Processor Directory > Pivotal Payments

Pivotal Payments Review

Formerly Pivotal Payments, Nuvei is a credit card processing company located in New York that serves businesses throughout the US and Canada. Working primarily with small and medium-sized businesses, Nuvei also helps companies accept international customer payments.

With Pivotal Payments' rebrand as Nuvei in process, it's possible that some information or services will change. This profile reflects our current understanding of the services as offered by Pivotal and now Nuvei.

The company serves over 70,000 clients and processes more than $12 billion in transactions every year. In this Nuvei review and profile, we take an objective look at the services the company provides and what its reputation suggests about becoming a client.


What services can Nuvei offer my business?

Beyond standard store-front processing, the company also has options for internet and mobile processing as well as offers for gift cards, loyalty programs, and cash advances.

Nuvei does not offer any information regarding check processing or e-check services.

Card Processing

No matter what business you are in, accepting credit and debit cards helps make you more accessible to your customers. With Nuvei you can accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners’ Club, Discover, JCB, and corporate cards. Nuvei can work with you if you need to accept fleet cards as well.

Internet Processing

If you do business in cyberspace, Nuvei claims it can get your website business-ready, secured, and integrated with a shopping cart. The company does not say what payment gateways it offers, or if it has a virtual terminal. It does, however, have the ability to accept payments in over 60 currencies allowing your business to expand its reach internationally.

Mobile Processing

Be prepared for a sale whenever and wherever you go with mobile processing. Mobile allows you to take payments with your smartphone or mobile device, all you need is a plug-in card reader. Certain features are changeable depending on your needs, such as the ability to add tips, or to edit tax rates. Mobile is PCI compliant and uses encryption for extra security. Credit card information is stored in secured servers. Online reporting lets you track transactions and view your account information at any time.

Gift Cards and Loyalty Program

Pocket sized billboards; put your brand logo on your gift and loyalty cards and have mini ads with added benefits. Gift cards can be loaded and reloaded at your point of sale, making them a great option for customers that want to share your business with others. Loyalty cards allow your customers to earn points and rewards for purchases, creating repeat business and customer satisfaction. Both options are available through Nuvei.

Cash Advances

If you need working capital fast, cash advances can be a tempting offer and Nuvei can assist you with up to $300,000. Look before you leap though, cash advances can end up being very costly and there might be better options.

How can Nuvei help with my international customers?

Whether you are worldly in the ways of business without borders or looking to expand internationally, Nuvei offers multi-currency pricing and dynamic currency conversion as ways of catering to international customers.

Multi-currency pricing allows you to selling in foreign currencies but receive payment in US dollars. This helps make your store more inviting to people, as it gives them a local feeling while shopping.

If you run a business that accepts a lot of international cards, dynamic currency conversion can reduce the processing cost. With dynamic currency conversion your customers have the option of paying in their currency or in US dollars.

Does Nuvei offer equipment?

Nuvei offers a range of processing equipment, all of which are EMV ready. Popular brands like  and  are current options. Features vary according to the terminal but include integrated PIN pads, built in printers, wireless connectivity, LCD screens, and contactless card options.

Mobile also offered as an option for people who want to take payments with their smartphone or mobile device. The tiny card reader attaches to the audio port of your device, allowing you to both accept payments and give refunds.

Nuvei Rates and Fees

Pricing fluctuates from business to business depending on needs. If you want to find out how much you would pay for Pivotal Payments services, request a quote through CardFellow. Our free service allows you to compare fully disclosed pricing of any processors you choose. Sign up here!

Nuvei Reviews and Online Reputation

At the time of this update, Nuvei's rebrand from Pivotal Payments is still in process. As such, there isn't a lot of information available about experiences with Nuvei specifically.

However, there are reviews available for Pivotal Payments, Nuvei's old name. We're leaving our previously published information about Pivotal's reputation for historical purposes. 

Pivotal Payments Reviews

Oh my! An alert with the Better Business Bureau stating that they will be monitoring complaints, 58 complaints on Ripoff Report (each one buried under the same apologetic company statement), and a combined total of 10 reviews on Google and Yelp that each give the company 1 star (the lowest it can go); it appears that Pivotal Payments has been up to no good.

