First Data
Reviews and Complaints

All Business Owners really need to pay attention to what is going on when signing up a merchant account or you will end up cheated and feeling like you have no where to go. First of all, First Data is a Monopoly Credit Card Processor here in the United States. They process over 75% or more of the credit card transactions in the country, therefore they feel they can do what they want as if they are god and no one can stop them. When your bank asks you to sign up for a merchant account with them, ask them who they use on the back end to process the cards. Chances are and I know for a fact that the following banks use First Data: Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Suntrust, and PNC just to name a few of the large banks. They also process for a lot of the smaller regional banks as well. Everyone complains about Visa/MC but really it is First Data who is causing so much pain to the merchants. They also own the STAR debit Network and Concord EFS, the Pay at the Pump fuel station transactions. They have become too big and don't respect their customers, there employees or anyone else for that matter and you are better off taking cash only from your customers than doing business with First Data "The Largest Processor". Most of the other guys are either selling under the pretense that they are "Bank of America Merchant Services" or "Citi Merchant Services" when in reality they are First Data employees. First Data has one HUGE call center and they have it divided up in sections by bank to take the calls from merchants who need help. The problem is if you sign up with Citi for example and you get upset for whatever reason and decide to leave Citi Merchant Services and go to your other Bank PNC or Wells Fargo, guess what you get the same service, same tech support and same customer service people to deal with all over again. You are the laughing stock of First Data, you pay your $500 cancelation fee from Citi just to sign right back up with one of the other banks who also use First Data, and when you cancel with them you pay First Data another $500 cancelation fee. What a rip off, this has to stop, the other scheme that they are pulling is if you are currently using First Data Today, take a look at your statement, and see if you see a $19.95 or $29.95 PCI Compliance fee on your monthly statement that you weren't told about? Go ahead check right now, See they probably have been billing you this for months, because its another way of just taking your money when your not looking. My advise when you hear First Data, RUN and don't look back.

I was approached by one barbara nejeidi from first data global leasing, who told me about a free one month trial on a credit card equipment. She gave me a paper which I signed (Single piece of paper). After two weeks I returned the machine. Still in the box (Never used). I recieved a contract in the mail showing a four year lease. I tried contacting barbara nejeidi on numerous ocassions but never made contact. I contacted first data global and they claim to have a signed contract for four years and can't do anything. They continued to take money from my account for a few months, until I closed the account. Now they have sent me to the collections agency, who is constantly harassing my phone all hours of the day. Someone should be held responsible for this. This is fraud.

After initially contacting Joshua Willis, Indep Sales Agent for First Data, in their Scottsdale, AZ office about their merchant services/fees, I was quoted $20.95/mo. Upon my first statement with only a $20 customer charge, First Data charged my account $60+ for monthly fees. Willis misrepresented the total fees that would charged to my account on a monthly basis, which has been $60-75+ monthly (with NO transactions). This is fraud and misrepresentation. I have closed my account with these characters and now they want $501.80. A complaint has already been filed with the FTC, reference number is:[protected]. I will also be filing a complaint with the AZ and CA Attorney General and Banking Commission.

We are a small retail business which is forced to buy product as is needed. We rely on our credit card and cash sales to fund inventory purchases on almost a daily basis as well as to pay the bills associated with small business overhead. Due to the current economy, cash flow is not what it used to be, so we rely more and more on our credit card transactions. First Data upon receiving credit card transactions, immediately subtracts it's fees from our bank account while holding onto the credit card transactions for well over a week . As a small business we cannot afford to be without any money that we make. We called our First Data rep to find out when the funds would be released only to get the round around about how much longer we would have to wait for them to give us our money. We run credit card sales everyday. First Data takes it's fees everyday. Where the hell is our money? If you don't mind paying another financial institution for ### customer service while at the same time causing you to lose money, First Data is the credit card processing company for you.

