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My monthly processing fees actually increased, I and got stuck with an expensive lease, 112.00 per month for five reals, irrevocable, for a processing terminal that retails for $350.00. Was told by customer service that they have to have a lease agreement because their rates are so good that it is the only way they can make a profit. I ask, why was my previous processor cheaper and abviously making a profit, and I didn't have a lease. Overall, counting the cost of the lease, my monthly fees doubled.
I was also told by paradigm direct customer service that they would arrange things so that the reduction in processing feels more than made up for the cost of the lease, but this was never done.
By the way, my reps name was also Eric--tall good-looking guy, slick talker, not to be trusted.
And I have a typo in my comment--lease is for 5 "years."
I have been ripped off also. Promised the world and delivered nothing. I am moving my banking to another bank to make it impossible to withdraw funds at their discretion. I will be happy to meet them in court. They are the ### of the ###. Josh Tornberg should be in jail for fraud. Now they have added 2 additional fees, inactivity fee of $90 per month plus their minimum fee of $35 per month. All in all the monthly fees are $144 for NOT using them. I hope they choke to death on all the money they are stealing from other businesses. Josh Tornberg et al had best never step foot in my office in the future.
I too have been subject to this rip off by a sales rep from Paradigm Direct/Azura Leasing dba Ladco Leasing by a very "friendly" sales rep named Jennifer Youngblood who acted as my best friend until I tried to call her (of course, this was after she got me to sign a contract which she couldn't leave with me at the time of signing and would fax back to me). I want to file or join a Class Action Lawsuit against all of the above named. Does anyone know how I can find out if there is one started in Texas or how I go about starting one here? I know a suit was recently won in California so that should be of some help. These people need to be put out of business!
This exactly what is happening to us right now! We were given a smooth talk from some slick operator name "Weston" who convinced us that they were reputable and got us to sign the contract... telling us they would "throw in" a credit card processor (woo hoo for us!) even though we didn't really need one. Well, apparently we are now signed up for an equipment lease that is costing us over $100 a month - they never even told us about it! Feeling very scammed.
Not sure what everyone is talking about...we swapped over at my bar a few months ago and haven't had any issues at all. The swipesafe program they have has been quite helpful with chargebacks, etc. I came across this thread because a friend I had suggested to switch over told me about it, I am really surprised to see any of this from how they have worked with my business so far.
The CEO/owner of this top down scam worked for Lehman Bros as the ' VP of subprime loans' on the west coast. WTF! These are the kinds of people that took down our economy and housing market, and are now praying on small business owners with the same tactics of underhanded misrepresentation. Legitimite processors will not require long-term contracts or require a terminal lease. FYI. My contact had a 750$ cancelation fee...much higher than industry standards; indicating that Entrust cares little about customer retention and knows the only way to keep customers is to 'trap' them in contracts. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!
The most dangerous thing about this company is that they simply change their name and continue to RIP OFF honest hard working folks.
#1 Ex-Employee
From a previous employee...
Sorry to hear about your experience. I worked for Entrust/Paradigm Direct/The Program in the past and this is exactly what happens. The problem is that the managers and officers of the company lie to everyone including the employees. We are taught to make presentations with a computer program that illustrates savings and if the savings is not present, we are taught to manipulate the presentation to show savings and then sign business owners up for a 5 year lease. It is a total scam...once I found out they were not saving any customers money, I got out and I feel so bad for the business owners that were affected. I wish business owners and past employees would band together and file a lawsuit against these guys...IT IS A TOTAL SCAM!
I wish i had taken the time to review this company on the internet before signing the "contract" last month. Just like everyone else stated, thhe sales personnel and customer service reps completely mis represent their services, costs, etc.
We were told that our rates would go down by eliminating the interchange charges. They made us feel like we were being recognized as a trustworthy and safe company to do
business with based upon our growth and overall charge volumes. Then, when the first bill came they, increased the actual rate per transaction by adding the percentages in a indecipherable way.
In the end, our total rates went up by 0.55% over our previous provider; plus we are stuck with a lease of $250/mo for 60 months on equipment that we don't even need or use; which have a value of less than $500!
Lots of promises- none of which are/were ever met!
