Paymentsense ripoff

[Ten Senses]

Hey guys,
I don't know what to do. We were to start trading on a market so needed a card machine quite quick. I got signed up with paymentsense. Unfortunately I haven't scrolled down in reviews enough to see the real ones.
First of all they told me that I'll have nothing to pay for year, and i have an 18 month contract. Now that i started to receive letters from FD, I see i have a 60 months contract and my first payment date is 1st january, 2017.
regardless of this, they already took off about £28 as line rental fee and some unexplained charges. (what? it's a gprs machine)
Then today came the shock, after leaving unanswered emails about the facts stated above, they took off about £289 from our account, so they generally took more money from us then what we have made in a month in total, pushing our account into an unarranged overdraft! Also there's no way to contact them as they have no a single person working these days.
We just have started trading, and their actions generally put us in jeopardy. What legal actions could we take?
Any help is appreciated

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Do you have any record / paperwork of what was stated about the 18 months

You have learnt a big lesson in business read and understand the contract

Whenever a salesman comes into my office I have a video recording pen that I turn on to record all of what was said and agreed only cost about £30 a few years back, may not be lawful to record without notice but is any company going to fight a video copy

 

[Ten Senses]

They included that offer, but tricked me, as it's a vievmylocal membership where they stated the first year free. So i'm misled, but still don't see why could they rip me off with over 300 just within a month.
By the way i had the guy (George Osman) on speakerphone and i had other people in the office listening, so at least i have ear-witnesses.

 

[gibby]

They have a reputation for doing this. I would consult a solicitor and also look at the FSA for help.

 

[Ten Senses]

as this action of paymentsense actually rendered us as a just started company out of money, can you recommend any no win, no fee company law solicitors?

 

[Ten Senses]

Okay, as i see i still have the chance to cancel this direct debit with natwest, so I might be able to stop them from ripping us off like this as the due date is the 3rd of january. Still I'm afraid overdraft fees will apply, but at least that's less cost than if i let them take almost 300.

 

[Ten Senses]

Successfully cancelled their direct debit, although I'm afraid I'll still need a solicitor to close my fruitful relationship with these folks

 

[Newchodge]

You could try asking Natwest for a chargeback as there was no contractual right to take the money.

 

[myfairworld]

Can't advise re: your immediate problem. I'd just say that when you are deciding who to go with next, sometimes, not always but sometimes, providers which look more expensive are actually cheaper in the long run, both financially and in terms of stress! I had a long term relationship with WorldPay who do not look like a cheap provider but their charges were always open and above board so you knew where you stood and some things were included in their general charges which some providers charge extra for. If you had a problem or query the Call Centre always gave excellent service. If I remember correctly Call Centre hours were shorter over holidays but they never seemed to disappear completely. N.B. I do not work for nor or represent WorldPay in any way!

It really is a minefield but you need to read every last word of the contract before signing up and beware of things like length of initial contract, how long it will take the money to arrive in your account after you make the transaction, the cost of the annual compliance process and so on.

 

[CW Legal Services]

If you have paid by card either debit or credit you have recourse, but if you agreed a contract and they have taken a payment correctly then whilst you might get your money back initially they may appeal and win.

 

[Newchodge]

But at least that way it is for the other party to take action, while the OP has the money. That mist be better than the other way around.