Best for
Small to medium-size restaurants and retail businesses. Solutions offered to cater to the service industry.
Specializes in
Boasts 98% account approvals. Specialize in providing customized hardware and software to fit industry-specific needs.
Pricing Summary
Setup Fee: $0
Monthly Fee: Undisclosed
Swipe Rate: Variable
Keyed-in Rate: Variable
Early Termination Fee : $250
Contract Terms:
MSI Merchant Services which has alternative dba names like Shift4 Payments, LLC and Shift4 Corporation is also the parent company of Harbortouch. MSI is a registered ISO/MSP of Citizens Bank, N.A., Providence, RI, and Merrick Bank, South Jordan, UT.
They specialize in service industry accounts (restaurants, bars, salons, etc.) and hardware and software to support these businesses.
MSI Merchant Services is an alternate dba name of Shift4 which is headquartered at 2202 North Irving Street, Allentown, PA 18109 with 11 additional domestic offices. The company was founded in 1999 and Mr. Jared Isaacman is listed as the CEO.
The company promotes Harbortouch equipment and machines but also offers other vendors. They advertise powerful reporting features and business management tools as value-added services.
Head Quarters
New Providence, New Jersey
Year Founded
1989
CEO
David Labbe - Vice President
Employees
10
Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance
Hardware and Software
MSI’s website promotes Harbortouch POS systems but they also offer Hypercom, Nurit, and VeriFone products.
They offer standalone terminals, wireless options, Ethernet-friendly hardware, and compact pin pads.
They promote a software called TabbedOut which allows mobile payments for customers.
They also promote their Harbortouch Tableside app which functions as a POS system using an iPad or tablet as the hardware. This software allows patrons to enter their orders at the bar or table.
Value-Added Services
MSI Merchant Services touts many features of their systems that cater to restaurants and bars. One service is online ordering to complete purchases.
They tout the ability to completely customize menus.
They offer an online reservation system and a table tracker to manage tables also.
MSI promotes the TabbedOut software that allows customers to order themselves and open tabs.
Beyond these industry-specific benefits, they also offer extensive reporting software for transactions that allows business owners to analyze sales and manage employees and inventory.
MSI includes access to 24/7 technical support and remote access to be able to troubleshoot issues without having a site visit.
Supported Payment Types and Services
MSI Merchant Services is able to accept all major credit cards, debit cards, e-checks, Apple Pay, PaymentSphere payments, and gift cards. They offer 50 free gift cards for a 60-day trial period and charge $9.95 monthly beyond the trial.
Through third-party partnerships with high risk merchant processors, they are able to extend accounts to high risk businesses.
Discloses All Important Terms
No
Public Pricing Available
Yes
Based on the outdated rate sheet, it appears MSI Merchant Services uses an interchange-plus pricing model. As of 2014, the rate was 1.79% plus $.10. There is also a $.35 batch fee, $25 monthly service fee, set up fees, and a monthly fee per terminal of $19.95.
Pricing Model
Tiered Pricing
Swiped Rate
Variable
Keyed-in Rate
Variable
Mobile Payment Rate
Virtual Terminal Rate
Variable
Monthly Fee
Undisclosed
Payment Gateway Fee
Undisclosed
Batch Fee
Undisclosed
Early Termination Fee
$250
PCI Compliance Fee
$99
Equipment Lease Terms
Variable
Address Verification Service (AVS)
Application Fee
None
Account Setup Fee
$0
Gateway Setup Fee
Annual Fee
$99 (annual postage and handling fee)
Monthly Minimum
$25
Statement Fee
$5
A 2014 contract is posted on the website but it does not disclose all terms. It does indicate there is a $250 early termination fee. There are several negative reviews involving account charges and contract terms.
A two-year contract term is mentioned in reviews.
Contract Length
3 Years
Early Termination Fee
$250
MSI Merchant Services promotes on-site installation by their professionals. They also offer training on your system. Advanced training is available after installation over the phone.
They offer 24/7 technical support and live troubleshooting with remote access so they can diagnose issues without being on-site.
There is an email listed for service as well as a toll-free number.
BBB Rating
According to the Better Business Bureau, there are an extensive amount of negative reviews and complaints against the business. There are 56 complaints closed within the past year. There are 24 customer reviews and the average customer rating is 1.13/5.
Many of the complaints mention nondisclosure of terms and fees.
Most customer reviews complain of unfair fees and dissatisfaction with customer service.
Customer reviews are not used in the BBB rating. Currently, MSI has an A+ business rating. Although there are many complaints against the business, if the business responds appropriately in a timely manner, it will not impact the rating.
Other Online Reviews
There are several additional negative reviews found online for MSI. Some of these mention harassment from sales agents who call constantly.
Other reviews mention similar issues as the BBB website, claiming they were subjected to non-disclosed fees and conditions.
BBB
A+ and has been accredited since 2010.
No Reviews
N/A
Yelp
1 Star / 3 Reviews
Total Online Reviews
100+
Total Online Complaints
50+
Lawsuits
None
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