Help needed ref merchant services and business account

bigcatman

Hi all,
First time posting on the site, so excuse any errors in this thread.
I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do with regards to taking action against Alliance and Leicester and there Merchant service provider Elavon.
I have been messed about by these two companies for over two months with regards setting up a merchant account and the only reason I went with Elavon was because A&L recommended them.
I've had to fill out the paperwork three times because it was lost twice and now after many international calls to Ireland and also A&L Customer services chasing up the account, I've now been told that I can't have a merchant account due to A&L refusing to give me a reference.
I have been in touch with A&L about this and they say that there is not enough funds being moved in and out of the account.
I would not mind but I'm a start up business, so if they expect millions going into the account then they are mistaken.
On top of all of this, I have also found out that A&L originally sent me a paying in book and chequebook with the wrong account number printed on it.
This made me overdrawn a few times due to the confusion.
What I want to know is this.
Can I claim compensation for the mess that this has caused as I need a PDQ (debit/credit card) machine for the business and secondly, is there any other good reliable business banks out there that offers FREE banking and also a decent merchant service company?
I would not mind but how the A&L managed to get a business award in 2009 beats me.

Sorry for the essay, but this is really getting me down as I'm getting fobbed off all the time from this so called bank, and I am losing money due to me not being able to accept credit/debit cards.

Many thanks

sunny_chemist

Hi, my first post aswell! i have a community pharmacy and have recently been shopping around for a good deal on a credit/debit card terminal. I went for lloyds cardnet account in the end as they do a special rate if you state you are an NPA (national Pharmacy Association) member. They don't ask for your member number or any other details so theoretically anyone could say they were a member and get the benefits (obviously this would be unethical and possibly fraudulent) but they are miles cheaper than any of the other companies that quoted. There are many other organisations such as the federation for small businesses that offer similar member benefits, might be worth joining to get the benefits e.g cheap gas, electric, phone lines, broadband, couriers, epos etc etc. Once your signed up to all the speciual deals you may not need to renew your membership.

happysurfer21

I own a restaurant and was looking for a new credit and debit card terminal after having similar problems with Elavon I sympathise! I found a company called United Merchant Services who gave me great rates and their customer service was really refreshing following the hassle with Elavon. I would definatley recommend them. Check them out they have some great products available to their customers.

greyteam1959

I have recently moved from BMS.
Used www.acceptcards.co.uk
Excellent no hassle tranfer highly recommended.

sandiep

You can join the FSB for around £150, this gives you all the normal FSB benefits but included in this is a discounted merchant account via streamline. Streamline is RBS/Natwest's merchant account, and the FSB tariff gets you a merchant account without the set up fees, without any monthly standing/minimum charge, and with a discount off the transaction rates.

You'll need a payment gateway to process the payments online to go with streamline. Streamline works well with virtually all of them. I use sagepay, which for £20pm covers you for up to 1000 transactions per quarter (regardless of whether they're credit or debit card etc).

Worldpay also work well with Streamline (well they will do they're all part of the same bank!).

The good thing about the FSB streamline account is that it's pretty easy to get, I don't think they turn down many, part of the agreement with the FSB.

Talk to the FSB if you're interested http://www.fsb.org.uk/

(FSB membership is worth is for many just based on the credit card processing, personally I also love the employment services/insurance protection. )

Hope this helps.

bigcatman

First off, many thanks for your help everyone.

sandiep wrote: »

You can join the FSB for around £150, this gives you all the normal FSB benefits but included in this is a discounted merchant account via streamline. Streamline is RBS/Natwest's merchant account, and the FSB tariff gets you a merchant account without the set up fees, without any monthly standing/minimum charge, and with a discount off the transaction rates.

You'll need a payment gateway to process the payments online to go with streamline. Streamline works well with virtually all of them. I use sagepay, which for £20pm covers you for up to 1000 transactions per quarter (regardless of whether they're credit or debit card etc).

Worldpay also work well with Streamline (well they will do they're all part of the same bank!).

The good thing about the FSB streamline account is that it's pretty easy to get, I don't think they turn down many, part of the agreement with the FSB.

Talk to the FSB if you're interested

(FSB membership is worth is for many just based on the credit card processing, personally I also love the employment services/insurance protection. )

Hope this helps.

I've been looking at FSB and the overall benefits are very good with regards insurance etc.
BUT...
I've looked at there rates for transactions and they are not that good considering they are suppose to be helping you.
As regards acceptcards, I've been talking to there director about all of this and he's given me a better rate than FSB, but I have to pay a set up fee.
So it's swings and roundabouts really.
If FSB could beat acceptcards rates then there's no contest, I'll go with them, but for long term use, it's got to be acceptcards at the moment.

bigcatman

Sorry, forgot to mention an update.
As regards the hassle received from these two companies, A&L have been great trying to sort it out and have given me a reimbursement for my troubles.:)
As regards Elavon, I'm looking into getting compensation from them at this moment in time due to wasted time and money.

ReginaldPFossleworth

Can't really speak too much about A&L, but I use Elavon through NatWest for my web business. While their application process is shocking and their customer service leaves a bit to be desired (after account set up, that is, have to say I found my sales agent to be pretty helpful in getting through their ridiculous application forms), I'm not really sure what grounds you'd have for seeking compensation from them for anything?

I run my business from home, so know that Elavon needed to get a financial reference from my bank before they could work my application, which HSBC provided. If A&L wouldn't do this for you then that's the bank's problem.

It's pretty bad alright if Elavon lost your application paperwork a couple of times, but when it comes down to it now you're not an Elavon customer, you don't have a contract with them, and they don't owe you anything. I've a feeling that if you sought compensation from them at this point they'd tell you to go away.

greyteam1959

All the FSB try to do is sell you insurance etc etc......fell out with them years ago.
And when you get down to nitty gritty they are certainly no cheaper than anybody else.

bigcatman

mervyn11 wrote: »

All the FSB try to do is sell you insurance etc etc......fell out with them years ago.
And when you get down to nitty gritty they are certainly no cheaper than anybody else.

Got to agree with you I'm afraid.
I've been looking into other merchant account suppliers and I've found one that is cheaper than FSB merchant rates.
I approached FSB and asked if they could match or even beat the quote I received and I was told that the prices they quote are fixed and they cannot move from them.
So, sorry FSB you've lost a customer.

bigcatman

ReginaldPFossleworth wrote: »

Can't really speak too much about A&L, but I use Elavon through NatWest for my web business. While their application process is shocking and their customer service leaves a bit to be desired (after account set up, that is, have to say I found my sales agent to be pretty helpful in getting through their ridiculous application forms), I'm not really sure what grounds you'd have for seeking compensation from them for anything?

I run my business from home, so know that Elavon needed to get a financial reference from my bank before they could work my application, which HSBC provided. If A&L wouldn't do this for you then that's the bank's problem.

It's pretty bad alright if Elavon lost your application paperwork a couple of times, but when it comes down to it now you're not an Elavon customer, you don't have a contract with them, and they don't owe you anything. I've a feeling that if you sought compensation from them at this point they'd tell you to go away.

I'm glad you got some sense out of that company, they have not got a clue what they are doing and fob you off with excuses all the time.
Glad I've found another merchant who is cheaper than them and is less hassle as well.