In the late 2000s, as a broke college student struggling to make ends meet, I was contacted by a merchant services company after uploading my resume to a job listings website. This company promised substantial commissions and ongoing residual income for simply persuading businesses to accept credit card payments. It seemed straightforward enough—after all, what business doesn’t need to process credit card payments? Following a phone interview with a persuasive “sales director,” I found myself embarking on what I believed would be an easy job that would significantly boost my bank account with reliable monthly income and large sales commissions. However, the lessons I learned would profoundly change my life in ways I could never have imagined.
After completing my sales training, I hit the ground running, eager to make sales. This broke college student was determined to improve his financial situation! My first attempt at a cold call, with no prior appointment, ended with a burly man in his 50s yelling at me to leave, claiming he had been “totally robbed” by someone like me before. As I hastily exited, puzzled and intimidated by his reaction, I couldn’t help but wonder what he meant. Throughout the day, I encountered similar hostility from other business owners, all expressing disdain for the industry I had been so excited to join that morning. Confused and curious, I decided to shift my approach from selling to listening.
I quickly uncovered that the merchant services sector was riddled with unethical practices, including hidden fees, deceptive marketing, fine-print traps, and much more. It dawned on me that I had nearly been tricked by a dubious company into selling overpriced services under contracts with long-term commitments, all without being fully aware of what I was promoting. Outraged, I resigned from that company but learned that there were indeed ethical credit card processing companies that treated their clients fairly. Over the next four years, I worked for one such company, assisting hundreds of businesses in securing cost-effective processing solutions. Yet, I also met many more who had been misled and trapped in onerous service agreements. Determined to help people steer clear of these unscrupulous providers, I launched this website in my spare time, dedicating myself to researching and sharing my findings on every merchant account provider I could investigate.
Gradually, more and more business owners began to discover my articles. As word spread, search engines started to rank my content highly, amplifying its reach. My efforts were making a difference! Eventually, the website garnered enough traffic to enable me to leave my job and focus on it full-time, a journey that has now spanned over a decade. This path has not been without its challenges; unscrupulous company owners have tried to intimidate and sue me into silence on several occasions. Yet, I have stood firm against each threat. Here I am, continuing to publish reviews and articles, hoping to safeguard others from the pitfalls of the credit card processing industry.
If you believe in my mission and wish to contribute, please share my articles on your websites and social media. Thank you for visiting!
Cecy Duran
Warning!!! Small businesses check equipment prices elsewhere first, after monthly card usage fees and two additional fees each month. I paid three times the value of the equipment.
Robert M
Very frustrating! Have a TD/Clover mini POS and of course printer dies 1 month after warrant expires. After a very long time on the phone and 3 people later, I finally get to someone who will send another unit that I obviously have to pay for.
New unit arrives but I have decided to no longer use TD/Clover. Several days of numerous phone calls to customer service and never able to speak to anyone. I wait 10-15 minutes in queue for mine call to be answered and when it seems like my call is going to be answered by someone the line goes dead each and every time.
Great customer service! So they are paying customer service personnel to hang up on/disconnect customer calls…Ain’t that nice!!!
Victoria
22 days for processing just to change to a new account and every day I get a different version of the truth! They have no supervisor to complain to and nowhere for customers to turn to when they need help. This is a horrible way to do business and I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone! This is the worst banking experience I have every had!! It’s always “24-48 hours” but it never happens! Do NOT TRUST THIS BANK!
Traci
TD Merchant Solutions is the worst payment processing company bar-none! I’ve been in business for myself for over 20 years. I have banked with numerous companies, hands down this is the worst apologetic organization I have ever dealt with. A) Large deposits are held for investment purposes for more than 4 business days even on Debit withdrawal payments. Smaller transactions are deposited next day. Explanation by TD: “We do not know what the problem is, I can look into and get back to you….[hold for 30 minutes, no explanation]… we will have to call you back” no return call. They avoid you. B) Constant apologizing for their mistakes, but no remedy, no credit issued for fees, no solutions! [They advertise “Merchant Solutions!”]
C) Customer service reps have no authority to assist you only apologizing but they can not make decisions. D) No matter what they tell you, they are TD Bank. They claim they are Clover, but clover makes machines and POS systems, TD is a Toronto, Canadian Bank! Period.
DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THIS CHANCE!
Rashad Imran
Td is charging me too much
For payment processing
I requested them to reduce the rates after using the td merchant services 10 years and they reduced rates only if I sign contract
So I am using td from 10 years and still need contract to get good rates
I was charged high rates
Thanks other companies who told me this difference
Td sales rep threatened me if I wil not sign contract right now. My services wil be disconnected. And I wil be charged 300$ for not using td
It’s such a bad merchant service