Complaint Review: United Bank Card

In August 2007, I spoke with a gentleman by the name of Richard of Merchant Services in Chicago who is a rep for United Bank Card. After filling out an appliction with this gentleman all of a sudden our conversations changed along with all the fees. That put up a red flag for me, and I soon realized I wasn't dealing with someone I could do business with, and I asked him to cancel for now until I was ready to open an account. A week or so later, on September 14, 2007, a terminal showed up on my doorstep from United Bank Card.

I called UBC and told them of the above and they said I have to talk to the rep. I left countless messages for the rep with no call back. I called UBC again and they said only the rep could help me. They said they would contact the rep and have him call me. The rep called me and I told him that I didn't want the terminal, and he tried to keep selling me on the idea. He said only his supervisor could help me. The supervisor, Steve, called and I advised that I couldn't do business with Richard because he was never straight with me regarding the fees or termsand every time I talked to him, terms and conditions would change. I let him know I don't do business that way and I won't do business with him. (I found out later that Richard was supposed to give me the terms and conditions with the application and he did not. The application looked like a regular credit application). Steve said I was only to deal with him from now on and Richard should never had told me all the things he did, and he would call me back as to how to close the account. I never heard from him again and he didn't give me his phone number.

I called UBC to get help from them and they kept telling me I had to deal with the rep. I told them the rep is not calling me back. And I wanted to speak with their supervisor. They told me he was on the phone and would email him to call me. I never heard from him.

So on September 20, 2007, I faxed a letter to my Rep, Richard, to close the merchant account. I still never heard from anyone. So I sent the terminal back to UBC and they received the terminal on September 28, 2007.

I was on vacation and when I got back, I faxed a letter to Richard that I sent the terminal back to UBC and to close the account. He actually called me and acted surprised I sent it back. He wanted my tracking number from UPS and said he would call me back in 15 minutes. That was Monday, Oct 8, and by Friday Oct 12, I still had not heard from him. So I faxed another letter to Richard because he was not picking up his phone, to ask if everything was taken care of and to please let me know as soon as possible. Still no reponse. On October 17, 2007, I left another message to Richard and still no call back. On October 20, 2007, I faxed another letter to close the account to no avail.

On November 1, 2007, I called UBC and asked them if the account was closed. She said yes and then she said no. She said I never sent a cancellation letter. Can you believe that!!!!! I have been sending them since September. She volunteered to send me their cancellation letter and it was asking for a $250 early termination fee. Unbelieveable! I never processed a transaction or activated the terminal. So I wrote my own cancellation letter advising that you have to have delivery and acceptance in order to complete a contract. Yes they delivered the terminal, but I did not accept it. Therefore there is no contract and there should be no early termination fee collected or any fees for that matter. I also advised if they don't close the account in a week, I will file a complaint with Visa/Mastercard. I called on November 9 to see if the account was closed, and they told me yes.

But since then, I had received threatening letter dated November 19, 2007, from them that I have a past due amount of $80.75, and if I don't pay by December 2, they will take it to collections. No. 2, today, November 24, 2007, I received a billing statement for additional services for the terminal for $55.75. They told me the account is closed. Why am I receiving any bills at all. I never processed anything.

Please help me to stop them from sending erroneous bills on a closed account. They need to reverse the $80.75 whatever that is for, and the $55.75.

Nic
San Diego, California
U.S.A.