Run away fast- and don't look back
[edited] and all his companions ARE SCAM! About a year ago, two Paradigm reps ( Eric and [edited]) came to my dental office and while I was in between patients, asked me to show them my current merchant statements. Next, they told me that I pay insane amount of $$ for my merchant services and if I switch to Paradigm, I will pay 1/2 of what I pay now. Also, the terminal that I get from them will be included (" All is already included in this 1/2 monthly fee"). [edited] called to LADCO where they asked me if I agree to have this terminal and lease it. "Of course! The fee anyway is already included in my monthly fee!" I thought. Guess what: my monthly fee HAVE NOT GONE DOWN at all, plus now I pay for the terminal $ 91/mo and some stupid membership $15/mo. IF ANYBODY EVER INITIATES A CLASS SUIT AGAINST PARADIGM DIRECT( and its reps), LADCO, AZURA, PLEASE COUNT ME IN!
BEWARE! Echelon Direct is a new company name for this scam. Josh Tornberg a.k.a. Joshua Matthew Tornberg, now age 36 (but looks 46), incorporated his company called JT Consulting Group, Inc. on 2/22/10 and is located at 1410 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109. If you research this guy, he works for Paradigm Direct. On 3/31/11, a guy named Joe Butler called my business. I explained to Joe that I am not interested in switching my processing company. He kept interrupting me and giving me his sales pitch about providing wholesale rates and having the ability to save me money. I told him I was NOT interested. He was so annoying and pushy, so I finally told him to go ahead and set up the appointment with his Regional Account Manager for 7:30 a.m. the next morning at my office JUST to get him off of the phone. Joe's supervisor, Ryan, called about 30 minutes later. I told Ryan that I was NOT interested in switching, but he insisted that my meeting with Josh Tornberg would change my mind. I told him he could come at 7:30 if he insists. On 4/1/11, at 7:30, Josh Tornberg arrived. He waited for about 15 minutes in his tan Nissan Murano, Arizona License Plate AKN3260, came into the office, helped himself to our notepad and wrote a note indicating that JW was going to call and reschedule for my "upgrade". When my general manager came in and asked what he was doing, Josh rudely told him that he needed to hear him out, since he drove out so early in the morning...blah, blah, blah. When it was clear that Josh was not going to win our business, he started cursing. The GM told him to leave, and Josh told him to "make me". Needless to say, we called 911 on this guy. He is very lucky that #1 he didn't get arrested, and #2 he didn't get the daylights knocked out of him by my GM. The information on the business card he left at our office: Echelon Direct, EDMS, Merchant Solutions, [protected] Ext. 3492, [protected], Josh Tornberg, Regional Account Manager. I've attached photos of this idiot so that you know what he looks like. After thoroughly investigating this guy, it is very clear that he is not a legitimate business person...no website, no e-mail address, several different business names, threats of a class action lawsuit, all his associates are shady...save yourself some time and money and just hang up on these ###s.
Thank you all for your comments. You have save me! I was ready to sign with Entrust, but did an online search first and found this posting, plus negative information on the BBB and ripoff.com
Yes, I agree Paradigm Direct aka Entrust with Azura and Ladco is a huge scam. They will promise you the world and say whatever it takes to make you sign their contracts. When all the BS clears, you'll be stuck with the ridiculous lease for a terminal that won't be cancelled. It's a real shame what people will do for money. Someone with a legal background needs to seriously head up a class action lawsuit against these companies.
We will start the class action suit. Now we are gathering more people.
Please be a part of us and contact me at [protected] or wacafehue@gmail.com.
You are not alone. Don't give up.
If you have been scammed by Payment systems, Azura or Ladco, please contact me.
Also to clarify and FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
The official name of the Merchant Account Reseller company that is perpetrating this scam is ENTRUST COMPANIES, LLC. They are a registered business in Arizona at the following business address:
1255 W. Baseline Rd #A200
Mesa, AZ 85202
They go by the following "Trade Names"
Paradigm Direct (www.directpci.com)
Entrust BankCard (www.entrustbankcard.com)
and their former Legal Business Name was THE PROGRAM, LLC (they submitted for the name change to ENTRUST COMPANIES, LLC in October 2010). The company owner NATHAN REIS, also owns several other businesses registered in Arizona:
NATHAN J. REIS, PLC
PRODIGY PARTNERS, LTD
EXECUTIVE ABODE, LLC
GROWING PUBLIC, LLC
N. JAMES R., INC.
RESCUE HOLDINGS, LLC
Other publicly registered addresses for NATHAN REIS are:
14628 N 100th Pl.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
7301 E 3rd Ave Unit 410
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
5118 N 73rd St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
All of this info is a matter of public record obtained from the State of Arizona Public Access System, Arizona Corporation Division
Follow up: Customer Service Rep: Aleksander Robinson sent me an email "offering" me to stay with exactly the crappy bait-and-switched rates I had been given (not what was advertised/represented by my rep Blake Zinke). Ummm...they really must think I'm stupid enough to just roll over and get fleeced.
