Wholesale Merchant Services Salesman Knut Werpen I Own a Bicycle Shop and I Got Taken for a Ride! Portland Oregon

Hello,

I came across your story while looking for information of LFG leasing company. About five years ago an agent of NPC came into my office and signed me up with a credit card machine through LFG. He said I would make monthly payments to them until it was payed off and then I would own it and wouldn't have to make those payments anymore. The payment was set up to be automatically withdrawn from my business account every month. Well, years went by with me making that payment, always assuming that the payments would stop automatically when the cost of the machine was reached, or at least I would be notified of this fact.  LFG never notified me when I reached the original cost of the machine and instead kept charging my account every month. I have since come to realize that I have now payed about double the original cost of the machine. I called my agent and he told me that it was between me and LFG at this point (how convenient) and that I would need to call them and state that I wanted to do a "buy out" with the machine in order for them to stop withdrawling money from my account (never mind trying to get the money back that I was overcharged). Well, I have been trying to reach someone for three weeks now. I have been put on hold, left messages in their mailboxes a number of times and still no contact. Yesterday another payment was taken out of my bank account so I tried to call again. I finally got a human being named "Scott". I explained the situation and he said he would transfer me to customer service. I told him that I tried that route for three weeks now and can't reach anyone and asked him if he had a direct person he could put me in contact with. He said he only had the customer service number. I asked him what number he calls when he needs to talk to someone in the company. He answered that question by saying there are two customer service numbers. I told him that I didn't ask how many numbers there were but what number he uses when he wants to speak with someone. We went a few more rounds like this before he admitted that he does have a direct line that he uses and, exhausted by the run around, I said, "okay, that is the number I would like!" He then connected me to customer service anyway where I was put on hold by the same recording and told I can leave my name and number and someone would get back to me. I tried to do that but the machine didn't work. I also tried calling "scott" back which he answered and without saying anything transfered me to the same customer service number! I then went online to see if I could get any other number to call to reach a real person. Every number I tried on the contact page of the LFG website went to a voicemail for guess who.....scott!

If your lawyers think my experience will help in a lawsuit against LFG leasing please let me know. What they are doing to small business owners is not right and they should be held accountable!

Thank you for letting me voice my frustrations on this forum!

Marie

San Mateo, CA

Attorney general might help here, but as you've found out, the BBB is useless, and people need to know this.
I have no idea why Wholesale Merchant Services won't let this one go. It seems more trouble than it's worth to them.
Good luck. It's important they don't get away from what appears to be a sales fraud scam.


Thank you.
Organic gardening forum


RR initial complaint:
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm

Does this Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company even understand home gardeners?
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412885

Why is this report at Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company's door?
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412886

When I brought the issue of the dealer totally ripping me off to Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company, they did nothing to resolve that total waste of my time and nothing to make up for the funds that were stolen from me by the Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company dealer. Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company associates / disassociates with it's engine maker as it needs.
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412887

Can I trust a Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company approved dealer?
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412891

The problem is with the Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company, which they say themselves is a small struggling sheet metal manufacturer.
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412892

Why would I want to buy these Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredders with a new engine, when, based upon my experience, it could very well end up needing to be re-manufactured just to get it to run properly.
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412897

The entire Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company and dealer system seem to want to scam the Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder customer out of money. It seems to be the Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder company priority.
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412904

Chipper shredder reviews and chipper shredder comparisons
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/438/RipOff0438123.htm#412906



Photos:

Photo clearly showing Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder has not been used:
http://ripoffreport.com/images/reports/438123-1.jpg

Photo showing Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder hammers virtually new / unused.
http://ripoffreport.com/images/reports/438123-2.jpg

Photo clearly showing Mackissic Mighty Mac chipper shredder mothballed, clearly unused:
http://ripoffreport.com/images/reports/438123-3.jpg

This problem is not resolved until you see my posting declaring a satisfactory solution has been reached.

Carlos, or who ever is responding on your behalf.
The gracious offer you speak of is not the original offer made by Todd. His intial contact with me was that Knut Werpen lied, was reprimanded and that your company was willing to repay me and to end this contract. That is what you as the customer service manager should be aware of. Your company intiated the problem by ignoring it and giving me the general run around. Myra, your inside customer service rep, jerked me around for months only for us to later find out that we would have been done with you back in September if someone would have stepped up and done the right thing back then. The way WMP and LFG operate are alarmingly similar. LFG has not responded to my complaint about them. Why is that? I understand something has changed within your company...probably do to the fact that people are coming together on forums like this to spead the word and you know your days are numbered if you dont change how things are done. Your sales rep, Knut... should be the one contacting me, he should be taking responsiblity for what he did and the lies he has told to countless others. There are many successful companies that are offering the same merchant services as yours that are doing so without screwing people over. Your company screwed me over...and I, along with alot of other people are angry about that. If you think sending a copy of an offer that doesn't amount to much more than what you should have done in the first place to the Attorney General amounts to anything to intimidate me or change my mind. You are sorely mistaken. Lets discuss my time, aggravation and legal fees, or not. The point is... you are missing the point. The company I am processing with is willing to match your offer...so where is my motivation to see your company in a different light? If you are truely trying to rectify this, I mean legitimately trying to help me, end the contract or make me an offer that can't be matched. That would be the truth telling act. Do the right thing and stop trying to sidestep the fact that you need to do the right thing.

