WARNING!!!!!
I am sharing this experience as a warning to other small business owners.
I applied for funding through Merchant Marketplace and was later denied. That part is understandable — not every application is approved. However, what happened when I called to ask questions raised serious concerns for me.
When I called the number associated with the company, the phone was answered with only “Hello,” with no company name or professional greeting. The tone was rude and dismissive. When I asked if this was Merchant Marketplace, I was asked, “What do you want?” At that point, I honestly thought I had reached the wrong number and ended the call.
About five minutes later, someone called me back stating they saw that I had called. During that call, I was asked to provide my email, full name, and the last four digits of my Social Security number over the phone. I was told someone would follow up later. There was no formal verification process, no secure portal, and no case or reference number provided.
This interaction did NOT feel consistent with what I expect from a professional financial services company.
Business owners: Please be cautious when sharing sensitive personal or business information over the phone. Always verify who you are speaking with and request secure methods for submitting sensitive data.
I cannot speak to others’ experiences, but based on my personal interaction, I would strongly encourage extreme caution.
