First Data - Card Services International First Data Called 8 Customers from invoices, that didn't have Phone Numbers listed. Funny 8 "chargebacks" so now they refuse to release 2 days worth of billings. Simi Valley California

Signed up with First Data International, also known as Card Services international. Had been using another merchant account prior, was offered lower rates so I switched. What a dumb idea. I do a lot of mailings and get them back, roughly 100-150/month sales. Rep that signed me up mentioned nothing about only processing monthly recurrent charges, apparently I couldn't sell physical products? Or so the first data rep told me, so i had to change me webpage ( actually didn't change word of the front page since it already CLEARLY stated that.) Since I was changing procssors I had witheld some charges waiting on the upgrade. Once it was complete about 3 days later or so I started processing them, roughly $700-800 each day to catch me up. That is when the first call came that it had to be monthly before they would release it...Than I needed to fax 3 invoices then they would release the batches...Than I needed to provide them with access to the product than they would release it...A week goes by and I see a charge for $75 on my statement for closing the account. I call in and I am told they called 8 customers and none had heard of me or my site. Funny that NO ONE that they "called" had phone numbers on the invoices. Half of the processed cards didn't have phone numbers included, I can't help that. THey were mailings FFS. A guy calling himself Keith tells me now they are holding 100% of the card batches as collateral and to call in 4 months they MIGHT release it.

My Advice, Stay the HELL AWAY. So far they have removed the refunds from my bank account, NOT the COLLATERAL ACCOUNT. Including OUTRAGEOUS CHARGEBACK FEES. $30 on a $20 average fee. I got the chargeback forms with 24 hours left to dig up the physical info on the sale, and make the mailing back to them. I can't go pay $20 for an overnight that might not even get there in time, than turn around and get slapped with a $30 chargeback plus the $20 refund, $70 PER transaction. Bullshit.

I'll be calling shortly, as it has been over 60 days since the batches went through.

STAY AWAY, AVOID. GO THROUGH YOUR BANK...MUCH HAPPIER WITH THE MERCHANT ACCOUNT BOA SET ME UP WITH, FUNDS WITHIN 24 HOURS, NO STUPID BULLSHIT HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH ONLY TO GET THE FUNDS WITHHELD.

Chris
New Chicago, Indiana
U.S.A.