E-Direct - My Merchant Systems - E Merchant Direct - My Merchant Money - Who's Your Data - US Merchant Systems Ripoff E-Direct is running a con game to get you into a lease and other binding contracts by promising to advertise for your company This is a CON Tempe Arizona
David Blake (a sales rep for E-Direct) contacted me about a Credit Card merchant terminal. He represented himself as an employee of US Merchant Systems (he is not). He promised that if I signed up with is company (US Merchant Systems) I would not have a wireless fee for my wireless terminal, aggressive rates, and a number of other fees would be waived. He has a great pitch... he told me that his company - US Merchant Systems - has an agreement with a company called Who's Your Data to distribute "leads" for his customers.
This "Lead" program was explain to me as a mailing that would go out for my company and I could work with an art team at Who's Your Data to create an ad that they would distribute for me. They would do this for one year and if I wanted to continue using their service, I would have to pay them from that point on. This was A BIG SCAM!!! Who's Your Data never did anything for me - nor would they return my calls. David Blake would not return my calls (and still will not) once I began to try to contact him about this agreement. The thing is HE COMPLETLY MISREPRENTED HIMSELF.. the company he works for goes by E-Merchant Direct, My Merchant Money, LLC and E-direct.
He also told me I was entering into a lease (for my merchant processing equipment)and that I would own this processor at the end of the lease - also a CON. Basically I want to warn anyone that deals with any one of these companies. THEY ARE CON ARTISTs and will take your money and give you nothing in return. I am still working to get out of an agreement with EPS. E-Direct processed my account though a company called EPS (and not through US Merchant Systems) So US Merchant Systems can not help me at ALL. I am stuck in an agreement with EPS (to process the CC transaction) but the funny thing is... I never signed the contracts that they have on file.
This is FORGERY! The other interesting fact is ..LES MERSKY is an owner of E-Direct. This guy (Les Mersky) is not only listed on this site for another company, but he has served time in jail for fraud!!!! I got mixed up in a VERY Un-ethical company and hope that you will stay clear of them.
Good Luck - I am fighting this to the end!!!
Bridget
Briarcliff, Texas
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Rotty
Worcester,Europe,
United Kingdom
LES MERSKY - E-Direct - My Merchant Systems - E Merchant Direct - My Merchant Money - Who's Your Data
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, July 30, 2008
I was clearing out some old paperwork at home in England recently and came across some documents relating to my dealings with LES MERSKY from the early 90's. Curiosity got the better of me and so a did an internet search of his name and found a number of far more recent reports on this website.
Les Mersky has done 'time' for fraud and I was a victim of the scam he was conducting. At the time it did not relate to Merchant Services as you are describing; but more interestingly and frightening...invloved syndicting investment funds in exchange for Preference Shares in businesses. We had to part with money in exchange for an Irrevocable Letter of Credit; and of course 'we could never get the ILC wording correct. Hence we lost a considerable amount of money...200,000 or thereabouts. Why did we continue with it? Because Mr Mersky was so convincing and made you believe he was on your side and that the deal was just around the corner, that you feared that if you did pull out you would lose out even more.
My advice to anyone involved in anything involving Les Mersky.....GET OUT NOW!!
I have an extensive Evidence file that was put together with the involvement of the Serious Fraud Office of Merseyside police.
Les Mersky did 'time' for his scams in other US States, but has not been convicted for his 'work' in Florida where I dealt with him.
Soltan
Fremont,California,
U.S.A.
Emerchant Direct, and My Merchant Money were Independant Contractors for US Merchant Systems
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 05, 2007
Dear Bridget,
First of all, I would like to apologize for your unpleasant experience with past Independant Contractor of our company. US Merchant Systems takes the initiative to service our customers with a high level of integrity, and ethics. We understand that there may be miscommunications between our Independant Contracts and potential or existing merchants, and take the extra step to monitor their accounts, but, we cannot supervise them personally as they work out in the field.
However, repeated complaints about this Independant Contractor caused us to terminate the relationship quite some time ago.
We hope that this email serves you well, and once again apologize for any inconvenience you may have suffered. If you would like to contact us directly to discuss this matter further, please feel free to do so.
With Regards,
Soltan Nayabkhil
Vice President of Operations
Paula
Carmel,California,
U.S.A.
