Overall Score
How did they treat you?
Eschelon Merchant Services Reviews & Complaints
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| No setup fee. | Monthly fee undisclosed. |
| In-person setup available. | Terms not fully disclosed. |
| Domestic phone support. | Employs independent agents. |
| Provides business loans. | Low risk tolerance. |
| Supports various industries. | Limited customer reviews. |
Overview
Eschelon Merchant Services is a company that provides credit card processing solutions for businesses. This article will review the services offered by Eschelon Merchant Services, including their pricing structure, contract terms, and customer feedback. We will examine the transparency of their fees, the quality of their customer support, and the overall satisfaction reported by their clients. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of what Eschelon Merchant Services offers and whether their services are suitable for your business's payment processing needs.
About Eschelon Merchant Services
Eschelon Merchant Services is a merchant account provider headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. According to public complaints, Eschelon appears to be either affiliated with or a major independent reseller of Northern Leasing Systems. There is also some evidence that Eschelon operates a DBA or subsidiary called Smart Card Merchant Services.
Echelon Merchant Products and Services
Payment Processing
Eschelon Merchant Services offers customized payment processing solutions with transparent interchange-plus pricing. Merchants can access their accounts online for ease of management.
Business Cash Advances
Eschelon provides business cash advances up to $1,500,000. The application process is straightforward with no fees, easy credit restrictions, and approvals typically within 24-48 hours. Funding is usually completed in seven days.
Equipment and Software
Eschelon supplies the necessary equipment and software for payment processing, including traditional POS terminals and gateways. Their offerings also include the MX POS system, which features business management tools like inventory and coupon management.
Working Capital
Through its financial services department, Eschelon offers working capital to help business owners expand and fund their operations via their merchant cash advance program.
MX POS System
The Merchant Services MX POS system from Eschelon helps businesses manage customer spending, financial statistics, and inventory.
E-commerce Solutions
Eschelon supports e-commerce businesses with services to track and monitor sales. They provide secure payment processing, recurring billing, online invoicing, and integration with popular e-commerce gateways and shopping carts.
Agent/ISO Program
Eschelon’s Agent/ISO program includes aggressive revenue sharing, a sophisticated portfolio management tool, and dedicated agent support staff.
Nonprofit Support
The “Project Give Back” program by Eschelon offers a recurring stream of donations for nonprofit organizations.
Eschelon Merchant Services Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
| Total Online Complaints | 30+ |
|---|---|
| Live Customer Support | Yes |
| Most Common Complaint | Equipment Lease |
| Recent Lawsuits | No |
Moderate Complaint Total
Eschelon Merchant Services has garnered over 30 reviews across various consumer protection websites, with some expressing concerns about deceptive sales tactics and unfavorable equipment lease terms through Northern Leasing. While these complaints are notable, Eschelon has not publicly addressed them, raising questions about its commitment to customer satisfaction. The company’s rating in this aspect is influenced more by the nature of the complaints than their volume. If you have your own experience with Eschelon Merchant Services, we encourage you to share it in the comments below.
Eschelon Merchant Services Lawsuits
As of our investigation, there are no outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints against Eschelon Merchant Services. Dissatisfied clients seeking recourse against the company may explore options such as reporting issues to relevant supervisory organizations.
Eschelon Merchant Services Customer Support
While Eschelon offers phone and email support, recent feedback suggests issues with unreachable phone numbers and unresponsive emails, falling short of expectations for top-rated merchant accounts for customer service.
Eschelon Merchant Services Contact Information
- (877) 449-4285 – Toll-Free Support
- (866) 511-1675 – Fax
Other Support Options
- Support form
- Customer service email addresses
Eschelon Merchant Services Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
| BBB Rating | N/A |
|---|---|
| Average Rating | N/A |
BBB Rating Analysis for Eschelon Merchant Services
Eschelon Merchant Services is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating. However, there are no customer reviews or complaints listed on the BBB website for this business.
