I've owned and ran a funding company for over 3 years. It is NOT necessary to have contact information until the contract request. The ONLY time I've needed to call a merchant prior to funding is to clarify information that needs to be on the contract if I'm dealing with a slow ISO or I just want to take the lead and get the file done faster than having to go through the ISO. Examples include confirmations regarding address, entity type, or anything else that stands out as being strange during underwriting that needs to be addressed.

Asking a merchant, "What are you using this capital for?" is an absolute joke. I ask it anyway just out of habit, but you never really know or can confirm that the merchant is using those funds for that purpose after the wire has been sent. You know how many times I've gotten the answer "business purposes" or "working capital"? If you think these merchants are telling the truth than you're playing yourself.