Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Review 2023 – High-Risk Merchant Services

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) provides payment processing operations for electronic payments from all financial institutions. Merchants can take EMV-enabled cards and NFC transactions through the firm. High-risk merchants and businesses in a wide range of sectors are all catered to by the company.

Telephone, email, and live assistance are all accessible around the clock from the firm. EMS also provides website design, online payments, and conventional and mobile point-of-sale (POS) equipment leasing for new enterprises. Please find more details about their services in this Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Review!

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS): A Brief Overview

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Origin, Headquarters, and Owners

EMS, created in 1987 and presently managed by CEO Dan Neistadt, has over three decades of expertise in processing payments. 

The firm’s offices are based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Merchant account options for low- and high-risk businesses are available via EMS’s services. 

After 34 years, the firm has evolved into a “direct provider,” serving approximately 35,000 businesses and becoming among the nation’s largest payment providers. 

It has over 35,000 retailers as clients. When it comes to 18-month intervals, EMS provides a tiered pricing structure with pre-built auto-renewal provisions. In addition, the organization levies a high $595 cost for early cancellation of service.

Interested News in History 

2015 saw EMS entangled in litigation questioning the use of a third-party contracting company to contact a small company. The case claimed that the activity violated the Answering Devices Act and Washington Automatic Dialing Act. 

EMS was found not guilty of the charges. The court found that the calling provider was not liable under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, thereby closing the matter.

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Contract and Terms 

An 18-month initial commitment with a $595 early withdrawal charge is required when using EMS’s merchant services solutions directly from the supplier. 

The agreement has an automatic one-year extension provision. EMS also offers an extensive, non-cancelable equipment leasing deal for point-of-sale (POS) equipment, which comes at a high discount.

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Features and Offerings 

• High-Risk Payment Processing 

High-risk merchants in several economic sectors are accepted by EMS, even though the company does not publicize this fact. Because your expenses would be greater than those of a low-risk competitor, you should shop for quotations before committing to a deal.

• Loyalty and Gift Card Programs 

At the minimum, EMS provides present and loyalty points systems and gives basic data regarding these on its webpage, even when you don’t plan to use them.

• Merchant Cash Advance

EMS’s BizFundsTM merchant cash credit service is available to assist smaller firms who need a little more money to get established or develop. BizFunds buys a part of your expected credit card purchases to finance your overdraft, unusual for most of these products.

• Virtual Terminal 

Paying using a payment gateway is a terrific method to manage an online-only company that accepts purchases around the clock. Virtual terminals can be all you want when handling credit card purchases over the telephone or postal mail.

• E-Commerce Support 

All major internet shopping store software can be integrated into EMS’ unique online payment API. In addition to website design and hosting, the firm could also help you create an online shop. You’ll likely pick a decent bargain somewhere prior to actually utilizing EMS for these things.

• Mobile Credit Card Processing 

Many merchant accounts have their specialized smartphone processing platform. Although it’s currently listed as EMS Mobile on the EMS homepage, it looks like this company is being rebranded as MaxxPay Mobile to match the MaxxPay POS terminals used by the firm.

• Restaurant Point of Sale (POS) Solution 

EMS has purchased Total Touch, a Windows-based point of sale (POS) system for eateries and other catering organizations, including equipment and software. 

Total Touch’s extensive menu of services includes workforce management, a kitchen display system, mobile and online ordering, open table management, etc. 

Pricing of Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS)

It is conventional for Electronic Merchant Systems contracts to be for 18 months, with annual renewal for a further 18 months. 

There is a contract termination payment of $595, a month-to-month $50 PCI non-compliance fee, a semi-annual fee of 75 dollars, a monthly minimum fee of 25 dollars, and layered retail prices. 

However, the price for “new tech revamp and update” is not properly delineated, and it is expected to be used instead of the PCI Compliance cost. 

The total cost of such contractual terms is quite high compared to industry benchmarks, and they are far more than the rates offered by the lowest merchant services currently accessible.

Is Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Worth it?

• Excellent Customer and Technical Support 

Phones and emails are EMS’s primary modes of communication to reach clients. It’s said that these possibilities are accessible around the clock, every day of the year. 

Nevertheless, we’ve received many concerns about poor or non-existent customer support from businesses in the reviews area and elsewhere on the web. 

We consider contacting you throughout normal office hours to increase the likelihood of speaking with an agent who could assist with your problem.

• Not Much Complaints/Decent Testimonials 

Feedback from the customers from businesses that use EMS paints a hazy image. The firm has over a hundred good ratings on Google, several of which look legitimate. 

On the other hand, The BBB webpage is littered with complaints from dissatisfied customers of EMS, and you can read about them here.

The Bottom Line

Since its founding, EMS has maintained its accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has earned an A+ rating. Nevertheless, the firm has received 79 claims against itself in the past three years, with 25 allegations lodged against it in 12 months. 

When it comes to new retailers, the company has an enormous amount of features to offer. Still, it also slips into very expensive conditions, including long-term deals with large terminating costs and non-cancelable technology leasing contracts, to make a profit.