Complaint Review: CHARGE.COM MERCHANT SERVICES

I was shopping around for a decent priced merchant card service so my small online business could accept credit cards. While shopping I came across Charge.com which seemed well priced, and was a member of the BBB. I phoned them to let them know I was new to this please explain how it works. They explained 29.95 for gateway per month, 10.00 for statement fee per month, and then the percentage per transaction which is exactly what their website shows.

If you go to www.charge.com and click on price comparisons you will see the same charges. I asked if there were any hidden charges their answer was no that's it. I also explained it was hard for me to give amount of sales each month since mine could be anywhere from 20.00 to 150.00. They told me just to put 150.00 on the application.

Being new and thinking they were doing right (wrong on my part to think this), I signed up. I was never informed that my application was approved and then one day I received an email from their gateway company. Unfortunely their gateway company I could not integrate with my website so I called them again. They told me to fax a letter telling them to switch my gateway to authorize.net since I could use that service.

I then started questioning them about billing since It has been 3 weeks and still cannot accept credit cards. They tell me I will be billed 64.95 on September 3rd. I'm then thinking how does it go from 39.95 to 64.95. I ask the rep and she tells me "Oh it is an extra 25.00 if you do not reach sales of the 150.00? I told her why I put the 150.00 on the application per one of their sales reps and her answer was "You should of read the contract" It is stated there. I then tried to contact the national sales director of their company and no reponse.

Today I filed with the BBB and am letting others know on ripoff.com how these people run their business. I called today to cancel 6 month contract and now they tell me they will hold me liable for the 64.95 times 6 months. That is ridiculous! I will contact an attorney if this cannot be resolved.

Sharon
ALSIP, Illinois
U.S.A.