I just got off the phone with Jeff Nobel (Attorney at www.izardnobel.com, a law firm that specializes in class action lawsuits). Maybe we can get something going to get this @**holes stopped.
I am in the same boat. Just got suckered by sales rep: Blake Zinke, with all the hallmarks: promised I could cancel within 30 days if I had any problems; Rates promised by rep weren't even close to matched in the contract sent to me after-the-fact. LADCO basically laughed at me and tell me I'm stuck in the 5 year equipment lease. Entrust BankCard (the alias that Paradigm Direct is now using as of Nov 2010) "customer service" rep Aleksander Robinson (who promised to get my rates adjusted so that my old rates would be beaten) isn't returning either my calls or emails.
Paradigm Direct also does business as (DBA) Entrust Bankcard (www.entrustbankcard.com) and official corporate name is Entrust Companies, LLC (formerly "The Program, LLC). The owner of the company is NATHAN REIS. BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE.
Hre are links to find the corporate and ownership and legal agent information:
http://starpas.azcc.gov/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/names-detail.p?name-id=L13013639&type=CORPORATION
http://www.azsos.gov/scripts/TnT_Search_Engine.dll/ZoomTNT?NME_ID=467730&NME_CODE=NME
I will happily print a retraction here if Paradigm Direct (aka Entrust Bankcard) makes good on the deal I was promised, but I'm not holding my breath. We really all need to get together and take these guys DOWN!
Hey [edited],
"Success Management", what a wagon load of manure. Talk around in circles until you choke on your phoney sales pitch. I had a similiar experience with "Thornburg" a real piece of work. Don't trust anything a Paradigm Direct rep says or shows you. It's a designed rip-off. Hey
At Paradigm Direct we stand by our products and services. Please don't be discouraged by bad reviews. We have customer service representatives available to provide you with references of customers with a positive experience in your area.
How are we different?
It's simple, with the growing complexity and increasing confusion in the world of payment processing, our Enhanced Interchange program is a smarter program where rates and equipment are only a portion of the deal to start to see savings. We believe in Success Management. Success Management is a proactive consultative approach to customer service that extends beyond the product in use. If we ensure our customers succeed, we will succeed. Please feel free to visit us at www.directpci.com, contact me directly at [edited], or call us at [protected]
Do not ever do the business with Paradigm Direct Company. My situation is exactly the same like you guy. The sale person name [edited] promised to save money for me. M. said I could cancel the contract without termination fee. When M. came out to hook the machine for me, He called Ladco company(I learned later). He told me just said yes over the phone. I just see the bill from Ladco for the first month only. After that, Ladco released to Paradigm. All I see will be only one bill. This is not true. After processed with their company for 2 month, I pay so much more than I pay for the previous company. I call them to cancel. They said I still have to pay for the 60 months leasing. I filed the complain with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Paradigm Response responded to BBB that they will continue to work with me to lower the rate until I am happy. With all the bad experiences that I went through with them. I don't think Paradigm can't do nothing. They just lie. I now had to dealing with LADCO. The Machine worth about $300-$400. They want me to pay $3439.98. I refused. Now the collector, investigator call me, send letter that I owe Ladco over $6000.00. I WANT TO KNOW IS THERE ANY ATTORNEY OUT THERE TO TAKE THE CLASS LAW SUIT ABOUT THESE COMPANIES. So many customers out there have to suffer with these company. Every one have the same story about these company. Please be careful to do business with PARADIGM DIRECT AND LADCO. Chase them out of your door if you hear about these company.
L Luong (luonglynn@hotmail.com)
I had a similar experiance the guy came into my place of business would not let me read over the contract for a few days he said I had to sign it before he could leave it. Eric the sales guy said he would match the current program I had with no long term commitment. This was true on the service contract it was not true for the terminal he stuck me with even though I had my own. He said I had to say yest to everything on a verifcation call because it didnt matter because paradime buys the contact on the terminal which allows me not to get stuck in a 5 year lease on a $500 machine. Its all a scam after you sign the contract no one will answer the phone