Carlos, or who ever is responding on your behalf.
The gracious offer you speak of is not the original offer made by Todd. His intial contact with me was that Knut Werpen lied, was reprimanded and that your company was willing repay me and to end this contract. That is what you as the customer service manager should be aware of. Your company intiated the problem by ignoring it and giving me the general run around. Myra, your inside customer service rep, jerked me around for months only for us to later find out that we would have been done with you back in September if someone would have stepped up and done the right thing back then. The way WMP and LFG operate are alarmingly simular. LFG has not responded to my complaint about them. Why is that? I understand something has changed within your company...probably do to the fact that people are coming together on forums like this to spead the word and you know your days are numbered if you dont change how things are done. Your sales rep, Knut... should be the one contacting me, he should be taking responsiblity for what he did and the lies he has told to countless others. There are many successful companies that are offering the same merchant services as yours that are doing so without screwing people over. Your company screwed me over...and I, along with alot of other people are angry about. If you think sending a copy of an offer that doesn't amount to much more than what you should have done in the first place to the Attorney General amounts to anything to intimidate me or change my mind. You are sorely mistaken. Lets discuss my time, aggrevation and legal fees, or not. The point is... you are missing the point. The company I am processing with is willing to match your offer...so where is my motivation to see your company in a different light? If you are truely trying to rectify this. I mean legitimately trying to help me, end the contract or make me an offer that can't be matched. That would be the truth telling act. Do the right thing and stop trying to sidestep the fact that you need to do the right thing.

I came in, as a merchant processing rep for another company, in October of 2008 while Louis was dealing with this mess. I came in with the intention of pitching a savings, which I could legitimately offer, but could see that there were some bigger problems going on with the account and this was not the time to mess with signing up with a different processor. Louis was extremely frustrated with his situation and seemed to be victimized, at least at the time, by both the representative as well as the processor. I can't speak to how the processor handled things after the fact, but I can surely speak from first hand experience that this merchant account was set up with many problems from the start. I am sorry to see that there still hasn't been a resolution as this must be a huge hassle for a small business owner to deal with. Louis, I wish you the best of luck with this situation.

I came in, as a merchant processing rep for another company, in October of 2008 while Louis was dealing with this mess. I came in with the intention of pitching a savings, which I could legitimately offer, but could see that there were some bigger problems going on with the account and this was not the time to mess with signing up with a different processor. Louis was extremely frustrated with his situation and seemed to be victimized, at least at the time, by both the representative as well as the processor. I can't speak to how the processor handled things after the fact, but I can surely speak from first hand experience that this merchant account was set up with many problems from the start. I am sorry to see that there still hasn't been a resolution as this must be a huge hassle for a small business owner to deal with. Louis, I wish you the best of luck with this situation.

I came in, as a merchant processing rep for another company, in October of 2008 while Louis was dealing with this mess. I came in with the intention of pitching a savings, which I could legitimately offer, but could see that there were some bigger problems going on with the account and this was not the time to mess with signing up with a different processor. Louis was extremely frustrated with his situation and seemed to be victimized, at least at the time, by both the representative as well as the processor. I can't speak to how the processor handled things after the fact, but I can surely speak from first hand experience that this merchant account was set up with many problems from the start. I am sorry to see that there still hasn't been a resolution as this must be a huge hassle for a small business owner to deal with. Louis, I wish you the best of luck with this situation.

I came in, as a merchant processing rep for another company, in October of 2008 while Louis was dealing with this mess. I came in with the intention of pitching a savings, which I could legitimately offer, but could see that there were some bigger problems going on with the account and this was not the time to mess with signing up with a different processor. Louis was extremely frustrated with his situation and seemed to be victimized, at least at the time, by both the representative as well as the processor. I can't speak to how the processor handled things after the fact, but I can surely speak from first hand experience that this merchant account was set up with many problems from the start. I am sorry to see that there still hasn't been a resolution as this must be a huge hassle for a small business owner to deal with. Louis, I wish you the best of luck with this situation.

Dear Louis,

As I told you, I head up the Customer Service Team here at Wholesale Merchant Processing that is handling this issue. You did not blind side me when you called, your file was with Todd Thompson which is who I tasked it to.