After many years of loyal patronage to Sam's Club, and many inducements to "upgrade" my Business Club Membership [which carries additional fees], my sales/products business inquiries and prospects supported the pursuit of charge card processing capabilities. Based upon Sam’s Club’s cheerleading, we went with their business partner, First Data. First Data sales made various representations, sent out paperwork, accessed and marked our credit status/record, processed our app, and quickly approved our App. Following approval of our App., First Data sent out a more expansive listing of provisions and conditions; replete with self-protecting literature it describes as "terms". The next business day following approval, and immediate dispatch of equipment, First Data arbitrarily and capriciously rescinded services, and never did provide any services of the type or nature agreed upon; i.e. wireless, etc. Since said rescision, First Data and First Data Global Leasing have been having a stealing good time debiting my account, for services it never did, nor had any intent to provide to us. Despite warnings they continue to treat our account as their own piggy bank, and refuse to respond to inquiries, or demands to cease and desist. It is clear that fraud is present, but Sam's Club is complicit, in as much as, they conspire with First Data to avail and expose their customers to First Data, whereafter First Data constructs a false marketing approach, provides penultimate information, gets customers to impart bank accounts information, and then without basis rescinds provision of the very services forming the crux of the agreement. We will not state further here, due to impending litigation. However it is important to note that Sam's Club cannot be dispensed as a culprit because it is they who fish for existing customers to draw into the parties’ money making scheme. This is a formal complaint addressing all participants in this orchestrated scam upon businesses. It is of additional note that their actions, irrespective of the self-protecting terms they have incorporated into their literature and terms, cause commercial and business related injuries that damage businesses, reputations, profits, credit worthiness, ratings, and other such essential requisites.

this company is a nightmare do not use, where do i start, oh after their totaly shocking global gateway service where no one on the 1800 roundabout has a clue how to use it and i cancelled it after 1 week, andnchanged to another company, theyntold me i could not cancel, and had to keep paying a service fee every month for a service i did not want. then 6 months later they stole 199 out of my account with no right and said they had every right to do so causing my account to bouce. i then close my bank accont so they can steal no more, now i receive a letter from a collection agency saying i am in arrears $ 110 although it does not state what it is for and its some company called express merchant services ..is this them as well? i cant stand this company, their attitude is horrific towards cusomters, they are theives, and i agree with other people here they are criminals...how do i get them out of my life now thats what i want to know...i am a small retailer and do not need this...

I work for a company and I get my paycheck through moneynetwork. As I understand moneynetwork is affiliated or a part of the company firstdata (First data). On september 9th 2010 at approx noon I attempted to withdraw money. The atm said unable to process. The customer service number on the back of the card was no help. When I called the number it requires I enter my card number. Upon entering the number the recording said they were having technical difficulties and then it hung up on me. I continued to call the number trying different options to get ahold of any customer service rep and no matter what I did I was unable to reach anyone at their company. With all the hidden convenience fees I pay I find it totally unacceptable they have no rep for me to talk to. I had to cancel my lunch probably lost any chance of geting the job I was meeting for and looked like a jerk in the process all because I couldnt access the money I had earned. I get paid every week and if I want to see how much money ive made it will cost me $1. Oo every time I view my balance. They charge me money for cash back. They have a hidden charge for just about anything. And this is the level of customer service they provide.
First off im leaving this complaint
Second whenever a customer at my store brings one of their cards to my counter I will tell them about all the trouble ive had with their company and recommend green dot or another card.
Third im switching to direct deposit.

Money network has the worst customer service. It took me coming home to get online to find their corporate number to find out what was going on. Once I reached someone at the corporate number they said there is nothing I can do and no why to access the money that is mine.

Two years ago I started a home inspection business in Portland Oregon and thought I would look more "up to date" with a portable Way System card swipe machine and printer. After talking with the First Data people and discussing the lease options with the system, I told them I would buy it outright instead because I didn't want a lease. I then set up a one year account with them to handle the transactions, paid for the equipment and recieved it a few days later. After about 6 months I started recieving charges on my business account for $39 from First Data Global Leasing. Long story short, they credited me back the money I'd paid on the equipment and set me up on a two year lease agreement. I managed to get the payments stopped but they hounded me constantly with phone calls and nasty letters for months. I finally arranged to pay them off for $250 in hopes they'd go away. I hadn't heard from them in three months... until today. They sent me a letter saying that they are assessing $30.20 for "property taxes assessed on my equipment as well as $10.00 for the cost of processing of any taxes! Since I haden't really learned how tryly sinister these people are I sent them a check to pay the $250, they now have my checking information and are going take the money out along with my regular monthly payment. I talked to my bank and they said they probably couldn't stop the payment but I can file fraud charges against them if they do, and I will. I'll probably have to get a new checking account I suppose. Folks, these people have to be stopped! They are an obvious scam outfit and I'm in on any class action law suit.

