On July 27, 2011, I signed up with Raj Kothapalli representing Statewide Merchants aka Merchant Industries, LLC the rates were much better than I was receiving and I agreed to sign with them.
Never did they say that there was a period to my contract. They gave me the terminal as Raj said the one I had was antiquated and we began processing.
On July 31, 2014 after having a review done by my accountant (who couldn't understand why I had such high rates) it was revealed that I was paying a lot more than agreed upon, I called Raj on the phone and told him that I wanted to cancel my account with them. His exact words were "I will need my machine back, I gave that machine to you" no other set of instructions, etc. He, being my representative, I assumed would handle whatever needed to be done. I sent the machine back (per his instructions) and they received the machine on August 19, 2014 @ 1:58 p.m.
On October 7th I noticed that there was an unknown debit to my account in the amount of $154.94 -- Citibank was unable to tell me who was taking these monies. Since my new processing company had already deducted what I charged in the month of September, I assumed it was Merchant Industries. I called Raj, leaving him a voice mail to inquire if in fact it was his company who took the money. He never returned my call (actually up to the present moment he has never spoken with me).
On the 9th of October, Citibank finally verified that it was First Data and gave me the telephone # 1-866-597-5721. When I spoke to a young lady there she indicated that the account showed that it was closed on July 31st and issued ticket # 689408 and that I needed to speak with Merchant Industries and was transferred and spoke with Amanda. She and I discussed the entire matter and she informed me that they never received a letter of cancellation from me. I told her that Raj had not instructed me to do this, but only to send back "his" machine. They asked for a formal letter of cancellation which I faxed to: 877-659-9936, but refused to put down that I was cancelling on that date (10/9) and instead put July 31st as my cancellation date.
On the 10th of October Amanda informed me that a refund had been requested. By the 22nd when I didn't see the monies in my account I called and again spoke with Amanda who advised me she would have to speak with Raj and Anthony. At 4:03 p.m. Anthony called, but I was unavailable to speak with him and he left a message with my answering service.
I spoke with him and he said he would have to speak with Amanda and Raj. Needless to say no one got back to me.
On the 28th (Tuesday) I noticed that $500.00 was taken out of my bank account by them. I immediately called and got Amanda on the phone again and told her. She said she would talk to Anthony.
Yesterday, the 30th of October I called and first talked to Tina who transferred me to Lorraine who transferred me to an unknown extension, but I left a message anyway. When I called back, Tina told me it was Raj's number. I left another message, and when I said he won't speak with me, she replied he will cause Anthony told him to. Needless to say, Raj didn't pick up
Knowing he wouldn't call me back and after many many attempts to reach Anthony, I finally got him and told him I had just received a letter about not receiving the equipment and that I wanted my $500.00, and my $154.94 back. He said I should have received my $154.94 back and was surprised that I didn't. He twisted his words so many times, I think he actually believes his own lies. He said the request was put in for the $500.00 and I should see it by Tuesday (November 4th) and that he was looking into why I hadn't received the $154.94 yet and would call me either later in the day or tomorrow (Friday, Oct 31)
Called Anthony, of course, no answer, went to his voice mail 2 hours later he has not returned my call yet. These people lie and lie and steal and steal. I want my money back, and if need be, I will contact the Attorney General's office to get my money.
National E Payment and Merchant Industry are the worst company that our business has ever worked with. Everything was great for a year or so when we started our account. Then the fees started getting tacked on to our bill. Some fees were even getting taken out by a company we never did business with (but apparently Merchant Industry did). Then we couldn't get a hold of anyone at Merchant Industry in a timely manner.
I waited 30 minutes to an hour numerous times before I could get thru to someone. Sometimes I just got put into voicemail for a "customer service manager"; who never returned any of my calls. After we finally got sick of the fees and the bad customer service, we cancelled our acct. Since we couldn't get thru to a real person to cancel our account, I sent letters to the corporate office of Merchant Industry, and the bank working with Merchant Industry to cancel our account.
I also closed our business bank accounts so they couldn't rip us off with additional fees anymore. So what did Merchant Industry do? They sent all of my personal information and business information right to a collections agency threatening to ruin my personal credit (and I have an excellent credit score). So, I've now paid another month of Merchant Industry service fees for the month after cancelling my account. Plus, Merchant Industry is trying to collect $495 as a cancellation fee....which according to my contract, should have been negated since I cancelled because I disputed increased fees. So now, if I don't pay this, my personal credit will be damaged.
A FEW WORDS FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS STAY FAR AWAY FROM MERCHANT INDUSTRY, AND ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OUR BUSINESS DID. MERCHANT INDUSTRY IS A DIRTY, TERRIBLE COMPANY.THEY HAVE HIDDEN CHARGES, TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THEIR CONTRACTS (TRAP). THEY ARE A RIP OFF AND A SCAM. THE OWNER LEO VARTANOV IS AN EX CONVICT AND CLARK KRIMER, HIS PARTNER WAS INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION WHICH I FOULD OUT BY SIMPLE GOOGLING OF THE COMPANY’S NAME.
