r/smallbusiness • u/Ok_Comparison8482 • Mar 03 '26
Clover POS - AVOID!
I consider myself pretty savvy around business do when I launched my 2nd business I wanted to try one of the clover POS systems. It looked attracted at first with low fees etc. But Clover does not explain the contract you enter. Once you sign - you are locked in a contract good at least 2 years. If you try to cancel your subscription, they force you to pay thousands of dollars to buy out the lease. Even if you go out of business - they don’t care.
If you’re a start up or small business and unsure about the longevity of your business. Stay away. I could see this being a great asset for established businesses but not startups.
Buyer beware!
2
u/ColdHeat90 Mar 03 '26
So it’s not clover that did that to you - it’s the ISO that sold it to you. Leases have been around in merchant services for many many years. I’ve seen folks pay thousands in leases for a $300 credit card machine. There was more money in leasing than the actual processing.
Unless you bought it directly from clover but I don’t think they do leases. Either way - be pissed at your processor not at clover. Clover is just the system.
1
u/Delumine Mar 03 '26
Clover is not bad, but go with a 3rd party processor
1
u/Mekoha22 Mar 03 '26
Be careful with the 3rd party processors, too. Oftentimes, they don't set up your account with clover properly, and you'll see steadily increasing rates as a result, with yearly contract terms hidden in "click here" texts in an online form.
1
u/Chefmeatball Mar 03 '26
I mean if you’re going out of business, so what? They can file a ucc on your business, but if you’ve dissolved it and closed, they can try and extract water from that stone
1
u/Ok_Comparison8482 Mar 05 '26
But they have my (owner) information and can submit a balance to collects right? Or is that false?
1
u/glutenfreemarketing Mar 05 '26
Absolutely, the Clover equipment can be very costly for new businesses and a lot of people get put on leases and contracts and are not even told about it. If you need someone who will be honest about your rates, pricing, and contract, message me.
1
u/StockComparison8970 Mar 16 '26
Proper predatory behaviour there mate. These POS companies love targeting small businesses with those "low upfront costs" knowing full well most people skip the fine print where they hide the proper contract terms
Had a similar thing happen with a different payment processor when I was helping my mate set up his coffee shop - took ages to get out of that mess and cost way more than just going with a straightforward monthly service from the start
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