Same as a lot of people on here. A merchant account with a company I'm not with has an "issue" and I'm to call back a different number. I can't see a legit company doing this. Couldn't tell if he said FTA or FPA, but found no companies with either names that did what he was claiming to do.
"Michael" from FTA called looking for the business owner. Unfortuantley, the owner spoke to him last week so he had a name. I asked who FTA stands for and he cannot give me an answer within 5 seconds. I tell him that it is obvious this is a fishing expeidtion and he tells me "no, it's not." I then ask if this number is his direct number and he says it is not and he does not have one so I hung up. He has not called back in the last couple of hours. Maybe that's the trick.
Asked if the company owner was in or if he was out back. I am not sure what prompted her to ask if he was outback, but I explained to her that he was not in and asked if I could help with anything. We are a small business and I am authorized to speak on all accounts. She said she had another number for him and she would just try him there. I told her if she would just tell me which company she was calling from I could tell her if I was authorized to speak on behalf of the account. She said, "Oh, we are a merchant company that handles the processing of your credit cards." I told her that we didn't accept credit cards. She then said, "Oh, well that must be why there is a mix up. I will get this taken care of." and that was that.
These guys are really strange.
First Melinda called and said sshe was setting up appointments to review the merchant account. She said since I have been processing for so long I could quanlify forlower rates. They were setting appointments in my area. she insisted it was not a sales call. Someone else would keep the appointment. Told her to give me a number and I would call and set up an appointment if I was so inclined. that was on a Tuesday or Wednesday I believe. the folowing Monday she called again. I told I was not interested and she spoke to me like I was being irresponsible. her tone was almost as if she were scolding me. I told her I had no interest and hung up. Within hours Michael called. He apologized because apparenetly Melinda did not explain correctly. They had an opening for the following monday. I said no. He said "this MUST be taken care of" this is not a sales call. That I they are at the top of "the food chain" in CC processing and if I have no charge backs I can have my rate changed and save a lot of money. I said I was not interested. He inzsisited it MUST be taken care of .It is just administrative. It is not a sales call. The must come out and review my merchant statements. i said I am too busy . He kept speaking to me in a tone that was condescending saying I am not understanding and implying that i did not have the intellect to understand. I put him off said call the next tiem you are in the area...fully expecting it to be a few weeks. With in 2 days he called again...actually 1 1/2 days. I could not believe it. Put hime off again...he called today and had virtually the same conversation. I hung up on hime. I had told him to remove me from list. He said there is no list. All my conversations with Michael he spoke to me like I was a moron for not doing this...and it MUST be done.
I believe that they can take vital info from your merchant account statement and for certain your contract if they ask to review that. I would be very cautious and not give them anything.
Referrring to another comment...the major CC comapny is not First Dat...it is First Data. Call your banker or a noted Merchant services account and speak to them. i asked a banker in a business gruop from a large regional bank and she wwas not familiar with them.
I am sorry but i am also not convinced all people who comment on these sites are legit. sometime scams plant comments on sites sucjh as these BE CAREFUL!!