Handepay is a UK merchant account provider serving over 28,000 businesses, owned by PayPoint plc since 2021. The company’s core pitch is simple: no hidden fees. No minimum monthly service charge, no PCI compliance fees, no authorisation fees, and no setup costs – just bespoke transaction rates based on your business profile.
We rate Handepay 6.8 out of 10. The “no hidden fees” model is genuine and the 4.9/5 Trustpilot score (8,900+ reviews) is impressive. But the lack of published pricing, auto-renewing contracts (12-36 months with 3 months’ notice required), and a pattern of complaints about cancellation difficulty prevent a higher score.
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This review covers Handepay’s card machines, online payment tools, pricing structure, contract terms, and how it compares to Square, takepayments, and other UK providers.
- No hidden fees guarantee - Transparent pricing structure with rates from 1.25% and no unexpected charges or penalties
- Best for cost-conscious SMEs - Serves 28,000+ UK businesses seeking affordable merchant services without complexity
- Basic feature set - Limited advanced functionality compared to comprehensive solutions like Stripe or Adyen platforms
- 20% cheaper than Barclays - Significantly lower costs than traditional bank-owned merchant services for equivalent processing
- PayPoint plc ownership - Backed by £500 million revenue company providing financial stability and growth investment
Handepay Pricing and Fees
Handepay doesn’t publish transaction rates – all pricing is custom quoted. The key differentiator is zero hidden fees: no MMSC, no PCI fee, no auth fee, and no setup cost.
Like most traditional merchant account providers, Handepay sets transaction rates based on your business type, annual card turnover, average transaction value, and card mix. You’ll need to call 0800 377 7382 or request an online quote.
What You’ll Pay
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transaction fees (in-person) | Custom quoted (typically 0.5%-1.9%) |
| Online payment gateway | £19.99/month (400 transactions included) |
| Virtual terminal | £9.99/month (200 transactions included) |
| Pay by link | £0 (included with virtual terminal) |
| Minimum monthly service charge | £0 |
| PCI compliance fee | £0 |
| Authorisation fee | £0 |
| Setup/joining fee | £0 |
| Card machine rental | Not published (estimated £15-30/month) |
The “no hidden fees” positioning is Handepay’s strongest selling point. Most traditional providers charge £4-5/month for PCI compliance, £15-25 for minimum monthly service charges, and 3-5p per authorisation. Handepay rolls all of this into the transaction rate, so your monthly statement has fewer line items and fewer surprises.
Handepay also offers a £1,000 price challenge – if they can’t beat your current provider’s rates, they’ll pay you £1,000. They’ll also cover your old provider’s early termination fees to make switching easier.
Card Machines
Handepay supplies countertop, portable, and mobile card machines – including Clover devices – with contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay as standard on all terminals.
Handepay offers four categories of card terminal through its sister company Merchant Rentals (also owned by PayPoint):
- Countertop – including the full Clover suite, connected via ethernet or broadband. Best for fixed retail locations
- Portable – wireless within ~100m of a dock via Bluetooth. Best for table service in restaurants and hotels
- Mobile – built-in 3G/4G/5G SIM, works anywhere with signal. Best for tradespeople, markets, and deliveries
- Contactless – all machines support tap-to-pay up to £100, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
All terminals include chip & PIN, contactless, and receipt printing. Mobile units last a full working day on a single charge. Card machine rental pricing isn’t published – you’ll get it as part of your custom quote.
Online Payment Tools
Handepay’s online tools include a payment gateway at £19.99/month, virtual terminal at £9.99/month, free pay-by-link, and support for recurring subscription payments.
The online payment gateway (£19.99/month, 400 transactions included) integrates with major e-commerce platforms, supports 3D Secure for fraud protection, and handles multi-currency payments. The checkout is customisable to match your branding.
The virtual terminal (£9.99/month, 200 transactions included) turns any browser into a card payment station – ideal for phone and mail orders without needing physical hardware. Extra transactions beyond the 200 allowance cost 10p each. No joining fee.
Pay by link is free and included with the virtual terminal. Send payment links via email, SMS, or social media. Customers click and pay on a secure page. Useful for invoicing, deposits, and remote payments.
Recurring payments are supported for subscription businesses – set up weekly, monthly, or custom billing cycles with automated collection and failed-payment alerts.
