Strange goings-on with Merchant Circle
By Matt McGee on Sep 27, 2006 in Local Search
Let me tell you a story about a brief-but-strange part of my day today….
At about 4:30 pm, Kim from our front office (at OWT) came back to my office to tell me about a strange voicemail we’d just received. I was busy reading through my Bloglines, but my ears perked up when she explained that the voicemail was a pre-recorded message explaining that someone had just posted a negative review about us on Merchant Circle.
Kim assumed it was some kind of crank call; she’d never heard of Merchant Circle before. I think she was surprised by my interest and the questions I asked her about the call. I told her Merchant Circle was a legitimate company / web site, and that they offer marketing opportunities for small businesses in the local search niche. (Not in those exact words, mind you.) 
So, we went to the MC web site and checked the two OWT listings, but neither had any negative reviews (and they still don’t). End of story, we figured. Must’ve been a mistake.
I went back to Bloglines, and less than a minute later stumbled on Peter Krasilovsky’s post today, I Smell a Rat: Fake ‘Complaints’ Re Merchant Circle. Bizarre coincidence, n’est-ce pas?
If I’m reading Peter’s post correctly, he’s getting a lot of complaints about this automatic notification phone call that Merchant Circle makes when a review is posted … but he thinks the complaints are fake. On the other hand, our experience today — a phone notification but no actual reviews — seemed to be a fake.
So, what’s this all about? I know someone (or some people) from Merchant Circle has read Small Business SEM in the past (because I had to delete a couple blog comments that were too heavy on the advertising). If anyone from MC is still reading, I would love to know what’s going on here with the phone alerts, the complaints, etc.
Update:
John Battelle has also posted about this, also because he was getting a bunch of comments on his blog from upset business owners. Merchant Circle CEO Ben Smith replies in the comments, suggesting that the calls are an attempt to inform merchants that they have listings/reviews, but admitting to some “unintended consequences” and “execution issues.” I’ll say….
And if you want to see an angry mob in action, check out the old Battelle post where all the business owners are replying.
Technorati Tags: merchant circle, local search, small business, online marketing, user reviews
98 Comment(s)
By RAAlsop on Jul 30, 2007 | Reply
My number is listed on the FTC do not call registry. Today I received an automated voice-mail message from 866-849-3243 (this number traces to Xpedite, which apparently Merchant Circle is using for spam messages) telling me that a review had been posted to my Merchant Circle account. (I don’t have a Merchant Circle account.) Following the instructions, I logged on and found that there was no such review. Conclusion: this was a spam voice mail message intended to drive traffic to the MC site. Now when the MC owners begin talking to suitors about a buy-out for some astronomical price that is based on traffic at the site, my little mouse-click (which was induced by a bogus mail message) will contribute to the enormous price. MC may (or may not) be a legitimate company, but its marketing activities certainly are not.
By Matt McGee
on Jul 31, 2007 | Reply
RAAlsop - this is sad to hear. They took it on the shorts with tactics like this late last year, and now they’re doing it again? Can’t say I’m surprised….
By Fran on May 15, 2008 | Reply
I received a call this morning from merchant circle and they have the same message but they took out the “negative comment” part and just said that someone has left a review about your company . I tried to just look up our company name and it isn’t even in their data base for someone to leave a comment about us. Looks like they found another way to get a few looks at their site…
By Janette on May 15, 2008 | Reply
I keep getting messages from merchant services that I have nothing to do with that a customer is wanting to confirm we are valid??????????? Well we are but I am not going to this site and give them information on something I know nothing about.
J
By Janette on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Sorry I meant merchant circle not services
By Anna Garay on May 15, 2008 | Reply
This is very true and sad. Small business owener are being scammed. Due to the high cost of marketing. Its bad enought that the government is riding on our backs, to have marketing also scamming us is a damm shame.
By Tom C on May 15, 2008 | Reply
I also have gotten a call from Merchant Circle about verification of my business to some customer who saw me on google. Well I am not listed there as far as I know. So this smells fishy to me. Must be a marketing scam. I bet as soon as I enter my number on there site sure I will get hounded with other calls or something to that affect. In fact I am not even sure if they are calling about my business. I got the call on my cell phone and I have gotten many calls for another business over the last year and a half of having this phone number. Probably for them not me, anyway. Though I do have a business as well.
