Electronic Payment ystems EPS Automatic Two year service renewal without my consent-BEWARE! Englewood, Colorado
I recently became unhappy with the way EPS customer service was handled. I called and emailed to cancel services with Nicole Lange (EPS manager) last month on October 22nd. Nicole stated that my contract bound me to notify in writing-they requested it by fax. I sent a fax in today 11/2/10. Nicole told me I missed the deadline and now I will be bound to them for the next 26 months at $30.00 per month drafted from my business checking account. I have pointed out that there is nothing in my current contract to indicate a length of service or any type of auto renewal. I have had service with them since Jan. 2008. Nicole sent me a page from the EPS contract covering terms and conditions. The trouble is I've never seen that page before. It seems I was only ever given the two signature pages from the EPS contract. When I asked her to send me a copy of my signed contract, Nicole was only able to send me the same two pages I already have. If this has happened to you, PLEASE do something about it!
1. Contact the State Attorney General of Colorado (easy online form), and Attnny Gen from your state
2. BBB (not sure if this really helps-but it can't hurt)
3. The FTC & FCC (also online complaints)
4. I am also considering filing complaints with MC, Visa and American Express
Has anyone else tried these methods with any sucess?
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Georgia Business
Grayson,Georgia,
United States of America
Make sure you see whole contract-EPS auto renews!
#4Author of original report
Wed, November 17, 2010
From the rebuttals I've read, I think some clarity is in order. I have said before and will say once more- EPS has auto renewed my contract for 14 months-not two years. That was my mistake on my first post-I was very upset at the time.
As to reading the entire contract-I agree. When I signed up EPS provided two pages of and 8 page agreement. It is hard to read what you have never seen. I didn't see the a full copy until I tried to cancel.
I notified Nichole Lange within the 90 period of my desire to cancel. She has said I didn't cancel properly. Although EPS will accept your contract by email-they will not cancel it that way. Be careful-read all 8 pages. Don't accept an hard to read faxed copy. Better yet, don't do business with anyone that auto renews-I mean, I don't run my business that way-do you?
I did attempt to stay with EPS. I tried to work with tech support and customer service for about a month.Although the staff is kind/nice, they were largely unskilled. I asked to switch to an on line/gateway style product-but couldn't get anyone there to follow through and help me. Most of my charges are in the thousands of dollars-it just wasn't worth the stress to continue with them. I switched to Intuit with Quickbooks online. It is so much easier to use. Honestly, it was worth it to me to make the change (even with a year of extra EPS fees). The system I use now jives right with my accounting system. When I run a charge- a screen pops up to confirm charges (this was a real hassle with EPS). In the long run-this is a good thing-it prodded me into making a switch that is better for me. I think another good choice would have been working with my local bank. Find someone that you can trust and stick with them.
client 101
aurora,Colorado,
United States of America
contract
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, November 16, 2010
We have never had a 2year contract, EPS is a lot more original and the company has had only 1 contract since the beginning...we just ask you to send a cancellation letter 90days prior to your enter date if you do not wish to renew your contract... Is that really so hard to ask for?
Why is it that unhappy merchants are always the ones who don't really seem to read their contracts and try to take it out on me claiming they never signed anything when im looking straight at their signature?
Lauren T
dallas,Texas,
United States of America
EPS Due Diligence
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 16, 2010
I process with EPS and have for around 7 years. The first thing I would do to make sure that something like this never happens again is read the contract thoroughly everyone knows that there's always a catch in any contract, so always remember to do your due diligence.
Also they only renew contracts for one year if they dont recieve notice of cancellation within 90 days also stated in the contract. A lot of processors are worse they have cancellation fees and you must pay the remainder of your contract. What I like about EPS is that they dont have cancellation fees like first data, when i tried to drop first data as a processor they wanted 90 day notice and $1200.00, needless to say I stuck it out with them and switched as soon as i could.
last of all in the contract I signed it states that i will have to pay the remainder of my contract out which would be $35 a month plus the $85 dollar annual fee in order to switch processors. Always read everything thoroughly and dont blame others for your assumptions.