Back in December I was contacted by Payment Systems Dallas if they could stop by and give me an assessment of my credit card processing fees and that they could save me money. I was unhappy with my previous processor, mostly b/c of horrible customer service, rude people and half hour waiting periods of being put on hold each time I would call with a question, and also the fact that after a year and a half with them I was still being given the run around regarding reimbursement for my termination fee. So this lady, Sonja Brown from Payment Systems came out and looked at my current statement. Did some numbers and told me what she would be able to save me. I asked her to tell me more about her company and she said that they were an affiliate of First Data and to check them out on the Fortune 500 companies. I took her word for it and we started talking numbers. I was currently paying average of $300/mo. With my previous processesor at that time and she told me a figure of about $250 total cc processing fees if I leased a machine that was up to date and PCI compliant. It would be $99/mo. And those fees were included with the total monthly figure she gave me. I told her I wasn't interested in leasing a machine b/c I already owned one that looked exactly like the one she was trying to get me to lease. She stated that I would not have to pay a PCI compliance fee ever again with the "upgraded" machine and there were no hidden fees, when I asked her what the catch was. I was a little wary but it seemed like a decent deal and I then proceeded to sign my life away into this nightmarish hell. EVERYTHING the rep told me was a lie! I asked her tons of questions and asked her repeatedly that the $99 figure was included with the cc processing fees for each month. She told me yes, more than once.
As I'm sure most of you reading this know, it has been an outright nightmare with these people. I have yet to receive a copy of the contract that I signed. The lady told me that she couldn't let me print out a copy of the lease per their policy it had to be processed first and then mailed to me. My gut told me that wasn't right at all, and I should have listened to it. I've had to call the cc processing company dozens of times and after the 10th call I was mailed 5 pages of a lease. They were out of order and I know I signed way more pages than that. I still question that I even initialed some of those pages as they do not look like how I would do them.
Anyways, I was never told that I was being entered into a non-cancellable lease at all or that it was even a separate company that leased the equipment. I was told that I would own it at the end and after paying $5000 at the end of this lease I will not even own it! Ridiculous! I am only a few months into the lease and am seeking advice what to do. I am debating closing my business account. The only thing I am most concerned with is my credit. I have worked so hard to maintain such good credit and I can't bear the thought of them ruining it with this. Not to mention my business which is a pet grooming salon, I have worked so hard to get to where I am and now my bank acct is being used as an ATM machine by these people. I am barely making a profit now after they keep doing debit after debit. I have paid over $1500 in fees in the past 3 mos. Through all this.
WHAT CAN I DO??? Please help... It is greatly appreciated. Who do I need to contact and in what order? I have the fight in me to nail these crooks but do not know where to start.
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