In spite of the red alert on the company’s profile with the BBB, Pivotal Payments is accredited and has an A+ rating. So, why the alert? Sifting through the 74 complaints closed within the last 3 years on Pivotal Payments profile, there is a pretty clear pattern. It seems that dishonest sales practices lead to people paying higher rates and more fees than anticipated. This leads to people wanting to cancel. When trying to cancel they realize customer service gives them a run around, they are liable for a cancellation fee (reported to be between $395 and $600), and fees being charge even after the account is terminated. The complaints vary from person to person, but this is generally what you will find. Other complaints include held funds and terrible customer service when trying to get problems resolved.

The 58 complaints on Ripoff Report reiterate the deceptive sales tactics and bad customer service issues. Reviewers add problems with international service, expensive equipment, and pricing being raised after account was started. More stories of being scammed and cautions to “beware” surface when reading through the Yelp and Google reviews.

The positive customer testimonials are far outnumbered by the quantity of complaints, but Pivotal Payments does have a small selection of testimonials on its website.  Reviewers praise the company’s quick problem solving and friendliness, as well as good rates and services. This could not contradict the online reviews found elsewhere more.

If you have an experience with Pivotal Payments that can shed some light on the company, we would love to hear it! Leave a review!

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
0/5

Unlike general web reviews, verified reviews are posted by businesses that have chosen the processor's quote through CardFellow's marketplace, and CardFellow has confirmed with the processor that the business is using its service. Businesses can update verified reviews at any time to ensure the review accurately reflects the processor's performance over time.

There are no verified reviews for this processor
SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1.1/5

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.

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Posted by Lynn on Sep 21, 2020

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

I used this company for 3 years and I just learned I was getting charged $60 extra a month for the business coach and survey fee that I was NEVER aware of. I told the company that and they said I signed the contract, and it was all written there. When I signed, the representative I was speaking to never mentioned anything like this. I wanted to get out of the contract and now the company says I'll be getting a $300 cancellation fee.

Posted by Unhappy Merchant on Sep 17, 2020

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

I switched to another processor due to better pricing. When I called to cancel they told me the contract auto-renews every year so I'd have to pay the fees for another 9 months. And then after closing, they say it will be a $395 fee to close the account. Stay away from this company.

Posted by Michael Hammer on Aug 20, 2019

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

They withdraw money from your business bank account without notification. They take whatever amounts they see fit. Unregulated by the U.S. Government, so they make up their own rules. Beware, do not use these people. Go with a local bank that will stand behind your legitimate complaints. I would leave 0 stars if I could.

Posted by Danny Rios on Aug 11, 2019

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

Hands down the worst CC processor I have ever worked with. They promised me next day funding. Didn't get it. When I inquired, they told me sorry. When I wanted to cancel, THEY CHARGED ME 400 BUCKS AND DARED ME TO GO TO COURT. SCREW THESE GUYS.

Posted by Ross Burk on Apr 08, 2019

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

Billed amounts over ten times the quoted rates, just pulling whatever they pleased from my account. Ignored cancellation emails Had to contact attorney general for our state and close my account. BEWARE.

Posted by Charles on Dec 29, 2018

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
2.5/5

(I'm remaining semi-anonymous so as not to get myself blacklisted and targeted for retribution by Nuvei while I'm still a customer.) I switched to this processor after horrendous customer service and erroneous fees from other companies. The sales person (as is always the case) was full of promises and "solutions" as an 'interested partner' to my business. Now I'm seeing some creep in my bottom-line costs as a percentage of my sales intake. I had a big surprise in December with some kind of unexpected annual fee, which was never openly disclosed to me at the time of my contract's activation. Legitimate or extortion? Who knows? I had EMV compliance capability with former processors, but not with my new Nuvei service of 2018! My inquiries into the need for compliance, my risk, and my potential higher costs for non-compliance have met with assurances that everything I'm doing is OK, and they will provide me with upgraded POS hardware as soon as any new requirements arise. Am I being lied to? Lastly, the mobile app I use is very simple/unsophisticated and lacks many customizing capabilities that previous programs had. I took a big step backward in this regard, with the expectation that lower costs to me for credit card processing would be the payoff. My middle-of-the-road ratings could easily turn either way, based on the metrics of my next few months of processing.

