I'd like to warn every business owner in Minnesota against Apex Merchant Group. This outfit is nothing but a bunch of flim-flam men and shysters. When the salesman (shyster #1) visited us he made claims that we were going to save money, blah, blah... Heard it all before. All of these third-party credit card processors make the same arguments. What sets Apex apart is that they have a bait-and-switch contract that is presented. The originals that you sign do not state what is actually in the contract! The sales guy claims that you are on a month-to-month contract, cancel anytime, no questions asked, no fees assessed. After the papers are signed, you are left with a THREE YEAR CONTRACT, and early termination fees of $495.00. Then the originals are very conveniently torn off and carted away.
I stipulated that under no circumstances were there to be any changes in the way we do our CC processing, namely online. I specifically stated that there would be no "holds" put on our funds and that they were to appear in our bank account within 24 hrs. The first thing that shows up and is installed is a swipe machine... We don't have any walk-in customers! Then, the VERY FIRST transaction we try through these dirt bags meets with an immediate phone call that our account will be put on hold for 3 weeks. This is a famous tactic of credit card processors... They'll hold your funds for up to three weeks, and collect the interest on YOUR money, all the while charging you fees for the privilege of doing business with rip-off artists like this. I immediately canceled our contract, or so I thought, until I receive a letter stating that now we'll be charged a PCI "compliance fee" of $125.00. When I called Apex, of course no one can explain what this fee is actually for. And, subsequently this is when I become aware of the whole bait-and-switch contract mess.
Trying to obtain a manager on the phone is impossible, you're only met with derision and smarmy laughter that they have no control over what the salesmen do to get you to sign the contract. And of course, there's no getting the original sales-guy's phone number or even a local office that can help you. Worst customer service I've ever experienced.
Buyer Beware! I'm going to be contacting the Minnesota Attorney General's office and also forwarding a copy of my experiences with these clowns to the Federal Trade Commission.
But if anyone representing Apex Merchant Group walks through your door, kick 'em in the teeth!
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