- Report: #204193
Complaint Review: Lease Finance Group - Electronic Merchant Systems - EMS - Ultimate Merchant Systems- UMS - Chicago Illinois
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Lease Finance Group - Electronic Merchant Systems - EMS - Ultimate Merchant Systems- UMS
233 North Michigan Ave Suite 1800 Chicago, 60601-5519 Illinois, U.S.A.
Phone:
312-980-5600
Web:
N/A
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Business Rating:
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Lease Finance Group - CIT Financial - Electronic Merchant Systems - EMS - Francis David Corp - Ultimate Merchant Systems - UMS ripoff unfair and deceptive business practices major price gouging targets small business owners Chicago Illinois
*Consumer Comment: Buyer Beware
*UPDATE Employee: Who's Really Responsible?
*Author of original report: Lease Finance Group, Chicago, Illinois
*Consumer Comment: Another LFG, CIT victum
*UPDATE Employee: Another Rick
*Consumer Comment: Me Too
*Consumer Suggestion: THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. DO TAKE ACTION!
*Consumer Comment: More problems with EMS/First Hudson
*Consumer Comment: lfg never get the same answer twice nice
*Consumer Comment: BBB rates LFG a F thats F for fail
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: If anybody needs a witness
*UPDATE Employee: Chairman JW is a loser ! With no guts ! Hides behind a fake name !
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Byron/Dante/Roslyn and your next name.....
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Roslyn/Byron with EMS
*General Comment: Are you for real?
Lease Finance Group LLC, EMS (Electronic Merchant System), UMS (Ultimate Merchant Systems) and their sales representative, Mike Guyton, (Rep Code 6101) got our business name and telephone number from the America's Favorite Coupon Book, where we were advertising. We were a small business, operating and advertising under the name of Adam's Pressure Cleaning. UMS operates an office at 506 Westbrook Avenue, Brandon, Florida 33511. Their telephone number is 800-933-1101. Mike Guyton's telephone number is 407-590-3743. EMS has an office at 5005 Rockside Road PH100, Independence, Ohio 44131, or the same street address, Cleveland, Ohio. Their telephone number is 800-615-1330 or 800-726-2117. Lease Finance Group LLC corporate office is at 233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60601-5519. Their telephone number is 312-980-5600. Lease Finance Group LLC is owned by CIT Financial.
Mike Guyton was soliciting for our small business to use a credit card machine. I told him we were just getting started in business, and things were slow. I told him I didn't think we were ready or could afford to take on the cost of the credit card machine. He kept saying it would increase our business by at least 50%. He told me that if I found our business couldn't afford the credit card machine that he could help me find another business to take it over the lease. He said the 48 month non-cancelable lease would not be a problem. I asked if we could buy the machine outright, and Mike told me no, that I could only lease it. He said the payment would be $99 a month. He never explained about the Insurance Non-Compliance Fee or any of the other charges Lease Finance Group is charging. This was my son's business which was called Adam's Pressure Cleaning. I was the money investor, trying to help my son get on his feet financially. Mike suggested we needed another name for the business, so I had to come up with another name on the spot. I felt pressured and coerced into signing the contract, and kept saying the business couldn't afford it, but Mike kept saying it would increase our business by at least 50%.
Mike Guyton did not even give me his business card. He did not explain that even if we didn't use the credit card machine, we were still going to be charged for processing. This meeting was after 3:30 pm on January 24, 2006. After going home, and thinking about the whole high pressure under duress, meeting to sign this contract, I called Mike Guyton first thing in the morning and told him we didn't want the machine. At this time I had no equipment, it was less than 24 hours since signing the contract, and it was signed on the patio of Beef O'Brady's. The business was operated out of the home, and I was in the process of moving. When I called Mike Guyton, I told him to cancel shipping the credit card machine, because the business couldn't afford it and I had felt pressured into signing the contract. Mike informed me I couldn't cancel the contract, even though I had no equipment. I told him we didn't have enough business to support the credit card machine. He said he would pay the first month's payment of $99, but I could not cancel delivery of the machine. The credit card machine was not delivered by UPS, but by an employee/subcontractor of UMS. We made every effort to get the business on its feet financially. We continued to advertise in America's Favorite Coupon Book, adding the Visa, MasterCard logos. We bought magnetic signs for the car showing we accepted all major credit cards. We also had that statement added to our business cards and flyers.
Business did not pick up and Lease Finance Group debited my checking $109.92 on 2/28/2006, $119.92 on 3/21/06 (a $10.00 late charge because someone at Lease Finance Group keyed in the wrong debit card number), $109.92 on 4/20/06, $109.92 on 5/22/06, and $109.92 on 6/20/06. The business had NEVER used the credit card processing machine. To this day I have not received one bill from Lease Finance Group at my address. Instead one bill and a letter were sent to my former address. It had not increased business by at least 50% as the Mike Guyton had said. It had increased our business by 0%.
The only bill I have from Lease Finance Group shows the lease payment of $99, plus sales tax, (which was never mentioned), insurance non-compliance fee $2.50 (which was never discussed) and property tax mgmt fee $1.49 (whatever that is, and was never mentioned) for a grand total of $109.92.
In addition, EMS started debiting my checking account monthly. Mike had not explained that even if you don't use the credit card processing machine, the business still gets charged a minimum monthly fee of $62.50. EMS charged my checking account $.13 on 2/15/06, $1.45 on 3/2/06, $62.50 on 4/3/06, $62.50 on 5/1/06, $62.50 on 6/2/06, and $62.50 on 7/3/06. To this day I have not received one bill from EMS at my mailing address. Instead, I found out a couple of weeks ago EMS has been sending bills to my former address. I made it very clear to Mike Guyton when he insisted on a physical address, that my former address was NOT my mailing address.
If you compare the Merchant Agreement to the bills that EMS is billing that is another rip-off. The Merchant Agreement states $17.50 Monthly Access with Debit or Online Statements. The boxes for Cellular Transactions $10.00 Per Month and Platinum Service Club $10.00 were checked. That is a total of $37.50, but EMS is debiting my account $62.50 each month. That is $25.00 more than is on the contract. If you have No Cellular Transactions how can they charge you for it?
I gave Mike Guyton my debit card number, so how did Lease Finance Group and EMS get my checking account number? There is not one place on the contract that has my checking account number or routing number or bank. That section on the contract is completely is blank. At the bottom of the Merchant Application which must be completed by the sales representative, the question is asked Does the inventory, merchandise and staff appear to be consistent with the type of business? Mike checked yes. How would he know? The only time he met me was on the patio of Beef O'Brady's. He also checked that he verified that he physically inspected the business premises of the merchant at this address and the information stated above is correct to the best of my knowledge. That is a total lie. He never inspected anything. I just noticed that in the very small print of the application.
By July, the business had become non-existent. I called Mike Guyton to request that he find another business to take over the lease. I had to make numerous phone calls and leave messages, before he called me back. Then he told me to call him back in two weeks. When I called back, once again I had to leave messages, with no return call. When I finally reached Mike, he told me he had to check with his corporate office and to call him back in two. I have never been able to reach him since that time.
At that point I decided to do some research on the internet on Lease Finance Group, Ultimate Merchant System, and Electronic Merchant Systems. I don't guess I should have been shocked. Lease Finance Group had over 120 complaints against them, along with Electronic Merchant Systems. These companies had been going in and out of the state of Florida, and changing names. I researched the price of the Lipman Nurit 8000 on the internet and I can purchase this credit card machine all day long for between $749 and $769. Lease Finance Group, LLC is charging a shocking $5,276.16. Plus at the end of the lease, Lease Finance Group generously offers to sell the business the credit card machine at the fair market value of $527.62 according to their formula. This is after collecting over seven times the normal cost of the machine over a four year period. This is in a letter dated February 14, 2006 to the Merchant, I might add in very small print. These companies are using unfair and deceptive business practices, targeting small businesses and price gouging.
I have accessed the state government sites of the division of corporations for Florida, Ohio, and Illinois. EMS is operating under a fictitious name and is actually the Francis David Corporation. Needless to say they operate in many states and they are difficult to track because of the fictitious name. Lease Finance Group is part of CIT Financial which I followed through New Jersey and New York. UMS is somehow connected with EMS.