By Dino Kokotas on May 15, 2008 | Reply
I also received an automated call stating that someone found our business via a google search and was wondering if we are a valid company. Pulled up the main site “Merchantcircle.com”. Scroll down and look at the partner sites. Many of these will flood you with spam and scam. Did not enter the site nor will I. They are out to make a buck based on clicks.
By YZ CONSULTING AND INVESTMENTS, LLC on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Same thing here. The automated call said someone called and wondered if we were a vailid company since they pulled us up on Google. Bogus attempt at marketing. Merchantcircle is an obvious scam. Thanks for the previous posts!
By Tom R on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Got the same “are you a valid customer” voice message today. Curious as I just ran my first credit card authorization through a new merchant account yesterday! I thought this might actually be a real inquiry from my customer. Thanks for the posts as I will not be visiting Merchant Circle!
By Patrick on May 16, 2008 | Reply
I’m glad I found these comments! I also had the same automated call today. Seemed like a really odd thing. I can only hope the posts will have an impact on this sneaky way of doing business.
Anyone have any ideas on how to fight back in a professional manner?
By carmandy on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Add us to the list of people who received an unsolicited call from merchantcircle saying that we should check their site for the negative rating. I am offended by their subersive marketing tactics and blatant LYING. Not only did we not have any negative ratings, we actually had no ratings at all. We do not have a website either, (their voicemail refered to a google search on our “company” - we are a small preschool - but apparently having a phone number makes them think that we want direct marketing calls… despite our registering on DoNotCall.gov. All this marketing call did, was scare our teachers.
By JASON on May 16, 2008 | Reply
MERCHANT CIRCLE IS NOW UNDER FEDERAL REVIEW FOR REPEAT VIOLATIONS OF THE “DO NOT CALL” ACT. THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT VERY SOON AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN FOR GOOD. I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE HEADS FLY ON THIS ONE =)
By Susan on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Add us to the “Merchant Circle” list. We just got the verifying “legitimate business” message too. I found our business listing on their site, but the address they have is our home address, not the business address. They also conveniently included a map to our house. I want our address removed, but there is no phone number, e-mail address or contact information posted anywhere on the site. It looks like the only way to change anything is to register our business and I really DON’T want to do that!
I’m really ******(another word for “not happy”, 6 letters, starts with a “P” ends with a “D”) over that one. I don’t know where they got their information, but it didn’t come from us, from our web site or from any other legitimate source.
I decided to do a Google search under “Who IS” (Network Solutions) and I dug up some info about this company. At the top of the “Who Is” page there is a line that says “Visit AboutUs.org for more information about MerchantCircle.com” and there is a link to “AboutUs: MERCHANTCIRCLE.COM”. If you click on that link and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page you will find the address, phone number and e-mail address for MerchantCircle. It was late (about 5:30 PST) when I found the info, but I tried to call anyway. It rings–no answer, no voice mail. I think I am going to try again tomorrow during the day. I would be more then happy the post a follow up after/if I talk to a real person.
As a side note. The one good thing I see about Merchant Circle is that it does give us another internet link and helps with our visibility –sort of.
By yvonne on May 18, 2008 | Reply
I also received the “are you a valid company” call. They had been calling my cell phone for days, several times a day but finally stopped after I listened to the message. I knew something was fishy. I will definitely warn everyone I know about this .
By Pam on May 18, 2008 | Reply
Same thing………..voice message left wanting me to confirm my business is valid for someone who saw my website ?!?! Does that even make sense ?! If you saw my website,I guess it’s real !!
By Lowell on May 19, 2008 | Reply
I have also been getting the “someone saw your business on Google and wanted to know if it was a legitimate business” calls. For quite a while now.
Why in the (underworld) would anyone go to merchant circle instead of calling our listed phone number to find out if we are a business or not?!? Why would we have a website with maps to our locations?!?
That definitely would not be MY first course of action.
By STACEY on May 19, 2008 | Reply
ADD ANOTHER TO THE GROWING LIST OF SMALL BUSINESSES CONTACT BY AUTOMATED PHONE CALL.
By Ed H on May 19, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, I just got one of these “googled your business wondering if it’s legit” things. Although it came to my PERSONAL cell phone, and as it was purely a recording, with no way to talk to a live person, and didn’t give a phone number to contact, that makes the call a violation of federal law.
