Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Review

Rates and Fees
60/100
Truth in Advertising
60/100
Consumer Reviews
60/100
Customer Support
60/100
3.5

Best for

Electronic Merchant Systems is best for small to mid-sized merchants for low and high-risk payment processing.

Specializes in

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) offers merchant accounts services for all major debit and credit cards. The company enables merchants to accept payments via EMV-enabled cards and NFC payments. The company primarily works with merchants in the auto-repair, restaurant, and manufacturing industries, but will work with merchants of all sizes and risk levels. The company offers a phone number, email, and chat for 24/7 support. EMS leases both traditional and mobile POS equipment and also eCommerce options.

Pricing Summary

Setup Fee: $0

Monthly Fee: $0

Swipe Rate: 1.00% - 4.99%

Keyed-in Rate: 1.00% - 4.99%

Early Termination Fee : $595

Contract Terms:

1 Year
Visit Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS)

EMS is an ISO/MSP of multiple partner banks, including Chesapeake Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Esquire Bank, and Merrick Bank.

The company was established in 1987 in Cleveland, Ohio, and EMS's CEO is Dan Neistadt.

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Overview

 

EMS has over three decades of experience in payment processing; founded in 1987 and is currently led by CEO Dan Neistadt. The company's headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio.

EMS's products include merchant account solutions for both low and high-risk merchants. With over 35,000 merchants as customers, the company has grown into a 'direct provider' over the last 34 years and is one of the country's larger payment processors. EMS offers a tiered pricing structure for 18-month periods with auto-renewal clauses built-in. The company also charges a hefty early termination fee of $595. The company also provides non-cancelable long-term equipment leases that have been the subject of many online complaints.

As of this writing, EMS is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has had an A+ rating. However, the company has had 79 complaints filed against it in the last three years and 25 during the previous 12 months. The company has tremendous capabilities to offer to new merchants and sneaks in very pricey terms, such as long-term contracts with high termination fees and non-cancelable equipment lease agreements.

Quick Facts

Head Quarters

Cleveland, Ohio

Year Founded

1988

CEO

Dan Neistadt

Employees

350

Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance

What We Like

Zero account setup fee.

No monthly fee

Merchants can accept payments via EMV enabled cards and NFC payments.

Works with merchants of all sizes and risk levels.

Offers a telephone number, email and chat for 24/7 support.

What We Don't Like

Early termination fee.

One year contract term.

Equipment leases are of a long duration and are not cancelable.

Tiered pricing structure for 18 month periods with an auto renewal structure built in.

Employs outside sales teams.

Industries Served

  • Clothing & Apparel
  • Convenience Store
  • Electronics
  • Gas Station
  • Healthcare
  • Marketing Agency
  • Personal Service
  • Property Management
  • Restaurant / Bar
  • SAAS
  • SEO & SEM Services
  • Thrift Store
  • Web Design Services

Business Types Served

  • Ecommerce
  • Low Risk
  • Mobile
  • Mom & Pop
  • Online
  • Retail / Card Present
  • Small Business
  • Wholesale

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Products & Services

 

Payment Processing: EMS is a direct provider of payment processing services and caters to low and high-risk merchants for debit/credit card, EMV-enabled, and NFC payments.

Point Of Sale (POS) – EMS offers POS terminals in partnership with MaxxPay. These traditional and mobile Android-based POS terminals run can accept magstripe, EMV, and NFC payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

With the company's acquisition of Total Touch, EMS acquired a Window-based POS solutions provider focused on the restaurant industry.

Tertiary Services

EMS offers a service to lets merchants charge a surcharge to clients paying with credit cards to cover interchange fees. Surcharging is a relatively new product iteration being offered by merchant account providers. Although surcharging is gaining popularity as more payment processors and fintech companies start offering the solution, merchants need to be careful as surcharging is still relatively new, comes with many restrictions and prerequisites.

EMS offers its own internally developed payments gateway and virtual terminal that integrates with many eCommerce shopping carts. Virtual terminals can also be used as a standalone for Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO) transactions.

The company offers web design and hosting services and can establish an eCommerce store for merchants.


Value-Added Services. Assigned EMS Rep - each merchant is assigned a rep to help navigate annual PCI compliance and account review. This Personalized Experience Service is a staple for their approach to customer service.

