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Elavon

A wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. Formerly NOVA.

Pros

  • One of the largest payment processors, processing over 3 billion transactions annually
  • Full range of products and services
  • Direct processor; transaction processing is handled in-house
  • Interchange+ pricing available
  • No early termination fee
  • Global reach, with processing in 36 countries and more than 131 currencies
  • Customer service representatives available 24/7/365

Cons

  • Reviewers report poor customer service
  • Reviewers report extensive holds on funds
  • Requires a 3-year contract that auto-renews after the initial term
  • Does not service the CBD industry or other high-risk merchants

Overview

Elavon has been ranked in the top 10 payments processors by total transactions processed. The company processes credit cards, e-checks, prepaid gift cards, and provides a variety of currency services. Serving more than 30 countries, Elavon's reach is sprawling, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the needs of your business. Many MSPs and ISOs are resellers for Elavon; some merchants may find it preferable to sign on with Elavon through a trusted ISO to help facilitate the relationship between processor and merchant.

Reviews for Elavon are divided by geographical location; Trustpilot has separate listings for Elavon Canada, Elavon Ireland, Elavon UK and Elavon Europe. Elavon's ratings across these regions run the gamut, with Ireland coming in at a commendable 4.3 from 54 reviews, while the US has a score of 1.3 out of 163 reviews. Considering that Elavon services some 2 million customers, it stands to reason that some of the more vocal clients will air their grievances, but it may be notable that the complaints commonly center around customer service.

Review excerpts

Trustpilot review, Elavon US, 1 out of 5 stars, March 28, 2023

Not worth your time

Not worth your time. I’m a small business owner and closed my account after realizing I no longer needed their services. Typically my charge was $5 for renting the device, when I closed my account I noticed a $30 fee applied. I called to ask what the difference was and they said it was the new price increase. I was never notified. Not only that, I would be getting one more monthly charge since I closed my account after their billing cycle. Representative argued with me and said she could wait to see if a refund would be applied. Worst customer service.

Reply from Elavon US

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We apologize that you are feeling frustrated, it is never our goal to leave you feeling this way. We would like the opportunity to look into this for you. If you'd like, please send your phone number and Merchant ID to [email protected] so we may reach out directly. Thank you, ^Brie

Trustpilot review, Elavon US, 4 out of 5 stars, February 26, 2019

To be honest I have had a relatively…

To be honest I have had a relatively good experience with Elavon, I have been with them 4 years now they have saved me a lot of money compared to most companies, my terminals accept every card in the world, process foreign currencies (which I get paid), offer cashback (reduce paying banks to bank cash) and banks my payments the next day. I am rating 4 star as the PCI compliance is a bit of a pain but overall experience has been good

Trustpilot review, Elavon US, 5 out of 5 stars, November 8, 2022

Highly recommended!

Having had different acquirers for my businesses throughout the years, Elavon has out-managed all competitors.
Personal service, daily payments, easy accessed reporting system and low rates. Great choice.

Trustpilot review, Elavon Canada, 1 out of 5 stars, February 7, 2023

The rates that the sales rep quoted me…

The rates that the sales rep quoted me were an outright fabrication and lie. Wasted hours setting up the account just to get charged >4.15% effective processing fees. They don't even send you a bill monthly, just take the money and you're supposed to set up another account on some confusing website just to get the bill.

2 months after I closed my account, they randomly debited $2000 USD without even contacting me. Stay away. Garbage rates, subpar service. Helcim is better by the way, or just stick to Paypal. Absolute garbage, and they even charge a setup fee.

Reply from Elavon Canada

Good morning, Bill. I am sorry to hear you had a poor experience with us. We'd be happy to discuss the situation in more detail, if you'd like, please send us an email to [email protected]. In your email, please include your phone number and we'll reach out directly. Thank you. ^Brie

Trustpilot review, Elavon Canada, 4 out of 5 stars, February 17, 2023

I called Elavon Canada today and spoke…

I called Elavon Canada today and spoke to an individual named John. He was very pleasant, answered all my questions very open and honestly, gave me all the information I was asking for. I have never had an issue with this company, and I called to examine their rates compared to another company that I was thinking of switching to because the new company had their own system so I wanted to compare. He gave me all the information and said to call back to discuss what the other company's rates were to see if there was anything they could do for me going forward. Nice guy, first rate, open and wanted the opportunity to keep my business. Thanks John!

Trustpilot review, Elavon Canada, 5 out of 5 stars, March 25, 2023

Have been using wired Ingenico terminal…

Have been using wired Ingenico terminal from Elavon for 3 years, the monthly cost is much lower than my previous agent. Cost is clear and no hidden charge. I didn't see any service Problem from Elavon.Considering update to a wireless one from them.

Better Business Bureau

  • BBB Rating: A+ to B+
    • The BBB has many listings for Elavon in locations throughout the US, but none have a rating lower than B+.

Forbes

Forbes covered Elavon's decision to drop CBD and hemp processing in 2019.

Final Word

The scope of Elavon's products and services make it well-suited to businesses that plan to scale their processing volume up and need a processor who can seamlessly provide that transition. Pricing structures that favor small businesses are available, which is a nice option coming from one of the major processors. Elavon has a global presence that allows businesses to branch out geographically, allowing merchants to tap regions of growing opportunity. Businesses that prefer white-glove support may be best served by signing up for Elavon through a trusted ISO that has an established track record of dependable customer service.