United Bank Card 600% Increase in Minimum Fees! Clinton New Jersey

I signed up with United Bank Card to give my customers an option to use a credit card for my services. I am not a retailer, so I knew (and United Bank Card knew) that I would not use the machine often. I specifically chose a company that did not have a high monthly minimum. When I signed up last June, United Bank Card charged $5/month to have the service--for a monthly statement fee.

This month, I was charged $30 and was told that they are now charging a $25 monthly minimum, plus the $5 statement fee. They mentioned their 30-day notice (which was bogus because the "notice" stated that "some merchants may see an increase" and when I called to ask if I was one of those merchants, the customer service representative said they couldn't tell me, that I would have to just wait and see if the charge increased or not).

Regardless of whether they give 30 days' notice, this increase of 600% is unconscienable! They blame the need to increase on increased processing fees on them, but if I am not using the processing, then why should I be charged? Now I read that someone else canceled her service (for other reasons) and was charged over $1000 in cancellation fees. I read my Agreement carefully and can only find a reference to a $250 termination fee, so I think this other merchant was wrongly charged.

This company is clearly ripping off merchants.

Joan
Madison, Connecticut
U.S.A.