I don’t know about you but I am so sick and tired of being ripped off by companies, large and small, who tell you: “It’s in the contract.”
From bank credit card processing companies to dating sites to coaching programs it seems that TOO MANY businesses are making their money by hookwinking you into extra charges that they claim you should have known about. Start-up fees, cancellation fees, continuance fees, the list of rip-off scams goes on and on.
Is there a special ring of Hell for blood-sucking scammers and those who torment animals?
One can only hope so.
So here’s what I have learned:
ASK endless questions of clarification when you enter into ANY contract at all.
ASK so many questions they think you’re from another planet or that you’re 5 years old.
CRUCIAL must-ask questions:
Is there a fee to begin the service?
Is there is monthly or yearly fee?
Is there a fee to cancel the service?
What is the name and phone number (with extension) of the person you can call should problems arise (which they absolutely will)?
Will they be claiming your first-born during or after the contract is completed?
As soon as you give your credit card number to a business you MUST check your statements CAREFULLY each month to see what, if anything, you are being charged. Also check your online banking daily so you can catch any transactions that you have not authorized. if you don’t have online banking yet, think seriously about setting this up.
If you are receiving information like newsletters and /or cds in the mail from a company chances are you are paying for that. Make sure you are on the lists you want to be on and off the ones you don’t want to be on.
Keep your own business running on the up and up. Treat your customers EXACTLY as you would like to be treated. If you mess up (you will), make appropriate amends. Be meticulous in your contracts, explaining CLEARLY to your customers EXACTLY what they are paying for when they do business with you.
As priestesses, we each have to clean up the world, one transaction at a time.
Be impeccable in your communication: clear, concise, and kind.
And don’t give your power away by rolling over and playing stupid, or dead. Take responsibility for all your transactions by getting ALL the unreadable fine print spelled out for you in neon.
Now I am off to tackle Chase Paymentech services. Wish me luck!
Cindy Morris, msw
Priestess Entrepreneur
http://www.priestessentrepreneur.com/products.html
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Good post and a good reminder of how important it is to keep tabs on what's going on behind the scenes when it comes to credit card transactions. It's very obvious that the credit card companies don't have our best interest in mind.
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