You’re paying too much. Your payment terminal is slow or outdated. It takes your provider three days to call you back—and not always in French. You’ve been thinking about this for months. But you haven’t taken any action because two things are holding you back: you’re still under contract, and you’re afraid of losing revenue during the transition.
Three Things to Check in Your Current Contract
Before making any decision, pull out your contract and look for these three elements. They are what determine how much leeway you have.
- The end date of your commitment. You might be closer to the exit than you think.
- The required notice period. Many contracts are automatically renewed if notice is not given on time. This is the most common pitfall.
- Early termination fees. Their amount, and especially how they are calculated.
Don’t feel like digging through the fine print? Send us your contract and your most recent statement of charges. We’ll read them for you and tell you what you can do. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
“I’m under contract; canceling will cost me a lot.”
This is the first obstacle, and it’s the easiest one to overcome. In most cases, we’ll cover all or part of the cancellation fees for your current contract. The math is simple: if the savings you realize on your transaction fees exceed the exit fee, we’ll cover the difference so that the switch costs you nothing in the short term. In practical terms, this means the question is no longer “Can I afford to switch?” but “How much am I losing each month by staying?”
“I’m worried that my payments will stop during the transition.”
This is the most legitimate concern, especially in retail or the restaurant industry, where an hour without sales is a lost hour. We’ll set up your new terminal before deactivating the old one. So you have a period during which both systems run in parallel. You don’t make the permanent switch until the new system has been tested, your team knows how to use it, and you feel comfortable with it. At no point will you find yourself without a way to process payments. This is the foundation of our support, and it’s non-negotiable.
“What if, in the end, it doesn’t work out for me?”
You have 90 days to try it out. If the solution doesn’t meet your business’s needs, just let us know and we’ll stop. No questions asked, no hidden penalties. That’s what lets you treat change as a test, not a leap of faith.
How much are you overpaying today?
Most merchants we meet don’t know how to answer this question. It’s not because they’re being careless: the fee statements are deliberately hard to read, with lines for interchange, assessment, service, and compliance fees all jumbled together. We’ll analyze your current statement for free. You’ll walk away with a single figure: what you’re actually paying as a percentage of your revenue, and what you’d pay with us.
To understand what makes up your fees before you even call us, check out our guide to interchange fees in Canada and our 2026 transaction fee barometer.
How is the transition going?
1. We analyze your situation. Please send us your most recent expense statement and, if you have it, your contract. We’ll call you back within 24 hours with a clear cost estimate.
2. We check your exit margin. Remaining contract term, notice period, cancellation fees. We’ll let you know what we can cover and what you’ll have to pay, if anything.
3. We install and provide training. The new terminal is being installed and will operate alongside the old one. Your team will receive on-site training in French.
4. We disable the old one. Once everything is up and running—and only then.
What Won’t Change for Your Customers
Your customers won’t notice any difference—except that the payment terminal is faster. You’ll continue to accept:
- Interac, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express
- Contactless Payments, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
- Tips, Refunds, and Partial Payments
If you are in the restaurant industry, MEV-Web compliance is taken into account during the migration. If you process online payments, PCI DSS compliance remains ensured without any additional action on your part.
Why Are Quebec Retailers Switching Suppliers?
In the cases we handle, three reasons come up almost every time.
- Fees that have increased without explanation. Many contracts provide for an annual rate adjustment. After three or four years, the gap with the market becomes significant.
- Support that isn’t up to par. A payment terminal that breaks down on a Friday night means a weekend of lost revenue. The question isn’t whether it will happen, but how long it will last.
- An outdated terminal. No seamless contactless payments, no mobility, no integration with the checkout. What was acceptable in 2021 is costing sales in 2026.
If you’re still deciding between several providers, our comparison of Global Payments, Moneris, Square, and Clover gives you an honest look at what each one does best.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Change Your Payment Terminal
How long does it take to replace a payment terminal?
Generally, it takes anywhere from a few days to two weeks between your first call and service activation, depending on your setup and the notice period in your current contract. The technical setup itself takes less than a day.
Can I switch to a different device if I’m still under contract?
Yes, in most cases. It all depends on the remaining term and the exit terms specified in your contract. That’s exactly what we review with you before making any recommendations.
Who pays the cancellation fees for my current contract?
In most cases, we cover all or part of these fees. The exact amount depends on your contract and your transaction volume. We’ll confirm this with you before you make any decisions.
Will my payments be suspended during the transition?
No. The new payment terminal is installed and tested while the old one is still in use. The switchover takes place only after everything has been approved on your end.
Do I need to replace my cash register at the same time?
Not necessarily. A payment terminal can operate on its own or be integrated with your current point-of-sale system. If your point-of-sale system is nearing the end of its useful life, this is a good opportunity to discuss it, but it’s not a requirement.
What happens if I’m not satisfied with the solution?
You have 90 days to try it out. After that time, if the solution doesn’t meet your needs, just let us know and we’ll stop.
Will I really save on my transaction fees?
We don’t make empty promises. We analyze your current statement and give you a specific figure. If the savings aren’t significant, we’ll tell you straight up rather than have you switch for nothing.
Is support available in French in Quebec?
Yes. Our team is based in Quebec, and we provide support in French—from setup to troubleshooting. The easiest thing to do is to talk it over for five minutes. With your bill in front of us, we’ll let you know if the switch is worth it. And if the answer is no, we’ll tell you that, too.