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I have one better! Why is my business being verified??

I received a phone call from Merchant Circle last week -- someone said that we were a flooring company, so MC called to verify that we were legitimate! 

The North Star Resort was built in 1945.  It has been a motel, cabin and campground rental since then. Why would I advertise otherwise if I were not. If I were a flooring company, I would advertise as such and I certainly wouldn't name it "resort"! 

Then today, all 3 businesses that I HAD on my "favorite local businesses" received similar phone calls.  I received complaints from these businesses after phone calls from MC and have had to delete them from my "favorite local business"on the webpage. I am a Top Merchant on the webring.   

I want to know, why is this happening and Merchant Circle, would you please contact me and tell me who is complaining about my business and causing problems for me after years of hard work?  You have my e-mail and phone number.  I do have a right to know my accusers. 

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"Business Verification BS"

I received a voice mail from the MC "Business Verification Dept", stating that "a customer" (they didn't specify who) wished to verify that I was in fact an actual business.  All I had to do was log in to my MC account and "click on the red 'member login' button".  I then was directed to a screen that briefly explained the deal.  In very small print at the bottom, was an asterisk that stated, "This program shall be billed in an annual, easy payment", or something of that nature. 

My issue with this is that if a "customer", who evidently is anonymous (BS) wishes to verify my business, why should we, as MC premium members be paying extra?  Frankly, I am beginning to have second thoughts about MC.  I don't believe there ever was "a customer" who wanted to verify my business.  It's so ironic that I haven't had this request until MC decided to start this "program", at an extra cost. 

Of course, this could be a coincidence of monumental proportions, but I'm a cynic.  Seems as though there's a pole-cat in the hen house to me. 

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A Call from Merchantcircle

It's no wonder Merchantcircle doesnt have time to call their customers.( Customer Service) They are too busy verifying businesses that aren't

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Some Background.

Did you know that Merchant Circle now has a new 'service' called "Verifiication".
This is a paid service.
It isn't apparent that this is a paid service until you click on what seems at first blush to be a reasonable add to your MC profile.  

MC also has a history of odd phone calls to businesses, designed to get them to check the site. They are automated, it seems, and go out willy-nilly, and suggest something that on checking turns out by the merchant, often, to be perceived as misleading.

I think you'll find that this new service and this historical methodology are not unconnected. 

I would not worry about your business reputation or expect to find that anyone has complained. There is, as I can see, absolutely nothing "personal" about it.

Not a Good Look, eh? 

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Re: I have one better! Why is my business being verified??

I too received a voice message last Monday after my page rank jumped up a couple of points, but I wasn't worried about that because I had already read this post. The only complaint that I had was merchantcircle not answering some of my concerns, but after leaving a comment on their page at http://member.MerchantCircle.com/MerchantCircle, they replied back to me for one of my concerns. It's easy to verify a business via each state's government web site (corporation commission) so if a customer whether imaginary or not, wants to go there, they can - Google it or ask me. I have no problems with getting the verification badge (well, it depends on the price) but I do have a problem with someone trying to trick me or force me into it. I think MerchantCircle has grown faster than they had initially anticipated and need to adjust accordingly, but I still think this site is a great idea and I told them just that.

Thanks,
Xactli.com, LLC
www.Xactli.com
www.XactliDomains.com

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Re: Some Background.