Merchant Industry, LLC Reviews
On July 27, 2011, I signed up with Raj Kothapalli representing Statewide Merchants aka Merchant Industries, LLC the rates were much better than I was receiving and I agreed to sign with them.
Never did they say that there was a period to my contract. They gave me the terminal as Raj said the one I had was antiquated and we began processing.
On July 31, 2014 after having a review done by my accountant (who couldn't understand why I had such high rates) it was revealed that I was paying a lot more than agreed upon, I called Raj on the phone and told him that I wanted to cancel my account with them. His exact words were "I will need my machine back, I gave that machine to you" no other set of instructions, etc. He, being my representative, I assumed would handle whatever needed to be done. I sent the machine back (per his instructions) and they received the machine on August 19, 2014 @ 1:58 p.m.
On October 7th I noticed that there was an unknown debit to my account in the amount of $154.94 -- Citibank was unable to tell me who was taking these monies. Since my new processing company had already deducted what I charged in the month of September, I assumed it was Merchant Industries. I called Raj, leaving him a voice mail to inquire if in fact it was his company who took the money. He never returned my call (actually up to the present moment he has never spoken with me).
On the 9th of October, Citibank finally verified that it was First Data and gave me the telephone # 1-866-597-5721. When I spoke to a young lady there she indicated that the account showed that it was closed on July 31st and issued ticket # 689408 and that I needed to speak with Merchant Industries and was transferred and spoke with Amanda. She and I discussed the entire matter and she informed me that they never received a letter of cancellation from me. I told her that Raj had not instructed me to do this, but only to send back "his" machine. They asked for a formal letter of cancellation which I faxed to: 877-659-9936, but refused to put down that I was cancelling on that date (10/9) and instead put July 31st as my cancellation date.
On the 10th of October Amanda informed me that a refund had been requested. By the 22nd when I didn't see the monies in my account I called and again spoke with Amanda who advised me she would have to speak with Raj and Anthony. At 4:03 p.m. Anthony called, but I was unavailable to speak with him and he left a message with my answering service.
I spoke with him and he said he would have to speak with Amanda and Raj. Needless to say no one got back to me.
On the 28th (Tuesday) I noticed that $500.00 was taken out of my bank account by them. I immediately called and got Amanda on the phone again and told her. She said she would talk to Anthony.
Yesterday, the 30th of October I called and first talked to Tina who transferred me to Lorraine who transferred me to an unknown extension, but I left a message anyway. When I called back, Tina told me it was Raj's number. I left another message, and when I said he won't speak with me, she replied he will cause Anthony told him to. Needless to say, Raj didn't pick up
Knowing he wouldn't call me back and after many many attempts to reach Anthony, I finally got him and told him I had just received a letter about not receiving the equipment and that I wanted my $500.00, and my $154.94 back. He said I should have received my $154.94 back and was surprised that I didn't. He twisted his words so many times, I think he actually believes his own lies. He said the request was put in for the $500.00 and I should see it by Tuesday (November 4th) and that he was looking into why I hadn't received the $154.94 yet and would call me either later in the day or tomorrow (Friday, Oct 31)
Called Anthony, of course, no answer, went to his voice mail 2 hours later he has not returned my call yet. These people lie and lie and steal and steal. I want my money back, and if need be, I will contact the Attorney General's office to get my money.
National E Payment and Merchant Industry are the worst company that our business has ever worked with. Everything was great for a year or so when we started our account. Then the fees started getting tacked on to our bill. Some fees were even getting taken out by a company we never did business with (but apparently Merchant Industry did). Then we couldn't get a hold of anyone at Merchant Industry in a timely manner.
I waited 30 minutes to an hour numerous times before I could get thru to someone. Sometimes I just got put into voicemail for a "customer service manager"; who never returned any of my calls. After we finally got sick of the fees and the bad customer service, we cancelled our acct. Since we couldn't get thru to a real person to cancel our account, I sent letters to the corporate office of Merchant Industry, and the bank working with Merchant Industry to cancel our account.
I also closed our business bank accounts so they couldn't rip us off with additional fees anymore. So what did Merchant Industry do? They sent all of my personal information and business information right to a collections agency threatening to ruin my personal credit (and I have an excellent credit score). So, I've now paid another month of Merchant Industry service fees for the month after cancelling my account. Plus, Merchant Industry is trying to collect $495 as a cancellation fee....which according to my contract, should have been negated since I cancelled because I disputed increased fees. So now, if I don't pay this, my personal credit will be damaged.
A FEW WORDS FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS STAY FAR AWAY FROM MERCHANT INDUSTRY, AND ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OUR BUSINESS DID. MERCHANT INDUSTRY IS A DIRTY, TERRIBLE COMPANY.THEY HAVE HIDDEN CHARGES, TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THEIR CONTRACTS (TRAP). THEY ARE A RIP OFF AND A SCAM. THE OWNER LEO VARTANOV IS AN EX CONVICT AND CLARK KRIMER, HIS PARTNER WAS INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION WHICH I FOULD OUT BY SIMPLE GOOGLING OF THE COMPANY’S NAME.