The Simple, Easy to Activate Credit Card Machine

When you peddle books out of the back of your car, and that's actually what I do when going from one event to another, you need a wireless credit card machine. Simple enough, right?

I called a few companies that were kind enough to send me their brochures. I was amazed at the spectrum of prices for the same machine. Even more amazed at all the varying costs per transaction. Every time I thought I was ready to close the deal, they would say, "Oh, by the way." Then I would learn of additional charges and stiplulations. A process that I thought would take thirty minutes turned into a three day ordeal.

So now I feel I'm an expert on this machine, and I choose a company. When I receive the contract, (beware of these--mine was about ten pages of fine print.) it mentions being penalized for going over my maximum limit. I was aware of a minimum, but no one mentioned a maximum. After dodging the question for ten minutes, the guy finally says it'll cost me 5% of every dollar over my credit lmit. I put in for a credit increase.

To say I wasn't happy about the new information is putting it mildly. I thought I'd asked every question that could be asked. Why wasn't I informed of this earlier? He mentions something about them being at risk. He starts to explain, but at this point I tune him out.

You see, I needed the dang machine by Friday, and it's Wednesday afternoon. He had told me earlier if the order was placed by two that I would receive it by Friday. It's a quarter until two. All I can think about, is will he be finished with his story in time to place the order?

Well, I did get the machine Friday, but not until after 5PM. We had an event at 6PM. We hurriedly opened the box. One lonely paper lay on top of the machine that read, "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE UNTIL BATTERY IS COMPLETELY CHARGED." Underneath in small print stated it would take twelve hours to do so. No problem we would just activate it the next day.

There were no phone numbers in the box so the next day I called the only number I had. I got an answering service. I ask why there is no one to help me activate the machine since I'm suppose to have 24/7 help. I'm told they are closed for the 4th of July. I asked, "If you have 24/7 service, aren't holidays part of 24/7?" They ignored the comment and gave me another number. It turns out to be Lance's answering machine, whoever Lance is, doesn't ever call me back.

We're off again without the credit card machine, armed with credit card release forms. Right, like how many people will fill out a form with indepth information of their credit card, and by the way, you have to leave it with us. But we promise to shred it once it's processed. Didn't get many takers. Can't imagine why.