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Payment Processing

  • Cash Transactions
  • Chargeback & Fraud Prevention
  • Contactless NFC
  • Credit Card Processing
  • Credit Card Terminals
  • Debit Card Processing
  • EMV Processing
  • Gift & Loyalty Program
  • Mobile Card Reader
  • Online Payments
  • Online Shopping Cart Integration
  • Payment Gateway
  • POS Equipment
  • Retail Payment Processing
  • Virtual Terminal

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Billing & Invoicing

  • Mobile Payments
  • Online Invoicing
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Processing

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Advertising & Sales

 
There have been many complaints against EMS on BBB and many other online forums and review sites. One of the consistent and recurring complaints against the company is the lack of disclosure and hidden fees against merchants. EMS utilizes

outside sales teams (ISOs), and many of the complaints lodged are consistent with ISO teams, aggressive selling tactics, lack of disclosure on pertinent costs, and long-term noncancelable lock-ins for equipment leases on new unsuspecting merchants.

Truth in Marketing

Discloses All Important Terms

No

Public Pricing Available

No

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Pricing, Rates & Fees

 

EMS offers tiered pricing and charges fees. These costs can further compound if merchants enter into expensive lease agreements with the company.

Swiped Rate – 1.00% - 4.99%

Keyed-in Rate – 1.00% - 4.99%

Contract term – 18 months

Early termination fees – $595

Data breach insurance fee – $15/month

Account fee – $15-$30/month

PCI insurance – $6/month

PCI non-compliance fee – $50/month

Monthly minimum – $0/month

Chargeback fee – $25/occurrence

Equipment cost - $0

Monthly Access (including mailed statements) - $6/month

Discounted rates:

1.01% + $0.10 debit

1.59% + $0.10 Qualified MC/Visa/Discover

2.09% + $0.10 Mid-Qualified

2.89% + $0.10 Non-Qualified

All merchants are charged a semi-annual tech fee of $25.

Pricing at a Glance

Pricing Model

Tiered Pricing

Swiped Rate

1.00% - 4.99%

Keyed-in Rate

1.00% - 4.99%

Mobile Payment Rate

Virtual Terminal Rate

1.00% - 4.99%

Monthly Fee

$0

Payment Gateway Fee

Undisclosed

Batch Fee

Undisclosed

Early Termination Fee

$595

PCI Compliance Fee

$6 monthly

Equipment Lease Terms

No cost equipment available

Address Verification Service (AVS)

Application Fee

Account Setup Fee

$0

Gateway Setup Fee

Annual Fee

Monthly Minimum

25%

Statement Fee

$6

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Contract & Terms

EMS is a direct provider or merchant processing services with an 18-month initial agreement with a $595 early termination fee. The deal carries an auto-renewal clause of one year. EMS also has a long-term non-cancelable equipment lease agreement POS equipment that is offered at a hefty premium.

Contract Length

1 Year

Early Termination Fee

$595

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Setup & Support

 

EMS setup time varies depending on the services acquired. The longest wait is for equipment to arrive.

Underwriting is listed as being same day, meaning a merchant can have their accounts up and running as soon as they have their equipment plugged in. For merchants utilizing eCommerce gateways and apps, an applicant could accept credit cards the same day.

Support is listed as phone, email, and chat. They are all available 24/7 and there are no complaints pertaining to struggles contacting EMS for tech support.

Setup Highlights

  • Documentation / Knowledge Base
  • Live Online (1-on-1)

Support Highlights

  • Domestic Phone Support (Business Hours)

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Complaints, Ratings & Reviews

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) lodged a complaint against EMS and four other payment processors in March 2015 regarding a "phantom debt" scheme that sought to collect outstanding debts from consumers that did not exist. The complaint was later dismissed 0in 2017 by the judge presiding over the case due to technicality where CFPB did not abide by the judge's specific instructions.

The BBB website lists 79 complaints against EMS in the last three years and 25 complaints in the previous 12 months.

Ratings

BBB

A+ and has been Accredited since 2017. (148 Reviews; 78 Complaints)

Google

4.7 Stars / 941 Reviews

Facebook

N/A

Yelp

N/A

Reviews

Total Online Reviews

300+

Total Online Complaints

70+

Lawsuits

1

NEED A MERCHANT ACCOUNT PROVIDER?

If you're in the market for a merchant account provider, be sure to check out our user reviews, our merchant accounts guide and our top popular merchant provider picks

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