Comments on: Central Payment (CPAY) Review

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:06:26 +0000

This company charges you even after you have cancelled service. they continue to take money from you r account MONTHS after cancellation!!! Service is TERRIBLE! Fees are OUTRAGEOUS!! Do NOT NOT NOT do business with this company! You will get screwed!!! We had done business with these people for 4 years, never any charge-backs, no major issues, the first issue I ever had was with a machine which was supposed to be replaced at no charge...They OF COURSE charged me for it. Then proceeded to tack on a monthly insurance charge as well!!! I couldn't believe it! They make you jump through hoops to cancel services and it's really just NOT worth it! Too much hassle and the customer service people are RUDE! I don't recommend this service to ANYONE.

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By: Yevi Abramovich

Yevi Abramovich — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:59:50 +0000

BEWARE !!! Service 0 !!! What ever their reps say is lies. Find different company. Been with them for three year and when decided to cancel because of excessive fees was informed that i have to pay $300 early termination fees (SIGNED FOR 1 YEAR CONTRACT) then faxed them 30 day cancellation notice and they still charged $300. Their customer service is very rude and all they do is transfer from one manager to another. DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.

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By: Tommy Chang

Tommy Chang — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:12:24 +0000

Mr. Pentz's merchant account rates were adjusted for October and was issued a retroactive credit for previous months. Credit was posted to the account the following week. If Mr. Pentz would like to discuss this please give me a call anytime at 415-462-8341.

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By: Ronald Headley

Ronald Headley — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Nery Espinal – Merchant Relations – Central Payment contacted me via email today and gave me a phone number. I called and talked with him – Central Payment has dropped the early cancellation fee – and the entire run around about getting a letter from my landlord that I am in fact closing. So my opinion of Central Payment has now changed. I had been with them for five years and had never had a problem – NOW I AM HAPPY TO REPORT that they in fact DO have customer support and ARE willing to make changes. I can once again Recommend them as a company that is able to provide Merchant Credit Solutions for small business
Here is a copy of the email received —- I will say if you happen to get into any problem with Central Payment that you call Mr. Espinal he certainly made a huge difference for me and my opinion of this company

It was a pleasure speaking with you this morning. I appreciate your remarks and am glad we were able to correct any misunderstandings. As per our conversation your account has been closed with no cancellation fee. You will only be responsible for the monthly processing fees for the month of October 2011.

If you don’t mind, please email me when you have addressed the postings online so that I may update my executives. Feel free to keep my information in your records should you find the need to accept credit cards again in the future.

Best regards,
Nery Espinal
Merchant Relations
Central Payment
Phone: (800) 449-8012 Ext 7369
Fax: (866) 618-8284
Email: nespinal@cpay.com

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By: Ronald Headley

Ronald Headley — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:14:04 +0000

I just got off the phone with Central Payment - San Rafael CA - I have been using them as my credit card merchant service for 5 years. I was told that the only way I can cancel is to pay them a $300 early cancellation fee -Early?? I have been with them for 5 years - my original contract was for three years - apparently they renew the contract automatically every year for a year. I am closing my business - apparently they will refund $150 if I get my landlord to send them a certificate that I have in fact closed my business. First why this cancellation fee? Second why should I get my landlord involved? Central Payment is NOT a company to do business with - they will screw you on the front end with high entry fees and an expensive credit swipe terminal, next they will increase their fees and finally when you want to leave they will hit you with a very high fee just to quit using them. Anyone reading this DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH CENTRAL PAYMENT

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By: Tucker Pentz

Tucker Pentz — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:32:15 +0000

I wish I could give Central Payment or CPay 0 stars. I signed up with them based on a quote they gave me based on my previous processor with 95% of charges at Mid or Qualified rate . Suddenly with my first bill 90% of my charges ran at the very high Non-Qualified rate. The next month I reverted to my previous credit processing company and the charges were as they had always been. I have a subscription service based business and hold the same client credit cards on file which I charge each month. When I tried to resolve this I was promised credits and a rate adjustment. I tried them a second time and the rates were the same. I called in and asked how to resolve this and they said I can pay the high rates or pay a huge cancellation fee, "per my signed contract". This company uses a bait and switch tactic. Do not believe anything they say.

