Leaders Merchant Services--worst company ever
I have had Leaders Merchant Service for the past 3 years and they have consistently increased my fees. In addition, when I needed to put in a change of bank account they gave me a new account number and restarted the enrollment date which meant that I needed to continue to pay monthly fees even longer or be charged a cancellation fee. It took 4 months and a lot of phone calls to get that straightened out and the customer service department was not very helpful. My account was put in as "inactive" and was told that the fee would be $7.00 per month but received a statement for fees charged to account for $49.95. I called and was told that they only need to send you a letter 30 days prior to a rate increase. I had also been charged a substantial amount of fees for 3 months in a row which were suppose to be credited back to my account and was told today that it was denied. Each time I have called when there has been a problem I end up speaking to a number of different people and each one has a different reason of why there is a problem although the problem never seems to get resolved. This has been one of the WORST companies I have had to deal with. I have spoken to others to compare fees charged for their merchant accounts and by far Leaders has been the most expensive. It may sound like a good deal when you enroll in their plan but there are so many fees that seem to increase often. I would highly recommend looking for another company other then Leaders. In hindsight it would have been more cost effective to pay the $350.00 cancellation fee because the extra charges surpassed that amount.
Posted on 5/14/2012
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Great company to work in my opinion!
I have been processing with Leaders for several years now and honestly it has been great! Since setting it up, it's run hassle free and I always get my deposits in a timely manner. I called customer support recently with a couple questions and was really pleased with their service. I have referred several of my own clients to them and hear good responses from them as well.
Posted on 5/6/2012
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SCAM
High pressure sales.
Misrepresentation.
Got billed $250 3 months after I closed the account and was promised I'd never have another charge from them again.
Use *anyone* else.
Posted on 5/3/2012
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if you close your account with these people make sure to close your bank account also!!!
I am so MAD I can't put it into words. I feel used and abused by a big company and being that I'm a know one I can get back at them. All seams good at first but afterwards you star seen the true thief's they are. I have closed my account for 4 months now and still they manage to tell me that I have to pay a monthly fee!!!
Simply put DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH LEADERS. You will end up as upset as I am.
Posted on 5/2/2012
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Avoid Leaders like the plague
The most deceiptful company I have ever dealt with. Hidden charges and fees in excess of $1000.00 I only processed $600.00 before I realized their scam. I was told I could terminate at any time with 30 days notice. Was charged $350.00 early termination fee. READ THE FINE PRINT!!
Posted on 2/15/2012
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THIS COMPANY IS FULL OF LIES AND SCAMS THEY WILL STEAL FROM YOU - JUST TRY CANCELING YOUR ACCOUNT
THIS IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE WORST COMPANIES IN AMERICA TO DO BUSINESS WITH. IF YOU CANCEL YOUR ACCOUNT YOU WILL STILL BE LIABLE TO SHELLING OUT YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO THIS SCAM OF A BUSINESS. THEY ARE CHARGING HUGE FEES FOR THIER PCI COMPLIENCE THAT IS TOTALLY FREE. BEWARE IF YOU ARE BEING HIT WITH THESE FEES THEY ARE STEALING FROM YOU. IF YOU ARE PROCESSING CREDIT CARDS ONLINE ON THIER SITE THEY ARE STEALING YOUR MONEY AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO STEAL IT ALL YEAR LONG. I CLOSED MY ACCOUNT WITH THEM IN JULY AND PRESTO DECEMBER HIT ANOTHER FULL FLEDGE FEE FROM THIS COMPANY DISAPPEARS IN SECONDS FROM OUR ACCOUNT. THEY WILL LIE TO YOU THEY WILL STEAL FROM YOU. I ALSO OWN MY CREDIT CARD MACHINES FROM THE START THEY WERE CHARGING ME EQUIPTMENT RENTAL FEES FOR MACHINES THAT I OWN. GETTING MY MONEY BACK WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH AND GETTING TO STOP STEALING MY MONEY FOR THE RENTAL WAS EVEN HARDER. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THESE FACTS I CAN SHOW THEM TO YOU IN BLACK AND WHITE. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST COMPANY IN ANY AFFILIATION THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I AM AMAZED THAT THE OWNER HASN'T BEEN LOCKED UP FOR THEFT OR AT THE VERY LEAST CLOSED DOWN.
