When I opened my Ice Cream Shoppe 6 years ago and independent Rep approached me for Credit Card Processing services with First American and 1st POS.
We signed up and noticed there were less expensive and better services available including Square but we stayed with First American and considered ourselves a great Client. February 1st, 2018 We unfortunately closed the Ice Cream Shoppe after 6 years. We called First American to cancel their services as we no longer need Credit Card Processing. First American still continued to with draw $150 per month from our checking account?
I called them and they said " You signed a contract that does not allow you to cancel services except on the CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY DATE ONLY.
In other words.....they want too charge the minimum charge of $150 for the next 6 months and also add a termination fee on top of the mimimum $150 charge each month?? We have been a valued client at their hoigher price services. Apparently their contracts aut renew and cannot be terminated even if your out of business and no longer need their services? This is a RIP OFF! Beware of !st POS. They our now threatening me with collections and destroying my credit rating. Thats a fine Thank you to a valued longterm client like myself. I really don understand how they can practice business in this piss poor fashion. Do NOT do Business with FIRST AMERICAN of 1st POS. There are plenty of quality providers including that wont screw you in the end.
First American Payment Systems or MCG DO NOT DO any business with this company. When you are approached by a sales person they will do all they can to sell you, including offering you $500 if they can't beat your current rates, but never mention the words LEASE, CONTRACT, or EARLY TERMINATION FEES. Only The third party "MCG" was mentioned, not First American Payment Systems. They will lead you to believe that they are offering you a Credit card processing rate of $49 per month, 1% for credit card and 0% for debit. After having hundreds of dollars come out of your bank account and a lot of research, you realize, that amount was for equipment only, in my case equipment that I couldn't use. The salesperson will never mention anything about the high percentage credit card processing fees. When your finally made aware of everything they have already conned you into a horrible situation, and then tell you it is at least $495 to get out of the "contract" (that you were not made aware of) and that doesn't include the equipment lease (that you weren't made aware of). Oh and she couldn't give me copies of anything until later when I realized the scam I was conned into, call the company, and then they mailed me copies. Dealing with First American and one of their many 3rd parties (MCG) has been a complete NIGHTMARE!!! Look them up on cardpaymentoptions.com and you'll read this same experience over and over again from other people that were also scammed by them. Read the 15+ COMPLAINTS on BBB not the A+ rating (another scam I'm sure). I had to close my bank account, seeking to engage an attorney, sent dispute letters to all 3 credit bureaus. record phone calls and will only accept written correspondence to deal with this company.
Shortly after closing of my business on June 15th 2003 I started receiving phone calls from a Mr Shawn Chatman from Merimac Capital usually at 7:30 Am two or three times a week. The calls continued until I believe January of 2004. Shawn would always tell me that I had a 48 month non-cancelable lease on credit card processing equipment and I still owed him $2400.00 that he demanded I pay. I informed him I was in the process of filing bankruptcy and he would have to get in line with the rest of the creditors. In July of 2003 he sent a letter requesting the return of the equipment via Fedex and enclosed the Shipping Lables. (see attached letter) I returned the terminals using his shipping labels. Merimac Capitol is a registered trade mark of First American Payment Systems, they are the same company. I included the Merimac Capital amount of $2929.15 in the Bankruptcy. I never received and never included any bill or amount from First American Payment Systems in the bankruptcy. On July 26th 2006 while trying to secure a new mortgage on my house I found that Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau was reporting to Experian a past due amount for Merimac of $3033, and a past due amount for First American of $104. If the account was discharged in the bankruptcy can there be a past due amount?? 8/18/06 Merimac reports $3052 Past Due 8/18/06 First American Reports $0 8/22/06 Merimac reported as Closed 8/22/06 First American reported as $104 9/28/06 Merimac reported as closed 9/28/06 First American reported as $3080 Due 3/19/07 Merimac reported as $3197 Due 3/19/07 First American reported as $0 In Sept of 2006 I called Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau because filing the disputed report with Experian did not change the report. Metro reported the info as correct. The lady that answered the phone couldn't find the record because she said the account number was not correct. I told her that it said on the report that it had been updated by Jeff??, she said there is no Jeff working here, (sound of someone talking in the background) uh uh I'm transferring your call now. Next a man who said his name was George answered and I told him I believed that they was reporting a duplicate report Which I would like to straighten out. His response was Hey you can't just file bankruptcy and not return the equipment, your problem is with the Credit Reporting Agency so tell it to them. Then he hung up on me. This is certainly a ripoff company and the more I look around on the net I find a bunch of them doing the same thing. If you have a credit card machine lease you better find out what the lease terms are before you get a surprise like I did. Due to federal bankruptcy laws it is imposible for this company to ever leagally collect so they are just doing this as harrasment. they SUCK Dan Soldotna, Alaska
First American Payment Systems Reviews
You give them access to your business banking information this is what you get in return:
overcharging, concealing fees, unfair terms and conditions, misrepresentations, predatory equipment lease agreements, unauthorized banking withdrawals, shadow business affiliates with access to your business accounts, hostage business "agreements", threats, sinister credit reporting, destroyed credit, constant monetary demands, unprofessional staff, shoddy eqiupment without recourse, independent contracting sales reps who can promise anything, deception, stress , heartache.