I returned the NEVER USED credit card machine by UPS with tracking to Lease Finance Group received on July 21, 2001. That was followed up with letters to Lease Finance Group, EMS and UMS by certified mail. I am filing complaints with the Attorney General of Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Florida Department of Consumer Affairs, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, investigative news media for Orlando, Tampa, Chicago and Cleveland. I am contacting my Congressman and letting them know how these companies are targeting small businesses. I am also contacting the three major credit bureaus and adding statements to my personal credit files. I am forwarding to each of these above mentioned entities the information concerning the over 120 complaints against these companies on Rip-off Report.com. I am looking for an attorney and any other business/individual who wishes to file a class action lawsuit against Lease Finance Group, EMS, and UMS.
Of course, let the calls begin! First Lease Finance Group called, informed me that a stop payment had been put on the payment and wanted to know when I was going to make the payment. I informed them that I wasn't and that I had shipped the Never Used machine back to them by UPS. I told the woman who didn't give her name; the company was using unfair and deceptive business practices and major price gouging. I explained the business had been shut down. She told me I was in a contract and I had a buy out price. Of course she didn't tell me what it was, but I already knew. I told her every entity I was filing complaints with and against. She said she would note the account but I still owed the payment and hung up.
Next Eric from EMS called. I explained the same to him as I had to the woman from Lease Finance Group. For 14 minutes he threatened me with black listing me from ever getting a car loan, mortgage or credit card. He said even if the contract was obtained using unfair and deceptive business practices, it was still a contract which I was responsible for. He told me I had at least seven times when I could cancel the contract and why hadn't I? He said I could have refused shipment from UPS. One problem with that, the machine was personally delivered to me. He didn't tell me the seven times I could have cancelled, but it is my understanding that you have three business days from the date of signing the contract. I tried to cancel the contract in less than 24 hours and was told I could not do that. These companies are sham and con artists ripping off individuals trying to start small businesses and work for the American dream.
Lease Finance Group started the daily multiple calls and hang-ups. EMS debited my account in August, 2006 a day early and added an additional $45 to their normal debit. These people are a waking living nightmare ripping off, conning, shamming, price gouging the heart of America, the small business person.
Marsha
Kissimmee, Florida
U.S.A.
Mike Guyton was soliciting for our small business to use a credit card machine. I told him we were just getting started in business, and things were slow. I told him I didn't think we were ready or could afford to take on the cost of the credit card machine. He kept saying it would increase our business by at least 50%. He told me that if I found our business couldn't afford the credit card machine that he could help me find another business to take it over the lease. He said the 48 month non-cancelable lease would not be a problem. I asked if we could buy the machine outright, and Mike told me no, that I could only lease it. He said the payment would be $99 a month. He never explained about the Insurance Non-Compliance Fee or any of the other charges Lease Finance Group is charging. This was my son's business which was called Adam's Pressure Cleaning. I was the money investor, trying to help my son get on his feet financially. Mike suggested we needed another name for the business, so I had to come up with another name on the spot. I felt pressured and coerced into signing the contract, and kept saying the business couldn't afford it, but Mike kept saying it would increase our business by at least 50%.
Mike Guyton did not even give me his business card. He did not explain that even if we didn't use the credit card machine, we were still going to be charged for processing. This meeting was after 3:30 pm on January 24, 2006. After going home, and thinking about the whole high pressure under duress, meeting to sign this contract, I called Mike Guyton first thing in the morning and told him we didn't want the machine. At this time I had no equipment, it was less than 24 hours since signing the contract, and it was signed on the patio of Beef O'Brady's. The business was operated out of the home, and I was in the process of moving. When I called Mike Guyton, I told him to cancel shipping the credit card machine, because the business couldn't afford it and I had felt pressured into signing the contract. Mike informed me I couldn't cancel the contract, even though I had no equipment. I told him we didn't have enough business to support the credit card machine. He said he would pay the first month's payment of $99, but I could not cancel delivery of the machine. The credit card machine was not delivered by UPS, but by an employee/subcontractor of UMS. We made every effort to get the business on its feet financially. We continued to advertise in America's Favorite Coupon Book, adding the Visa, MasterCard logos. We bought magnetic signs for the car showing we accepted all major credit cards. We also had that statement added to our business cards and flyers.
