Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Credit/debit card processor settles FTC charges of deceiving small businesses, (Oct 27, 2014)

By Linda O’Brien, J.D., LL.M.

A marketing company that sold credit and debit card payment processing services to small businesses has agreed to settle FTC charges that it used deception and unsubstantiated claims when signing businesses up for its services and processing equipment, the agency announced today (FTC v. Merchant Services Direct LLC, File No. 132-3013). The marketers also agreed to settle similar charges filed by the Washington Attorney General’s Office in state court.

According to the FTC’s complaint, Merchant Services Direct LLC (MSD) was an “independent sales organization” that sold small businesses the ability to accept credit and debit card payments. The businesses paid fees whenever their customers paid with a credit or debit card.

The FTC complaint charged MSD, also doing business as Sphyra, Inc., and its associates with making false representations and failing to disclose key facts concerning their processing services and equipment, and with misleading merchants about the fees and costs of services and equipment.

MSD agents allegedly: (1) tricked merchants into signing binding contracts by telling them the documents were just applications to obtain price quotes; (2) led merchants to believe they were associated with the merchants’ current card processor, Visa or MasterCard, or their bank and tricked them into signing new contracts by telling them they were just updating existing account paperwork; (3) duped merchants into leasing new card processing terminals for two to four years, falsely claiming their current “swipe” terminals were outdated or incompatible with its services; and (4) falsely told merchants they could cancel at any time.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in July 2013. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office filed its complaint and proposed settlement with the defendants in the Superior Court for Spokane County, Washington.

Under separate settlements with the FTC and the Washington State Attorney General, the defendants behind Merchant Services Direct LLC (MSD) will pay $175,000 and be prohibited from continuing to use the allegedly deceptive sales tactics.

In addition, the defendants must provide to merchants (1) a separate document disclosing all fees, charges, and rates before merchants sign any contracts with the defendants, and (2) a complete copy of any documents merchants sign before submitting the merchants’ applications for payment processing services.

The Commission vote authorizing the stipulated final orders was 4-0-1, with Commissioner Julie Brill abstaining.

Companies: Merchant Services Direct, LLC

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews