I have been sucked in by a strange company that appears to have no real identity. The problems started when I answered an advertisement from Advanta credit cards to take credit cards for my business. I cannot determine the legal name of that business since it has names on statements and other paper work using the following: Express Merchant Process Solutions (MPS), Merchant Services, First Data Leasing Solutions, First Data Merchant Services, and First Data, with a variety of addresses in Maryland, New York, and Florida. I have also attempted to identify the culprits through my bank using information in their system for the unauthorized debits made by this (these) companies. For some reason the banks records DO NOT contain the contact information. Somehow in this tangled web there is one company doing the credit card processing, and a second who has defined themselves as a leasing company.
The salesman who I had originally talked to, a Mr. Charles Slaughter, (Phone 877.315.3058) lied about the terms and I recently found out the application was altered. While trying to deal with the "leasing" company, they told me I had a contract with them. I asked for a copy of that contract. I was sent a copy of the altered application, and a copy of another document with terms outlined on it. None of these documents identified who I supposedly had an agreement with. No company name or address was on these documents.
The Name on my online statements is: First Data P.O. Box 6600, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Phone 877.810.9315, and 800.762.6663
A "change of policy" letter is from Express MPS 4000 Coral Ridge Dr., Coral Springs, FL33065
A recent letter from First Data Merchant Services has an address of 1305 Walt Whitman Rd. Melville, NY 11747, on the envelope, but the address in the footer identified as an address for payment is: First Data Leasing Solutions P.O. Box 407092 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33340. No phone numbers were listed.
If you have done ANY business with these companies CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT! They will continue to take unauthorized debits from it without warning! Of course you will not be able to contact anyone to get any satisfaction on why the debit was made. Charter One Bank (HQ - Cleveland, OH) claims that these transactions can only be disputed if discovered in 24 hours. Other debots have 60 days. I was told this rule is a government banking rule they have to hold to. No-one I have talked to has identified WHO said this, or provided any follow-up to the affadavits I have filed about these debits.
Now heres the scam:
After multiple chats with sales weenie Charles Slaughter, I thought I had struck up an OK deal for processing credit cards for my small business. The terms I was told was: 28 cents per transaction, 1.9% "discount" (c'mon its a FEE!) and a minimum of $25 transacted per month. The terminal was $24.98/mo rent to own. No other terms were disclosed. I sent my application in and was "approved" and my termianl and sales paperwork arrived shortly thereafter. Wording on the application states that no corrections or erasures are allowed. I expected a fresh one with no corrections, as well as paperwork confirming the terms I discussed. I never got any.
It goes from bad to worse from here!
After 3 months of phone calls, requests for supervisors, etc, I found out some more of the "terms." That $25 was not in transactions, it was in FEES. If you didnt generate the thousands of dollars that guaranteed them at least $25/ mo in fees they charge you an EXTRA $25!! Another suprise was $200 debited for the terminal. WHAT! That was supposed to be $24.98. (they actually took $28.14/mo.) I was told this $200 debit was the sales tax that was to be paid upfront for the lease of the terminal. HUH? What lease? I never saw or signed any lease agreement.
I thought I ws rid of them in Sept. 2003 when I called and cancelled.
I got another company that was upfront about their fees and service and other than minor annoyances, transactions have gone as they said they would.
Well now my "rent to own" terminal is suddenly an "uncancellable lease." No-one at the cust service number has a clue of will say anything other than "uncancellable lease" I would NEVER sign an agreement for a lease like that EVER.
Then I get a new suprise. They take $250 out of my account for a "cancellation fee" THREE MONTHS LATER! Sheesh! I file affadavits over it but then I get a totally new suprise. Although everything I have ever read or heard about unauthorized debits says you have 60 days to contest it. Not in the credit card world! You have to contest it within 24 hours ws the second hand report I got from Jessica the branch manager at Charter One Bank in New Philadelphia, OH. No refund for me! I ask what I have to do to make the account safe. I specifically ask if I should close the account, and I'm assured that my account is on hold and NO funds can be withdrawn from it. This holds true until last week when another $100 disappears. Now I get new stories about how they can change amounts and make new debits or other companies can take it out, and too bad you didn't discover it within 24 hours!
Close your account so they cant empty it! You will be told you must leave it open for funds to be refunded. Dont believe it! Request funds be sent to you. Even if you have a zero balance they can still take money out and cause an overdraft. Charter One charged me a $7 fee after I took my last $34 out.
I have filed complaints with the BBB, FTC, FCC, and will file ANOTHER with the Ohio Attorney Generals office. I'm also filing a complaint with Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) about the bank.
Anyone with other ideas is welcome to let me know.
Its a shame that US Corporations have to base their business on fraud and deceit to fatten their profits. Here here! For the BAD Business Bureau!
-p
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