Processor Directory > Riverside Payments, Inc.
Riverside Payments, Inc. Review
The company’s slogan, prominently displayed on its website, is “the world’s best merchant service provider.” Does it live up to its self-imposed hype? As with all processing, the specifics of your business matter. When choosing the right credit card processing company, you’ll need to consider everything from pricing and equipment to customer service and reviews. Find out what you need to know about Riverside Payments.
- In the News
- What services does Riverside Payments offer?
- Additional services
- Can I get equipment from Riverside Payments?
- Customer Service
- What does it cost?
- Is there a contract with early termination fee?
- What do others think of Riverside Payments?
- CardFellow’s Experience with Riverside Payments
In the News
In March 2017, Texas-based news organization KTXS published a piece on a small business that claims to have been scammed by Riverside Payments. The business, The Turtle Restaurant, claims that Riverside sent equipment that the business didn’t need and wouldn’t refund the owner for returning it unused. When Riverside continued to deduct money from the business’ bank account, the owner issued a stop payment through the bank, only to be faced with the threat of a lawsuit. KTXS contacted Riverside, but the company wouldn’t comment beyond saying they’re in litigation with the restaurant owner.
What services does Riverside Payments offer?
All the usual processing services, and a few additional business services. You can get set up to take payments (in store, online, and via mobile device), accept checks, offer gift cards, provide an ATM inside your store or restaurant, and get a merchant cash advance. Riverside also boasts 24 hour funding for most businesses.
In-store Processing
Riverside Payments works with many different types of business for in-person processing, including restaurants, retailers, gas stations and convenience stores, hotels, and more. You’ll be able to take major credit and debit cards (including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) as well as EMV chip cards and newer technologies like Apple Pay.
Online Processing
Running an e-commerce store? Riverside Payments works with the popular Authorize.Net gateway or can get you set up with the First Data Global Gateway or eProcessing Network gateway. All services include a virtual terminal, fraud detection, recurring billing, and QuickBooks plug-in.
Mobile Processing
Taking payments by mobile device is an increasingly popular way to ensure you can always let your customers pay how they want to. Riverside Payments offers a free card reader and app so you can accept cards no matter where your business takes you. The app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Check Processing
You can streamline the process of accepting checks by converting them into electronic transactions prior to deposit. It eliminates a trip to the bank, it’s generally more secure, and it’s simple to do with a check imager attached to your PC or other processing equipment. Riverside Payments guarantees check funding in 3 business days.
Additional Services
Beyond the basic payment services, Riverside Payments also offers a gift card program, ATMs, and cash advances.
Gift Cards
Riverside Payments offers a gift card program with reusable, electronic gift cards. The gift card program includes free online reporting with real-time access to transaction tracking for quickly determining how much money is available on the card.
ATM
If you’re considering an ATM in your store or restaurant for the convenience of customers who want to get some cash, Riverside Payments offers a full service ATM program that includes equipment and installation, cash replenishments, and processing.
Merchant Cash Advances
At CardFellow, we generally caution against merchant cash advances, because they’re usually expensive and not in your best interest. You can read our reasoning in our article “Should You Get a Merchant Cash Advance?” But if you do want to take a cash advance, Riverside Payments provides that option. The company offers advances from $5,000 up to $1 million, and the funds can be used for almost any business expense.
Can I get equipment from Riverside Payments?
Yes, you can. Riverside offers a few different options if you need a full point-of-sale system, including First Data’s Clover station or the NCR Silver tablet POS system. If neither of those systems are quite what you’re looking for, or if you already have a system you want to keep using, Riverside Payments may be able to offer additional choices or reprogram your equipment.
Quick reminder: Clover stations are currently not reprogrammable. When you buy a Clover station, it will only work with the processor you buy it from, so be sure you’re getting the right solution before purchase to prevent an expensive mistake.
Also, while Riverside Payments does not include much information about equipment on their site, it appears from complaints elsewhere (including the Better Business Bureau website) that Riverside engages in leasing equipment through a third party leasing company. The company replies to one customer’s complaint about a lengthy equipment lease through Riverside by stating she would need to get in touch with the leasing company itself. We strongly recommend that you don’t lease a credit card machine, as it’s likely to cost you a fortune.
