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Find a Location

First American Payment Systems has 9 locations, listed below.

*This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

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    Business ProfileforFirst American Payment Systems

    Credit Cards and Plans
    Multi Location Business
    Revoked BBB accredited business

    Current Alerts For This Business

    Government Action: BBB reports on known government actions involving business’ marketplace conduct::
    Federal Trade Commission v. FIRST AMERICAN PAYMENT SYSTEMS, LP, a limited partnership, also d/b/a/ MERIMAC CAPITAL, ELIOT MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a limited liability company, also d/b/a SUNDANCE PAYMENT SOLITIONS, and THINK POINT FINANCIAL, LLC, a limited liability company, also d/b/a CYPRESS BAY SOLUTIONS and IMPULSE PAYMENTS

    The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency.  If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

    On March 8, 2023, First American Payment Systems, LP, a limited partnership, also d/b/a Merimac Capital, Eliot Management Group, LLC, a limited liability company, also d/b/a Sundance Payment Solutions, and Think Point Financial, LLC, a limited liability company, also d/b/a Cypress Bay Solutions and Impulse Payments entered into a Second Amended Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and other relief with the Federal Trade Commission with the United States District Court Eastern District of Texas Sherman Division.

    The Court found the Defendants participated in deceptive and unfair acts or practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act by marketing, promoting and offering for sale of payment processing services to consumers throughout the United States.

    It is ordered that the Defendants, Defendants’ officers, agents, employees and attorneys, and all other persons in active participation are permanently restrained and enjoined from misrepresenting or assisting the conditions for cancellation of goods or services provided, services can be canceled during an initial trial period with no penalty, can be canceled prior to the end of a written agreement term with no penalty or can be canceled at any time with no penalty. Cannot misrepresent the fees for the goods or services, such as monthly fees, the amount of savings using the good or service, or any other fact material to Merchants concerning the good or service including the total costs, any material restrictions, limitations, or conditions of its performance, efficacy, nature or central characteristics.

    Furthermore, it is ordered making or assisting others making, representing the amount of savings realized from using their good or service, unless the representation is not misleading meaning at the time of such representation they must rely upon and possess reasonable basis for the representation.

    Furthermore, it is ordered that the business is prohibited against unfair debiting practices, prohibited against misrepresentations related to negative options-requiring disclosures relating to negative option features, obtaining express informed consent for a negative option, providing a simple mechanism to cancel negative option features, and maintaining a compliance program by reporting submissions to the Commission and create records for 10 years after entry of the Order and retain records for 5 years.

    First American Payment Systems, LP is ordered to pay the Commission $4,900,000 as monetary relief.

     

    Accreditation Revocation:
    On 05/28/2024 this business's accreditation in the BBB was revoked by the BBB's Board of Directors due to failure by the business to adhere to the BBB requirement that Accredited Businesses meet and abide by the following standards:

    1. Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

    1C. Be free from government action that demonstrates a significant failure to support BBB ethical principles. BBB evaluates the action and makes a determination on adherence to this standard based on the nature of the violation and the extent of harm it caused or is alleged to have caused, whether it was caused or condoned by management, and actions taken to resolve underlying issues that led to the government action.

    1D. Maintain at least a B rating in all company-owned locations and its headquarters.

    6. Address disputes forwarded by BBB quickly and in good faith.

    6D. Cooperate with BBB in efforts to eliminate the underlying cause of patterns of customer complaints that are identified by BBB.

    8. Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity, good faith and intent to do what is reasonably expected. Avoid involvement, by the business or its principals, in activities that reflect unfavorably on or otherwise adversely affect the public image of BBB or its accredited businesses.

    At-a-glance

    Customer Reviews

    1/5stars

    Average of 6 Customer Reviews

    Customer Complaints

    18 complaints closed in last 3 years

    5 complaints closed in last 12 months

    BBB Rating & Accreditation

    Years in Business: 32

    Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating

    Reasons for BBB Rating

    Related Categories

    Business Details

    This is a multi-location business.

