a red flag.
Contracts – There is no reason for you to be locked into a contract. In our opinion, contracts are designed for companies that don’t want to provide customer service. Instead, they lock you in and then charge a cancellation fee when you get disgusted and try to leave.
Set up and tech support – Especially if you are getting a smart terminal or Point of Sale (POS) system, chances are that sooner or later you’ll need tech support. If the company doesn’t do all of the programming and set up for you, and then offer 24/7 tech support for after that, look for one that does.
Want to know where PayProTec West Coast stands on all of these issues? Give us a call. We’re here for you!