Complaint Review: E-Direct - My Merchant Money - E Merchant Direct - Who's Your Data - US Merchant Systems - Tempe Arizona

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.

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

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!