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.