Dustin Moore of US Merchant Systems lied to us and commited fraud!
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 09, 2007
Bridget,
We have a similar story about this same company. However, we were solicited by a rep named Dustin Moore in Northern California.
A few years back, Dustin Moore called our business and explained that he would save us money on our credit card processing. When Dustin came to our office, he was clean cut and looked very honest. So, we went ahead and switched our processing to his company who at the time was working with Fifth Third Bank. I called Fifth Third Bank's phone number to confirm this (which they did) so I was not too skeptical.
We were processing for a few months when Dustin Moore's office (located in Grover Beach)called our office and said we had to download n "update" into our terminal. So, we did what they said. A month later, we received a different monthly statement from a different company (US Merchant Systems).
When I called the 800 # to Fifth Third Bank, they transfered me to my "office" in Southern California who told me that Dustin no longer worked there. (This is where the story gets good!) So, I called Dustin's local "office" in Central California. I was told that he no longer worked their either! You can imagine my frustration at this point! I was beside myself!
When I called the number on my new statement, the company (US Merchant Systems NOT Fifth Third Bank), they told me that I had switched to their company! I asked them to send me a bank application with my signature (which they did). It was not my signature and my husband and I were furious that they committed fraud and forgery!
I called again to the Central CA office to reach his manager and I spoke to a receptionist (who after 30 minutes of my threats to persue this leagally) told me that Dustin is working for himself. I asked to speak to the owner and she said I would have to call back to talk to him (Stephan Worth).
When I told her I would call back, she said, "I do not think it will do any good. Stephan is Dustin's cousin and they stick up for each other. I get complaints all the time and I do not know how to help you... I'm sorry!"
I finally got ahold of someone at US Merchant Systems. Their Chairman, Mr. Stuart Rosenbaum, did not comment on the business ethics of either Stefan or Dusin. However, he apologized for my experience.
Recently, my original company called me and I told them this story. They were apauled and told me that I needed to call the police and file a complaint against Dustin Moore and his company for fraud and forgery (which we just did). I was also told to hire an attorney and at the minimum call the District Attorney (which I have also done).
Interestingly enough, when I contaced the DA's office, they told me that I was not the only local merchant who this has happened to. They asked me to write a deposition which we did. They are in the process of investigating the local office of US Merchant Systems located in Grover Beach.
Here is the contact info I was given by the DA's office:
US Merchant Systems, Inc.
1445 Grand Ave., Suite A
Grover Beach, CA 93433
(805) 489-8912 office
(805) 489-2125 fax
The owner of this office is Stephan Worth. They told me another address they had for them (for filing law suits) is:
425 Via Vicente
Nipomo, CA 93444
I sent a certified letter to the first address which was never signed and later returned to me.
At this point, we are waiting to hear from the local DA and in the meantime we have filed a complaint with 2 other local merchants to HSBC Bank USA in New York who is the partnering Bank with US Merchant Systems. The website for US Merchant Systems is www.usms.com (not under US Merchant Services.com).
My husband and I will be filing with other merchants against this local office as well as their corporate office. If you are a merchant who has been scammed by this company or Dusin Moore, you should contact the local authorities and also file a complaint with the DA's office. The SLO County DA's office has a laundry list of very unsatisified merchants in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties which they are compiling to be used againgst these con artists.
Lastly, we found out last week that the reason that Dustin Moore had us "update our terminal" was that he earns approximately 25% of our total monthly bill which he splits with his cousin - Stephan Worth (Grover Beach, CA office). By doing this update, they were able to keep earning money from my account although they had to FORGE my signature! How these people can look themselves in the mirror each day is beyond me. They are sick, sick, sick people.
My husband and I have been in business in Carmel since 1980 and we have never seen such an unethical company and we will be fighting all entities on principle. Our attorney says we are better in numbers so we are compiling a list of merchants who have been misrepresented by Dustin Moore, US Merchant Systems, and the office in Grover Beach, CA ran by Stephan Worth.
If you have been lied to by any of these people contact us by reponding here! We will have their business closed by means of letters, depositions, and forged documents! Do not give in to them! WE MUST STAND AND FIGHT THEM TOGETHER! This is the only way we wilL WIN!