UPDATE 1/8/2019: First Data appears to have discontinued its Pogo product line and replaced it with Clover Go. See our Clover review for up-to-date information about First Data's mobile payment processing solution.
Launched in 2012, Pogo (pogopayment.com, stylized as “Pogo>”) is a mobile payment processing service offered by First Data. Like Square or GoPayment, Pogo allows customers to accept credit and debit card payments via their smartphone or tablet using a small card-reading device and downloadable mobile app. Pogo also offers funding alerts, email and text receipts, account management tools, and free merchant account support. First Data is headquartered at 6200 S. Quebec St, Englewood, Colorado 80111 and uses Wells Fargo as its acquiring bank. Frank Bisignano is listed as the CEO of First Data.
Pogo Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints
<10
Live Customer Support
Yes
Most Common Complaint
N/A
We are currently able to locate a handful of Pogo negative reviews, none of which accuse the service of being a ripoff or a scam. These complaints are mostly related to technical issues such as the inability to use the app on a rooted Android phone or difficulty logging in, but complainants also mention poor customer service from First Data reps. The Pogo website offers an FAQ section and live chat, but does not seem to provide phone support information. Pogo customer service is offered through First Data’s customer service department, which generally receives average reviews. It is likely that many Pogo complaints are filed against First Data rather than the Pogo app itself, so merchants are advised to research both entities before deciding upon a service.
Pogo Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
Online Ratings Summary
Product & Service Complaints
629
Billing & Collection Complaints
361
Advertising & Sales Complaints
106
Guarantee & Warranty Complaints
1
Delivery Complaints
5
Note: We have adjusted this company’s BBB rating according to our own standards. To better understand why we adjust BBB ratings, please see our Rating Criteria.
Pogo is not listed with the Better Business Bureau, though its parent company, First Data, is. As of this review, First Data has an “A+ rating with the BBB and has had 1102 complaints filed against it in the last 36 months. Of these complaints, 629 stemmed from problems with products or services, 361 from billing or collection issues, and 106 from advertising or sales issues. Five were filed regarding problems with delivery and one for guarantee or warranty issues. Of the total complaints, 809 were successfully resolved. The remaining 293 complaints were not resolved to the customer’s satisfaction. It is difficult to determine how many of these complaints have been filed in relation to the Pogo service, so we have adjusted the BBB’s rating to an average grade of “B” for the purposes of this review.
Pogo Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
Cost & Fees Summary
Swiped Rate
2.69% + $0.15
Keyed-in Rate
3.69% + $0.15
Early Termination Fee
None
PCI Compliance Fee
None
Equipment Lease Terms
None
Pogo offers rates of 2.69% plus $0.15 for swiped (card-present) transactions and 3.69% plus $0.15 for keyed-in (card-not-present) transactions. These rates are roughly comparable to those offered by similar mobile processing services, and the company provides a free card reader for merchants. According to the Pogo website, the service may be terminated at any time without a fee, and there is no monthly minimum fee. We were unable to locate any information regarding PCI Compliance fees that may be charged by Pogo, and the product’s “Help” page claims that merchants can cancel their Pogo service at any time.
Pogo might score better in this section if it provided its terms and conditions to the public. The fact that the app processes through First Data suggests that caution should be exercised among merchants before signing up. First Data can offer very competitive contract terms or very expensive contract terms depending on several factors, but we are currently unable to check its advertised terms against an official document. If you have any specific knowledge of the standard Pogo contract terms, please leave that information in the comment section of this review.
Pogo Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers
Yes
Advertises Deceptive Rates
No
Discloses All Important Terms
No
First Data markets Pogo through its own websites and as part of its large array of services. Merchants may therefore come across Pogo through traditional means or a part of a service package offered by a First Data sales representative. First Data employs a large army of independent sales agents, ISOs, sub-ISOs, and resellers to market its services, so merchant reviews of the company’s sales team are predictably mixed. The official advertising materials for Pogo do not appear to engage in any deceptive rate quotes or partial disclosure, but the company does not appear to make its terms of service available to the public.
Our Pogo Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
Pogo rates as an average mobile payment processing service according to all available information. The app’s rating is lowered due to the fact that it is offered through First Data, but there are not many online complaints directed specifically toward Pogo at this time. Pogo’s grade may improve or diminish as more becomes known about its contract terms.