I wonder if Google knows that they are committing trademark infringement on Google?
And if you actually go to their website, it’s all targeted toward the businesses who are listed, NOT toward customers. Now, if I were a company whose stated mission is to provide profiles on other businesses so consumers know if they are legit or not, (*cough, Angieslist, cough*,) wouldn’t I want to design my website so that it is obvious for CONSUMERS how to look up companies? There is no obvious “search for a local company” box, and if you enter a phone number, you get the business-end “advertising” of MC, not the consumer-end listing.
By Rachel on May 19, 2008 | Reply
We received a call today and I’m so glad I ran across this blog. I went to their website and thought about signing up, but decided to do more research. Why might you ask? Could it have been due to the fact that trustworthy was written in red on their website and the grammar error in the first sentence? Possibly.
By Jenn on May 20, 2008 | Reply
I’m so glad I found this blog. Put me down as yet another small business who got one of those “are you a legitimate business” calls. I thought I ought to do a little research before going to their website. I thought that the recorded telemarketers were illegal; apparently not?
By HarmonyFloral on May 20, 2008 | Reply
THANK YOU for your posts. I received the call, checked out the website, and then it asks you after “verifying” your business information to pay $2.99/month for a “verified badge” which will display on their site. I usually just hang up on voice recorded calls, but figured I’d check this out and see what kind of a hoax it is. The SAD THING is that customers who think this site is “good” are going to thing that legitimate hardworking businesses are “bad” because they haven’t PAID the $2.99 month for the “verified badge”. CAN I SUE THEM FOR DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER for their website inferring that I am a sub-standard service provider simply because I won’t pay $2.99/month?… STUPID!
By CJ on May 21, 2008 | Reply
Merchant Circle is now using the pitch “A business is trying to verify you are a legitimate business” - new pitch, same scam.
By Sara on May 21, 2008 | Reply
I have also gotten the “someone saw your business on Google and wanted to know if it was a legitimate business” calls and am not happy about it…. hopefully this “company” will be shut down soon!
By jen on May 21, 2008 | Reply
Merchant Circle called my very small business (just me)using the pitch “A business is trying to verify you are a legitimate business” Then adding: “visit our website and enter your phone number.” I did not oblige.
By Page's Auto Repair & Electric on May 21, 2008 | Reply
SAME CALL…I googled Merchant Circle, scrolled a little through the list and found this site…Page’s Auto is also on the do-not-call list
By Tim on May 21, 2008 | Reply
Same call for my insurance agency last week. Today I am unable to go to Merchant Circle’s website. Maybe the tactics didn’t work.
By Dawn Blasco on May 21, 2008 | Reply
I’ve had the same automated calls from merchant cirlce asking me to go to their website to respond to clients asking if this is a legitimate business. I cannot access their site.
By Teresa on May 21, 2008 | Reply
Same call today. Thought I would go and log on to MerchantCircle web site saw this web site and decided no. Thanks. There are so many ways to check if companies are in good standings today. Licenses, local Chambers, D&B and State Corp. websites… Give us a break.
By Michele on May 21, 2008 | Reply
I too just received the same automated phone message that the others are referring to in their posts. I have emailed our system administrator in case our other branches receive the same call. It’s a mystery to me why a company would pursue a marketing strategy that says: “I’m deceptive, annoying and desperate for business.”
By A.M. FINISHING, INC. on May 22, 2008 | Reply
Can you please tell me were to go to verify that our company does exist???? I received a call today from your company telling me that we needed to verify.
Thank you for your time.
Maria Rafay
Office Manager
A.M. FINISHING, INC.
By Lowell on May 22, 2008 | Reply
Maria, you do NOT need to verify that your business exists. You know that it exists, your customers know that it exists, and the only ones that see the Merchants Circle page are other merchants who have been called:
1- that someone wants to verify that THEIR business exists
or
2- that someone (who probably doesn’t exist) has given a negative review about your company. When you go to check it out, there are no negative reviews.
By Matt McGee
on May 22, 2008 | Reply
Yes, what Lowell said. Maria - read the blog post above, and all the amazing comments other small biz owners/staff are leaving and you’ll be able to see what’s going on and why you got that call.