    Find a Location

    First American Payment Systems has 9 locations, listed below.

    *This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

      Country
      Please enter a valid location.
      Location of This Business
      100 Throckmorton St Ste 1800, Fort Worth, TX 76102-2802
      BBB File Opened:
      4/7/1997
      Years in Business:
      32
      Business Started:
      8/30/1992
      Alternate Business Name
      • First American Payment Systems, L.P.
      • Merimac Capital
      • Secure-Chex
      • 1stpaygateway.net
      Business Management
      • Ms. Becky Lefan, Manager
      • Mr. Brian Dorchester, Executive Vice President
      Contact Information

      Principal

      • Ms. Becky Lefan, Manager
      Additional Contact Information

      Fax Numbers

      • (817) 317-7249
        Primary Fax

      Phone Numbers

      Customer Complaints

      18 Customer Complaints

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      Customer Reviews

      6 Customer Reviews

      What do you think? Share your review.

      How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews

      Start a Review

      Most Recent Customer Review

      Andrew J

      1 star

      10/02/2023

      Absolutely the worst merchant out there. Got service through them in 2020 with Bluedog now fortispay. I had so many issues with their service and had to call tech support anytime I wanted to login to my account because of some issue on their end. In 2021 they processed a credit card transaction for a little over 20k. I called and got prior authorization before I ran the customers credit card. I called after not receiving the funds after a few days, and was told they wouldnt transfer the money to my account because I wasnt approved for the amount. I told them they could refund the customers credit card since they were unwilling to release the funds to me. I was shocked to see that they charged me around $700 for the fee associated with that 20k credit card charge. I called to complain and ask why I was charged when they were unwilling to release the funds and was told because we ran the card it doesnt matter if we couldnt get you the money, you still have to pay the percentage because we do. I cancelled service in June 2022. June 2023 I get a call harassing me demanding payment for an early cancel contract fee. Turns out they had been charging me almost $100 a month for almost an entire year after I cancelled that I didnt notice. The charges had overdrafted an account I never really used so badly it caused them to close the account. I spoke with ***** at first American payment systems via email and telephone and explained all of this and she told me that she understood and said that she would look into it. Well they reported it and it hit my credit report. 86 points from their one thing. These scum bags are by far the lowest, most despicable people in their industry. ***** assured me that the charges they said I owed of around $400 would be taken off. 11 months at $100 after I cancelled, so $1100 in service fees for something I had cancelled. And then a $700 fee for a credit card charge they approved and wouldnt release funds on. Really they owe me $1800.

      First American Payment Systems Response

      10/03/2023

      We are in receipt of your review.

      At the time of you signing up with us (see your Merchant Application Agreement), your account was submitted with a $4000.00 high ticket amount. This amount goes by your credit profile and means you may not process transactions over $4000.00. A $16,290.00 American Express transaction was entered 7/16/2021. This is way outside the terms of your agreement.  On 7/21/2021 you advised us that you were not going to wait any longer for payment and that you would process a return to offset the sale. This sale is American Express, and we DO NOT have any control over American Express fee assessment and American Express DOES NOT refund discount rates when a return is executed. If we were to issue a refund to you for the discount rate fees, we would essentially be absorbing the fee costs on a $16,290.00 transaction. No where in our records is there a document stating any authorization was given for this transaction. 

      We did see that you were in talks with the *************** regarding the monies owed. You stated your account was closed in 2022. We are not showing where we received a closing letter from you. A closing letter must be received in order to close an account.  There is also an early termination fee (see Terms & Condition). Since no closing letter was received, your account remained opened for processing and monthly fees incurred. A settlement offer of $295.00 was offered to you in July 2023, however, no payment was never received, and your account was placed with the credit bureau. Our offer still stands. Please contact the *************** to pay the offer amount of $295.00 as soon as possible, which in turn will change your credit information.

      Sincerely,

      Merchant Relations

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