Business did not pick up and Lease Finance Group debited my checking $109.92 on 2/28/2006, $119.92 on 3/21/06 (a $10.00 late charge because someone at Lease Finance Group keyed in the wrong debit card number), $109.92 on 4/20/06, $109.92 on 5/22/06, and $109.92 on 6/20/06. The business had NEVER used the credit card processing machine. To this day I have not received one bill from Lease Finance Group at my address. Instead one bill and a letter were sent to my former address. It had not increased business by at least 50% as the Mike Guyton had said. It had increased our business by 0%.
The only bill I have from Lease Finance Group shows the lease payment of $99, plus sales tax, (which was never mentioned), insurance non-compliance fee $2.50 (which was never discussed) and property tax mgmt fee $1.49 (whatever that is, and was never mentioned) for a grand total of $109.92.
In addition, EMS started debiting my checking account monthly. Mike had not explained that even if you don't use the credit card processing machine, the business still gets charged a minimum monthly fee of $62.50. EMS charged my checking account $.13 on 2/15/06, $1.45 on 3/2/06, $62.50 on 4/3/06, $62.50 on 5/1/06, $62.50 on 6/2/06, and $62.50 on 7/3/06. To this day I have not received one bill from EMS at my mailing address. Instead, I found out a couple of weeks ago EMS has been sending bills to my former address. I made it very clear to Mike Guyton when he insisted on a physical address, that my former address was NOT my mailing address.
If you compare the Merchant Agreement to the bills that EMS is billing that is another rip-off. The Merchant Agreement states $17.50 Monthly Access with Debit or Online Statements. The boxes for Cellular Transactions $10.00 Per Month and Platinum Service Club $10.00 were checked. That is a total of $37.50, but EMS is debiting my account $62.50 each month. That is $25.00 more than is on the contract. If you have No Cellular Transactions how can they charge you for it?
I gave Mike Guyton my debit card number, so how did Lease Finance Group and EMS get my checking account number? There is not one place on the contract that has my checking account number or routing number or bank. That section on the contract is completely is blank. At the bottom of the Merchant Application which must be completed by the sales representative, the question is asked Does the inventory, merchandise and staff appear to be consistent with the type of business? Mike checked yes. How would he know? The only time he met me was on the patio of Beef O'Brady's. He also checked that he verified that he physically inspected the business premises of the merchant at this address and the information stated above is correct to the best of my knowledge. That is a total lie. He never inspected anything. I just noticed that in the very small print of the application.
By July, the business had become non-existent. I called Mike Guyton to request that he find another business to take over the lease. I had to make numerous phone calls and leave messages, before he called me back. Then he told me to call him back in two weeks. When I called back, once again I had to leave messages, with no return call. When I finally reached Mike, he told me he had to check with his corporate office and to call him back in two. I have never been able to reach him since that time.
At that point I decided to do some research on the internet on Lease Finance Group, Ultimate Merchant System, and Electronic Merchant Systems. I don't guess I should have been shocked. Lease Finance Group had over 120 complaints against them, along with Electronic Merchant Systems. These companies had been going in and out of the state of Florida, and changing names. I researched the price of the Lipman Nurit 8000 on the internet and I can purchase this credit card machine all day long for between $749 and $769. Lease Finance Group, LLC is charging a shocking $5,276.16. Plus at the end of the lease, Lease Finance Group generously offers to sell the business the credit card machine at the fair market value of $527.62 according to their formula. This is after collecting over seven times the normal cost of the machine over a four year period. This is in a letter dated February 14, 2006 to the Merchant, I might add in very small print. These companies are using unfair and deceptive business practices, targeting small businesses and price gouging.
I have accessed the state government sites of the division of corporations for Florida, Ohio, and Illinois. EMS is operating under a fictitious name and is actually the Francis David Corporation. Needless to say they operate in many states and they are difficult to track because of the fictitious name. Lease Finance Group is part of CIT Financial which I followed through New Jersey and New York. UMS is somehow connected with EMS.