Lowell — thx for answering her question so quickly.
By ann on May 23, 2008 | Reply
I just got the call 10 minutes ago (05/23/08, 11:30 am, EDT), and Googled them. I found you guys - after reading, I tried getting the site - no problem. I sure as heck did NOT register, after reading your posts. Thanks for saving me from what could have become a major pain in the posterior!
By Laura on May 23, 2008 | Reply
I got my call about 30 minutes ago as well. I found you guys by doing a search. I am so glad that I did. Scary stuff.
By Anne on May 23, 2008 | Reply
Got the same call 5 minutes ago. NOT INTERESTED! Don’t need to verify our company - it holds it’s own great reputation without any “help” from this type desperate marketing. I was glad to see others feel the same way.
By Tracy on May 23, 2008 | Reply
Got the same “legit biz” call on my answering machine for my small photography business. In the past I have recieved the “someone posted a bad review” message and just ignored it. This time, I decided to find out what Merchant Circle is all about and found this site. Thanks much! I WILL NOT going to Merchant Circle’s website - not now, not ever!
By Dave on May 24, 2008 | Reply
I get this call all the time at home (church parsonage) and at church…Both numbers are on the DNC list. It is from Merchan Circle. I called back the number and they have an opt out on the message. Wonder if it will really work or not. Anyway, after looking to owns the domain for Merchant Circle, this is what I found…Administrative Contact :
WYBS, Inc.
v86d43fv4t2@networksolutionsprivateregis tration.com
ATTN: MERCHANTCIRCLE.COM
c/o Network Solutions
P.O. Box 447
Herndon, VA 20172-0447
Phone: 570-708-8780
I Just did more research. Network Solutions is the company that owns Merchant Circle.com. The domain name is based out of Herndon Va. I googled the company, and guess what…REAL PHONE NUMBERS!!! Give them a call..here they are
(703) 668-5505, (703) 668-4600, (703) 925-6999
By Matt McGee
on May 24, 2008 | Reply
Dave - Network Solutions doesn’t own Merchant Circle. That’s just part of the private domain registration they have. Merchant Circle is a privately-owned company which recently received substantial funding from IAC, the company that Barry Diller owns, which also runs sites like Ask.com, CitySearch, Ticketmaster, and many others. Hope this helps.
By Sam on May 24, 2008 | Reply
Jason,
I am interested in the Lawsuit against Nerchant circle. Can you give mote detailes as to whre it is being filed and by whom ?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
S
By Ernesteen on May 24, 2008 | Reply
I have received two calls from Merchants circle in less than a week. That is why I am here. I did a search to find them and in checking all entrees found this site. I will not go to the site at all now, because I also knew I had not authorized my company to be listed. I have tried to be careful even before I got internet.
By Dave on May 27, 2008 | Reply
Here is the phone number for Merchant Circle(650) 352-1335 ext. 515
Give them a call to let them know how you feel about their illegal telemarketing scheme. When you call you will hear a recorded message. Just punch in 515 and you will get a voice mail to leave a message.
Would love for everyone to call them, just like they call us.
By Dave on May 27, 2008 | Reply
also found you can also leave messages for Merchant Cicle on ext. 514
Maybe if enough people call this company, they will stop calling people on the Do Not Call List
By PJ on May 28, 2008 | Reply
We’ve gotten two calls from Merchant Circle saying that someone contacted them asking if we were a legitimate business. The call said we should go to their site and add our phone number to our listing. Two issues with that: 1. They used our phone number to call us, so how could they be telling us to add it?, 2. We went to the site and found our listing, which HAD the phone number listed.
Obviously just spam to get us to go to the site and sign up for something we don’t need or want.
By meyer sniffen on May 29, 2008 | Reply
The MC people are doing their spam-best to create biz by using cheap break-in tactics of petty thieves - you know, the ones who break car windows or slash tires then come around offering repair work.
These geniuses use the phony hook line “that someone contacted us to see if your biz is legit or phony.” Well, MC does not offer its ‘valuable’ services to consumers. So, who made this ‘call’? Maybe some wizard at this phony operation! This entity has no e-mail, office or address much less a phone so now whom do I call to ask if they are real or phony? What would MC have to do to answer that kind of ‘call’?
