Square Up - www.squareup.com Card Processor They are holding my money hostage - unclear policies Internet
I did a lengthy onine study of credit card and cash card processing companies so that I could take a payment in Visa cards. After reading the Square Up website - in detail - and, after seeing that they offered the lowest rates, I chose to use them - over PayPal, who would have processed the payment for me at a slightly higher fee.
I purchased the card reader which fit into my iPhone. I was having fun processing those cards! It was such a great concept that I started telling everyone and posting it on social media sites. I LOVED this thing. Then, the next day --- POW!! They send me an email telling me that my credit card processing was eccessive and that they were disabling my account - WITHOUT depositing my money???? And, that they could hold it for up to 180 days, but not less than 150 days???? REALLY?
WOW! Do I wish I had used PayPal!!
I re-read the website policies in their entirety. There is no clear statement regarding which cards they will or will not process, or that there are any limits to the amount of funds you can process. In fact, I keep going back to what I read - which I will copy and paste below:
Square works with any US-issued and most non-US issued credit, debit, prepaid, or gift cards (“Cards”) with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover logo. We may remove or add Cards that we accept at any time without prior notice. We will generally only process Cards that receive an authorization from the applicable Network and Card issuer. You understand that there may be times when the Buyer may not be the authorized user of the Card or that such Buyer may otherwise contest the transaction through the Chargeback process (described below). You agree to comply with the Chargeback process and to liability associated with such Chargebacks.
YES - I was totally sucked in!!! I processed $3000 - and, I have NO way of getting in touch with these people. I have sent messages that have gone unanswered, and there is no telephone number? GREAT! So, I needed this money - that's why I accepted it in this format, and processed it through Square.
Ummmmm...... I see that they haven't responded to any complaints. And, I'm a little worried. If I can't pay for my bills because I chose to use their service to process these cards for payment, they are going to be slapped with a lawsuit that will insure this won't happen to anyone else!
Just another case of a GREAT idea gone BAD!!!
K. Caruso
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Ray At Tampabay Merchant Services
Clearwater,Florida,
Don't Get Fooled By Square Slick Ads
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, September 02, 2013
To K. C**** and others:
Square is an aggregator. As such you do not have a true merchant account. There is no or very little evaluating the risk before the Square account is set up. This is why this is happening to you and others. They are evaluating it on the back end. Of course this does not help you and what make matters worst there is little customer service. To top it off in most cases Square will cost you more!
Square works for the very rare occasionally user with very low tickets. Solution is to get a true merchant account. Look for an independent representative. Get references and look for a Certified Payments Professional (CPP). You can find them by searching the internet. Avoid going to your bank for processing credit cards as they will charge you too much. Avoid contacts. I hope this helps. Ray at Tampa Bay Merchant Services.