I returned the NEVER USED credit card machine by UPS with tracking to Lease Finance Group received on July 21, 2001. That was followed up with letters to Lease Finance Group, EMS and UMS by certified mail. I am filing complaints with the Attorney General of Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Florida Department of Consumer Affairs, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, investigative news media for Orlando, Tampa, Chicago and Cleveland. I am contacting my Congressman and letting them know how these companies are targeting small businesses. I am also contacting the three major credit bureaus and adding statements to my personal credit files. I am forwarding to each of these above mentioned entities the information concerning the over 120 complaints against these companies on Rip-off Report.com. I am looking for an attorney and any other business/individual who wishes to file a class action lawsuit against Lease Finance Group, EMS, and UMS.
Of course, let the calls begin! First Lease Finance Group called, informed me that a stop payment had been put on the payment and wanted to know when I was going to make the payment. I informed them that I wasn't and that I had shipped the Never Used machine back to them by UPS. I told the woman who didn't give her name; the company was using unfair and deceptive business practices and major price gouging. I explained the business had been shut down. She told me I was in a contract and I had a buy out price. Of course she didn't tell me what it was, but I already knew. I told her every entity I was filing complaints with and against. She said she would note the account but I still owed the payment and hung up.
Next Eric from EMS called. I explained the same to him as I had to the woman from Lease Finance Group. For 14 minutes he threatened me with black listing me from ever getting a car loan, mortgage or credit card. He said even if the contract was obtained using unfair and deceptive business practices, it was still a contract which I was responsible for. He told me I had at least seven times when I could cancel the contract and why hadn't I? He said I could have refused shipment from UPS. One problem with that, the machine was personally delivered to me. He didn't tell me the seven times I could have cancelled, but it is my understanding that you have three business days from the date of signing the contract. I tried to cancel the contract in less than 24 hours and was told I could not do that. These companies are sham and con artists ripping off individuals trying to start small businesses and work for the American dream.
Lease Finance Group started the daily multiple calls and hang-ups. EMS debited my account in August, 2006 a day early and added an additional $45 to their normal debit. These people are a waking living nightmare ripping off, conning, shamming, price gouging the heart of America, the small business person.
Marsha
Kissimmee, Florida
U.S.A.
15 Updates & Rebuttals
RW1212
Tarentum,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Are you for real?
#2General Comment
Tue, July 17, 2012
I received a card in the mail today from your company to sign up. To be honest, I thought it sounded like a very good deal. But, having dealt with scam artists in the past, I decided to check on complaints against your company before signing up. Am I glad I did! With your filthy mouthed language, and your unprofessional response, you can be proud to know that I would never deal with a company if you're the type of person that represents the company. Go get yourself a real job so you don't have to get so upset to defend yourself against your unethical practices.
ChairmanJW
Land O Lakes,Florida,
USA
Roslyn/Byron with EMS
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, March 07, 2012
To all you business owners who come on this site. This is the type of person you deal with when doing business with EMS. As you can see by the response by this Roslyn person who used 2 other false names, you get name calling. You would think if EMS was a professional company they would look at the many complaints they have and correct them. They call people names instead because they got called out and know it. The complaints against EMS don't lie. Look at the complaints against First Hudson leasing and Merrick bank. These are both tied to EMS. Don't sign a contract with EMS until your lawyer goes over the fine print. EMS will try to force you to sign the "deal" right there on the spot and not give you the opportunity to read all the fine print. They operate on the "one call close" they do the typical "TO" where they get the boss on the phone to get you to sign when you object. Do yourself a favor. Their telemarketers will call and call , turn them in to the FTC if your on the do not call list.
ChairmanJW
Land O Lakes,Florida,
USA
Byron/Dante/Roslyn and your next name.....
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, March 07, 2012
Keep up the great work proving that EMS is full of unprofessional kids who call people names when things don't go their way. Your right I couldn't cut the mustard. I'm no good at deceptive sales tactics. Im no good at lying to people to get them to sign. I bet you didn't know that EMS is a joke to the banking community. I understand your anger. You stuck in a job having to lie to people everyday to earn a small salary. Btw I'm a Republican. I have a great job. The month I worked at EMS was hysterical. The corporate trainer use to sell replacement windows.... It provided me with hours of comedy sitting in those meetings. How's those benefits EMS provides? What is the employee turn over again? The month I worked for EMS they turned over the entire office except for two which was the telemarketing manager and the receptionist. Thats funny!!!!! I feel sorry for you. Good luck!!!