Customer Service
Riverside Payments prides itself on customer service, relying on what it refers to as “90 day quality control calls” to make sure everything is going smoothly. The company also promises a dedicated “relationship manager” for every customer. That said, complaints available online for the company reference rude and difficult customer service.
What does it cost?
Like many processors, Riverside Payments shouts “low rates!” from the rooftops, but doesn’t include any information about the costs, pricing model, or other details to help determine if it’s the right choice for your business.
Not to worry.
Requesting a quote from Riverside Payments through CardFellow is a fast, no-hassle way to see exactly what your pricing would be. You can get started with our price comparison tool in just a few minutes. Sign up for free.
Is there a contract with early termination fee?
Probably. Riverside Payments doesn’t reference one on its website, but it refers to an early termination fee or $695 in response to customer complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. That’s a pretty steep cancellation fee when other processors offer $350, or, in the case of quotes through CardFellow, $0 cancellation fee.
Note that in the case of equipment leases, there is likely a separate contract and cancellation fee. Your credit card processing contract and an equipment lease contract may be with two different companies. Be sure to read all paperwork before signing, and understand the length of the contract, cancellation terms and fees, and which company or companies are responsible.
Riverside Payments Reviews
Generally it doesn’t look like people think highly of Riverside Payments on the internet. While it may be true that customers who are angry are more inclined to leave reviews than customers who are satisfied, Riverside Payments’ reviews and complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s site indicate some pretty serious problems.
Riverside Payments at the Better Business Bureau
Riverside Payments is not currently accredited with the Better Business Bureau, but does have a profile. It has an A rating (on a scale of A+ to F) with 17 complaints and 40 reviews.
Complaints allege difficulty cancelling, having merchant accounts tied to personal accounts instead of business accounts, and misleading terms and promises, including misinformation about rates, savings, and more. In all cases, Riverside Payments responded to the customer complaints, but none of the complaints are marked as resolved. The responses border on aggressive, and many reference a $695 termination fee if the business wants to continue with their request to cancel an account with Riverside Payments.
Aside from the formal complaints, Riverside has 40 reviews at the Better Business Bureau’s site, some positive, some negative, and some neutral. The positive reviews praise the company’s customer service, tech support, and helpfulness, while the negative complaints accuse Riverside of broken promises, misleading sales tactics, and unethical behavior.
CardFellow’s Experience with Riverside Payments
A sales rep for Riverside Payments approached a CardFellow client and promised better pricing. When the client called CardFellow to ask our advice, we offered to compare the quote to his current pricing. We reviewed the quote and found that it was a misleading offer based on incorrect information and promising savings too good to be true. We thoroughly explain and debunk the quote in this article: CardFellow Debunks Misleading Credit Card Processing Quote.
Given this experience, we’re not surprised by complaints online that Riverside often promises savings that never materialize.
Have you used Riverside Payments? Leave a review!
SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
0/5
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SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
3.5/5
Unlike verified reviews which are validated by CardFellow, web reviews can be submitted by anyone viewing this profile. While we validate these reviews as best we can, CardFellow does not verify that a reviewer is using or has used a processor's service.
Do you Know this processor? Write a review about it
Posted by Kickit Vapors Inc. on Nov 03, 2016
SATISFACTION
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CUSTOMER SERVICE
5/5
Riverside Payments is an excellent choice for any retail business that accepts credit cards for payment. They pay promptly which allows me to purchase more inventory to sell! The customer service is outstanding. If you have any questions or concerns, their customer service is excellent. You will actually speak to a very helpful, professional person when your call is answered. After working with 2 merchants prior to connecting with Riverside Payments we feel our experience with Riverside excels. We would highly recommend Riverside Payments to anyone currently using or looking for merchant services. You will not be disappointed at any level.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Jocelyn Fritzler on Oct 26, 2016
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CUSTOMER SERVICE
5/5
I am very satisfied with the level of customer service we have received with Riverside Payments. They have been easy to contact with questions and have lowered my rates compared to what were paying with a previous merchant provider in the past.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Matt Cordova on Oct 21, 2016
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RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
5/5
Riverside Payments has rescued my business from another processor, National Paymentech and their CEO Andrei Wirth. Andrei and his company failed to make good on any of their promises, rendering my agreement with them worthless. But Jason and Amii at Riverside were able to assume my account and I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised. My rates are great, and as promised. The personal service I've received has been tremendous. (Jason himself made a personal visit to my place). And the turn around to receiving my funds is less than 24 hours. In 18 years of doing business, my experience so far with Riverside has been my best.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Kim Scanlan on Oct 19, 2016
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CUSTOMER SERVICE
5/5
We have had a positive experience with Riverside payments. We have worked with the same reps for a few years and they are responsive and assist us as needed.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Russell C on Oct 13, 2016
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RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
5/5
As a restaurant owner and businessman, Riverside payments offers the best merchant processing rates along with great customer support. Riverside payments has saved us a lot of money within several restaurants. Customer service has been quick and prompt, Amii Grace has been very helpful with any questions I have and always guided me to any support I may have needed. I highly recommend Riverside payments.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Carla on Mar 29, 2016
SATISFACTION
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CUSTOMER SERVICE
2/5
We are a very small, family-owned and operated business and every penny counts. We are new to Riverside Payments Inc. and are so very pleased with their outstanding customer service and commitment to filling our needs. We were recently presented an offer by an other company that would have save us money. I presented this offer to Riverside Payments Inc. and not only did they match what the other company presented, they suggested additional ways to save money and earn credit! Thank you Amii and Dave.
