Entrust Bankcard High pressure tactics; false claims of easy termination; playing down dispute jurisdiction in Nebraska. Mesa, Arizona

These guys have the most indelicate sales touch I have ever heard in a Merchant to Merchant sales pitch.  They were condescending, insulting, and idiotic.  Like several others on here, I was told that I had "qualified" for a special interchange program, which would save me hundreds of dollars per month.  I found this amusing, as I process very few transactions in a month, but I thought I would explore the program.  I was told that I would get a free terminal (although I didn't want or need a terminal, but since it was free, what the heck?) that I could cancel the program at any time, and just send the terminal back, and there was a Merchant Guarantee against chargebacks by customers (one or their strongest and proudest sales points).  My monthly fee would be 14.95, and my transaction fees would be less than 2% on every transaction.  This looked attractive.  The salesman (who insisted on calling me names like"Sport" and "Fella" took a great deal of info over the phone,and then emailed the paperwork for me to sign.  I had barely had time to read it when he called and wanted to go over the paperwork and tell me where to sign and where to initial.  As I glanced through the paperwork, I noticed a "personal guaranty" section that caught my eye.  Among other things, I was submitting to the State of Nebraska for personal  jurisdiction on any dispute under the agreement.  I have since found out that many merchant service agreements require such a choice of jurisdiction provisions, so THAT wasn't so misleading, except the salesman kept asking me if I "intended to defraud the company, and was that why I objected to defending myself in Nebraska?"  He said directly that the provision would only apply in the event of fraud (he is absolutely incorrect on this, and he knew nothing about the subject about which  he was pontificating.)  Then I read some of the other details in the agreement: like the Monthly minimum service fee was $25 (not 14.95); transaction fees were from 22 to 35 cents in addition to the %; although the terminal was "free" with no monthly charge, it was on a 60 month "non-cancelable" lease, and was part of the "Merchant Club" that I was agreeing to join.  I had never heard about the "Merchant Club" before.  The agreement provides that I would pay a $497 "upgrade fee" and a $500 per terminal fee, if I terminated my membership in the club during the first 36 months.  I would also be required to reimburse the bank for any guaranteed chargeback amounts that I had been paid., and if I disputed the terminal leas and it resulted in an equipment charge to Entrust, I would owe that as well (for a terminal that I never asked for and didn't want).  By the way, at the end of the paragraph which I find so offensive, the chargeback guarantee is essentially rendered non-existent with the words, "Merchant acknowledges that Entrust reserves the right to refuse reimbursement of any chargebacks at Entrust's sole discretion."  So, THIS was their big selling point?  Yet, they don't have to honor it?

The more I questioned, the more their tactics became insulting.  I told them that the conversation had convinced me that I did not want to do business with them.  They said it had convinced them that I was a person who should not be seeking credit card processing.  It was not as polite as that phrase sounds.  Clearly, these guys are not above stretching the truth to make a sale.  After reading some of the other ripoff reports, it makes me wonder if this is being marketed through multi-level marketing concepts.  The salesman who tried to lie his way through my questions, got his more experienced "manager" on the phone, who was more insulting than the sales person.  This guy was a "closer" who tried to insult me into signing and returning the agreement.  Questions like "What was your intention in filling out the application?"  (The application that the salesman had filled out on line.)  Were you just trying to rip us off? Were you not acting in good faith?  Do you not need this service? (I really don't).  He acted like I should feel guilty for wasting their time.  They had pursued me on three different occasions, even after I told them no last time.  Something really stinks with this company.