Testimonials & Complaints
How Did Pogo Treat You?
2 User Reviews
Martin Swartout
Pogo Merchant Services contacted me at my home phone, leaving a message with my distraught wife. It seems that they were attempting to contact me regarding a “recent application of Pogo Merchant Serivces, credit card processing” in my name and they wanted information and verification.
Given that my wife and I both were recent victims of Anthem Blue Cross’ Data Breech…. where 80,000 clients, us included, had all of our Identify Information stolen… I would think that Pogo would be understanding that I wanted them to call me back.
I did return your call, Susan, and provided information to you that I had not applied for any Pogo services that, as far as I was concerned it was a bogus application and likely the result of someone trying to hijack my identity. Courtesy would dictate that you respond to my queries, wouldn’t you think.
This is the third day since Susan de Angeles called me. I am writing this because, each of the subsequent three days, I have telephone to speak with them 2-3 times each day. I know that Florida is EST and, here in Nevada it is PST but, knowing that, I am knowledgable enough to call them twice during what I would assume to be their business hours (7am-1pm PST), and a third time around 3PST (6PM EST)… when I know not expect to do anything except leave a message.
To Susan de Angeles, of Pogo Merchant Services, I am not impressed. If you are a business considering Pogo Merchant Services, ask whether you wish to deal with someone whose lack of respect and courtesy, in a matter such as this, is demonstrated so clearly. I know that I seek courteous, helpful, professionals when I am looking to develop any professional relationship; that is especially true if money and profits are involved. Perhaps their clientele is based upon those who are not so discriminating as to desire courtesy, service, and response.
Martin Swartout
Dixon's Dawg House
I tried POGO, which was offered through my credit union. TERRIBLE service, inaccessible website, and no answer on the customer service line. I’ve not been open for business very long, but discovered their swipe doesn’t work, so every entry had to be keyed in; which means I pay 3.69% interest rather than the 2.69% they advertised. I am contacting my Credit Union to let them know my experience in hopes that they drop promoting this terrible company. We are using Square in another business for about two years without one problem. I have contacted Square and set up an account with them.
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Martin Swartout
Pogo Merchant Services contacted me at my home phone, leaving a message with my distraught wife. It seems that they were attempting to contact me regarding a “recent application of Pogo Merchant Serivces, credit card processing” in my name and they wanted information and verification.
Given that my wife and I both were recent victims of Anthem Blue Cross’ Data Breech…. where 80,000 clients, us included, had all of our Identify Information stolen… I would think that Pogo would be understanding that I wanted them to call me back.
I did return your call, Susan, and provided information to you that I had not applied for any Pogo services that, as far as I was concerned it was a bogus application and likely the result of someone trying to hijack my identity. Courtesy would dictate that you respond to my queries, wouldn’t you think.
This is the third day since Susan de Angeles called me. I am writing this because, each of the subsequent three days, I have telephone to speak with them 2-3 times each day. I know that Florida is EST and, here in Nevada it is PST but, knowing that, I am knowledgable enough to call them twice during what I would assume to be their business hours (7am-1pm PST), and a third time around 3PST (6PM EST)… when I know not expect to do anything except leave a message.
To Susan de Angeles, of Pogo Merchant Services, I am not impressed. If you are a business considering Pogo Merchant Services, ask whether you wish to deal with someone whose lack of respect and courtesy, in a matter such as this, is demonstrated so clearly. I know that I seek courteous, helpful, professionals when I am looking to develop any professional relationship; that is especially true if money and profits are involved. Perhaps their clientele is based upon those who are not so discriminating as to desire courtesy, service, and response.
Martin Swartout
Dixon's Dawg House
I tried POGO, which was offered through my credit union. TERRIBLE service, inaccessible website, and no answer on the customer service line. I’ve not been open for business very long, but discovered their swipe doesn’t work, so every entry had to be keyed in; which means I pay 3.69% interest rather than the 2.69% they advertised. I am contacting my Credit Union to let them know my experience in hopes that they drop promoting this terrible company. We are using Square in another business for about two years without one problem. I have contacted Square and set up an account with them.