This is a racket.
By David Jay on May 29, 2008 | Reply
I just received the ‘legitimate business’ call this morning and immediately ‘googled’ to find out what the heck is going on. I’m glad I found this site. Being a member of the BBB pretty much legitimizes my company but I thought I’d also mention the MC scam in my advertising and my outgoing phone message. Thanks for the site.
David
By Greg on May 29, 2008 | Reply
Just a heads up. I just got a call from Merchant’s Circle saying that a company that “Googled” us want to see if we are still a legitimate business. I am glad I “Googled” Merchant’s Circle and found these postings. Thanks for the information all!
By Christy on May 29, 2008 | Reply
I have now received several recorded messages from Merchant Circle. The 1st one informed me if I didn’t enter my phone number on their site, they would tell the business inquiring about us that we weren’t “legit”. I’ve tried to find a phone #, called Google, no luck. I did find an address 201 Main St., Suite 100, Los Altos, CA 94022. I intend to write them, if that doesn’t get me off their phone list, I’ll just start calling the companies, misguided by MC, and bug them until I get a phone # and off the list!!!!
By Christy on May 29, 2008 | Reply
to meyer sniffen….Address for Merchant Circle that I found and Goggle confirmed is:
201 Main St., Suite 100
Los Altos, CA 94022
By Sandy on May 30, 2008 | Reply
My company also got the recorded scam message this morning. Never heard of the company but was smart enough to Google the name instead of going to the website. Really poor tactics. I called (650) 352-1335 ext. 515 and left a message that we are all sharing information on their bogus tactics and not visiting their website. Thanks for providing the phone #!
By Robin on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
Merchant Circle called our business twice this month. I’m thinking about going to the store and grabbing as many magazine subscription cards as I can find, and filling them out with MC’s address. See how they like that.
By Sharon a legitimate business owner on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
I just got the infamous call as well. The 2nd one this week actually. I decided to call it back and got a recording stating, “if I missed the call please hang up and we will call you again soon. If you want to not be called by this service again hit 1, if you want not be called to the number you are calling from hit 1.” I did and it says “please wait while we process your request. That number will be blocked in 1 business day. please note that you may still recieve meassages until the block takes effect.” We shall see
Who know maybe I will now get lots of calls.
Sharon
Pinnacle Electric and Sharon Fine Art
By Sharon a legitimate business owner on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
By the way Robin, I like the subscriptions idea. Many times when I get irritating calls from sales people I just put the phone up to my speaker where I am listening to a talk show and they say, what? what? I am sorry I don’t understand… then they figure it out. That or I keep calling them back just to tie up their phones. (if 800 #)
By Diane on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
This is the second call I’ve received telling me that a customer found our company on Google and wanted to confirm we were a real company. I did not go to their site, no will I, thanks to your postings here.
By Mikecoast on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
Another small business that can be added to the list. I (like others) have received calls from MC. I ignored the first call. The second was a bit more aggressive … “why haven’t you contacted MC … a potential customer would like to know if you’re a REAL BUSINESS. I’m real sure that I’m a real business paying real taxes. One quick search and I have found this blog … where I have learned that MC is a marketing scam.
THANKS to all who have posted for the information!
By Judie on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
Add me to the list. I receive the “customer wants to know if we are a real company” call approximately once a week. Of course, I just hang up but I appreciate finding the above info.
j
By Lowell on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
I just got the “you still haven’t verified” message. I called back the same number, 866-849-3243, and found out that if you wait long enough, you can enter in a number to block from calling. I had to do this because my business number is a forwarding number. It forwards all calls to me cell.
You have to wait for extremely long pauses between options.
By John Bussiness Owner on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
I just called The phone # Herdon Va. Asked Isnt that in Loudoun Co. Va.? Asked Is’nt The sherrif there Steve Simpson. Got a long pause made them nervious.
By Steve on Jun 8, 2008 | Reply
I just used the phone # Lowell provided (866-849-3243)and I was able to block future calls from Merchant Circle. I too got the pre-recorded message for my One man operation saying that someone wanted to verify that my company was legitimate.
