KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A West Michigan business owner claims she was discriminated against because of what she sells online.
It’s a FOX 17 Problem Solvers story we first told you about on August 6th.
Sarah Best claims a business partnership with First Data was dissolved because of her connection to Voodoo, specifically the items she sells on her website Conjured Cardea.
First Data responded with a statement which reads in part;
Though we don’t usually discuss individual clients, we can say this termination was a result of the unqualified products sold on the website, and that this had nothing to do with personal beliefs. The products, considered pseudo-pharmaceuticals under our risk policy, do not meet our standards for qualification, which resulted in the contract termination.
Before terminating the account, our customer representatives contacted the merchant and attempted to discuss options to maintain an account with us, but the merchant cut short that discussion.
All of the merchant’s funds, which totaled $569.69, were released on 8/6/14 so the merchant should see the funds in her bank account today or tomorrow. All of our fees were waived.
– First Data
Best told us that she was never told about the company’s exception with “pseudo-pharmaceuticals” by First Data. She denied selling anything that would meet that description.
The business owner told us she has moved on, continuing her online sales with a different credit card processing company and has received her money back from the company as indicated in the statement.