Negative Feedback
There are no negative reviews available to provide as the business has no customer reviews on the BBB website.
Positive Feedback
There are no positive reviews published about Eschelon Merchant Services on the Better Business Bureau website.
Source: Better Business Bureau
Eschelon Merchant Services Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
| Cancellation Penalties | Unclear |
|---|---|
| Monthly & Annual Fees | Unclear |
| Processing Rates | Interchange + |
| Equipment Leasing | Yes |
Variable Contract Terms
Details regarding Eschelon’s contract terms are scarce, as there are few complaints explicitly referencing transaction fees, early termination fees, PCI Compliance fees, monthly minimums, or other fees. The rates and fees charged by Eschelon for credit card processing services don’t seem to be major concerns. Interestingly, Eschelon promotes the use of interchange-plus pricing, known for its transparency. Readers are encouraged to consult our list of the top merchant accounts for comparison.
Long-Term Equipment Leases
Eschelon is often associated with equipment leases through Northern Leasing Systems, which has become a significant issue for its clients. Northern Leasing is known for long-term, non-cancellable, and costly equipment leases. Most complaints against Eschelon involve Northern Leasing, impacting Eschelon’s reputation more than its merchant agreement terms. This relationship with Northern Leasing significantly hinders Eschelon’s ability to rank alongside the most affordable merchant accounts.
Eschelon Merchant Services Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
| Uses Independent Resellers | Yes |
|---|---|
| Telemarketing | Likely |
| Misleading Marketing | No |
| Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Outside Sales Team
Eschelon advertises a “Merchant Services ISOs & Agent Program” on its website which indicates that it employs independent resellers. This hiring strategy often results in a team of unsupervised or untrained sales agents and is commonly linked to merchant complaints. In this case, most negative Eschelon Merchant Services reviews describe aggressive telemarketing and deception with regard to the company’s equipment leases through Northern Leasing. Complainants allege that Eschelon sales agents intentionally misrepresent rates and fees and fail to disclose the 36- to 48-month non-cancellable lease that accompanies the service. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Eschelon Slamming Tactics Revealed
Some older complaints also describe tactics that closely resemble “slamming” scams, in which an Eschelon agent will call and claim to be with “Merchant Services” in order to persuade a business to purchase new equipment. This is corroborated by an account in the comment section below this review:
I worked for one day and never went back due to the harassing telephone calls we were required to make to each potential customer. It was stressed during training that each potential customer MUST BE CALLED THREE TIMES before entering the potential customer’s name as “not interested”. Many people I called that one day were furious at being bothered repeated times. We employees were also required to follow a script that clearly and intentionally failed to describe the service being provided properly. We were also ordered to inform each person called that their current merchant services account had changed and that we were simply calling to advise them of that change. We were then supposed to attempt to set up a “free meeting” with a rep in order to provide them with “up to 40 to 60% savings” each year.
As if on cue, an unverified positive testimonial posted in the comment section a few months after this report mentions “monthly savings within the 40%-60% range every month.”
No Deceptive Quotes
The Eschelon website actively promotes interchange-plus pricing, which is the most transparent pricing model available. Although there is no indication that this pricing structure is misleadingly promoted, the company’s reputation with regard to its equipment lease sales inclines us to warn readers against taking the company’s word on this. Business owners should be sure to confirm that the rate structure they will receive is true interchange-plus rather than a tiered model that has been misrepresented.
Our Eschelon Merchant Services Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Eschelon Merchant Services rates poorly as a credit card processing provider. Despite its relatively small size, the company has accumulated a significant number of severe complaints. Its reliance on questionable sales tactics, a disappointing BBB score, and costly equipment leases through Northern Leasing have collectively dragged down its overall rating. Additionally, the intentional misspelling of “echelon” in the company’s name could cause confusion for individuals searching for “Echelon Merchant Services.” At this time, readers would likely secure a more favorable deal by choosing a top-rated merchant account provider instead.
