Complaint Review: Imaxbankcard.com / Imaxapp.com - Valencia California

This is where I applied for a merchant account https://www.imaxapp.com/Instant_Merchant_Account/ for reference.

iMAX Bancard Network's website: http://www.imaxbancard.com/

So one day when I didn't quite have a lot of (spendable) money I decided to sign up for a merchant account, under the impression that it would be free.' The link that took me to the page above mentioned free, so as the link directs me to its destination, I can't help but run on the assumption that it's going to be free. I mean, free merchant accounts? In this day and age? Well, it definitely crossed my mind that such a thing would be too good to be true. Before I decided to fill out the app. I scanned the site (which is a landing page) looking for anything regarding monthly charges or fees and found nothing. On that particular affiliate' page (if not on all of them) there are short instructional' voice clips. You may notice that the voice clip for the Bank Name field only informs you that the bank information you provide is so the money that you make with your merchant account can be transferred directly to your bank account.

At this point I figured still no mention of fees, might as well continue'. After the bank information you have the chance to read the Terms and Conditions, which I've read but did not print out. At any rate it doesn't seem to mention any sort of monthly fees. After that we arrive at the bottom, with four checkboxes. Three of the four checkboxes are listed in the Terms and Conditions scroll box while the Program Guide is a separate link.

It should be noted that the one and ONLY email mentioning anything regarding this entire application, it's process, or status, was sent to my junk mail folder, which I seldom check.

Note: In early June I recognized the charges and called my bank to block that particular transaction. After two months or so I start receiving statements from "iMAX Bancard Network" and decide to call them to cancel. Because I don't ever recall being informed of a monthly fee. I also watch and lookout for every sort of fees that may be included before I make my financial choices (if you read one of the other iMAX complaint posts).

While on the phone with Linda and trying to resolve this matter, it ended literally in a run-around; the only thing she did was repeat the same thing she kept telling me. Eventually she passed me to a 'manager' named 'Bruce.'

While talking to them I tried requesting a copy of the Terms and Conditions they kept referring to, I also kept asking them if they can show me some sort of documentation that lists the supposed fee(s), and finally I asked them if they can show me on the Program Guide where the fees were mentioned... Linda put me on hold a few times, said she would transfer me to someone who could 'help' me find the fees wherever they're listed. After a few minutes she returns, not the person that could 'help' me. So we go through that run-around previously stated until she gives in and transfers me to Bruce.

I wanted to talk with them to get the fees waived and simply close the account down. Afterall, would you give away free money to someone who just asked for it? At this point 'Bruce' sounds like he's getting all hyped up to start a verbal war; and he speaks to me like I'm an imbecile (thanks 'Bruce Sims').

For a manager he has no customer service skills. I just wanted to try and resolve the d**n balance which accrued over hidden charges that nothing and no one ever informed me of until I viewed the invoices. But all he does is make me look like the bad guy by making inaccurate statements such as "you should take responsibilities for your actions...." or "maybe from now you should start reading the fine print so this doesn't happen next time" (admitting to something?). Aside from verbally insulting me he had the nerve to insist (if not DEMAND) on payment for the balance. He then tries - in what I thought was a pathetic attempt - to portray a sign of generousity by 'waiving' the NSF (Insufficient Fund Charges) accrued.

If anything, I just wanted to apply and see whether or not I would get approved, and only went through with it because NO pricing or fees or charges were mentioned anywhere.

Not once did I ever use this account while I wasn't aware of its existence (lol...).

Things That Didn't Add Up:

* If you go to www.imaxapp.com (supposedly an 'affiliate'), the entire layout looks very similar to www.imaxbancard.com.

* After you apply, you don't receive any confirmation (no emails, no phone calls) from anyone until you're either approved or not approved (cough). At least that was the case for me.

* Another thing perhaps worth mentioning, Imax Bancard's transactions on my bank statement display as BANKCARD then a bunch of irrelevant numbers. No wonder I had trouble figuring out the source of these $49.95 charges. Not to mention each time BANKCARD tried to withdraw this hidden fee my bank charged me $35. And there seems to be two of those charges from BANKCARD's (the K is not a typo) attempts.

* I thoroughly scanned www.imaxbancard.com and found nothing regarding Terms & Conditions or monthly fees. Three different sites, no mentioning of any fees or charges?

* If there is a charge, when you're purchasing online don't you expect to see some sort of invoice-like page that, perhaps, displays possible current and future charges/fees? This wasn't the case with iMAX Bancard.

* During the phone calls (all both of them), when speaking with either Linda or Bruce, the main thing they kept mentioning was "I'm sorry if you failed to read the fine print." In a consumer's point of view, does that even sound legit?

Or MAYBE it's just me...

Bob D

123 Candyland, California

U.S.A.