An honest review of Global Payments
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An Honest Review of Global Payments

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Danny Randell | October 5, 2022

“Who & what is Global Payments? Check out their processing fees, review on their other offerings for merchants.”
5 min read
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    Last Updated on January 9, 2025 by May Montenegro

    History

    Founded in 2000, Global Payments is a traditional merchant acquirer (old school payment processor) that is based in Atlanta, Georgia, but services businesses all over the world.

    Overview

    To get a quick sense of Global Payments's reputation, merchants need only look at a few external ratings and reviews. Here's how they stack up:

    Part of that reason may be that Global Payments has been known for being less than forthcoming with their rates to business owners, which makes for some less-than-cozy relations down the road. Their merchants sign up for three year contracts, and cancellation fees can be as steep as $500 USD.

    The company has also been known to use third party sales agencies in the past to sell their processing services, and these sales tactics could mean that "too good to be true" sales offerings are peddled to merchants who need to be convinced that Global Payments is the best processor out there, when in fact, their pricing is not very competitive, but we took a look at a recent Global Payments contract to give you a better idea of just what they charge merchants for. Read on to find out more.

    Break up with bad rates.

    Feeling stuck with your provider? We'll waive $500 of your processing fees when you switch to Helcim.

    Pricing

    Global Payments doesn't disclose any pricing plans, contract terms, or merchant fees on their website. This could mean they offer individual businesses rates which are tailored to how much they process annually or it could mean Global relies on their sales teams to make their rates seem appealing to potential customers.

    A look at a recent Global Payments contract (downloadable link on their website) showed that the company charges a lot more than just processing fees. In fact, listed was a monthly PCI non-compliance fee and regulatory compliance fee, monthly statement fee, annual service fee, semi-annual postage fee, NSF fees, data monitoring fees (what even is that?) and a non-refundable chargeback fee in case of a chargeback.

    Software & Hardware

    Global gives you the basics, but does not meet the bar in 2021 for what merchants should expect from a payment processor; including robust software that's built-in and exceptional customer service. Merchants are going to have to pay to use Global's tools, which include a mobile payments app and virtual terminal, but as of right now, those tools lag behind more modern, software-driven payments companies.

    Global offers merchants two types of hardware: the Register (complete POS) or Terminal Plus (essentially the same as the Clover Flex). The pricing on this hardware is not available online, so just be careful of getting caught up in a lease.

    Introducing Helcim

    Putting merchants first. Making payments easier and more affordable. We are Helcim, and we're changing the payments landscape one transaction at a time.

    It's time to feel good about your payments

    "After 4 years of using Global Payments, we decided to make the switch to Helcim after reading many positive reviews. I am so happy that we did. In our 1st month, we saved 50% in fees/service costs from what we were paying with Global Payments. Not only that, the customer service is amazing. We estimate that we will save between 6-8 thousand dollars this year on fees. If you run a business do yourself a favor and make the switch to Helcim."

    -Matthew Durka, Breakaway Sports Cards

    4 Reasons to Choose Helcim

    1. No Monthly Fee

    At Helcim, we don't charge a monthly fee to any of our merchants. You just pay processing fees-that's it! As a small business owner, not having to worry about a monthly fee can not only save you money, but simply grant you peace of mind.

    2. Helcim's Tools Don't Cost Extra

    It's not just the lower payment processing fees that you'll benefit from. While Payment Depot charges extra for certain tools and features; with Helcim, merchants get full access to all of our software and tools at no charge. That means useful features like adding more users or devices, or sending unlimited invoices. You also get access to powerful tools that let you do things like create a fully hosted online store or securely store customer card information for recurring billing, and you'll never pay extra for a single tool.

    3. Helcim Point of Sale

    One of the free tools included with your Helcim account is our POS software. Our software can not only integrate with certain POS hardware (if you're thinking about switching and want to know if we can integrate, give us a call), it allows you to turn your tablet, phone, or desktop into your own POS system-no additional (expensive!) hardware required.

    4. Our Customer Service Makes the Difference

    To us, Better Payments doesn't stop at just offering more affordable pricing and better tools. We are extremely proud of our knowledgeable in-house Merchant Success team who are available whenever you hit a bump on the road. Available by phone or email, they're happy to help you better understand the sometimes complicated world of accepting payments, find a solution to help you grow your business, or answer any questions that might come up about our services or the payments industry in general. If you prefer self-service support, Helcim also offers a detailed support section with step by step tutorials and videos to help you get started.

    Migrate your data with Helcim

    Improve Your Payment Experience

    At Helcim, our priority is to provide exceptional payment solutions to our merchants. We continuously strive to deliver the best software, hardware, and customer service, at prices that are fair and transparent. Our Helcim reviews, will tell you that we focus on building long-term relationships with our merchants, and we're committed to helping them grow their businesses. If you're looking for a payments partner that truly cares about your success, we invite you to join the Helcim family. To help you make an informed decision, check out our Payment Depot review..

    Thinking about switching to Helcim?

    Now that you understand the benefits of Helcim over Global Payments, you might be wondering how to make the switch. Good news! Helcim's Merchant Buyout Program can help you transition smoothly and hassle-free.

    Here’s what you can expect:

    • Receive personalized support on how to migrate your data to Helcim.
    • We’ll waive up to $500 in processing fees to cover your cancellation costs including early termination fees or equipment leases.
    • Need POS hardware? Helcim offers payment terminals available for a one-time purchase or through payment plans.
    • Save ~25% on processing fees with our interchange-plus pricing and enjoy our exceptional customer service.

    Break up with your current provider for better service, lower fees, and many free payment tools. Switch to Helcim with our Merchant Buyout Program.

    Helcim buyback program illustration

    Break up with bad rates.

    Feeling stuck with your provider? We'll waive $500 of your processing fees when you switch to Helcim.

    Start accepting payments today.

    Create your free account instantly with no paperwork or commitments.

    Get started for free
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