Consumer complaint received 2015-05-14
Company: First Data Corporation
State: NV
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Other bank product/service
Issue: Making/receiving payments, sending money

Complaint:
I opened an account with First Data credit card processing company in XXXX XXXX to collect payments on my website powered by XXXX XXXX. I did NOT sign or agreed to any contracts for any period of time. Since XXXX XXXX I have been charged an extra {$9.00} on my account every month. I called and complaint about the charge. First Data gave me a run around first saying that the merchant number that is on the monthly statements does not exists in their system and I need another merchant number that I do not have otherwise they ca n't talk to me. I was on the phone with them for 2 hrs when I found out that they changed my merchant number but never notified me. They also never notified me that I have to have a compliance certificate to fill out. First Data representative said that this was a charge for not being compliant regarding keeping credit card information safe. I told the representative that I am not the one who keeps or handles credit card information for my customers but it is First Data. When I receive an order the credit card numbers are blocked. I only see what the customer orders. It is First Data who was trusted with keeping customer information safe. I spent another 2 hours with gathering information and filling out the compliance certification. Half of these questions are about how the costumer credit card numbers were kept. When I finished I asked First Data ; how do you keep credit card numbers of my customers safe? They said that they ca n't tell me how the information was kept and I should do some research online. I told them that they are the one who needed to fill out a compliance certificate. They refused to fill it out or give me any information on what they do the credit information. Even though, I did the compliance certification they kept on charging my account every month. I decided that this company was unsafe to use and I did n't want to continue any relationship with them. In the mean time without my knowledge they got into my bank account and withdraw {$10.00}, I still do n't know what for. When they withdraw the {$10.00} they overdraw my bank account that I wanted to close and the bank charged me {$25.00} for an overdraft fee. I called First Data to tell them that I am closing my account but there is no one to listen. I left messages for First Data but I never got a call back. Then I was transferred to XXXX different representatives because supposedly they are not allowed to close an account on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. The last representative I got was XXXX at the XXXX number on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. When I said I was closing down the account XXXX said that I could not because I have a contract with them till XXXX! I did NOT sign any contracts with them to handle my funds nor I allowed them to take money out of my bank account for undisclosed reasons and amounts. First time I called and left a message for First Data on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX that I closed my account with them. I asked for First Data 's address so I can close the account down in writing and send them my invoice to get my money back that was stolen out of my account. It is 3X {$9.00} + {$10.00} + {$25.00} overdraft fee. {$64.00} + {$35.00} inconvenience fee = {$99.00}. It is obvious that First Data keeps credit information fraudulently otherwise they would have disclosed the method with me. This company is a fraud and should not be in business since they are scamming the public.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation