Credit Card Merchant Services - Fifth Third Bank trouble with Merchant Services

Merchant Services - Old Kent Bank (now Fifth Third Bank)

Credit Cards, Other

From:

Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 01:56 PM Complaints I see at this site are usually problems that one customer has with a company. There is also a world of business-on-business deception. My business, Strike Fore, sells gifts for golfers in leagues, outings, and companies. Then prior to Christmas and Fathers Day I sell retail at a shopping center -- at least I did until I ran into Merchant Services. Thru Old Kent Bank (now Fifth Third Bank) I was put in contact with Merchant Services in Hagerstown, MD. This was the only group willing to provide Visa/MC services on a seasonal basis. While the day-to-day processing of transactions was okay, I constantly had to call to complain about the presence of unwarranted charges. Because I never was provided with a contract, it was difficult to know what all the charges represented.

Anyway, with the help of someone named Lisa (who said she is not permitted to give out her last name), I was able to cancel out the unjustified charges -- all except one! On one night I made a credit card sale at 8:05 p.m. The transaction was processed in the normal manner, approved, and the customer left with her merchandise and card. 15 min. later Customer B bought items using her card and again left with her card and items. Now its January and my retail shop is closed and the credit card processing machine has been returned. Customer A gets her bill and finds that she has been charged for her purchase AND for Customer B's as well. Merchant Services notifies me that they are going to reverse the credit for the second sale AND fine me $100 for fraud! While it is obvious to me that it is their computer that made the mistake, suddenly Merchant Services will not take my calls. Now I see in the newspaper business section that this organization has been operating under as many as 10 different names and has been accused of various deceptive practices. I may never get this resolved, and, if I do, it may cost more than the $140 I am out, but others should know that businesses get cheated too. If anyone else has been cheated by Merchant Services, let me know.

Of course, you may also inquire about golf gifts. Bob