LOOK OUT when you get a credit card machine. First Data Global Leasing has HIDDEN charges/fees that they SNEAK in that you are unaware of. You CANNOT get out of their lease. I returned the equipment unused, never used, to Best Merchants, and FIRST DATA just kept charging, charging, and charging. They will NOT listen to anything you have to say! I will NEVER do business where this leasing company is involved ! My next contact is the Attorney General. These people need to be stopped !

If you are UK based limited company and enter into an agreement with with First Data Global Leasing ( FDGL ) and are not satified woith their product then beware, you will have no choice but to carry on with payments as under the consumer credit act 1974 - you cannot get out of it

I got a phonecall by a compamy called Pamentsense who act for the Bank of Scotland to take out a credit card machine with them for my business, the leasing firm they use is FDGL, after being sent 2 terminasl which did not work, one a GPRS which couldn't get a strong enough signal to call out, the other a bluetooth device which couldn't connect to the phone line. I then tried to cancel the agreement. On the form they get you to sign there is a box which states your right to cancel, so I thought I could envoke this - wrong ! Hidden in the small print in 'lawyer language' is a clause which means if you you are a limited company you basically have no rights to cancel. You have been warned !

First data sales reps promised the lowest rates, which they are not did speak of any contract length requirements.
When the first anniverisary of service came up, I asked to terminate contract, they stated I had a two year contract.
Then in may 2010 they state my contract expired on June 25th
I contacted them and suddenly they state ll they have is 3 year contracts.
They must submit for a contract review.

These are the worst types of liars and business people ..

NEVER DO BUSINESS with FIRST Data

I started a very small online retail store a month ago (May 2010) and told Bank of America that I was looking to experiment with different vendors just to see how businesses operate and how to do normal operations. I told them I had no idea if I would make money or not. They had me sign an amendment to waive the early termination fee so I would agree to try them out. A VP of Bank of America Merchant Services told me that no fees would be charged until June 30th, 2010. That gave me ample time to get the business up and running. Today First Data and Bank of America garnished the earnings from an online sale to pay First Data's setup fees. I promptly ended business relationships with both Bank of America and First Data.

My company used Cardservice International for many years, then they changed to First Data and everything started to go south. We had a high risk account, but always kept our chargebacks to a minimum over the years and had a track record to prove it. Literally, out of the blue, we were overwhelmed by chargebacks, and were able to provide First Data the proper signed slips and everything they needed to ensure the sales were legitimate. We still lost the sales.

To add insult to injury, shortly after, they canceled our account, due to excessive cahrgebacks, and said they would hold $32, 439.00 (yes... 32k) for six months to cover any chargebacks involved. After sex months I contacted the First Data representative (Gideon Jackson). He said it would be another six months. Then I was pawned off to another agent (Deidra M.Olds deidram.[protected]@firstdata.com) who said they would release half of the funds, then another half later. I provided copies of my ID and contact information, per their request. She said they would send a check to me for half of the funds. It never came, she never replied, they no longer return my calls or emails.

You can imagine the damage done to your business with someone holds $32, 439.00 without notice. It literally ruined and bankrupted the business.

It has been 2 years since they agreed to pay the money, they will not return any contact to me. My next step is legal recourse, though that too is painful as some collection agencies are asking for as much as %40 - 50%. I have lost my business, and money. I'm at a loss.

First Data Merchant Accounts is known as the global leader in credit card processing. However, they did not demonstrate leadership or anything close to quality customer service with me. I originally signed a lease with them in May 2007. I was told that I had many ways out of their lease and I could cancel their service at any time. Sales and customer service told me a downright lie. After committing to the contract and executing my first transaction I was locked into a 3 year lease which charged me whether or not I used their service. I recently got a call from a collections agency that says I racked up 500 dollars worth of fees from October '09 because I DID NOT use the service. Meanwhile, i was duped and lured into believing my lease had ended. I strongly recommend to never engage in business with this company or any of their partners. I have paid over 2, 000 dollars worth of fees and penalties after my business went under. After discovering this, I had to fight my way through layers of automated messages and customer representatives just to figure out what was going on. They seemed to be intentionally unhelpful. Their unreasonable contracts and hidden fees coupled with their complete dismissal of the customer make First Data an extremely taxing experience with little benefit. I take responsibility for my understanding (or lack there of) of their legal terms. However, the fees that First Data has levied against me are downright criminal.