Posted by Michael Kowbel on Nov 05, 2018

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1/5

I used Pivotal Payments for about 6 years. When I signed up, their rates were quite good. However, over the following years, they slowly increased the rates without notifying me about it. It was small enough that I didn't really notice until one month I looked into it further and realized their deceit. My effective rate was over 4% on average, not even maximum, that's average! They have a lot of small hidden fees, very strange 'reporting fees' and other fees, some monthly, some quarterly, and some yearly. They also force a 48 month lease on the payment terminals, so be aware of that fact before signing up with them. Pretty much locks you in for 4 years, as you can't take the terminals elsewhere. What I wasn't aware of is that in the fine print of the contract they put the actual processing service on a 3 year term, with automatic 2 year renewals after. If you want to cancel within the auto-renewed 2 year term, they ding you with a big fee for nothing, $650+tax in my case. I switched to a reputable provider (Global Payments), and not only are the terminals way cheaper, but I'm paying about 50% less in fees overall. Again, when you start out with them it may be comparable to other providers, but that won't last long. I would highly recommend that you consider a different provider, as I would have saved thousands by going with a more reputable company from the start.

Posted by Javad John on Apr 16, 2018

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
0/5

Stay away from PIVOTAL!!! The minute I started using Pivotal Payments' processing machine, I had a problem. I could not make any transactions, and I lost business due to machine failure. So I called their customer service numerous times; each time, they put me on hold for between 15-25 minutes. Also, four months ago, Mr. Tavani, agent of Pivotal Payments, promised that they were going to buy out Northern Leasing Services, Inc. which was what I was dealing with beforehand. Four months have passed and Pivotal Payments has not bought their company out, and I am getting a call every single day from NLS since then. Jamie, a customer service representative from the loyalty department of Pivotal, promised me that his organization was going to send a cheque to pay NLS's $1,772 cancellation fee. After a few weeks, I called them back, and he informed me that he sent the cheque to the "wrong address" of NLS. They granted consent to show us a digital copy of the chequethat they sent. They promised me that they would send it to the correct company address instead. After a month, when I sent another email to Jamie, inquiring whether he did so already, he said that he was going to be on vacation, and that he would come back after one week. After that week, when I called him, he has not been answering; his supervisor was not answering either. Another CSR told me that I need to wait another few days until I am able to talk to the supervisor, but he assured me as I talked to P.J., as I've talked to Rod, to Paul, and some other lady; they all told me that they "would get back to me". None of them have. After four months, having been through not only is this company charging me for the processing machine, but also the previous company, NLS, is billing me every single month. I brought up this issue with Jamie, and we have full evidence of him and his group promising to pay the cancellation fee for me. So, now I'm not only being charged by Pivotal Payments for their payment terminal services; I am also being charged for NLS's cancellation fee, and the terminal for that same company that we have already returned the terminal machine to. NLS has already confirmed by email that they have received the machine back, however, the same company is still charging us $66 every month for in the past four months for the machine that we do not even have access to use. I am able to provide all the emails we have received and sent in the past four months and the violation of mutual contract agreement. I also have available a copy of the contract I have with their agent and the charges they put on the monthly statement.

Posted by Nima on Mar 15, 2018

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
0.5/5

We used Pivotal Payment Processing since 2017, which is when our account was transferred from Intuit Payment Processing after 9 years of being with them. We are a small carpet cleaning company. We use an advertisement coupon to reach customers. The coupon clearly states the various services we provide and restrictions that apply. Customers hire us and pay mostly with credit cards. We always ask customers to sign the invoice prior to starting the job and after completion. Lately, we have had more chargebacks than usual. We always followed up with customers. However, Pivotal continued to take the money out of our account and give to the customers, even though we had concrete proof we provided the services. Now, Pivotal has placed my business on the MATCH List, and closed my processing account on grounds of "excessive fraud." These people are terrible. They keep saying they will do their best to help me. But in the end they just took my money and ran. I processed upwards of $50,000 per month. Now they are completely ruining my business. I hope they reach out to me, or I am planning on suing them.

Posted by CardFellow on Mar 04, 2016

SATISFACTION
RATES & FEES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
2/5

We've seen Pivotal Payments use many of the worst tricks in the book. Aside from its opaque, excessive pricing, Pivotal has been well known to CardFellow for leverage liquidated damage clauses in its contracts. Our founder and president personally spoke with a Pivotal VP of sales on the topic, and the VP was dismissive and arrogant. The apparent lack of ethics on behalf of its management indicates a culture that does not hold the interests of its clients in high regard. The only reason this review isn't one star is because Pivotal has shown signs that it's attempting to turn the corner and take a more ethical approach, but this remains to be seen.

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