Complaint Review: Merchant Lynx Services

In March 2006 I met with a salesman who spoke of a 2 year agreement for the capability to accept credit cards. My agreement stated no annual fees and no minimal requirements. When I spoke with the salesman I explained that my type of business would never require me to actually handle a customers card. I would get the information from them and then process it from my office. In December 2006 I was shocked to find charges for annual fees taken out of my checking account. There was a $99 and $89 annual fee. It wasn't until I called on this that I realized the salesman had signed me up for 2 types of accounts. One that would allow me to process out in the field - the other to process in my office. I didn't need both as I explained to the salesman in the initial meeting. They refunded my the $89 for the unused account and closed it. However, I had been charged $5 a month service fee for this account from the beginning. I did not get that money back. Then I started seeing $25 minimum fee charges. I fought with them over that as I had in my contracts very clearly stated no annual fee and no minimum requirements. I finally got my $99 refund in March 2007. Just recently I noticed I was being charged another fee of $9.95. When I noticed this - I called and was told that was the new internet service they provide to all customers. I never agreed to this nor did I need this. They were able to refund me back 2 months of this charge but I had been charged for this for about 6 months.

My business dissolved in October of 2007. I have continued to pay the monthly fees knowing that I had a 2 year agreement. I spoke with the company in January 2008 (when I was persuing the annual fee refund) and asked when my contract was officially up that I could cancel services. I was told February 25, 2008 and given a fax number to send my request. I needed to process a final payment from an outstanding client account the beginning of March so I planned on waiting until after that. When I tried to process this final payment - it wouldn't go through. After calling for several days, I finally get to someone who then tells me my account was closed on February 14, 2009. I had not faxed a request for this yet. They reopened my account and I processed my final payment. Once the money was in my account, I faxed the paperwork to close this account which was on March 25, 2008. On March 31, 2008 I was again charged the $56.47 monthly leasing fee for this account. As I call the company today (April 3, 2008) I am now told that I signed an agreement for 48 months and I will have to keep paying this for 2 more years. It does indeed say 48 months on the contract that I signed but I still have my hand written notes in my file that show the salesman spoke of a 2 year agreement. I was always lead to beleive this was all for 2 years and 2 years only and I was more than happy to "do my time" for this but not for an additional 2 years. I will be pursuing this in a more legal fashion as I am disgusted with their tactics and deceptive business practices.

Sheri
Ellicott City, Maryland
U.S.A.