Posted on 2/2/2012
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Scam!!!!!
Be careful. This company is a scam. They will be nice until you sign up with them. After that you have to expect a)the worst customer service that you can imagine b) rip off charges c) when you decide to cancel you contract with then make sure you block your account because they will charge you a cancellation fee even it's not in the contract!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 12/20/2011
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It is pathetic!
If you look at their website, it sounds so nice!
If you look at other reviews on this board, they sound so nice!
These are exactly the traps for you, as I was trapped into the mouth of this hungary wolf.
However, any one who decides to work with this hungary wolf will soon find that he/she is bitten so hard.
Posted on 12/5/2011
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I used this company for my credit card billing for about a year. After getting a consult from another company they said Leaders M.S had me buy an outdated unit and was charging me over double what I should be paying. I canceled my service promptly, however AFTER CANCELLATION LEADERS KEPT CHARGING ME FEES. THE AFTER CANCELLATION BILL IS CURRENTLY 500 DOLLARS AND RISING. I HAVE NOT YET SUCCESSFULLY CANCELED MY ACCOUNT AFTER 5 MONTHS OF TRYING. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NEVER USE THEM. THEY ARE A SCAM!!!
Posted on 9/7/2011
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Leaders Merchant Services have been a great help to me. I was only in business for about a year before thinking about getting credit card services and did not know anything about them (good rates, what services included, anything) so I did some research online and after comparing prices and places I ended up with them. And on the whole, service has been very good. I think that for small businesses, Leaders Merchant Services is a place to consider. The rates and customer service are awesome. If I was Siskel and Ebert and Leaders Merchant Services was a movie, I would give them two thumbs up.
Posted on 9/1/2011
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This company is geared to use the customers inexperience of legal documents to line there pockets and actually eat the food and feed there families with deceptive practices.
Resolution Sought: I would like LEADERS to tell people the truth and not deceive customers we are NOT LAWYERS so we TRUST YOU to REALLY HELP US..Put it on the table and tell people what can happen and be open about everything so you can be a company with Integrity not deception..!
Date Problem Started: 4/21/11
Date of Transaction: 6/17/2011
Amount in Dispute: $350.00
Invoice Number:
Complaint Type: Advertising Issues
Product or Service: FULL OF LIES
Just like SATAN said to Eve you positively will not die so does this company
(Genesis 3:4) At this the serpent said to the woman: “YOU positively will not die.
Posted on 6/21/2011
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I have been a Leaders customer for about 6 years. When I call Customer Service about a question or a procedure, I have always received a prompt informed reply. My service fees have remained competitive and I am completely satisfied with their service. To this date, they have never made an error in any of my transactions. I, on the other hand, have made an occasional error and they have assisted me in correcting them.
I was recently doing some research on Merchant Services on behalf of a 501(C)3 for which I am a board member and I was appalled at the feedback given by some consumers to not only Leaders but other Merchant Services Companies.
One unfortunate fact of so called "Rip-off" reports on the Internet is that a large majority of them appear to be written by people who have little to no experience in the subject they are complaining about. Instead of accepting responsibility for venturing into an area where they had limited expertise and a failure to do their own due dilligence, they are more interested in venting their frustration than providing useful feedback. My advice is to read service contracts before you commit to anything. Contrary to the claims of several complainers, all fees are disclosed in your agreement. Do not blame a vendor because you acted imprudently.
I have found that Leaders completely lives up to the contractual terms I agreed to when I first contracted with them.
Posted on 5/25/2011
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Just got hooked up with these slimes about a month ago. My first statement informs me about a $130 yearly security fee that will be charged to my account next month. A phone call to them to question the charge reveals that the fee is mentioned in my contract, but no amount is stated and can be changed at their whim. It was never mentioned by the sales rep. that I talked with. Watch these snakes. Underhanded thieves!!!
Posted on 5/17/2011
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I have been repeatedly put on hold, fobbed off on someone else, told that I would receive an email, a fax, a call and never received any response.
Their customer service is terrible. I believe that they are only interested in taking money without providing services.
