Complaint / Review
Sterling Payment Technologies
Early Termination "Fee" after 4.5 years - Sterling Stole $400.00

Sterling payment technologies is a credit card processing company in Tampa Florida. I used them for about four years. I actually left once and later switched back because I was unhappy with the customer service from the other place.

After being back with Sterling for another year (I had used them for 3 years prior) I decided to consolidate my 2 locations under one merchant service company - Crescent. The Tampa Palms studio was using Bank of America for about 8 months - who did NOT charge me a fee for leaving them.

All of these companies promise the world to get your business. This one, Sterling, will actually punish you with a $400.00 fee if you leave them. If you want it back, they will tell you that you must come back to them. Aside from a bad business practice, I call that extortion. That said, do the smart thing and AVOID using Sterling Payment Technologies.

After my calls and emails were ignored for the most part, I contacted the President of Sterling, Paul Hunter. He told me that they won't return my money because they incurred charges and paid a commission to the sales person who put me in as a "new" customer when I came back to them in April.

I attempted to enlighten Mr. Hunter that I paid them 16 months of fees and charges that more than covered their chosen structure of compensation to their sales people.
As well, I did not choose to be a "new" customer when I went back them. Had I gone to my old account, apparently I would have not been charged the fee for leaving them.

Sterling Payment Technologies is like an ex, who loved you while you were with them but will burn you when you leave. Something that other credit processors do not do because they know it is a non-ethical policy and bad for long-term business.

It is my responsibility to share this experience with whomever is considering using a merchant services processor. Beware of Sterling Payment Technologies and their partners. I see that, as I went to this site to file a report about Sterling, I am not alone. Do yourself a favor and avoid them.