Merchant Club of America Tom Skypeck and Wayne Clarke "we'll make it work" Not! Irvine California

Hi there, my family owns a small bussiness in Dover, NH. With todays economy, everyone would like to save money here in there. We were using Bank of America Merchant Services before we switched to Merchant Club of America. BoA offers us with average rates and 4 free cases of POS paper and card terminal paper every month(excluding 15$ shipping fee). Roughly 2.3% on average with all the fees included. 

One day I received a called from Merchant Club of America asking if Tom, local agent, can come by and see if they can help me save money on credit card processing. I agreed and we schedule an appointment. Like most agents, they are nice and professional because they want you bussiness. I showed him a copy of June credit card processing statement from BoA. He took a picture of it and send it to his boss, Wayne. While waiting for a return called from Wayne, I asked Tom that I want free POS and terminal paper like with BoA. I want $499 reinbursement for the Early Termination Fee from BoA. And a lower rate than BoA. He said ok, we'll make it work. He later quote me the rates and fees.

"0% debit

1.39 credit

.10 transaction on CC swipes

.39 on debit swipes

$139/mo equipmnent lease

$10 statement fee

daily batch fee .18 x 30 days = $5.40

buyout of any existing lease

free thermal and POS paper, shipping incl."

He then go on saying I will guarantee a saving of 20% at least and bunch of other stuff. I didn't like the 39cents for each debit transactions but after talking to Wayne on the phone. He said it's going to be 0% and 0 cent for all debit online or offline transactions and 1.39% on any visa/master card. I asked him whats does online/offline debit mean. He reply, pin debit and non pin debit, so basicly any debit card transactions. I was hook on with that deal since the bussiness takes in a lot of debit cards.

So, we signed and done deal. Couple of weeks after we started, I called into merchant helpdesk for supplies. I was told that my account wasn't setup and need to pay with a credit card. I call to customer service and spoke to Chaz. He told me he can't provide free supplies after the 1st month since the agreement never states the duration. Chaz then told me that the rates had changed to 1% for visa and master cardsand non pin debits. And 0% for pin debits.

I told him thats not what Wayne, Tom and I discussed. He told me that he wasn't there and this was how the account was created. I wasn't happy but I ordered the supplies anyways since I was low on supplies. I quickly call Tom and asked him why I'm not getting free supplies. He said he'll will call the company and explain, he also told me not to worries, we'll make it work. Afterwards, I called Wayne and explain to him the situation. He told me that he will contact the company and will call me back.

That didn't happen. They didn't called the company and there was no call back. After getting my last month statement, I saw was charge at a rate of 2.18% for visa, 2.47% for master, and 0.02% for pin debit. With every fee and charges, it came up to 3.6% overall. I called customer service and ask why it's not 1% as I was told. Chaz said "1% is only for 'qualify cards' and as for the charges in pin debit, its for 'networking fee' ". Niether Chaz nor I know what card is qualify and what are not. So, in other words, the merchant company charges us any rates they wanted too because its "not a qualify card".

Now I'm stuck with a company without any knowledge of what my rates are and without supplies after the 1st month. I paid over $800 in fee to them($200 more than BoA).I fell for their trap. I hope that by posting my experince here can prevent other bussniess owners from happening to them. I will be posting compliants on their youtube channel, their facebook, BBB, cardpaymentoptions, their sponsered bank, state attorney general, and many more.