Location & Ownership
Eschelon is headquartered at 8125 N 23rd Ave Ste 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85021, and is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, California. Rishank Baweja is listed as the president of Eschelon Merchant Services, while Daniel Drake is listed as the company’s vice president of business development. Daniel Drake is also listed as a managing member of EMV Payment Systems, which suggests a connection between the two Phoenix-based organizations. As of this update, Eschelon Merchant Services appears to now also operate under the name of Eschelon Financial Group, LLC, which lists the same Arizona business address.
If you found this article helpful, please share it!
Colin Doffing
I sold my business and we are trying to switch ownership over to the new owners and no one is getting back to us. MXMerchant has also tried leaving messages and yet still no response. Can anyone tell us if this company is still in business? We paid them 2400 dollars in fees last month and yet we can’t even contact them.
Kathleen Brooks
There is no way to contact this business. Phone numbers are out of service and emails are never returned. They are still charging me a fee every month!
From The Editor
This Post Might Help: Cancelling a Merchant Account Without Paying a Fee
Richard C.
These salespeople are good, and they do call back 3 times as they are required. Although we get one of these type calls a week, I actually listened to the person because she sounded so authentic. Ask them to give you a physical address of the company (if you take their call at all). In this case the company named was Smart Card Merchant Services. I looked up the phone number from their website while she was on the phone, and it is a UPS Store in Phoenix. When confronted, the sales caller reluctantly gave me 3320 W. Shero Drive, which is the address for Eschelon Financial Group. I have not done business with them, and will not, but it seems to me… buyer beware of a company that uses a UPS store for one of their headquarters. She gave all of the sales script that others have noted here. My credit score was upgraded recently, they are a wholesaler, schedule a visit, etc. It’s tough to find complaints or reviews for Smart Card MS so just know that it’s Eschelon Financial Group.
Debbie Martinelli
I have been processing with Eschelon Merchant Services for the last three years in all five of my pet supply locations and there is NOTHING bad that I can say about my Wholesale Conversion. My local Rep Michael Lee ALWAYS services me, always answers my calls, and the Customer Service Department is ALWAYS helpful! I see monthly savings within the 40%-60% range every month which I put back into the bottom line of my business, and now I have earned more than enough money to open up a 6th location! This is one of the best business decisions that I have ever made!
CPO
Hi Debbie,
Please reply to this comment with your business name and location in order to authenticate your testimonial. Thanks!
Kathleen Downes
I had all of the above happen to me. I was called and agreed to a meeting as I’m was unhappy with the current processor. Sean V., the sales rep did an excellent job on selling me the advantages and that I was going ‘direct’ with first data – no intermediary. What a liar! He would take care of all the details of cancelling my account with my processor and get me all set up…not ONCE mentioning the 48 month non-cancellable lease. I’m embarrassed that I was scammed like this. He did nothing to cancel my account with my previous processor nor did he take care of any early cancellation fees. I no longer take uninvited calls from marketers for ANYTHING! If I did not seek you out, I don’t want to talk to you.
Heather Coover
I made the mistake of accepting a call center position at this company. I worked for one day and never went back due to the harassing telephone calls we were required to make to each potential customer. It was stressed during training that each potential customer MUST BE CALLED THREE TIMES before entering the potential customer’s name as “not interested”. Many people I called that one day were furious at being bothered repeated times. We employees were also required to follow a script that clearly and intentionally failed to describe the service being provided properly. We were also ordered to inform each person called that their current merchant services account had changed and that we were simply calling to advise them of that change. We were then supposed to attempt to set up a “free meeting” with a rep in order to provide them with “up to 40 to 60% savings” each year. I am embarrassed that I worked here, even if it was only for one day. What a scam!
Johnny jones
Me too. I believe the phone reps get sucked in this “sales” job. The company lies to the auto dialer, creating a ridiculous sense of “urgency” about a change to their account. They are told never to take no for an answer, keep calling the person who gets angry most of the time. Ridiculous! Also give a bogus 888 # to call. Owners are elusive snakes who should be shut down by the attorney general office of az.