Payment Sense Bad Experience

[Bad PS Experience]

I have recently been hoodwinked into signing a 5 year contract with a whole load of hidden charges with Paymentsense. I am trying to get out of the contract but they are demanding a termination fee of over £1200.

After doing a bit more research on them I’ve found that they have done this to hundreds of small business owners. I’m so disgusted with them I’ve even started my own Facebook group called My Experience of Paymentsense. Has this happened to anyone here and how did you get out of the contract?

Thanks Lloyd

 

[Mr D]

How did they hoodwink you?

Getting out of a contract where the other party is not in breach can be hard.
Hard to impossible.
What does the contract say about termination?

 

[obscure]

Hoodwinking is a most egregious act. It is most commonly perpetrated by cads and bounders, though ne'er-do-wells have also been known to dabble in a bit of hoodwinking from time to time. One should always call for the Bow Street Runners when hoodwinking is afoot.

In reality just another case of "didn't bother to read the contract or check all the negative reviews before signing a legally binding contract".

 

[Noah]

In reality just another case of "didn't bother to read the contract or check all the negative reviews before signing a legally binding contract".

On the other hand, at least Bad PS E is adding to the negative reviews to help slightly-less-careless business people avoid making the same mistake.

Funnily enough, a somewhat-naiive acquaintance recently shilled PaymentSense to me - just found the brochure in a coat pocket. Ethical dilemma : should I tell said acquaintance they are likely to be smirching their reputation, or should I let them find out the hard way?

 

[deniser]

In reality just another case of "didn't bother to read the contract or check all the negative reviews before signing a legally binding contract".

Reviews yes but not necessarily carelessness with the contract.

They managed to trick me (not with a terminal but an online payment gateway) despite me taking notes of all the conversations and reading the contract. With a single click the system whisked the contract away on screen and completed it before I was ready to complete it and before I could flag up the discrepancies between the sales pitch and the actual contract.

I emailed them straight away but they ignored all subsequent communications.

In the end I gave up complaining and gave notice at the earliest opportunity.

Although I gave the requisite notice (90 days after the initial fixed term had expired) it was a nightmare to close the account and I was passed from pillar to post.

Eventually I thought I had got rid of them and about a year later, they started taking money from my account again - I had stupidly forgotten to cancel the DD. They only partially refunded me the money they had stolen.

I have kept records of everything. I was going to report them somewhere but family illness took over and I never got the chance.

If someone says they were hoodwinked, I fully believe it.

 

[NickGrogan]

Claim the payments back from the bank under the DD guarantee.

 

[promdressers]

It is easy to blame victims for falling foul. My two notable experiences were years ago. I had a”rates consultant “ call to my shop. Very professional, but I read the contract closely - I am able to read legalese, and while not a lawyer we, I seem to be able to organise al the wherefores etc in my head. Anyway, I pointed out that while he assured me that this was a no win, no pay deal, the contract actually said the fee was payable if the council “accepted the application”. I pointed out that this was contrary to his assurances. He said not to worry, they “have to write it that way”! He also mentioned that he was on his way to visit an acquaintance after me. He left in a huff, and probably got the same as I immediately called the aquaintance. I had a barrow escape with the Selling Agents that were heavily discussed a few years ago.

These people are experts in their field, which is confidence trickery.

 

[CardswitcherUK]

You arn't alone in having negative experiences with Payment Sense. Whilst most terminal rental contracts are similar, there does appear to be a disproportionate number of Payment Sense customers complaining that the contract does not conform with what the sales person said verbally. One possible explanation is the high proportion of self-employed sales people used by Payment Sense who are remunerated by closing sales and are therefore incentivised to get you to sign no matter what. The only advice I can offer is similar to those above - be extra careful to study the contract!!!

 

[SteveBke]

I don’t know if I’m in the right place, but I am looking advice.
I am with payment sense and now believe it’s on a 5 year or 60 month term.
I am 16 months in to this term but I would like to cancel the whole thing, does anyone have any idea on how much that would cost?

 

[CardswitcherUK]

I don’t know if I’m in the right place, but I am looking advice.
I am with payment sense and now believe it’s on a 5 year or 60 month term.
I am 16 months in to this term but I would like to cancel the whole thing, does anyone have any idea on how much that would cost?

Call them and confirm the amount. Generally speaking I believe they charge the remaining terminal rental (44 months) plus a break fee of £150 plus a re-stocking fee of £195. There could be a way for you to terminate after 18 months under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if you are unincorporated (ie a sole trader or partnership). If this applies then you wouldn't pay the remaining terminal rental fee but would still pay the £150 + £195. Some terminal rental contracts are constructed to circumvent this so you would need to check with Payment Sense if CCA74 applied. Sorry for being the bearer of bad news.

 

[SteveBke]

Call them and confirm the amount. Generally speaking I believe they charge the remaining terminal rental (44 months) plus a break fee of £150 plus a re-stocking fee of £195. There could be a way for you to terminate after 18 months under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if you are unincorporated (ie a sole trader or partnership). If this applies then you wouldn't pay the remaining terminal rental fee but would still pay the £150 + £195. Some terminal rental contracts are constructed to circumvent this so you would need to check with Payment Sense if CCA74 applied. Sorry for being the bearer of bad news.

Thanks for this, yes it’s a partnership so I’d probably be best to continue for a couple of months and then only have to pay £345?

 

[CardswitcherUK]

Thanks for this, yes it’s a partnership so I’d probably be best to continue for a couple of months and then only have to pay £345?

Depending if CCA74 applies - ask the question of Payment Sense before you act. As I said, some contracts are structured to circumvent it - eg Handepay's. But ask the question of them (and get anything you rely on in writing!!!).