By Dena Business owner on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
It’s very confusing with everyone using the word “Merchant” in their marketing, for example, Merchant Services which can be any bank or credit card service vendor from Costco to First Bank or any other bank. When I received a call from Merchant Circle I was eager to click and find, since I didn’t have a website yet. I quickly realized that it was networking for local businesses and not consumer oriented. What a disappointment!Networking isn’t bad,just wierd feeling that brought me to google & find scam.Thanks to all who published comments.
By CHRIS on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
Just got me phone call regarding “you still have not registered with us…”. Glad I found this site !!!
By Sharon on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
Same here. Just got another call from them, I think its the third or fourth. Usually they are that I’ve gotten a postive comment, this one was “you still have not registered with us…”. Glad I found this site, thanks to all that posted!
By charlotte jones on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Got a call today someone to check out merchantcircle.com about my business being legilimate what is this about have not check this out just yet but will look there was here for some out of place reason??
By Dawn on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
We also received our second phone call. The first one was that a customer had found us on google, then the next call because we hadn’t confirmed the information - interestingly enough the business that they called doesn’t have a website (yet)helloooo?????
By Mike on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
True scam artists. No website, but they wanted me to register my business. We manage a number of websites, but they are targeted to specific clientel and we do not want them registered. We have enough trouble with scam artists calling our clients and misreperesenting themselves by omission as the official representive for our services.
By Cilla on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Just got our call ten minutes ago…get this, we’re a church. A CHURCH. lol. They called with the google & verification that everyone else is posting. I google them & came upon this. Thank goodness. No way are we getting involved.
Blessings to all!
By jon on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
I got the same voice-recorded message (this is the second message) saying that I have not responded. I’m glad I read this blog first. My suspicions must be accurate.
By ABCO Glass on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Being suspicious by nature when I received this merchant circle call, I went to their site to see, smelled something fishy and decided to look a little further. Since we only have an email address someone needing to verify if we are valid didn’t make sense. Just call me on the phone, because if you somehow found us it had to be through anywho.com or whitepages.com or similiar (only way I know how to find us on the web and it lists our phone number) and if I answer ABCO Glass then I guess I’m a valid company, DUH… so I googled if anyone had heard about them and I guess you all had. I will be using the phone numbers given above to give back a little of the sunshine they are spreading to all just because I like to share! (although I do like the magazine idea alot too!)
By lola on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
http://sanjose.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=68&bbb=1216&firm=228893
Above is the link for the BBB conplaints! YOU ARE ALL NOT ALONE!!!
Here is a different name and phone number that has a real persons voice on the answering machine!
CONTACT: Kevin Leu MerchantCircle +1-858-361-4407 Kevin@MerchantCircle.com
I would also call the Los
Altos Chamber of commerce at
(650) 948-1455
Attorney General and/or Public Utility Commission
Check out this link!
http://battellemedia.com/archives/002632.php
By lola on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
650-654-8500
CALL ALICIA
By lola on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
http://sanjose.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=68&bbb=1216&firm=228893
Above is the link for the BBB conplaints! YOU ARE ALL NOT ALONE!!!
Here is a different name and phone number that has a real persons voice on the answering machine!
CONTACT: Kevin Leu MerchantCircle +1-858-361-4407 Kevin@MerchantCircle.com
I would also call the Los
Altos Chamber of commerce at
(650) 948-1455
Attorney General and/or Public Utility Commission
Check out this link!
http://battellemedia.com/archives/002632.php
I hate it when people think they are above this
By Theresa on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I am thinking it is not MC but someone who may be trying to put them out of business or another person who has too much time on their hands.
I want to add that Merchant Circle phone call has happened to our business, A Theme Learning Center Box, LLC or http://www.atlcbox.com. I do have a free account with MC. I have found the free account to be of some help with networking and business. I did think of not keeping it after the scam. I am still a MC member.
I came upon this site while I was trying to get on MC account from another computer not our own so it was not book marked
I am going to call. Thank you for a phone number!
By Scott Anderson on Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
I found this smallbusinessem.com site when googling merchant circle. I’m participating with Merchant Circle at the free level and have only had a positive experience with them. No calls, no annoying followups for upgrades and my website is getting more hits. After finding this article by accident and reading through the negative responses here, I felt somewhat obliged to say it’s working for me. It was easy to set up and takes little time to maintain.