Roslyn
Summerville,South Carolina,
USA
Chairman JW is a loser ! With no guts ! Hides behind a fake name !
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 06, 2012
To: Chairman JW
FYI, you have become the company joke ! So your mad at EMS because you couldn't cut the mustard. It's ok sweeitie don't worry, being that you are a liberal call you buddy Obama and he'll get you a free cell phone and food stamps, and put you on welfare. That way you don't have to sell anything. Because Lord knows you can't sell jack ...... LOSER !!!!! If you have a wife, she's got to be the bread winner ! Because you have no balls !
Roslyn
ChairmanJW
Land O Lakes,Florida,
USA
If anybody needs a witness
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, November 19, 2011
I worked for this unethical company for a month. I left because of the lack of integrity, and ethics of EMS. They even refused to pay me my base pay. I have over 20 years of sales and management experience and have never seen a company so poorly run and managed in my life. One week after being hired the general manager gets fired. The so called Regional Vice President is running the show. He has been arrested before. He almost gets into a physical confrontation with another employee in our morning meetings. He is 29 years old with his main experience coming from replacement windows. I have a taken legal action against them and would be able to give you statements on how deceptive this company is. I was an actual employee of this company and did not work for an ISP or an agent. I was a w-2 employee and not a 1099.
Word to the wise, check online before going to work for this company and check online before doing business with this company.
Donald
Sudbury,Ontario,
Canada
BBB rates LFG a F thats F for fail
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, December 23, 2009
Follow the bbb own report and reviews after they talked to the company about there practices and got no were
779 complaints filed with the BBB wow impressive
LFG received a F (for fail) i believe this is the bbb worst score but if im incorrect feale free to clarify
Donald
Sudbury,Ontario,
Canada
lfg never get the same answer twice nice
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, December 23, 2009
Regarding lfg as a previous customer who ask the same question never to get the same answer
As for there BBB report the bbb last time i chequed states this company exceeds the amount of unsolf complaints they find acceptable in addition the amount of complaints for the size of the company were above what they be for there class type as the bbb goes by the size of the company and allows more complaints to be fair and place them in the correct area ie leasing were there would be more chalenges yet this company exceeded all levels of poor performance grats LFG for making such a impressision
I also signed with a canadian company and had no issues for a year with great service
Then LFG i guess purchased all the lease s there our the worst company ever to deal with as a small business owner they win by making it to expensive for u to fight them even if ure right they do not care how many sites have developed from this one company bad practices and as class action lawsuits in the amount of 100 milion dollars have been filed against this and it sister companies
I have also been told one day when i call the company has moved to chiacgo then its new york wow they move alot
There should be a senate inventisgations in the actions of this company
Like Mocha
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More problems with EMS/First Hudson
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, June 12, 2008
I have had a similar situation with this company. I will spare the majority of the details simply because we are currently filing suit against them. In a nutshell: We were promised the ability to process credit cards and E-checks through our website using EMS. We have been charged over $1,000 and have had to put our business completely on hold. They have not provided us with adequate systems to allow our business to work. I wish I could go more into detail. Again, please email me at floridabro82 at yahoo.com
Susan
Hayward,California,
U.S.A.
THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. DO TAKE ACTION!
#10Consumer Suggestion
Sat, December 30, 2006
I was also duped into a contract with LFG and here is my update.... I received a letter from LFG today stating that they will release me from any future obligations under the lease agreement!!!! Success!!! Thanks to this website and those who have choosen to share their story and strategies. My story is posted on this website so read a little bit through the initial reports in order to find out details of my situation. Anyhow, here is how I was able to fight and succeed in winning... After I found out (about 10 days after receiving the cc machine in the mail) that I had been deceived by Diana Moya of NPMG - the credit card processing company and that I had been tricked into a 60-month non-cancellable lease with LFG, I decided to follow the advice of other victims who had posted on this website.... 1.) Called my bank which LFG was debiting from and stopped payment immediately from any LFG withdrawal attempts. Made sure to contact our current merchant services company and warned them of NPMG's pontential attempt to switch over our service. We then closed our bank account and reopened another one. 2.) Repackaged the credit card machine and sent back to LFG with UPS certification. 3.) Wrote and called both NPMG and LFG to request cancellation on accounts and also to give them a chance to respond. 4.) Wrote letters to BBB of AZ, CA, Chicago - IL; Attorney General of AZ, CA and IL and also the FTC The BBBs attempts were fruitless. However, the Attorney General of IL (Lisa Madigan) was able to get LFG to terminate our lease. Thank you Thank you to all those who made such effective suggestions and for those who are still going through this...keep on fighting. PERSISTENCE PAYS...Don't let these fradulant companies win.