We set up 2 accounts, exactly how they had been with our previous processor. After we signed our contract with Leaders, they told us that the 1st one was a non-supported software. We talked to them many times at great length trying to resolve it, I even offered to set up any kind of new software they did support, but was told that they couldn't inform me which software was supported. We continued to use our terminal with them, because it was the only way we could run our charges. After a few months, I found another processor who could work with our system. In my termination fax I noted that we should not be charged a closure fee because it was due to the problems with the account that we were changing providers. In my discussions with their customer service, I have been told that because we used the 2nd account we our $350 early termination fee will not be refunded.
Never again!
Posted on 5/16/2011
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This company is a rip off. I called them in December about cancelling. I asked if there was a termination fee and was told no. I then realized they were still billing us a fee. I called again on March 16th and was told I had to fill out a form. I did so that day. I rec'd another bill in April. I called and they told me that it take about 30 days. I was not told this in the past. They also told me they would not refund my money nor would they transfer me to a supervisor. I told them I was going to escalate this and they told me I couldn't. They were very rude. This company will rip you off. Run....if they call you!!!
Posted on 4/14/2011
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My contract had 0 cost if not used,NO MINIMUMS, I'm a small biz with maybe 2 credit card charges a month, In Nov. 2010 I had a charge of +/- $500.00 Since I have been charged $400 in service charges. Monthly fees keep showing up, yet my contract has otherwise. My bank has opened a fraud investigation ( They have my contract in hand )..... Charges still come in monthly....The salesman says it shouldn't be happening....Now having to freeze my acct. to try to stop the theft. does anyone know of a class action suit I might join! These guys are thieves!!!
Posted on 4/12/2011
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This company is HORRIBLE! I was told from the beginning there was NO hidden fees.... Every month I am charged some new "mandatory" fee!!! DO NOT go with this company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 4/11/2011
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This is for all the americans out there who is looking for a credit card service. I must admit that I did not do my homework on this company so I will try to save anyone who is reading this review.Do not get with this company Leaders Merchant Please Don't. The sales rep is very charming and sweet but I'm here to tell you it's all an act.Once you sign the contract they will get you and charge you every month high fees and it's different every month. Once you call and complain they treat you so nasty you would not believe. This company is a scam and you better believe you will here about them in the near future folding.I will be calling and writing to whoever including Gov.Cuomo about this company. I can't believe how they are taking advantage of small businesses.I give no stars to this company. So please everyone do not get with this company.
Posted on 3/11/2011
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Leaders is a leader in telling you what the rates and fees would be up front, and then charging you much more one you have the "service" and when you call to complain, then they tell you what the real rates are. When I signed up in August 2010, I asked twice what the fees would be given that I may have no transactions every month. We'll, when we charged our customer for the one order which we needed a terminal for, the rate was not the quoted 2.9%, but 6%. Then, the monthly fees doubled if we did not use the terminal, then there was a mysterious $113 charge after we didn't file some form that I was never told about. Now, after cancelling the account, I was hit with a $200 charge for the terminal after I paid $35 for a used terminal in August. I'm told I will get the $200 back after I send the equipment back in it's original condition. Something tells me that they will claim that the terminal never showed up (I will put a signature required on the UPS shipment), or that the terminal has been used too much, after I used it once. This company is very deceitful and cannot be trusted in business.
Posted on 1/10/2011
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I had spent a few days talking with Mike Colin of Leader Merchant Services as a result of seeing a banner ad on Foosball for RockBottomMerchantAccounts on Foosball. He answered most of my questions except that "the free terminal didn't include wireless terminals" which was what I need in my business. I own a limousine business and have to have a "wireless terminal" in our vehicles at all times.
We spoke today because I had decided to decline the switch to Leaders because my current merchant service, RBS/WorldPay informed me they would match the rates of 1.09% and 1.59% plus 28 cents per swiped and thought they might actually be able to drop the 28 cents to 19 cents per swipe. 99 percent of our credit card transactions are swiped in the vehicle. 1 percent are actually keyed in by hand. Usually our Reservations Agents record the card number and then the card is swiped once and treated as a credit card on file.
What really got me was "his anger" as I confirmed that RBS/WorldPay would "match or not charge" for things that he claims "he had told me already". I would think he would assume that a potential merchant is first going to give his current service the chance to match another offer rather than loose a client. Ultimately he made a very rude remark and hung up. I find that to be as professional of a sales rep as I assume they are at Leaders.
Posted on 1/6/2011
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