Complaint Review: Regus

Regus is worse than used-car salesmen. Extremely sketchy, unprofessional. Stay Away!

I was setting up a new business, and just wanted to purchase a business mail address while I still figuring some other details, like co-working office space. I thought I was purchasing a month-to-month business mail address.

First, the sketchy salesperson NEVER explained they had any options for term length: month-to-month, 3-month contract, and 12-month contracts. She told me the monthly rate and could waive one of the two month deposit fees (they call them "retainer" fees, which is bogus; you aren't retaining them for service. It's a deposit fee). So I paid for a one-month deposit and my first month of the agreement when I signed up for the Virtual Office Mail Box.

Second, I only agreed to the price because the sketchy salesperson made it sound like mail service also included phone reception. At $60+/month that would have been a good deal. It isn't. She mentioned they had that service *also*, but for that service, it's $220/month. $60+/month for only a mailbox is a terrible deal. But I since I figured I would get a more permanent office space solution with a co-working center and planned to then change my mailbox address, I let it slide. I shouldn't have.

Third, two days (just 2!) after I signed up and entered my credit card info, I got a nasty-gram email from Regus saying my invoice was past due. What? How on Earth could that possibly be? I just paid them two days prior. I complained and they said "oh sorry...that was auto-generated". Not professional. Not a good customer experience.

Four, I logged into my account to end the agreement after I found a suitable co-working space, and click through the screens to "Terminate the Agreement." They even sent me an email titled "Confirmation of Termination". But as I find out two weeks after receiving this email, it's only confirming that my agreement will terminate.... at the end of 12 months!

Five, I get a notification from my bank that I've been billed after I thought I cancelled my agreement. I call Regus to find out what's going and on and discover for the **first time ever** that my agreement is for 12 months. The customer service representative tells me that they have month-to-month agreements, 3-month agreements and 12-month agreements at this time. NEVER BEFORE was this mentioned to me at all.

Six, their contract terms (the ones you never read) state you must notify Regus, in writing, 3 months BEFORE your contract end date if you wish to cancel --- OR it automatically renews on you for the same term. That's right: You didn't know you were in a 12 month agreement, and failed to state in writing you want to cancel by month 9 -- guess what: you're on the hook for another 12 months!!

Seven, their contract also says that Regus may cancel the contract on you at their **sole discretion** and if they do, you still owe them ALL of the money for the entire contract length, as if you hadn't been cancelled.

It's one thing to offer options to the client and let them choose with the full facts; it's another to try to trick people into deceptive contracts. Regus is the later.

Like I said: sketchy and unprofessional. Stay away from Regus. They're worse than used-car salesmen.