Complaint Review: Regus HQ

I am an attorney that started a law practice in June of 2008.  I chose a virtual office with Regus in Irvine, California as my primary place of business. At the time they advertised $65 a month for a physical address with mail forwarding.  My mail forwarding costs slowly climbed from $80 a month to what's now about $180 per month.

When I was in a long trial away from the office, I failed to update a cancelled credit card I had on file with Regus. After two weeks of being late, Regus cancelled my contract. Cynthia Harris from Regus in Texas contacted me with a nasty termination letter:

"Despite our efforts to ensure that payment for the above referenced account is resolved, the balance remains unpaid.

By our prior communication (a copy of which was sent to you via e-mail or postal notification), we provided you with written notification describing the default under the Agreement.

As of the date of this email, you have failed to cure this default. Accordingly, the Agreement is terminated immediately and your license to use the premises and the center is hereby revoked. We hereby demand that you vacate the Premises within five (5) days after delivery of this notice. If you fail to do so we may institute a forcible-detainer or other similar action against you to obtain possession of the Premises. This matter will immediately be turned over for collection. In addition, we reserve the right to pursue all other available legal and equitable remedies, including litigation against you and others responsible for payment of amounts owed under the Agreement.

Please contact the Center Manager to arrange for an orderly transition from you office prior to the deadline in this email, or if you have any questions please call the number below."

I called Ms. Harris and tried to pay my balance due.  Ms. Harris refused to take payment and said that I would incur all sorts of fees and penalties - and that I would have to pay even more money to reinstate the account.  I said, "no, if that's how Regus treats its customer of 3 years, then I am done. I'm out."  She then said I would be sent to collections and that the remainder of an alleged 12-month lease would be collected. To add insult to injury, she stated, "You of all people should know as an attorney that you have to follow the rules of the contract."

I never signed a 12 month lease. I pay monthly to have my mail forwarded. Period.

I called my local center to get a copy of my contract. I was sent a one page terms and sheet. It was not signed. The bottom had a date of 2011. I wrote my local Regus back to tell them it was not my contract. I signed up in 2008.

They sent me what they purport was my 2008 terms and conditions. There is no signature. I don't remember ever seeing or being told I was in a 12-month auto-renew commitment.

This morning I sued Regus in Orange County Superior Court in order to rescind an unconscionable contract. This corporation is Draconian in its debt collection procedures and is not fair in its charges or handling of real-life human beings called customers.