Jackie
Charlotte,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Me Too
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, December 29, 2006
I am another small business owner in a similar situation with this company. Can you send me the information, so that I to can follow through with the appropriate officials? Thank you in advance.
Rick
Independence,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Another Rick
#12UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 22, 2006
I was just made aware of this website and this complaint and want to respond. My name is Rick from Kansas City, not the who posted the rebuttal above, and I work for one of the companys in question above. A lot of what the previous Rick wrote is true, you should read contracts, you should be aware of what you're doing and you should not succumb to needless pressure by a salesperson, but I would question the integrety of anyone who's doing what he's doing in just collecting paychecks. Do all straight shooting sales reps a favor and just quit! I have faith and confidence in what I do every day, and I struggle due to people like you who give business owners bad impressions. We try daily to visit merchants and find out their needs. If we can help them, we do. We can't help everyone and we know it. If a merchant simply takes the time to listen and be educated, they have a chance to develop a good working solution to a problem they may have. The insurance non-compliance fee is explained more than adequetly to everyone, and it's very fair. Most of the problems I run into stem from a merchant who doesn't understand what they're doing. That's not a slam on merchants, that's just reality in dealing with complicated issues. I have seen my company help merchants out of a self-imposed scrape more than once, we do try to help people prosper, that's how we prosper. If a contract looks like more than you can handle, don't do it! Re-think the solution. Our goal is to stay in business, we can't do that by screwing people. We've been in business about 20 years now, only by helping solve problems, finding solutions that cater to each business, and making an honest living! The term contract packages we deal with are designed to get rid of "extra' or "hidden" fees in the run of the term. Go ahead and purchase a machine for $749, order it off e-bay or where ever. Are you aware that the extra access fees you'll get will probably be at least equal to or more than the package price we'd sell it to you at? Do you know if it's new or used? Who will do your processing for you, at what rates? Warranty? Customer service? Does the value of seeing a rep walk through your door to help you mean anything? I'd hope so. I don't know this John Bova, I've never seen his name associated with our company and I'm not sure if his company actually is associated with mine, but if he actually did treat you this poorly, lie to you, insert undue pressure to get you to sign a contract (mind control?), then you are right to complain to the company and let his actions be known. I have the utmost respect for my sales crew, sales manager and support from my company. We deal with over 25,000 accounts a month, somethings bound to crimp in the system now and then. Any merchants reading this need to be aware that this sort of thing is not the status quo. If it were, I wouldn't be here. We do the same thing every day that merchants do, we try to make an honest living selling products and services to help people, and most of us stake our proud reputation on it. Out of 25,000 accounts, we average about one BBB complaint a month and they are all resolved. Not a bad record in my opinion. This is not an advertisement for what I do, by the way, this is a testimonial to get people to wake up and realize that bad things can happen in any industry, any day, at any time, but not all reps for merchant services are out to rip you off. I'm sorry for the owners of the cleaning business, I hope you get some resolution. I feel better airing my frustrations about the other Rick from Kansas City, or what ever his name is. Now I'll go out and battle the negative that people like him have conjured up while I try to help merchants make it in the competitive market we all struggle to survive in.