From February 14 of 2010 First Data rep hre in Kentucky have done nothing to correct all the initial and mileading promises in a four year contract. Also they have allowed a third party claiming to be a part of First Data to call me issuing threats concerning insurance through a unknown third party insurance company. They sent me a notice that I either had to take insurance or I had to furniush my personal insurance policy that protects my business to them.
#1 who the hell do they think they are . They want MY insurnce info and want me to sign their form (them being an unknown third party I would be enteri ng into yet another agreement with private info) that does not concern them. Not!
Its been a mess with them threatening me repeatedly with violating my conntract with them. ANYTIME it takes 3 months to clean up their messes i say its time to part company. Had most of my trouble with their Tele Check company . Both being a customer to a company that used Tele Check who denied 4 of my business checks and when researched by my bank ppersonally found that Tele Check had refused my checks and HAD NEVER RAN THEM THROUGH MY BANK of which I have 5 accounts with enough money to more then cover the checks in each account.
So...STAY FAR AWAY FROM FIRST DATA AND IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION PLEASE MAKE SURE IM IN IT > I HAVE ALL KINDS OF EVIDENCE>

I have a yahoo internet business, Yahoo only allows FDMS First Data Merchant Services as there platform for there shopping carts on there stores, I have been open for 3 years my sales have doubled- in July 2009 I checked my bank account and was not receiving my deposits I contacted First Data and they stated since my volume has gone up I am higher risk, so they would take 10% out of each of my batches until 10, 000.00 was in a reserve. Then in Jan 2010 was again contacted due to my 5% dispute rating (this dispute is not averaged by closed or won disputes, but by disputes opened- internet business are Higher risk, people dispute if they do not receive there product in 2 weeks even if the tracking shows it is on its way and the website states it can take up to 3 weeks to receive the merchandise and every product on the site state"2-3 business days for the handling time"- so I was then told I had to write out a plan to lower my disputes and they would be once again taking 10% out of my batches till another $10, 000.00 so a total of 20, 000.00 would be in reserve. March 2010 after they had the $20, 000.00 they stopped funding me again and gave me a week to find a new cc processor and told me they will hold the $20, 000.00 for 6 months from the last day I processed threw them. I formed a corporation and open a new account under the corporation- I was just told that they will not be funding me again and they are closing that account because of my previous account that was under my personal ss #- they are holding over another $10, 000.00 of mine. This is now a total of $30, 000.00 which is double the amount required to start a federal lawsuit- I then started doing some internet searches on first data and found several other people who experience this same issue and still have not received a dime back of the money first data is holding. Yahoo only allows there online ecommerce businesses to use a processor that is first data merchant services compatible so I am stuck and feel helpless as so many other people that have been scammed the same from First Data Merchant Services FDMS who there security department who makes these decisions is in Melville New York- [protected] but when you call no one answers they promise a call back with in 24 hours - they call you back in that time frame to notify you they are holding funds and canceling your service- but not when you are trying to get your money back- it has been 2 days I have left 6 messages and no return call- my next phone call is to a attorney to start Federal proceedings- This is one of the reasons the economy is the way it is- I have had to let 2 employees go due to this loss of income, and if this continues I will have to close my business and file bankruptcy these corporations tied to the banking system and credit card industry need to be stopped and our government is not doing a thing or passing any new laws to stop this- The middle class will no longer be in existence as long as company's and there "sister company's" like First data Merchant services are allowed to destroy and take advantage of the hard working middle class business and people. They need to be stopped!

OMG!@!#%@!
After being suckered into a $1, 800 lease for 49.99 machine with pin pad - we do mail order by the way - we gave up on getting out of it after 9 months of phone calls, letters, and emails. We sent the machine back in April of 2009 with a big check. In Feb of 2010, they charged me another $200 for not returning the machine! I gave them the tracking number and asked for a refund. Yeah, Okay we can do that. 40 days later still no refund. Called again. Took 4 calls to get a supervisor. There can't be that many people in the place. They have now expedited my refund and it should be here within 5 to 7 days. I won't hold my breath. But I gotta try.

Stay away from these people! at all costs. You will never get away from them. Pretty soon they should be debiting my account again for the annual security monitoring - can't wait for that fight! again! The account was cancelled within 30 days of opening in Oct of 2008 and it still comes back to haunt us.

Beware