This "company" is dishonest, deceitful and predatory and can offer you nothing of value, please for the health of your own business, stay away!
When I opened my Ice Cream Shoppe 6 years ago and independent Rep approached me for Credit Card Processing services with First American and 1st POS.
We signed up and noticed there were less expensive and better services available including Square but we stayed with First American and considered ourselves a great Client. February 1st, 2018 We unfortunately closed the Ice Cream Shoppe after 6 years. We called First American to cancel their services as we no longer need Credit Card Processing. First American still continued to with draw $150 per month from our checking account?
I called them and they said " You signed a contract that does not allow you to cancel services except on the CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY DATE ONLY.
In other words.....they want too charge the minimum charge of $150 for the next 6 months and also add a termination fee on top of the mimimum $150 charge each month?? We have been a valued client at their hoigher price services. Apparently their contracts aut renew and cannot be terminated even if your out of business and no longer need their services? This is a RIP OFF! Beware of !st POS. They our now threatening me with collections and destroying my credit rating. Thats a fine Thank you to a valued longterm client like myself. I really don understand how they can practice business in this piss poor fashion. Do NOT do Business with FIRST AMERICAN of 1st POS. There are plenty of quality providers including that wont screw you in the end.
They say no commitment no contract then if you cancel they say you have a three year contract. Don’t believe anything they say. Run for the hills.
First American Payment Systems or MCG DO NOT DO any business with this company. When you are approached by a sales person they will do all they can to sell you, including offering you $500 if they can't beat your current rates, but never mention the words LEASE, CONTRACT, or EARLY TERMINATION FEES. Only The third party "MCG" was mentioned, not First American Payment Systems. They will lead you to believe that they are offering you a Credit card processing rate of $49 per month, 1% for credit card and 0% for debit. After having hundreds of dollars come out of your bank account and a lot of research, you realize, that amount was for equipment only, in my case equipment that I couldn't use. The salesperson will never mention anything about the high percentage credit card processing fees. When your finally made aware of everything they have already conned you into a horrible situation, and then tell you it is at least $495 to get out of the "contract" (that you were not made aware of) and that doesn't include the equipment lease (that you weren't made aware of). Oh and she couldn't give me copies of anything until later when I realized the scam I was conned into, call the company, and then they mailed me copies. Dealing with First American and one of their many 3rd parties (MCG) has been a complete NIGHTMARE!!! Look them up on cardpaymentoptions.com and you'll read this same experience over and over again from other people that were also scammed by them. Read the 15+ COMPLAINTS on BBB not the A+ rating (another scam I'm sure). I had to close my bank account, seeking to engage an attorney, sent dispute letters to all 3 credit bureaus. record phone calls and will only accept written correspondence to deal with this company.
Shortly after closing of my business on June 15th 2003 I started receiving phone calls from a Mr Shawn Chatman from Merimac Capital usually at 7:30 Am two or three times a week. The calls continued until I believe January of 2004. Shawn would always tell me that I had a 48 month non-cancelable lease on credit card processing equipment and I still owed him $2400.00 that he demanded I pay. I informed him I was in the process of filing bankruptcy and he would have to get in line with the rest of the creditors. In July of 2003 he sent a letter requesting the return of the equipment via Fedex and enclosed the Shipping Lables. (see attached letter) I returned the terminals using his shipping labels. Merimac Capitol is a registered trade mark of First American Payment Systems, they are the same company. I included the Merimac Capital amount of $2929.15 in the Bankruptcy. I never received and never included any bill or amount from First American Payment Systems in the bankruptcy. On July 26th 2006 while trying to secure a new mortgage on my house I found that Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau was reporting to Experian a past due amount for Merimac of $3033, and a past due amount for First American of $104. If the account was discharged in the bankruptcy can there be a past due amount?? 8/18/06 Merimac reports $3052 Past Due 8/18/06 First American Reports $0 8/22/06 Merimac reported as Closed 8/22/06 First American reported as $104 9/28/06 Merimac reported as closed 9/28/06 First American reported as $3080 Due 3/19/07 Merimac reported as $3197 Due 3/19/07 First American reported as $0 In Sept of 2006 I called Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau because filing the disputed report with Experian did not change the report. Metro reported the info as correct. The lady that answered the phone couldn't find the record because she said the account number was not correct. I told her that it said on the report that it had been updated by Jeff??, she said there is no Jeff working here, (sound of someone talking in the background) uh uh I'm transferring your call now. Next a man who said his name was George answered and I told him I believed that they was reporting a duplicate report Which I would like to straighten out. His response was Hey you can't just file bankruptcy and not return the equipment, your problem is with the Credit Reporting Agency so tell it to them. Then he hung up on me. This is certainly a ripoff company and the more I look around on the net I find a bunch of them doing the same thing. If you have a credit card machine lease you better find out what the lease terms are before you get a surprise like I did. Due to federal bankruptcy laws it is imposible for this company to ever leagally collect so they are just doing this as harrasment. they SUCK Dan Soldotna, Alaska