Posted by Ray Schaeffer on Mar 22, 2016
SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5
Ian Atkinson from Riverside and/or United payment alliance came to my business in October 2015 to explain that he could save us money on processing fees and provide the credit card terminals required by law for the security changes coming in all future credit cards called EMV. This is the migration away from the magnetic stripe on the back of the credit card and the installment of a chip on the card for processing transactions. I initially told him we could talk but I was fairly pleased with my current processor First Data. Ian told me their company uses First Data to process their transactions. That made it much easier to listen to his information. He showed me on paper that I would be saving about 1/3 of what I was paying now. This all made sense and I signed a 4-year contract similar to what I signed nine years ago with my current processor. The Problems: 1. Riverside has promised to install the card reading equipment and has failed to do so (leaving me open to fraud liability). 2. Riverside has promised to reprogram my Micros computer system and has failed to do so. 3. I have tried to order paper supplies. They assured me they were ordered, but I never received them. 4. Riverside has debited my bank account but I have never been able to process a single transaction. 5. I have called and left messages and not received a return call. 6. My business account was recently debited $1019.55 (which I successfully had the bank reverse) This amount debited was from Northern Leasing. I have requested that the bank block further ACH debits from my account, I am worried that someone at Northern Leasing will simply hand the power to debit my account to a “Sister company”. Mr. Armstrong at Northern Leasing was quick to call me (the best response yet) when the debit from my bank account was reversed. Unfortunately, Mr. Armstrong was not helpful. He demanded that I pay this lease agreement because I signed a personal guarantee. I told him I would not pay anything until the equipment was working. I told him it has never worked. Somewhere in the shouting (no profanity) he told me that was not his problem and I will end up paying more if I don't pay him now. He mentioned my 850 credit score might be going away. Told him take it court and hung up. I don’t want to do business with them. Riverside had a great opportunity to provide a great service at an awesome profit with my business, and promised to do so on may occasions, I had no reason to not trust them I was willing to be obligated for the four years just like any contract for a house, cell phone, or auto lease. I think of it this way, if I were to sign a lease for a new car and it was delivered to my home, and when that moment came to start my new car was at hand, and it would not start because none of the electrical wiring had been installed, I am going to be rather upset and want to return the vehicle or get a resolution right away. If no resolution was forthcoming the last thing I want is a leasing company debiting my bank account, threatening my credit report standing and promising great cost me for not backing down and just paying the bill. Too bad in order to publish this I had to gives them 1 star really need a negative star category.
View Processor's FeedbackPosted by Wilson Clow on Jan 13, 2016
SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5
They lied about their service by their sales agent, things promised were not put in contract, we ended up paying for them and the old credit card processor for over a year, spent countless hours downloading updates to equipment, some equipment not the right one or outdated, it took months to get new equipment and be operating under new laws. I was charged fees that were not disclosed for PCI. I was told I would be helped to get rid of the fee, but then they didn't. Spent countless hours trying to get through to customer service, phones always not working. In short there are better and cheaper providers of these services. Avail yourself of them instead of Riverside Payments.
