It is unfortunate that another small business owner had to fall pray to the deceiving tactics of two Innovative Merchant Solutions (IMS), an INTUIT (R) Company. Two unassuming representatives pressured a merchant to sign two "Applications" for the purchase of two ATM machines. The merchant continuously stated that there was no interest in purchasing the machines and therefore would not be interested in signing a contract. Preying on a merchant with a limited understanding of contractual agreements and reading the English language, continued their "sales pitch" in an effort to convince the merchant that signing the "Application" would only secure availability of a future purchase if the merchant so desired. Therefore, the remarks made clearly expressed that there would be no contract signed and therefore no liability placed upon the merchant. In demonstrating their lack of personal moral and professional ethical principals, the two individuals convinced the merchant to sign two applications explaining that they would receive payment for simply "completing the applications." Within five days the IMS representatives had processed the fraudulent "deal" and had two ATM machines shipped to the merchant. Upon receipt of the machines, the merchant contacted the representatives and as the typical shady salesmen, did not answer or return the call.

The merchant then contacted the customer service line and was told that the problem would be resolved easily by simply faxing the representatives a statement explaining that, as stated previously, there had been no interest in purchasing the machines. Again, there was no response. Instead, they began billing the merchant for use of the machines that the merchant was not interested in owning or even able to cover. When the merchant refused to make the payment, a series of intimidation tactics began to be employed. On one occasion one of the merchants walked by the small business, taking pictures of the location and the employees inside. When confronted by the merchant, the salesman threatened the merchant with legal action and taking the merchant to collections. Then, in an extreme effort of continued harassment, the salesman drove by the business several times, changing cars after the third drive through with male passengers inside; as to express a direct threat against the merchant and the employees.

Clearly, IMS is either a company run amuck by shady sales people who have no regard for ethical business principals or they intentionally train their sales force to employ such vile tactics in an effort to turn a profit. As for Intuit, the holding company of IMS which was acquired in 2003, and provider of reputable products and services such as QuickBooks (R), Quicken (R), and TurboTax (R), is either complicit in these frauds by approving of and or providing the necessary training, or lack of oversight of their $116 million investment.

Check it out for yourself: http://web.intuit.com/about_intuit/press_releases/2003/09-02b.html

Don’t be taken! If you hear IMS just say NO!!!

I started a Web only retail business thru GoDaddy and signed up with Innovative Merchant Solutions under a 'Web Only' program that did not have all the fees of other accounts. After my first bank statement, I noticed fee's where being charged that I did not agree to. I contacted Innovative Merchant Solutions, who got GoDaddy on the phone in a three way call and I was informed there was a mistake and I was signed up for a full blown account with POS for a retail location and the whole works.

I reminded them of the package I signed up for and the gladly offered to change to web only package, only that program ended a week before and was no longer available. The only solution Innovative Merchant Solutions could come up with is that my small, out of my livingroom, web only business, now pay $149 per month for their card service, forever and ever and ever.

I notified Innovative Merchant Solutions and GoDaddy at that exact moment that I was stopping all business with them because of their Breach of Contract for Services. GoDaddy's representative said, 'I don't blame you one bit, ' and processed my cancellation.

Innovative Merchant Solutions said I had to fax a cancellation notice. I did and they did not process it. For three months, they continued to attempt to charge my account. After the first month, I notified them with a fax and a Certified Letter.

The next month, I canceled the card at my bank's suggestion. Innovative then did the unthinkable and contacted Paypal and started processing payments because paypal was directly linked to my bank account, not by card number, but by account number.

I contacted Paypal and they requested Overdraft Fees that eventually, after 10 hours of explaining on the phone and in email, they released and did not charge.

My bank account suffered so many fraudulent charges and fee's, the total is well over $1000. I had to close the account because Innovative Merchant Solutions continued efforts to electronically steal money from me.

I tried to work with them about this. Innovative Merchant Solutions admits they have received a fax from me on two occasions but never closed the account. They say the fax's were sent upside down and could not be processed. They blame me, like I don't know how to use a fax machine.

Now I receive harassing phone calls from Bill Collectors who are collecting from Innovative Merchant Solutions. I try to tell the collectors and everyone else that will listen that Innovative merchant Solutions failed to cancel my contract and have me signed up for another contract, at their own admission of mistake, and have since tried to steal money, and it is documented by Paypal, AFTRA SAG Federal Credit Union, GoDaddy, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The only answer I get from IMS is that I should pay over $500 for their mistakes or they will never leave me alone. Just two days ago, they called to tell me that the economy is not always going to be bad and I should pay this off so it does not haunt me later. I tell them I don't owe the money. They know from the documentation this is true, and they don't care this is ALL their fault. They insist on stealing $500 more and it is the only way to stop this nightmare.

Please do not do business with Innovative Merchant Solutions. If you are a lawyer, or know one, I would be interested in a class action lawsuit.

innovative merchant solutions did the same thing to us.
We did not want to sign a contract; the next thing I know we were bound to a 3 year contract.
I think we should su them for...

"I was recently approached by a salesman for Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit Company. The salesman inisted that by signing the application, I was not in any way committed to opening an account. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS! I spoke to 2 persons from Innovative who "verified" my information (name, etc) I told both I was not committing to an account, yet their transcripts say none of this. The account was opened & now to get out of it I am goint to get stuck with a $295 cancellation fee."

I was recently approached by a salesman for Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit Company. The salesman inisted that by signing the application, I was not in any way committed to opening an account. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS! I spoke to 2 persons from Innovative who "verified" my information (name, etc) I told both I was not committing to an account, yet their transcripts say none of this. The account was opened & now to get out of it I am goint to get stuck with a $295 cancellation fee.

On March 10th, 2008 I regrettably became another victim of Innovative Merchants Solutions. The first batch approximately $23, 000 was composed of several transactions. After being contacted by the incredibly rude and unhelpful risk management department, they told me they were unable to verify these transactions and I needed to fax over all the invoices and my customers' information (sounds like a familiar scenario).

I complied with all their demands for data. (I was advised that I had to fax over every invoice when I accept credit card payments so this would not happen again.) Risk Management told me they were not able to contact any of my customers (once again, sounds like a familiar scenario).

I took the pleasure doing their job while they were charging me and contacted my customers to have them verify these transactions with their card issuing banks in case they had flagged them for fraud. 9 days later, after a letter from an attorney who has been practicing for 35 years in the San Fernando Valley, they released the full amount of funds.

2 days later, after the funds were in my account, I was notified by my bank (Bank of America) that they had been looking on my account for fraudulent activities and noted that IMS is trying to reverse the credit to my account. One of BofA's fraud analysts immediately stopped their transaction and flagged it for fraud (thank you Jackie), thereby keeping my money in my account. I contacted IMS the same day and spoke to Crystal in regards to the reversal. Crystal stated that my new transactions (in the amount of $25, 000 over several days) are being held and will not be released until I let the reversal go through. My new income was being held hostage until I gave them my earlier income! Being a former FDNY Paramedic at 9/11, we all have horrible memories of that tragic day where our country was attacked by cowards.

IMS has made me feel in the past 2 weeks, the exact same way as I did on that day. Being a Paramedic and a veteran I believe we all can agree that by attacking the finance of so many small businesses, IMS is equal to those cowards who attacked our country. Therefore, I have retained an attorney to file suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court.