By Lisa on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
I too feel obligated to report that I participate on Merchant Circle in the free membership and have not had any phone calls. I find the site to be helpful in networking with local merchants. They offer you the chance to make local connections and to post service coupons to clients that you can design yourself.
I have never been pressured to purchase anything. They do ask you to invite other merchants you know (that may be where the calls are coming in?) I have been verified by a fellow merchant and paid not one red cent for it.
I’ll let you know if things change!
By Lowell on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
I feel obligated to comment here. If someone is referring someone to Merchant Circle, they should tell them.
That being said, that does NOT seem to be the case, at least as Merchant Circle represents themselves.
Not exactly word for word, but very close (as far as I can recall):
“A customer found your business while searching Google and wanted to verify that you are a legitimate business.”
How in this day and age does that even sound likely? If I’m searching Google for snoballs, I and not going to say, “That looks neat! But I doubt that website is real. I’m going to verify it using Merchant Circle!” I never HEARD of Merchant Circle until their annoying phone calls.
If I look up ‘verify business’ on Google, Merchant Circle isn’t even on the first page. Nor the second, third, nor 4th.
They did not call me and say “Businesses in your area would like to network with you”. No, their phone call sounds like a complete and utter LIE. That is why most people on here are posting negative comments.
By Lowell on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
I should also add: I had 6 (six) of these phone calls in my voicemail within 2 weeks before I came to this site. Lucky are those people who never got those calls.
By Matt McGee
on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
The calls aren’t coming from other merchants. They’re automated and coming from Merchant Circle. The company has confirmed this in the past, and even promised to change their marketing tactics. Then they went back to doing the calls.
I’m curious, Lisa — as a happy MC merchant, how/why did you find this discussion? Did someone ask you to leave a comment?
By Gary on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
I got the call on my message service a couple of days. It stated that a customer had found my website and questioned whether the company was real. I googled “merchant circle complaints” and found this site.
By Theresa on Jul 13, 2008 | Reply
I received one call. It was months ago maybe a year. I again am not sure it is them. It might have been at one time as it has been said they did do that.
People looking for my website also get MC. I do know people go there because you get a report. The reports are correct as when I put an ad in a journal directed at my customer base the people visiting MC was way up as was my website.
I may be naive but I am sticking with MC.
By Tom on Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
I am worried now. MC came up around my office last yr, and since we moved to this location
I thought it wise to sign the free offer.
Today, caller id Palo Alto Ca
“someone wanted to verify if your legit.
Somehow I found your site. Glad I did, I am anxious to sign on a class action suit.
Dr TOM-Mesa AZ
By Nick on Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
I too received a recorded phone call from Merchants Circle stating some wanted to verify if my website and my business was legitimate. The phone number was 650-352-1335.
Nick, Calif.
By Kim on Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
How do customers supposedly find a business on merchant circle? When you go to the website, it is really geared toward having businesses sign up- I’m certainly not going to pay $35 to have my business verified!
By Kelly on Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
In 2006 I received an automated service call telling me “someone” found me on yahoo & gave a bad report to merchant circle & if I wanted to see it then check out the MC site. There was no bad report on my company.
They also gave a wrong address & zip for my comp. This alone could cause a lot of problems for me. The addr they gave was an APARTMENT in the “lower” hillsboro community!!!
They also “OFFER” this for anyone to take under “CLAIM THIS LISTING”!!
(Anyone - even if they swear they are the owner) can take possession of my “company” name.
I wrote to them at questions@merchantcircle.com saying I never asked for a listing with them - for free or otherwise & to remove my name. They don’t list a phone number for themselves which makes them even less reputable.Also I said that I WILL not be strong armed by anyone into HAVING to sign up because of the way you place it on the website, for anyone to take, “IF I DON”T”.
Then to try to get not just a free listing but also have me pay more for a better listing & then get my credit card info - all the while making me a better target for you & everyone else.
I reported them to the BBB & to the local police. I also did a mail forward for my company name from the bad address to my good address just in case, someone was getting mail there. So far so good.
As a test I “signed up” for & took possession of another local cleaning company & phone #. (Yes, I personally know them) & the BBB for the area of merchant circle. This did work & I could have stolen the companies. I called both companies & gave them the password, etc… & gave the acct. back to them. This made me force removal of my name from the site. They did as I asked & removed me from the site.
