Basically, I signed up for a merchant account. I was promised free advertising as well as aide in advertising. I was told that the rationale behind this was that the more credit card orders I processed, the more money they made. Another issue was auto debits to my bank account. I specifically asked about "gateway fees", "statement fees" and the such.
I do understand that companies charge this, but I explained that I would not have my business ready for a couple months and that I would not want to pay for any statement fees when I would not even be using the merchant system yet. I was told that I would NOT incur any charges until my first transaction. This was a lie. The first month after my initial signing of the contract I incured charges. All of this was told to me by a Mr. Mike Miller. As for the free advertising I never saw any. I sent repeated emails. After about five emails, I was sent some links to "third-party" advertisement companies which are quite costly. I have found much cheaper advertisement by professional companies by doing a little research
I have been contacted by ECX and/or Duvera. I get these companies confused because both companies were debeting my bank account. Another confusion was that Mike Miller was supposed to be some accont manager "at" ECX. After some time, I get a call a week or so ago from "Mike Miller" saying he wanted to resolve the issue. The issue was for me to make a "payout" of two hundred and something dollars (this would only close out my lease agreement. I still would have no merchant account). I told him I would not pay for something I could not use. He said he would turn me in to a collection agency. I told him I planned on gathering up people to try and start a class-action as well as file a complaint with the FTC and the Attorny General of the State of California. I hung up on him. A day or so later I receive a call from "Duvera." The toll free number Duvera (collection agency) left on my answering machine is the same exact toll free number Mike Miller (supposed rep manager for ECX) left.
I have noticed in the contract they state that verbal promises are not valid. I have noticed they lie to people to get them to sign up, then after they sign up they say they quote that part of the contract. Mike Miller even told me "Didn't you think to get everything in writing." I told him I thought I could trust ECX. But now that even he, their representative, tells me I should have sure does send a red flag of a shady company.
One final issue was that support was non-existant. When I had questions, it would take a week or more for a response. As I explained to Mr. Miller, "If I am running a business online, I don't have time to wait a week or more for a response to a simple question."
I simply don't understand how a company as such can stay in business when so many people have the same or similar complaint.
In one converstaion with their "collection" personnel, I explained to the person that I was aware with their unsatisfactory record with the BBB as well as compalints on quite a few other sites. His response was that they were lies. He seemed to get quite angry when I finally told him I knew my legal rights and I planned on filing a complaint with the FTC, BBB, and Attorney General's office.
Another thing I don't understand is that I have explained this matter to Mike Miller, a couple of his "reps", Duvera and such. Yet they all act like they know nothing I ever said. When they call to try and collect for money, it is as if they think I forgot how they tried to completely ripped off.
I was fortunate with my bank account. I explained the matter to my bank and requested chargebacks. I also had to close my bank account. To me, that was the safest route.
To anyone even thinking of going with that company, save your time, money, and most of all, your energy. For some reason, this company seems to believe that they can rip people off and that people are just going to sit back and "give" them their money without a fight.
Nicholas
Morgan City, Louisiana
U.S.A.
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