Charge.com Review

Updated: April  2023

Charge.com has been offering processing solutions on the internet since 1995. Their focus has always been to provide first-class customer service and satisfaction along with affordable rates and fees. Solutions are offered for all types of credit card processing needs, including Internet, wireless, mobile, retail, mail and phone. Highlights include: competitive pricing, free set-up, free software to accept on-line payments and no contracts or cancellation fees. They also have 24/7 customer support to assist you. Charge.com passes the test as a reliable merchant account provider with low overall costs and quality offerings across any type of processing need.

Overall Cost – Rates & Fees
Charge.com has no set-up fee, no cancellation fee, and free shopping cart software. Swiped transactions rates start as low as 1.00% and keyed-in transaction rates as low as 1.79%. Transaction fees start at $0.15. As is the case with any merchant account provider, rates and fees will vary based on several factors (type of transaction, types of cards you accept, type of account and more). Charge.com is one of the more competitive merchant account providers in the industry.

Customer Service
Charge.com’s customer service is available to their merchants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days per year. They are one of the older merchant account providers, but they have maintained a priority to keep their customers happy through their outsourced customer service department. Like other providers which do not require contracts, they emphasize both cost and customer service — because their customers can leave at any time without a financial penalty.

Credit Card Processing Options
Offerings include options for retail, Internet, wireless/mobile (Smartphone), mail and phone as well as customized solutions for merchants with more complicated processing needs.

Internet
This is the most popular choice for Charge.com merchants. The supplied virtual terminal and payment gateway (either Authorize.net or SecurePay) allows you to accept credit card payments 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can utilize a shopping cart to automate transactions securely or the virtual terminal to key-in any type of order.

Retail
A credit card terminal is the best choice for merchants who sell face-to-face at a single location. Charge.com will supply you with a free credit card terminal with a built in printer. In addition, if more than 70% of your transactions are face-to-face you will qualify for a lower rate. They offer a very large selection of terminals or keypads depending on your needs.

Wireless & Mobile
Wireless/Mobile solutions are great for merchants that travel to many locations during the course of business. Now you can process payments remotely — taking invoices and checks out of the equation with instant approval responses. Charge.com’s wireless solutions allow you to process credit cards with an iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android or any other cell phone. Your cell phone will also be able to perform instant check verification.

Mail & Telephone
Charge.com has a number of options for MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order). Most merchants will use a virtual terminal, but PC software and keypads are available.

Reliability/Credibility
Charge.com has a Better Business Bureau rating of C-. The rating is simply a result of reincorporation in 2009. The BBB views Charge.com as a newer company established in 2009 even though they were founded in 1995. The rating should improve over time as they mature in the eyes of the BBB. They have been around for over 15 years and have a good reputation among merchant account providers.

Additional Features
•    Paperless Application with Instant Approval
•    No cost shopping cart software
•    No cost AMEX and Discover setup
•    No cost Internet software for checks