TransTech Merchants approached our landromat which offers additional services besides the coin-op to provide the convenience of debit and credit cards to our customers. They were quite persistant to get our business, not leaving until they had it, would do almost anything to get it.
We were told if we were not happy with their services within 60 days we could cancel our contract. He failed to mention all of the additional fees that were associated with this agreement only the monthly lease fee which we negotiated that additional fees were added to that we were not advised. At no time were we told that we could not cancel with the leasing company (LSG).
There is a $95 annual fee, a statement fee of $9.50 plus $25 for credit cards, a charge back fee of $25, a return draft fee of $30 per item, retrieval fee of $10 per item, etc. Then there is a separate fee for debit cards of $7 plus. 25 for transactions.
We had nothing but trouble with the equipment from the first day we tried to use it. It took a number of efforts and calls to TransTech to find out that the equipment would not work on the splitter they provided. It has to be plugged directly into the phone line in order for it to work. When you have the business phone and a pay phone that also needs that jack you have a big problem especially when it is not cost effective to add a dedicated line just for the credit card equipment. These were all questions I addressed with the representative and was assured there would be no problems.
The next problem was getting the money to our bank in a timely manner. We waited for days & weeks and it still was not in our account like we were assured it would be. The first time I called TransTech about this, they requested I fax our receipt to them; the next person I talked to had me process the transaction a second time "off-Line" which we found out later charged our customer a 2nd time. When I finally got a hold of someone who actually knew what they were talking about I found out that if the machine was not plugged into the phone line at night to do it's "batch" it did not process your money. Another fact we were not informed.
We had agreed to take Mastercard & Visa and I received a call from Discover regarding my account with them. I never authorized an account with Discover only Mastercard & Visa.
They had us run a "test" to make sure the equipment was working and had the nerve to try to charge us on our statment for their "test".
It makes absolutely no sense to me that TransTech tells you that you can cancel your agreement with them but the company they choose as their leasing agent will not allow you to cancel the lease—something which they fail to inform you. It's something you find out after you've signed the "book" they call and application & agreement.
And when you call Transtech to dispute the lease, their statement is "we can't do anything about the way the write their leases". I disagree, they can not do business with them. They are ripping consumers off!
They chose LSG as a leasing company, and I'm sure ours is not the first complaint, so they are aware of how the leases are being done but choose to continue doing business with them when they know customers are being ripped off and they have a hand in it. There has to be something in it for them because when you complain that you were given misleading information, you get told "it's your right to feel that way" and that is the only resolution you get.
We will not recommend TransTech or LSG to any businesses in our area, and if you are reading this and considering doing business with them, DON'T, especially without going over their "agreement" with a fine tooth comb or a good lawyer. Because getting charged for a "lease" for a service you can't use is dishonest & a rip off.
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