WMP offered a solution which included paying back payments to LFG on your behalf and giving you lower rates than any competitor. Per your conversations with Todd, you seemed amicable to this solution, which we faxed to you in writing for your acceptance. We have waited for your response since last week.

But instead of responding, you continue to complain in this forum as though we have done nothing to remedy this. We went a head and mailed a copy of that offer to the Florida Attorney General as well. The offer is still on the table and includes everything you and Todd talked about.

Sincerely,

Carlos

Dear Louis,

As I told you, I head up the Customer Service Team here at Wholesale Merchant Processing that is handling this issue. You did not blind side me when you called, your file was with Todd Thompson which is who I tasked it to.

WMP offered a solution which included paying back payments to LFG on your behalf and giving you lower rates than any competitor. Per your conversations with Todd, you seemed amicable to this solution, which we faxed to you in writing for your acceptance. We have waited for your response since last week.

But instead of responding, you continue to complain in this forum as though we have done nothing to remedy this. We went a head and mailed a copy of that offer to the Florida Attorney General as well. The offer is still on the table and includes everything you and Todd talked about.

Sincerely,

Carlos

If you are reading this you probably have experienced something like what I have outlined in my report. If you are ready to do something about it I have a lawyer interested in this case. Obviously it will not be free to go after these guys... But I will gladly take the lead on this...it has kind of become my new hobby. If you are willing to testify or give legal depositions in regards to what WMS and LFG have done to you, please feel free to contact me. If anyone has video and audio surveillance in there place of business and can catch (or have caught) one of WMS's salespeople in the act of lying to you. Let me know what you have. Please check with your states laws on the legality of this. I had a couple of my employees listen to my phone conversations so I at least have witnesses to what was said. These companies need to be sent a message and I am just getting started. Join in and I am sure we can at least make sure they listen. You don't need to be a victim! We can make sure that laws and legal precedence get put in place to make sure these kinds of preditory companies change their ways or get put out of business. Let me know what you think and what you can do to help. Check out my other reports and updates to get the complete story on these two companies. Don't forget to file complaints with your states attorney general, this seems to help get these guys the kind of attention they dont want.

This is in response to the rebutal by Wholesale's employee Carlos. I placed a call to the number he posted in his comment today, after reading his comment. When asked about the rebutal he didn't know what I was talking about!?! Not exactly what I would consider a concerned employee. I would think if your name is going to be attached to a rebutal on this web page you would at least have a clue about it. I all but blindsided this guy...when pressed he did admit to knowing about my case. So apparently there is some communication going on there. In this rebutal "Carlos" says he has been trying to contact me and that they want to do what ever they can to make me happy. Here is a hint...STOP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO!!! This is not a forum where you should lie to people. Pay back the money you owe me, let me out of the lease and stop training people like Mr. Werpen to "represent" your company! If your company did the right thing from the start we would not be having this exchange...this one...the one you knew nothing about until I called you. Are you guys for real?!

Todd Thompson of WMS (Wholesale Merchant Processing) contacted me on Thursday, April 9th. He was calling to ask me what they could do to resolve the issues we were having with them and LFG (Lease Finance Group)(the leasing company they are affiliated with). I promptly said they could admit that Knut Werpen (Wholesale's saleman) was a liar and that they would release us from the lease they scammed us into. He said that that is exactly what he was willing to do! He said Mr. Werpen was an independent contractor and that he had been reprimanded for his actions. I believe Mr. Werpen was trained to do what he did and I am skeptical as to why WMS is trying to distance themselves from the actions of their employees/independent contractors. Mr. Thompson proceeded to explain that they were trying to avoid a lawsuit and would like to resolve the matter outside of a courtroom. I told him put it in writing and I would consider it if they refund the money we have been paying. He said all he needed was the amount owed on the lease and he would send a document outlining what WMS was prepared to do. I got the fax...it was an offer to give me a better rate on processing with them! I immediately called him and he told me he had overstepped his authority and this was the best he could do. I said it was unacceptable and he put me on hold only to come back and say the own/president of the company said this was the deal take it or leave it. These people are unbelievible. My next step is a complaint with this latest game of their's to the attorney general. I have two employees who witnessed my conversation with Mr. Thompson stating he wished to resolve this the way we spoke of originally. I don't know if it'll hold up in court but they are willing to testify to it. Please someone find a way to sue these jerks right out of business.

Dear Sir,

Wholesale Merchant Processing is an honest company dedicated to Customer service. A dissatisfied customer is not acceptable. We have tried to contact you and would like a chance to make you happy and earn your business. If you are selling your business we WILL help you however possible with your lease.

We are willing to do whatever is in our power to make you happy. Please contact customer service immediately at 800-953-6764.

-Carlos