Complaint Review: ICS Integrated Card Services - Thousand Oaks California

DECEPTIVE / AGGRESSIVE / RUDE / LOCKS YOU INTO A CONTRACT / ARROGANT / I HAVE EMAIL PROOF

DECEPTIVE COMPANY - AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!  Avoid Integrated Card Services (ICS) and International Card Services (www.intlcardservice.com or www.integratedcardservice.com) - SHODDY COMPANY!!!  YOU WILL BE SOOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!!!

I spoke with Bryan Pelto, who is apparently a "Senior Sales Manager".  He was extremely forthright over email and answered all of my questions bullet point by bullet point.  Unfortunately none of it was true.  I filled out an application but REPEATEDLY confirmed with him that I was not actually committing to an account term; I told him I would not proceed unless there was something I would actually be able to physically hand-sign.  When I received the application back, it was loaded with discrepancies and buried in subclauses was a $350 early termination fee, as well as my promised rates were not in there, and it only included internet, not retail.  He hmm'ed and haw'ed over this and basically offered me a lot of blather and promises.  I replied immediately and told him that I did not wish to proceed, please cancel my account.  (I had confirmed with him that there is a 30-day grace period).  I cancelled the very same day I applied, literally hours later.  I followed up with another confirmation response shortly after that to confirm that nothing had been started for me, neither email of which I received a response to.  It was obvious that now that I had no such intention of continuing services with them, I was being ignored.  Two days later I receive a terminal in the mail to my absolute shock!!  I called in and asked him what is going on?  He said, "well you filled out the online application and that essentially locked you into a contract, and if you cancel there's a $350 termination fee."  I told him "NO - you specifically told me there is a 30-day grace period, and you told me it was an $89 early termination fee."    (I have email proof of BOTH from Bryan Pelto).  LIES!!!!!!!!!  He also said he never received my emails to cancel.  Funny how he received all my emails to proceed, but none to cancel?  Hmm.  Strange.  And yet I never received a bounceback email.

I immediately went to the bank and closed my account and set up a new one.  Upon my return home there was an email from him saying that "after speaking with my supervisor..." (some SENIOR sales manager you are, big guy!) "...we will be able to cancel your accounts that you signed up for."  He attached some cancellation addendums for both my retail & internet accounts and you bet your bottom dollar I faxed those in and am sending this terminal back.

I emailed Bryan the following among other comments: "Funny how now that there's a conflict, you're all the sudden receiving my emails fine.  Hmm.  Strange."  He writes back: "yes very strange.  As for contacting the BBB and your attorney, that is fine.  I have documentation showing that you willingly signed up for our service.  We are doing you a courtesy by waiving the cancellation fee.  In the future, you may want to use a phone instead of doing all your communication through Email, just to ensure that there is no miscommunication on what your needs are." (what an idiot - doing it through email is PRECISELY how I keep a clear record of the communications.)  He continues: "Thanks!  Send the machine back to the address it came from and you may want to include a copy of the cancellation letter in the box.  Thank you for all your time, is has been a pleasure dealing with you and I look forward to working with you in the future!"  Obviously condescending, and loaded with smug and arrogant sarcasm.  And conveniently, he leaves off his email signature this time, in an apparent effort to disassociate his comments with himself.  I followed up with an email complimenting him on his arrogance, and informing him that my bank account had been changed and he would not see a penny of my commission.

I ended up with some triumph however, I took his statement of fees to my existing provider (Merchant Warehouse, who I have never had a problem with) and they were able to do rate-matching and lower my fees!  So that's awesome.  Thanks Bryan Pelto for being a jerk!