I truly wish I would have been cynical enough two years ago to research EVO Canada before I signed up with them. If I had known what kind of company they were, I likely would have tossed their sales rep right out the door.
We were using Moneris and all was ok. We received a cold call from an EVO Canada rep. He explained to us how much money we could save by using their services. It all sounded good, so we had him draw up a contract to look over.
First I contacted Moneris to see about cancelling their services. They insisted that it would cost us $300 to cancel with them. I was pretty upset about this as we'd fulfilled our contract with them and were just going month to month.
I then spoke to Josh who was a head office sales rep for EVO. He told me that if we chose to go with them, that we would never have to pay a cancellation fee. He seemed sympathetic that Moneris was being so unfair.
We decided to lease a machine through EVO, even though we didn't find out until later that it was actually through MCAP and EVO was only the middle man. So, we became locked in at $36.99 per month for 60 months. I didn't then, and still don't think that is unreasonable.
Anyway, Patrick Walsh (the cold call rep) came back with the contract and we looked it over with him. Let me tell you, this thing has A LOT of fine print. Patrick showed us all the things we talked about with his big pointy finger, drawing our eyes to this "better" deal. We were not told that what was being signed was actually a "Personal Guarantee".
They hooked us up and told us they would provide software upgrades for free. After almost 2 years, we have not seen a single upgrade.
So, as far as we were concerned, we lost out on $300 with Moneris, but it was ok, because according to the percentages we would be getting from EVO and the discount in processing fees, we'd make that $300 back within a year.
Not so fast... The first bill came in from "Global Payments". Who is this? This is the processing company. So EVO doesn't even do that? They are strictly the sign em up and screw em company.
I noticed that the first month seemed high, but it was a busy month so I figured it was normal. The next month's statement came and it was also high. So I phoned EVO to find out why. It was then that I found out, that because the cards processed through our machine were corporate cards, we had to pay an additional 1-2% on top. WHAT?! So we were paying double what we paid through Moneris. This is NOT a retail business and they were more than aware of that. The only cards we process are corporate cards!!!
It was at that point that I told EVO we'd like to cancel and send the machine back. Not without paying out the $2000 and change, for the machine (to MCAP), PLUS a $500 cancellation fee. I did not get their sales rep's "no cancellation fee" in writing. I see nothing on the contract to indicate this fee, so I don't think I have to pay it.
It is now 1 1/2 years since then and I have been trying to find a way out of this since then. I have been paying $63.84 per month this whole time for a machine that sits in a box and a service that is non existent. I suppose at this point, I have paid that $500 is fees, but that's not the point. It is the principal of it! We are a small family business with no extra funds to speak of. I just wanted to save us a little bit of money.
I spoke to MCAP today to try and explain our situation and ask if we could just send the machine back and/or maybe pay for 1/2. There was no negotiating. Only a b*tch telling me that I have until Monday to pay the full amount or they'd continue to take from our account.
We have recently sold our business and the new owner also does not want this service. And since we signed the personal guarantee, we are responsible for paying out the machine and cancelling the contract. The $1600 left owing on the machine and the cancellation fee of $500. What monies do I take in every month? $1500. So, I have to personally incur debt to ensure those SOB's don't ruin my credit. How can they sleep at night?
I spoke to a girl in their customer service department today and explained to her just how Evil the company is. She was very understanding, so I told her she was too nice to work for them. I suggested she go look for another job for a company that deserved her. She confided that it was just a student job for her, nothing permanent. I can only hope that she heeds my advise and gets herself out of that place ASAP.
Evil begets evil. I personally believe in Karma and can only rest knowing that they will get theirs.
Though if anyone does take a lawsuit against EVO, I'd be happy to have my say in court!
0 comments