As a new small business owner, i was referred to a sales rep for MSI, Mr. Neslson, to see how he could help benefit my new business. Mr. Nelson informed me that if i purchased a credit card machine form MSI, showed $2500 in sales per month, after six months i could apply for a business loan in the amount of $100,000. I informed Mr. Nelson that i already had an existing credit card machine but he further emphasied that with this machine i would be able to 1.increase my business credit score 2. Be eligible for a $100,000 business loan. I was concerned about the length of the conract, costof the machine, and the non canceable part of the lease. He emphasized that, because the lease will increse my my credit score and help qualify me for a business loan, this is worth the money that will be paid out to lease the equipment for 48 months and i should never want to canceal the lease anyway, because of these benenfits. (had no ideal i would be paying $5000 for a 200-300 dollar machine). Knowing that i would need furture capital for my business, i signed the agreement at my residential dwelling. I was informed by Mr. Nelson that the cost would be $79 per month for the machine becasue it was portable.
My contract was signed on 9/30/09. With the first couple of transactions i called for technical support because i was having proble with the machine processing some cards. I found myself, continualy reading the manuel to see why the tranaction process seemed sometime technically cahallenging. At one point, i was about to switch back to my previou credit card mahine because it was ore merchant friendly. However, i edidced to continue to give your machine a chance because i wanted to be eligible for the business loan the the representative spoke about. After several tranactions with you machine were processed, i noticed that funds from a couple of tranactions were never deposited into my business account. Meanwhile, i started receiving mail fom MSI, LFG, and Charge anywheere. I asked my sales rep, Mr. Nelson, who was LFG and charge anywhere. Mrl Nelsons informed me that Lfg was the leasing company but he did not know who charge anywhere was. He told me to call MSI and ask who was this organization charge anywhere. I called MSK and of course they ad no clue whom i was talking about. I called Charge anywhere and they stated they were in association with MSI. (So i have one credit card machine associated with 3 different entities - Unbelievable!). When i agree to lease the equipment, i was thinking that this was one company. With all of this madness, trying to sort ou who was who with this credit card machine, my funds were still being with held by MSI. I wanted to resolve any isssue pertaining to why my funds were being witheld and i was always cooperative an sending in information requested by MSI. Listed below is the following sequence of me trying to resolve why processed funds were being witheld from my business account.
11/26/08 12:42 talked to kathy in risk mt. She stated send in certain invoices
11/26/08 called to see if MSI received invoices. Left message - no response
11/26/08 2:36 called MSI, left message - no response
12/05/08 12:16 called MSI, left message - no response
12/05/08 2:56 finally reach kathy in risk mgt. She stated i would have to send in present and all future invoices. I told her i have no problem sending in invoices but when will this issue be resolved and when will my funds be released. She stated she did not know and that she would contact me. Of course never did hear back from her nor any one at MSI for an update about my acccount.
12/5/08 4:10 treid to reach kathy to see if she receive all the invoice i faxed. Transferred to risk mgt answering service. Left message - no response.
12/08/08 4:57 left message on risk mft answering machine - no response.
12/09/08 11:40 left message on risk mgt answerin machine - no response
12/09/08 11:44 left message on risk mgt answering macine - no response
12/09/08 4:03 transferred to risk mgt answering machine-decided not to leave message. Totally furstrated!
12/09/08 4:13 left message on risk mgt answering machine-no response
12/10/08 2:09 left message on risk mgt answering machine - no response
(spoke to sales rep Mr. Nelson and informed him that i sent several invoices to MSI and have continually left messages and no one responds back. Mr. Nelson stated that they probably have a small department and are unable to resond quickly. He also stated that he would look into the matter. I asked was any of this other customers experiencein this with MSI and he stated NO. I further stated to him that i was displease with the service and that i no longer uses the machine. Thankfully i stll had my previou credit card machine that my customer could use. At this point i am infuriated that a credit card processing company can hold business funds and no one from that company tires to help the merchant resolve the issue.
12/23/08 left message on risk mft answering machine - no response
12/29/08 spoke with Mr. Nelson again about the situation not being resoved. He stated that he wa considering severing his aattachment with MSI because they had started doing some of the same things to his other clients. He told me to call today and request to speak directly with "GEORGIA" who was manager over the risk mgt dept. I informed him that i was tired of calling MSI, being sent to an answering macine and i felt it was a waste of time, with these people. He told me to continue to call throughout the day until i reached her.
12/29/08 12:14 spoke with jeff at MSI. Jeff stated that Georgia was in a meeting. I stated to jeff that i hav left numerous messages for risk mgt and no one returns my calls. He stated that he did not see any message left for that dept from me. I stated that i do not have to lie about leaving messages becasue the whole process affects my business. This conversation further convinced me that i did not want to do business with MSI, nor any of its associatie (LFG or charge anywhere)
12/29/08 1:57 jeff transferred to risk mgt dept - call got disconnected
12/29/08 1:59 jeff transferred to risk mgt answering machine, left message-no response.
12/29/08 3:15 left message at MSI - no response
12/29/08 5:25 left message at MSI - no response
12/29/08 5:26 left message at MSI - no response
12/31/08 9:24 left message at MSI - no response. (Decided to not pay MSI, LFG for a machine i could not use)
During the month of february i did not call MSI because i was tired and disguisted from leaving messages and not hearing backfrom them. I continued to receive bill statement from MSI and LFG for a machine that has not been used since december 08.
3/09 called LFG and stated that i wanted to canceal contract. Reaprsentative stated that contract was non-canceable and that if i attempted to canceal contract i would need a letter of representation from an attorney.
3/04/09 called MSI and requested cancelationo of contract. Josephine stated that she understod why i wanted to canceal but she recomended i continue to do business with MSI. I replied" NO". She stated that in order to canceal the contract i would have to write a letter and send them $1086 in cancealation fees. She further stated that LFG would also request a buy out of the lease and that they would probaly be harder to deal with.
3/05/09 dediced to investigate these companies on the internet. Found approximately 300 letters of complaint about LFG and MSI decepitive business tactics on consumer complaints website.inadddition found court case document from georgia attorney general about the unethical and deceptive business tactis of MSI.
Certifed letter will be sent to the better business bureau, FTC, and the attorney general offices in the states of illinois and georgia pertaining to the deceptive business tactics with these companies
Tracy
atlanta, georgia
Tracy
atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.
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