Sandy
Skiatook,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
Another LFG, CIT victum
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, November 04, 2006
I understand what you have gone through, I too am a victum of the fraud from these companies. I have filed a report with ripoff a couple of months ago, you can read it listed under CIT from Sandy in Skiatook, OK, regarding the same pratices you explained. I was happy to here you got a response from the Attg. General's office. I hope you can get this settled and get them off your back for good. If you can give me the name and address of the person you got in touch with so I too can write a letter and maybe I can get my problem with LFG, Inc, CIT, off my back as well. The did send me a copy of the contract they said I signed, which I did not. The names on the contract are forged and not mine or my husbands. Again, I hope you get all this settled and I am looking forward to getting additional information that might help us all dealing with these so called people. Sandy Skiatook, ok
Marsha
Kissimmee,Florida,
U.S.A.
Lease Finance Group, Chicago, Illinois
#14Author of original report
Thu, November 02, 2006
I filed a complaint with Lisa Madigan, Attorney General for the state of Illinois. Nicole Mikula from Lease Finance Group, responded to Lisa Madigan. September 27, 2006, Lease Finance Group agreed to release me from the lease agreement, refund all monies and delete the information from my personal credit. As of November 1, 2006, I am still waiting for my refund because of a conversion error. Nicole Mikula has been very professional and nice. I am still dealing with EMS, although the calls stopped after the first of October. I filed a complaint with Jim Petro, Attorney General for the state of Ohio. They replied that they can only assist consumers, but cannot assist small businesses with what they recognize as a growing problem with deceptive and/or unconscionable sales practices for small businesses. When I asked for the government agency that regulates businesses in their state, they referred me to the Better Business Bureau in Cleveland. To Rick, from Kansas City, Missouri, I hope you get a position that you can face yourself in the mirror. Hold on to your ethical standards. To, Charles, from Charleston, South Carolina, thank you for the contact information for EMS. Also, I am not trashing a corporation's name if what I say is true. These companies, such as Lease Finance Group, and EMS need to be responsible for who they partner with such as UMS, the sales side of this partnership. If my business partners with another business, who practices deceptive and/or unconscionable sales practices, that trashes my business' name. Unfortunately today, there are so many businesses and people who have no ethical standards. Marsha - Kissimmee, Florida
Charles
Charleston,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Who's Really Responsible?
#15UPDATE Employee
Tue, October 31, 2006
I have worked for both these corporations as an independent sales agent for over 6 years with no problems. The ultimate responsibility of integrity belongs to the sales agent. He or she has to make it right. If they do not, then contact the companies. I am confident they will make it right. If a sales agent or sales person does something wrong or unethicial they can, and will terminate the agent. I have witnessed that. Please contact Mr. Fred Couch at EMS 800 726-2117 EXT. 1156. He will get your problem resolved. In addition, I would be very careful about trashing corporation names. You may find yourself in a nasty lawsuit. Best of Luck, Charles
Rick
Kansas City,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Buyer Beware
#16Consumer Comment
Fri, October 06, 2006
I am a current employee of one of these companies, on my way out, and would like to urge everyone to read contracts carefully before signing. The company I have been working for as a sales Rep has a training program that teaches you to scoot the truth, make up personal stories, avoid telling the whole story and concentrates on getting the signature. Once you sign, it's over. When you sign the Merchant Agreement, you sign in 2 or 3 places. One of these is a Personal Guaranty, which means the corporation you think you're protected under is meaningless. A personal guaranty signature means you take the responsibility on yourself, no corporate umbrella will protect you. If it sounds like a deal to invest $99.00 dollars a month for 4 years, think about, do the math. That's over $5200 for a piece of equipment and service. You can buy a processor online for about $250 to $350, new or used, but if you do that and have a company download their service to it, they'll charge you $30 to $40 a month in basic access fees. They get you either way. It might be better to own the equipment outright and take the hit on the access fee rather than spend 10 times more for the unit on a lease. These companies bank on leases, that's where the can collect the most revenue. Extremely high mark-up. The sad thing is, a lot of reps for these companies don't figure out how unethical this stuff is unless they delve into it deep and think it through. I'm one of those people that just figured out that it's not just "The way the industry is, it's OK", well it's not OK and money is the only thing they care about. In summary, get a magnifyer and read the back of the agreement, think it through, check out the internet for deals first, ask questions about basic access fees, don't sign anything under the salespersons pressure. This industry's sales tactics makes all sales people look horrible, we're not. I'm out of this industry as soon as I can take this company for a few more weeks of salary as payback.