*** Fast forward to 2008 - I am listed back with their system without permission!! Rather than fight them every 2 yrs to remove my name I have taken possession of my own name & number. This, I hope, keeps me safe from others taking it! This is what frustrates me - the absolute strong arming me to do this or else have someone “take over” my name!!! So maybe until they are shut down I will get some more business. Trying to think positively!
http://www.extractaway.com / Oregon
By Jeannie on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Add me to the list we are a new business and we received a call from them asking us to validate our business, isn’t that something they should worry about before they list you on their sight without your permission? Anyway now I am in MC H*** and don’t know how to get out…HELP!
By Lothar on Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Maybe this is a new one: I got 3 calls from Merchant Circle (818-804-3142) on my cell phone in just one week, offering a “free” credit card machine, after numerous “s.o found you on Google” crap messages. They left a number: 1-800-644-0296 which appeared to have an option to have you removed from their do not call violations. Will it work?????
I urge you all to report their calls to the FCC:
The more the merrier!
https://esupport.fcc.gov/form1088/consumer.do
By David Saunders on Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
I’ve had a few ‘phone calls from them using a Peninsula Bay Area 650 # and another #
I tend to screen my calls so don’t answer.
I can see this being a pita though
D
By Rubens V. on Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
Put me on the list for a Class Action Law Suit. These guys are a JOKE. I too, received a call about someone saying good things about my business. Unfortunately, I gave up my credit card number to market my business….NEVER AGAIN! BEWARE OF MECHANT CIRCLE.COM.
By Marcia Reid Marsted on Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
I got a call from Merchant Circle and was dumb enough to think they were legitimate. I put in my business phone and saw that they had a listing for me but noticed they had it wrong. I emailed them with the corrections and tried to sign up for the “free” listing but ended up at a point where they were going to charge me $35 or so A MONTH! I couldn’t back out of the screen so I just closed it. Now I find at least two businesses with whom I communicate, one my husband’s and another Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, received messages supposedly from me (like Face Book) asking them to join MC. I did not knowingly send them! I tried to contact MC and so far have not found a phone.
I decided to send a very negative review, as I thought they were asking for a review of MC. Instead, I was reviewing my own business! So I reviewed it again with a retraction and explanation!
By Paula Kyler on Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
They just called me also, 650-352-1335 phone number, i always let the machine pick up so i can screen who to talk to, they have called many times, is their a law suit?
By Cassandra on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
We got a call this morning too. Customer wants to confirm we are valid. Not falling for it.
By Jay P on Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
I use Merchant Circle and am very pleased. I have had alot of good things happen client wise. I have had the “verify your a business” notification. In my opinion, and from what I have seen, MC will verify your busienss for $2.??/mo billed on an annual basis. Now I only use the FREE part of MC, but realistically in this world if you want anything, how Free is FREE? Just like an infomercial when you call they try to sell you more and more stuff in conjunction with what you saw. Upselling in America, who’d have thunk it.
By Sondra on Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
I just got a call. Same story. I have a legitimate business, but my website is not finished yet.
By Steven on Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
They keep on calling my business saying that someone left a rating. However, I see none, and their listing is for a former company name in a former location. Of course, they don’t have any way of unsubscribing or blocking the listing. I would love to see them go to hell for their business practices.
By Skip on Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
This website has had my address wrong for a couple years. They are impossible to get a hold of. They have me in the wrong city as well as wrong address. I don’t remember asking to be on their site, misdirecting customers to a dirt road where I’m not… any body have a # for me to call please e-mail me @ abslifts@yahoo.com Thanks
By Sherry on Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
I like Merchants Circle. My business is i claremore, OK, (small town soutside of Tulsa), and I have been successful at reaching clients on the internet through them. I am on other networds as well but theirs has landed me the highest ranking with Google. I have so many little marketing techniques all day that theirs seem the least obtrusive.
By Lowell on Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Sherry, tell us what your site is so we can check it out. I’d like to see its Google rating.
By Brian on Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
I just received the same cold call. I checked out the site, but then decided to read your reveiw. Needless to say I did not sign up for their service. Thank for saving me from myself and my desires to promote my already exellent business!
By Theresa on Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
claremore.com I went to look at it.
On MC dashboard you are offered verification for price. There are offers for many other items some for free some for pay. Take it don’t take it it’s an option.