Last week I asked him for advice he would give a business owner who was having trouble with his computer. This is advice he gave me:

Keep things simple on your computer. Don’t use it for games etc. Just use it for business. Danny finds that half his customers have caused their own problems by extras they have downloaded from internet such as:

Additional toolbars for internet explorer. Unnecessary utilities like internet speed boosters which seldom work. Eye candy such as wall paper changers, animated cats etc

All most businesses need is

A base operating system An email client A web browser An office suite A firewall and anti-virus system

Don’t download any old stuff off internet. The more stuff you put on your hard disk, more likely it is that you will have problems. Microsoft cannot check all different applications you might download for compatibility.

Your first graphics package and another graphics package might fight over file extensions. Try to stick with one package. Similar problems occur with music and video players which should not be on a business system anyway unless you are in that field.

Don’t upgrade unless you could name three good reasons to upgrade. After Danny gave me this advice, I rather guiltily tried to upgrade my BT broadband service to new combined BT Yahoo broadband service.

1. Open an account for myself and 2. Research options for my new ecommerce information site Take-Payments-Online.com.

After some research, I thought I'd found an attractive Merchant Account offered through a reputable reseller. As it turns out, I learned hard way that I was wrong.

Fortunately, my experience can help you avoid same trap. Based on my own experience, I developed a list of questions to ask a potential merchant account provider. Understanding answers to these questions before signing an application or agreement will help make for a solid partnership between you and your account provider.

But first, story:

My Internet Merchant Account Experience

I found what looked to be a competitive Merchant Account offered through a program at a popular reseller. Fees were summarized on reseller's site and applying was simple. I paid an $89 set-up fee, which took me to an online application I was required to submit to get process going.

That's when things got interesting. Submitting an application meant agreeing to a previously undisclosed 45 page merchant agreement. An unmentioned termination fee was buried on page 11.

If I ever cancelled account, I'd be hit with a $295 termination fee. I knew from my research that large termination fee was not competitive with other merchant accounts and other aspects of account were not attractive enough to compensate.

Suddenly, this merchant account was not such a good deal.

More critically, however, termination fee was not disclosed before I was required to pay for set-up. I immediately asked for a refund.

Non-Refundable

Then things got even more interesting. I was told $89 fee was non-refundable. I'd seen a footnote that fee was non-refundable, but interpreted it to mean only if they actually did some work and processed an application. I had not completed an application and did not intend to after learning of extra $295.

Using email support system so I would have documented proof if I needed it, I insisted on a refund. Still no go.

When I explained there had been no set-up to justify a 'set- up' fee, they responded that fee was really an 'application' fee - non-refundable, as explained in footnote on order page.

Basically, they were telling me I'd paid $89 for a link to an online application, which I had not and did not intend to submit.

Finally, A Refund

I explained I would not take no for an answer. If we couldn't work this out I'd report them to Better Business Bureau for undisclosed fees, file a complaint with my credit card company, and copy company president on each. My complaint was sent to next level.

Finally, after an additional three day wait, refund was approved.

Avoid An Internet Merchant Account Trap