Contract Terms and Cancellation
Contracts run 12-36 months with automatic 12-month renewal – you must give 3 months’ written notice to cancel, which has generated significant customer complaints.
This is the area where Handepay draws the most criticism. Standard contracts run 12-36 months and auto-renew for another 12 months unless you provide written cancellation at least 3 months before the end date. Miss the window, and you’re locked in for another year.
Early termination fees apply if you leave mid-contract, though the exact amount isn’t clearly disclosed upfront – another common complaint. Some customers report being charged for the remaining months of their contract.
Rolling monthly contracts are available for businesses switching from other providers, which gives more flexibility. But most customers end up on fixed-term deals. Always confirm the contract length, renewal terms, and exact cancellation process in writing before signing.
For context: takepayments offers straight 12-month contracts, while Square and SumUp have no contracts at all.
Security and Settlement
Handepay provides next-day settlement at no extra cost, PCI DSS compliance included in the monthly fee, and 3D Secure and AVS fraud protection for online and MOTO payments.
Next-day settlement is standard on most Handepay accounts – card transaction funds arrive in your bank account the following working day at no additional cost. This is better than the weekly payouts some providers default to.
PCI DSS compliance support is built into the standard fees – no separate charge. However, if you fall behind on compliance requirements (annual questionnaire, security scans), Handepay charges a PCI non-compliance fee. All online transactions use 3D Secure, and MOTO transactions use Address Verification Service (AVS).
Customer Reviews
Handepay scores 4.9/5 on Trustpilot from 8,900+ reviews, but has a pattern of complaints about auto-renewal traps, cancellation difficulty, and unclear exit costs.
The Trustpilot score is genuinely strong – 4.9/5 from over 8,900 reviews. Customers frequently praise the transparent pricing (no surprise fees), smooth onboarding, and named account managers who handle setup personally.
The negative reviews cluster around a consistent theme: contract and cancellation issues. Customers report auto-renewals they didn’t expect, difficulty reaching the right team to cancel, and early termination fees that weren’t clearly explained at signup. Some consumer protection forums have over 100 complaints specifically about cancellation.
The takeaway: Handepay’s day-to-day service and pricing are genuinely well-regarded, but the contract terms need careful scrutiny before you commit.
Pros and Cons
Handepay’s no-hidden-fees model is genuine and well-reviewed, but auto-renewing contracts and unclear cancellation terms are a real risk for small businesses.
Handepay vs Alternatives
Handepay competes on transparent fee structure and service quality, but PAYG providers offer more flexibility and traditional providers often publish clearer pricing.
| Provider | Transaction Fee | Monthly Fee | Contract | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handepay | Custom (0.5%-1.9%) | Terminal rental only | 12-36 months | Businesses wanting no hidden fees |
| takepayments | From 0.3% | From £12.50 | 12 months | Volume-based rates, shorter contracts |
| Square | 1.75% | £0 | None | Simple PAYG, best free POS |
| SumUp | 1.69% | £0 | None | Cheapest flat rate |
| Worldpay | From 0.75% | £19.95+ | 0-36 months | Enterprise and international |
If the contract terms concern you, takepayments offers a similar traditional merchant account model with straight 12-month contracts (no auto-renewal trap). For complete flexibility with no contracts, Square and SumUp let you stop any time. For more options, see our guide to the best card machines for small business.
Our Verdict
We rate Handepay 6.8/10 – the no-hidden-fees model is genuine and well-reviewed, but auto-renewing contracts and cancellation complaints hold it back from a higher score.
Genuine no-hidden-fees model with strong Trustpilot score, but auto-renewing contracts and cancellation complaints are a real concern
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare Merchant Account Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ Save up to 40% on card processing fees
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
Handepay’s value proposition is clear: bespoke transaction rates with no surprise fees on your monthly statement. No MMSC, no PCI fee, no auth fee – just the agreed transaction rate and terminal rental. The 4.9/5 Trustpilot score and £1,000 price challenge back up the claim.
The problem is the contract structure. Auto-renewing 12-36 month contracts with a 3-month cancellation window have generated enough complaints to warrant caution. If you’re considering Handepay, get the contract terms in writing before signing, set a calendar reminder 4 months before your end date, and keep a copy of your cancellation notice.
For businesses that value fee transparency and personal service, Handepay delivers. For businesses that prioritise flexibility and easy exit, look at Square, SumUp, or Dojo instead. Compare all options in our card machine costs guide.