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By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:56:28 +0000

After reading all the comments here, as an Agent of Cpay for 4 years, I feel the need to respond on the behalf of CPAY.

CPAY Execs work “VERY” hard to make sure CPAY is the difference in an industry inundated with negativity and unethical practices.

CPAY is “Intentional” in not wanting to have the negative reputation that many processing companies are willing to settle for as long as they still make money off of you.

I am happy to work with Cpay because it is one of the FEW companies that exist in the merchant processing industry that IS ethical, demands it from it’s Agents and also offers excellent support, especially tech support. The CPAY Tech guys go above and beyond to solve issues and see them through to customer satisfaction. It is not a perfect world though. And, just as in your own business, there are days they are buried busy and every now and then a tech thing that has a quirk (it is technolgy after all). Sometimes tech issues have “nothing” to do with the processing company – it has to do with your phone lines or phone service and the tech guys “still” I have witnessed go above and beyond to not leave you hanging. I had one tech support person even go so far as to call ATT for a merchant to have them check for “noise” in the line because the phone company said the line was “fine”. It was “fine” but the noise in the line conflicted with the signals the credit card machine was trying to send. A+ went to that tech guy that day and … fyi… it was a Saturday.

I know firsthand of Agents that are Independent Contractors that Cpay has released because their lack of integrity did not agree with CPAY High Standards. My first week, someone forged a signature – CPAY let that agent go.

Forging by unethical agents is ridiculously common in this industry. CPAY does not tolerate such.

But, you know what, if I were a merchant and I was going to agree to signing up for a service, I would make darn sure I didn’t let Joe Schmoe who I just met leave with all my personal information without leaving me a copy… OR – faxing it directly to his company without faxing it from my fax machine and leaving me the originals so he didn’t have a chance to change agreed upon terms.

Don’t blame the company. Don’t even blame the Agent if you allowed him out the door of your business without making sure you were in control of what would be ending up on the other end at the processing company and ultimately affecting your rates or bank account. .. Or making sure you got a copy of what you signed and agreed to… OR if you signed without reading what you agreed to. THIS happens all the time with merhants. I make my merchants slow down and read the contract so they DON’T come back at me later and blame me for their lapse in doing so.

BUT – I am an ethical Agent and have entire towns of merchants that will NEVER switch from Cpay because it is not just about me or the rates, it is the whole experience.

I’ve been at merchants as they call other companies and get passed around or put into voicemails or put on hold for a good hour. This simply does not happen at Cpay. Real people answer the phone and no one passes anyone around – resolution is offered as quickly as possible.

First, this is an outstanding company that “expects” integrity and excellence, no matter whether you are an independent contractor out soliciting accounts on their behalf or an employee on the back end support services.

The first day I did this job (I had no idea what I was getting myself into) I walked into a merchant’s business and he said “get out! I hate you people”! WHY – Because a Sales Rep from another company lied to him and signed him into a 4 year non cancellable lease on a pin pad for $39.99/month … and told him he was getting it for free.

No matter “which” processing company you are dealing with, often it is not the company that is the issue when it comes to non-disclosure or lying. It is usually the Agent Sales Rep that lacked integrity and was out for a fast buck and had no intention of ever having you see him again. These guys cause the “good companies” such as CPAY and the “good” agents just as much headaches as the merchants – they make it difficult for all of us to do business.

I know “for a fact” that Central Payments Application “Intentionally” has in BOLD PRINT in a BOLD OUTLINED BOX “ALL” the terms of the merchant agreement FULLY DISCLOSED.

If you CHOSE to sign a contract without reading it, or allowed a Sales Rep to rush you into signing something that affected your business, don’t blame Central Payment.
Ever hear of the saying “Buyer Beware – don’t sign something without reading it?” And for those of you ready to rush a company into court, did you read what you signed and did you make sure you got a copy of it where you verified what you agreed to with an Agent?

