Important information
- Customer Complaint:Due to the volume of complaints received, BBB is publishing the details (text) of 50% of complaints as a representative sample.
Complaints
Customer Complaints Summary
- 164 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 55 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:26/06/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I've been a customer for 10 years and use their Payroll processing service. 72 hours ago I attempted to process our bi-weekly payroll for 18 employees. When I enter the Payroll section of the site, none of my data exists. It shows 5 active employees and 35 dismissed. It should have 18 active and hundreds of dismissed. Timesheets is inaccurate. And there is no data about previous payroll transactions. I submitted multiple tickets after "chatting" with a worthless bot. There has been zero follow up. Where is my data?! I need employee information in order to switch to another payroll co. I need my info so I can pay my employees!Business Response
Date: 04/07/2025
We are in touch with the customer directly and are actively working to resolve the issue.Initial Complaint
Date:26/06/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I've been a paying customer of Wave for 3 years. Last month, Wave silently migrated their payroll platform to a third-party provider, ***** ************, without any notice or consent. Since then, everything has fallen apart. The migration failed - and Wave failed to inform their costumers. I only found out when I went to run payroll and realized everything was broken: incorrect data, missing records, and no explanation. Since then, everything has fallen apart.
Here’s what we’ve dealt with:
Incorrect payroll calculations – Deductions disappeared, salaries were miscalculated, and Wave’s own team can’t figure out why.
Missing payroll history and tax records – I lost access to our own data. EVERYTHING is missing.
Failure to file our Employer Tax Report – I was notified by my state (not Wave) that our report wasn’t filed. When we contacted Wave, they told us to pay the penalty and they’d “try” to reimburse us. So we are now out of compliance and facing penalties.
No communication – Support takes hours (if you’re lucky), pushes everything to email, and then ghosted me. I've gone weeks without updates on urgent issues.Business Response
Date: 04/07/2025
We are in touch with the customer directly and are actively working to resolve the issue.Initial Complaint
Date:24/06/2025
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I signed up for Wave payroll and on June 11th, they took $9733.59 from my account and never sent it to employees. They said that they can't provide payroll for my business but that was after they took the money. Now they are saying they never saw the money come out of my account. Support is horrible and they never get back to me.Business Response
Date: 04/07/2025
The issue was resolved with the customer directly.Customer Answer
Date: 05/07/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
******* *****Initial Complaint
Date:17/06/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have used the WAVE software to run payroll, pay estimated taxes, fund 401K and run business reports for the past five years. The software has been down for three weeks now. I've reached out to support on four occasions and been in direct chat support on three occasions since the software has gone down. My payments for the accounting service are current. I am not at a point where payroll is due, and I am unable to pay my employees, my taxes, or pull reports that are critical to running my business. Employees are needing W2s for renting apartments. There is not direct line available to call. This is now causing me hardship and puts me at risk for labor law compliance fines by the government. I do not know what else I can do. I tried switching accounting software, but WAVE houses all of the reports required to set up the new software.Business Response
Date: 26/06/2025
We are in touch with the customer directly and are working on resolving the issue.Initial Complaint
Date:22/05/2025
Type:Order IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I used Wave to run my business receivables for 5+ years. Until now, I had no problems.
Instead of notifying me they couldn't operate where I changed my bank to, they paused all my payouts and spent weeks of irregular correspondence via email or I'd wait in a very long queue (1-4+ hours at a time) for chat support. Their chats often timeout after 1-2 hour waits, where you have to start again. If you do get someone, no department can do anything toward your case. It's always another department's issue. Additionally, Wave doesn't have anyone you can talk with for support.
I changed my bank back to the original I've been operating from for 5+ years, hoping to speed up the process, and now it's been 2 more weeks with nothing, but "Your case is currently be worked on. You'll hear back from someone today." Everyday, it's the same thing. No response from Wave.
Pausing a business' financial operations for a to be solely determined by Wave amount of time, without warning, keeping a HUGE amount of money in limbo without reason or warrant (only based on "sole discretion"), and not having support to resolve issues in any timely manner is a standard no company should have.Business Response
Date: 27/05/2025
Wave is in touch with the customer directly to resolve the issue.Customer Answer
Date: 27/05/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
****** *********Initial Complaint
Date:20/05/2025
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Wave Financial Inc helped assisted one of the clients in *****. I engaged ***** ******* ****** for services and submitted payment through your Wave Financial's Payment Gateway. Unfortunately, the services were never rendered. When I filed a chargeback with my credit card provider, ******* ***, ***** ******* ****** responded with falsified documentation to dispute the claim. Wave Financial Inc assisted in denying my claim. As a result, ******* *** has since closed their investigation. Ultimately stating I am responsible for the charges.
WAVE - *************** billed on 09/09/2024 for $5,846.37.
WAVE - *************** billed on 09/09/2024 for $9,504.02.
WAVE - *************** billed on 09/17/2024 for $10,055.03.
