Complaint Review: North American Bancard

I was approached at my business by a husband and wife (Frank and Kathryn Self) that represented North American Bancard and they wanted to do a comparison of my credit card processing rates to see if they could get me better rates than my current credit card processing company (Merchant's Choice).

After running their analysis, the agent (Frank Self) told me that he could beat my rates by 12%. I told him that I was willing to change companies as long as it didn't cost me anything. I didn't even want a new credit card machine. He assured me that it wouldn't cost me anything to switch over and that he would even GIVE me a new credit card machine that accepted the new chip cards. I asked him if I needed to call Merchant's Choice to let them know I was switching, and he said no, that it would all just happen automatically when he programmed the new machine and that he would write them a letter.

Everything got switched over and I began processing through NA Bancard. At the end of September I realized Merchant's Choice billed me my annual and monthly fees. When I called them to see why, as I wasn't processing with them anymore, they informed me that I have a contract with them through 2018 and that there is a $495 cancellation fee. They told me that the agent (Frank Self) had called on Sept. 15th and tried to cancel my account and was told that I (the merchant) would have to cancel the account myself. Frank Self never told me that he couldn't cancel the account and I had no idea that I wouldn't be able to cancel it without paying a huge fee.

I called Frank Self and he assured me that he would just get NA Bancard to release me from my contract, as that would be the easiest resolution. After not hearing from Mr. Self, I called him and he told me that he was still working on it and that he just wanted the situation to "go away."

I have spoken to a couple of people at NA Bancard to try to get this figured out, and so far I have just been told that they will research it and get back to me (which they have not). I was also told that the agent (Frank Self) was the one that needed to help me get this figured out.

I have not been able to contact Mr. Self, as his original phone number was disconnected and his new phone number goes straight to voicemail and then has either a disabled or full mailbox. Today when I called him and told him who I was, he said "hello? hello?" like he couldn't hear me. I can contact his wife (Kathryn Self) via gmail, but only get emails back saying that they are trying to figure it out.

This whole situation has been INCREDIBLY sketchy and I'm mad at myself for even getting myself into this situation. I cannot get a hold of ANY of the people that are supposed to be helping me get this resolved and it is costing my business money every day.

Frank Self has made himself completely unavailable and has left me high and dry with a huge mess to clean up. Frank and Kathryn Self deceptively got me to switch credit card processing companies and have since "disappeared". I am actually very, very concerned that they have my private information (SS#, etc) from my application.