Also, after receiving applications, Central Payment “makes sure” Underwriting calls merchants to verify applications to make sure their Agents are acting with integrity on Cpay’s behalf. “4″ years of working with this company and they “STILL” verify my apps … and I am JUST FINE WITH THAT because I know I am honest and fully disclose, as does the company and my customers welcome the verification after being with previous companies that don’t give a hoot if someone lacks ethics as long as they get their hand in your bank account.

I have “left” contracts with merchants for a good month and patiently waited for them to make sure they read every word – those merchants have never complained because they made it their responsibility to make sure they handled what affects their business.

Some merchants just sign and don’t read – I don’t rush anyone. They later take it out on the company when they decide to break their contract and accuse the company of being thieves when it is clearly boldly written above their signature what they are agreeing to.

Also, if you had a billing issue…were you willing to let an error be fixed or did you call up and immediately blast the person with abusive language who happened to be lucky enough to answer your call before you gave them a chance to work out the issues to help you- and – did you give ample time to research problem or did you call back with threats?

By the way, THAT merchant that I walked into in September of 2007, signed up with me and CPAY this past January because he could verify with his entire town the kind of company CPAY is in comparison to so many other bad companies that are out here and the service CPAY gives. Many of my merchants who have been through bad experiences will NEVER switch again after their positive CPAY experience.

Most merchants are also realistic that it is not a perfect world and we are in a day and age where pmnts and everything on an account is done electronically and mistakes can happen. It happens with banks, everywhere.

Also, employees, just like in your business, are human, and every once in a while may drop the ball or have an off day – could be due to a day where they were just buried in customers and they oops’d on you – I’m sure not intentional.

One person who may have a bad day does not make an entire company any more that one employee in your business determines the quality of your business. AND, does not make a company a bad company that gives poor service.

Unethical Agents also do not make for an unethical company.

There is no business on the face of the earth that can please everyone all the time and sometimes it is the customer that just doesn’t want to take responsibility for being lax in reading a contract.

Sometimes, stuff happens and it is difficult to please a customer to the customers expected satisfaction level.

I’ve gone into businesses where merchants signed up with a different CPAY Agent and are mad at CPAY and complain. When I take the time to hear them out, it usually comes down to the signing Agent did not give the service he promised or disappeared. THAT was an individual doing the wrong thing… NOT the company and NOT all the other Agents.

WE all pay for people that don’t do the right thing – even CPay.

BTW – They guy who said he was “shocked when he saw the contract they sent you”… Didn’t you read and get a copy of the original before signing it? If so, if it did not match what you later received, I guarantee if you produced the original, CPAY would have immediately rectified the situation and also addressed it with your Agent.

124 complaints for a company with 40,000 merchants I’d say is pretty darn impressively good sign of a business that does the right thing.

Donna Gilchrist
Acct Exec – Central Payment Corp
203-826-4509

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By: Dustin

Dustin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:25:18 +0000

Heres a story for you!! They said they were going to take care of billing dispute in which they overcharged me, as a result I incurred a number of overdraft fees, and NSF fees because of all of the other charges they were trying to charge me. Luckily they didn't get that money or might be in court trying to get it back because obviously they don't know what it is to take care of something in a timely manner. Over three months to give me an explanation of what I was being charged for only for them to say "ooops we did over charge you" and the cost incurred outside of what they have over charged me has still not been resolved. I will say this is the only thing they have going for them, their Owners of the company list their emails, as soon as I cc'd him the first time this issue was supposed to get resolved immediately, he just ccd me in an email telling his employee to resolve my issue, I have not decided yet wether or not it is all just a day late and a buck short.!!!

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By: Dustin

Dustin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:07:18 +0000

I totally agree with you!!!!!!! I have been dealing with a dispute for a months now and still have yet to see my issues resolved.

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By: Gus A.

Gus A. — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:47:52 +0000

Totall rip off. I have never experienced a fraud and bad service as Central payment in my entire experience with merchant companies. this has to be one of the biggest rip off. They don't disclose fees. promised to beat your existing rates but never do. pull money from your account with out your knowledge and the list goes on. Forges signiture on applications and refil contracts. I was shocked when I saw my contract that they sent me. As Mr schmeltz said above. Run don't walk.

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