WAVE - *************** billed on 09/23/2024 for $8,454.04.Business Response
Date: 30/05/2025
Customer complaint does not reflect the work done with Wave as they are upset that Wave's customer has won chargeback initiated against them. We are unable to refund any money lost due to the bank's decision on this process. We recommend that the complainant reach out to the Merchant to discuss a refund.Initial Complaint
Date:14/05/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
My business is new I'm using wave financial as my payment processor for online payments we do selective demolition services on site for real estate investors and property management companies that are more than likely absentee or never on site so we have to use online payment processors to receive our payments. I signed up with this company so I can receive online payments initially I did everything that I was supposed to do it was approved to accept online payments as soon as I was paid I got an email this morning saying that they had to discontinue my payment processing until I answered a list of questions and submit documents which I feel like are frivolous questions that could have been asked before they approved the payment processing I feel like this was used to lock people in and to keep people from going elsewhere because they have a subpar product and it's not right this was my first payment with the newly incorporated business I don't have lines of credit or credit cards to float my business so I 100% depend on what I'm paid to keep going this would traumatically disrupt my cash flow process. I have submitted all forms and answered all questions the messed up part is it may take days or a week before my money is released when they could have asked the same simple questions before they approve online payments. If you think about it if they do 30 or 40 people a day like this in the amounts of money range anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 that's a lot of money that they're a tying up from people that's running businessesBusiness Response
Date: 14/05/2025
The issue was resolved with the customer directly.Initial Complaint
Date:14/05/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
In April 2025, I used Wave Financial to invoice a client for cybersecurity services. The payment was $10,000 for 80 hours of documented work. I submitted all required documentation including a signed contract, ID, and client confirmation.
Wave then froze the funds and initiated a “risk review.” Despite complying with all requests, they claimed they could not “verify” my business and refunded the client without citing fraud or a violation of their Terms of Service. I received no formal notice of wrongdoing, no opportunity to appeal, and no response to follow-up inquiries.
This action disrupted my business, damaged my credibility, and undermined a legal, documented service agreement. I believe Wave acted arbitrarily, with no transparency or due process.Business Response
Date: 23/05/2025
Wave is in touch with the customer directly to resolve the issueInitial Complaint
Date:14/05/2025
Type:Product IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I am filing this complaint due to my experience with Wave Financial Inc. after purchasing a Wave Pro subscription on May 8, 2025. Upon payment, I received a confirmation email stating that I could "get started right away." Based on this, I proceeded to invoice a client, only to have my account immediately restricted pending further verification for the payment processing feature.
Several days later, I was informed via email that Wave considers various general factors when determining eligibility to use their payment system, including business tenure, industry type, online presence, and financial history. However, no specific reason for the restriction was provided. I was simply told that I could not use the payments feature—the primary reason I signed up for the service.
I contacted Wave to request a full refund of my Pro subscription since I could not use the key feature I had paid for. My request was refused, even though the service was effectively denied immediately after purchase. I believe this is a clear case of misleading advertising, poor customer service, and a failure to disclose eligibility requirements upfront.
I am requesting:
A full refund of my Wave Pro subscription;
Transparency regarding account eligibility for payments, especially before customers are charged;
Corrective action to ensure other consumers are not similarly misled.
I hope the BBB will assist in facilitating a fair resolution to this matter.Business Response
Date: 22/05/2025
We reached out to the customer to resolve the issue directly.Initial Complaint
Date:02/05/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I am a small business owner who subscribed to Wave’s payroll service based on its marketing promise to provide “an easy, more accurate way to pay employees, contractors, and yourself.” Unfortunately, my experience with Wave has resulted in tax filing errors, missed deadlines, and unresponsive customer service—causing financial and administrative burden for my business.
Incorrect Tax Settings & W-2 Issuance:
My Wave payroll account was incorrectly set up as exempt from (FUTA) without my knowledge or expertise. This error led to Wave failing to generate Form 940. Additionally, Wave generated a W-2 for February 2024 indicating payroll payments that never occurred. No paycheck was processed that month—only an owner's distribution. This is false and ********** information being reported to the IRS.
Missed Filing Deadlines & Financial Harm:
Due to reliance on Wave’s services and inaccurate recordkeeping, I missed every federal and state tax deadline for 2024. I am now required to hire an outside tax professional to correct filings and amend returns, which is a financial burden caused solely by Wave’s errors.
Customer Service Failure:
I have been attempting to resolve these issues through Wave’s support team for over 4 weeks. Communication has been slow, and no actual resolution has been provided. I have been repeatedly told that these errors must be corrected “outside of Wave."
Wave has now been made aware of these inaccuracies and is still refusing to correct the tax documentation. This means they are knowingly allowing the submission of incorrect information to the IRS.
Immediate issuance of W-2C and W-3C
A full refund of payroll service fees, as Wave failed to provide advertised service.
A formal acknowledgment of the failure to deliver promised services and the resulting burden placed on my business.Business Response
Date: 12/05/2025
We are in touch with the customer directly and are actively working on resolving the issue.Customer Answer
Date: 13/05/2025
I am rejecting this response because:
While it is true that I eventually received communication and a partial resolution, the response does not address the full extent of my concerns or the refund I requested. The only compensation I have received is a $120 refund, which does not cover the $535 I requested for the months I paid for payroll services that failed to meet the advertised standards of accuracy, support, and compliance.
The significant delays in support, the inaccurate tax filings that I could not correct myself through the platform, and the added financial burden of hiring tax professionals to fix the issues caused by Wave’s system all remain unresolved. I spent months communicating with multiple agents and had to escalate the issue several times before any meaningful action was taken. The refund issued does not reflect the time lost, the stress caused, or the additional costs I’ve incurred as a direct result of Wave’s system limitations and lack of responsive support.
I appreciate that a correction was eventually made, but this was only after months of inadequate support, and the outcome still falls short of a fair resolution.
Sincerely,
**** ******
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