Radar / Payment institution
Planet (WeArePlanet)
Payment institution Ireland / United Kingdom / France (group) weareplanet.com ↗
Reviewed 2026-10-23
Our verdict
No major concerns found
Public sources do not show serious problems.
- BBB profile for Planet Payment Inc. (US) is not accredited and notes failure to respond to 2 complaints; no broader pattern of withheld funds was established. Company …
What should I do?
- Still check that the website address is exactly the official one (beware of copies).
- Use payment methods with buyer protection where possible.
- Keep records of your payments.
Based on public sources at the date of review. Not a finding that the company acted unlawfully; the company can respond below.
About
Planet (weareplanet.com, formerly Fintrax and Planet Payment) is a payments, software and tax-free (VAT refund) group serving hospitality and retail. Its website lists Planet Merchant Services Limited (UK FCA authorised payment institution) and Planet Merchant Services SAS (French ACPR payment institution, passported across the EEA); Canadian registration is described as pending. The group is co-controlled by majority owners Advent International and Eurazeo; Eric Heurtaux has been CEO since 1 January 2025. No regulatory enforcement against the current Planet brand was found in the sources checked; historical 2017 shareholder merger litigation concerning Planet Payment Inc. was reported, and a BBB profile for Planet Payment Inc. notes two unanswered complaints.
Read more
Planet (weareplanet.com, formerly Fintrax and Planet Payment) is a payments, software and tax-free (VAT refund) group serving hospitality and retail. Its website lists Planet Merchant Services Limited (UK FCA authorised payment institution) and Planet Merchant Services SAS (French ACPR payment institution, passported across the EEA); Canadian registration is described as pending. The group is co-controlled by majority owners Advent International and Eurazeo; Eric Heurtaux has been CEO since 1 January 2025. No regulatory enforcement against the current Planet brand was found in the sources checked; historical 2017 shareholder merger litigation concerning Planet Payment Inc. was reported, and a BBB profile for Planet Payment Inc. notes two unanswered complaints.
The full check
🪪LicenceLicensing & registrationOK
UK entity appears on the FCA list as an Authorised Payment Institution (authorised 2018-09-25); French entity is an active ACPR-authorised payment institution (EBA PSD2 register) with EEA passport. Canadian foreign payment service provider application is stated by Planet as pending. Not every group entity (e.g. US, Switzerland/Datatrans) was verified. Re-check found no change.
👥Who owns itOwnership & controlOK
Companies House shows PMSL as active, incorporated 2013 (formerly Fintrax International Payment Services Limited), with named directors; PSC statement notified July 2025 and accounts to Dec 2024 filed. Group is majority-owned/co-controlled by Advent International and Eurazeo since October 2021; group parent is Planet Payment Group Holdings Limited (Ireland).
- Companies House overview: active, incorporated 26 Nov 2013, former name Fintrax International Payment Services Limited
- Filing history: accounts to 31 Dec 2024 filed July 2025; PSC statement notified; cessation of Franklin UK Bidco Limited as PSC
- Directors listed for Planet Merchant Services Limited
- Advent International and Eurazeo described as majority owners
- Advent International and Eurazeo co-control since 21 Oct 2021
- Lists group entities incl. Planet Payment Group Holdings Limited (Ireland, 160005)
🏦Where your money goesBanking & payment chainNot checked yet
Not yet assessed.
⚖️Regulator actionsRegulatory actionsOK
No regulator warning, sanction or fine against Planet entities was found in the sources checked (re-check search included fine/sanction/warning terms); a third-party review reports no matched regulatory enforcement against the current Planet brand through 9 Oct 2026. This is not an exhaustive register check.
📰News & reputationAdverse media & OSINTOK
Coverage is mainly business/acquisition news (Fintrax acquisition of Planet Payment in 2017 for about €219m; Advent/Eurazeo investment 2021; CEO appointment 2024). Historical shareholder merger-disclosure litigation (2017) was reported, with the company denying the allegations. No fraud-related reporting found.
💬Customer experienceCustomer conductCaution
BBB profile for Planet Payment Inc. (US) is not accredited and notes failure to respond to 2 complaints; no broader pattern of withheld funds was established. Company publishes complaint channels per entity.
How we rate: methodology.
Licences & registrations
| Regulator / register | Type | Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Financial Conduct Authority | Authorised Payment Institution (Planet Merchant Services Limited) | 815854 | Active |
| ACPR (France) | Payment institution – credit transfers and card acquiring (Planet Merchant Services SAS) | 878394949 | Active |
| EEA host states (passport from ACPR) | Passported payment institution services (29 EEA countries per Planet) | Passported |
People & network
People (public registers)
- Eric Jacques Jean Heurtaux · Group CEO (from 1 Jan 2025); listed as director of Planet Merchant Services Limited · source
- Colin Dominic Close · Director, Planet Merchant Services Limited (UK); Chief Commercial Officer of Planet · source
- Linda Jane Zarza Hand · Director, Planet Merchant Services Limited (UK) · source
Version history
- 2026-10-23 Green signal Automated profile created from public sources
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