Harbortouch Review

Rates and Fees
85/100
Truth in Advertising
95/100
Consumer Reviews
55/100
Customer Support
70/100
3

Best for

Small merchants who want a solid low-cost POS software

Specializes in

Credit and debit processing, POS systems, electronic cash registers

Pricing Summary

Setup Fee: $0

Monthly Fee: up to $39 Per System

Swipe Rate: Interchange-Plus or 1.39% + $0.10

Keyed-in Rate: Interchange-Plus or 1.39% + $0.10

Early Termination Fee : None

Contract Terms:

1 Year
Visit Harbortouch

Harbortouch is a registered ISO/MSP of Merrick Bank that specializes in POS systems for small merchants. Based out of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the company offers attractive rates and several POS systems to choose from. It charges its clients based on an interchange-plus model or a 1.79% plus $0.10 per transaction fee.

Harbortouch Overview

 

Harbortouch is a merchant account provider that was created in 1999. It’s been led since its inception by Jared Isaacman, the company’s current CEO. Harbortouch markets itself as a POS provider for companies operating primarily in the following sectors:


  • Restaurant

  • Retail

  • Healthcare

  • Clothing/apparel

  • Spas and salons


The company employs two different pricing models. Its clients can choose between using an interchange-plus model or a tiered-rates system. Under the tiered model, clients are charged 1.39% + $0.10 per swiped transaction and 1.79% + $.10 for keyed-in transactions.

Harbortouch has a large number of consumer complaints on file. Many of these focus on the company’s hidden upfront and transaction fees. Others reference unclear penalties for breaking contracts and consistent software freezes. However, Harbortouch has responded to some of these complaints by eliminating the early termination fee it charged in the past.

Quick Facts

Head Quarters

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Year Founded

1999

CEO

Jared Isaacman

Employees

250

Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Industries Served

  • Clothing & Apparel
  • Convenience Store
  • Healthcare
  • Personal Service
  • Restaurant / Bar
  • Thrift Store

Business Types Served

  • Ecommerce
  • Enterprise Merchant Accounts
  • Mobile
  • Retail / Card Present
  • Small Business

Harbortouch Products & Services

 

POS Hardware and Systems


Harbortouch’s main service is the provision of POS hardware and systems to small merchants. It offers several choices here, including:

  • Onyx POS

  • Echo POS

  • Electronic cash registers

  • Terminals

  • Wireless terminals

  • HarborPay Mobile POS


The company’s POS systems are their most comprehensive offering. They double as business management tools, which can be used to manage employees and track inventory, among other business tasks.

Payment Processing


You can also establish a merchant account with Harbortouch and they’ll handle your payment processing for you. The company will let you utilize one of its systems or the one that you’re already using. So you don’t necessarily need to swap if you like your current terminal.

The company can process all major debit and credit cards, as well as EMV chip cards and NFC mobile payments. This meets the industry standard but doesn’t exceed it.

Check Services


If you accept checks, then Harbortouch may be able to help you avoid bounced check fees. The company offers what it calls a check guarantee system. This tool scans customers’ checks against a database of known fraudulent check writers and lets you know if anything comes back. 

They can also automatically convert and deposit the checks for you so that you don’t have to take them to the bank yourself.

Harbortouch Payment Processing

  • Check Services
  • Contactless NFC
  • Credit Card Processing
  • Credit Card Terminals
  • Debit Card Processing
  • eCheck & ACH Processing
  • Gift & Loyalty Program
  • Merchant Cash Advance
  • Mobile Payments App
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Gateway
  • POS Equipment
  • Virtual Terminal

Harbortouch Billing & Invoicing

  • Mobile Payments
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Processing

Harbortouch Advertising & Sales

 
Harbortouch hires independent sales agents to sell its products. They’ve been known to use some deceptive tactics and a moderate number of complaints have been filed about them. 

Some of these complaints have referenced a “bait and switch” tactic in which the rates that a merchant was promised during the sales process end up being higher when the time comes to sign the contract.

But Harbortouch doesn’t appear to use any deceptive advertising practices. They don’t generally promote their rates publicly so there’s little opportunity for them to lie about them.

Truth in Marketing

Discloses All Important Terms

No

Public Pricing Available

No

Harbortouch Pricing, Rates & Fees

 

Harbortouch offers four major plans for its clients to choose from. The first is a free plan, meant for very small businesses. You just pay 1.79% + $0.10 per transaction. However, this plan requires you to sign up for a three-year contract.

The company also offers what it calls “Echo” and “Elite” plans. Echo costs $29 a month plus the same per transaction rate from the free plan. It’s meant for small retail and food shops. Elite is meant for larger retailers and restaurants. It has the same per transaction cost but also a $39 monthly fee.

In the past, Harbortouch received lots of negative reviews for its hidden fees. But they appear to have responded to the complaints by eliminating those fees. So keep that in mind when you consider the negative reviews they’ve received.

Pricing at a Glance

Pricing Model

Interchange PlusTiered Pricing

Swiped Rate

Interchange-Plus or 1.39% + $0.10

Keyed-in Rate

Interchange-Plus or 1.39% + $0.10

Mobile Payment Rate

Virtual Terminal Rate

Interchange-Plus or 1.79% + $0.10

Monthly Fee

up to $39 Per System

Payment Gateway Fee

None

Batch Fee

$0.35

Early Termination Fee

None

PCI Compliance Fee

None

Equipment Lease Terms

12 Month (locked); Equipment Termination Fee ($200 - $500)

Address Verification Service (AVS)

Application Fee

Account Setup Fee

$0

Gateway Setup Fee

Annual Fee

Monthly Minimum

$25

Statement Fee

Harbortouch Contract & Terms

Harbortouch has recently changed its contractual terms. In the past, it favored three-year, fixed contracts that were pretty unfriendly towards merchants. But that’s not the case anymore.

Today, Harbortouch uses a one-year contract model without any early termination fees. It also gives merchants the choice between using its interchange-plus or tiered pricing method. So you have some say over what your monthly charges look like when using Harbortouch.

Contract Length

1 Year

Early Termination Fee

None

Harbortouch Setup & Support

 

Setup Highlights

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

Support Highlights

  • Domestic Phone Support (Business Hours)

Harbortouch Complaints, Ratings & Reviews

Harbortouch has received a large number of reviews since its inception. More than 100 complaints have been filed on its BBB page alone. These are split roughly equally between complaints about the company’s product and its billing practices.

However, while the company does have a high rate of complaints, it’s also been proactive about resolving them. They respond to complaints that are listed on their BBB page and attempt to solve the issue for the dissatisfied merchant.

Ratings

BBB

A+ (34 Reviews; 98 Complaints) under Shift4 Payments, LLC

Google

2.7 Stars / 122 Reviews

Facebook

N/A

Yelp

1 Star / 2 Reviews

Reviews

Total Online Reviews

300+

Total Online Complaints

100+

Lawsuits

1

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