- Report: #290637
Complaint Review: A-1 Leasing Startup Essentials - Grand Rapids Michigan
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A-1 Leasing Startup Essentials
2007 Eastern Ave SE Grand Rapids, 49507 Michigan, U.S.A.
Phone:
616-2437463
Web:
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A-1 Leasing A-1 Leasing, Startup Essentials Internet based business scam Grand Rapids Michigan
*Consumer Suggestion: Credit Damage Worries
*Consumer Suggestion: Credit Damage Worries
*Consumer Suggestion: Credit Damage Worries
*Author of original report: A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
*Author of original report: A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
*Author of original report: A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
*Consumer Comment: Returning the laptop
I too have been ripped off by these companies. The initial sales call is coercive and indicates no money to be invested. "You can do anything you want to with our tools, and we'll be there to help." There is no help. The company scams consumers (calling them merchants) from day one.
Startup essentials representatives deceive consumers into signing up for nothing. A-1 leasing is the leasing company that works with Startup essentials; however, when you contact either company they indicate that they are not affiliated with one another and that you do have the "option" to take the equipment, it is not required. Not so according to the representatives I spoke with.
Startup essentials representative Michael Harper connected me with a representative of A-1 Leasing to read and sign an electronic lease over the phone and internet. I questioned several portions of the contract while reading it and was informed "just initial and sign where indicated, we'll answer all your questions when we are done". At the end, I tried to go back to my questions and was told thank you, we are finished and they hung up.
Michael Harper was kind enough to provide me with all of his contact information in order to build my confidence in the concept that the company would be there. However, since that day, I have been completely unable to reach the man. No responses from email, or phone calls to any of his numbers.
I contacted A-1 Leasing to return the equipment and cancel the lease. A man named John Hastings informed me that my contract would be cancelled and I would be relieved from my contractual obligations if I returned the equipment. Therefore I returned the equipment, then I started receiving nasty letters from the company.
Apparently there is no John Hastings working there and I was mistaken according to the collections department. I made arrangements to resume payments and have the "equipment" returned to me. My prepaid legal service attempted to help me with this situation, but as the companies are located in different states (TX & MI) they were of little assistance.
Sadly, to avoid damage to my credit, I am still paying monthly for this service that I couldn't use if I had a use for it. By the time I am done I will have paid them several thousand dollars. I would like my situation to be resolved, but more importantly, I would like other consumers to be aware of the scam that these companies are pulling.
Krowta
Maxwell, California
U.S.A.
Startup essentials representatives deceive consumers into signing up for nothing. A-1 leasing is the leasing company that works with Startup essentials; however, when you contact either company they indicate that they are not affiliated with one another and that you do have the "option" to take the equipment, it is not required. Not so according to the representatives I spoke with.
Startup essentials representative Michael Harper connected me with a representative of A-1 Leasing to read and sign an electronic lease over the phone and internet. I questioned several portions of the contract while reading it and was informed "just initial and sign where indicated, we'll answer all your questions when we are done". At the end, I tried to go back to my questions and was told thank you, we are finished and they hung up.
Michael Harper was kind enough to provide me with all of his contact information in order to build my confidence in the concept that the company would be there. However, since that day, I have been completely unable to reach the man. No responses from email, or phone calls to any of his numbers.
I contacted A-1 Leasing to return the equipment and cancel the lease. A man named John Hastings informed me that my contract would be cancelled and I would be relieved from my contractual obligations if I returned the equipment. Therefore I returned the equipment, then I started receiving nasty letters from the company.
Apparently there is no John Hastings working there and I was mistaken according to the collections department. I made arrangements to resume payments and have the "equipment" returned to me. My prepaid legal service attempted to help me with this situation, but as the companies are located in different states (TX & MI) they were of little assistance.
Sadly, to avoid damage to my credit, I am still paying monthly for this service that I couldn't use if I had a use for it. By the time I am done I will have paid them several thousand dollars. I would like my situation to be resolved, but more importantly, I would like other consumers to be aware of the scam that these companies are pulling.
Krowta
Maxwell, California
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Easetser
Knoxville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Returning the laptop
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, June 04, 2009
Mine was returned broken over a year ago when I managed to settle my way out of it. (I did so by paying 3/4 of what I still owed on the remaining 2 years of the contract period. So I made 3.5 years worth of payments for 2 years worth of use of a junk laptop.) Now I'm getting threatening voicemails. So I'm thinking they have a problem with it being broken. The way I see it, it's their fault for using laptops that are overpriced at $500 apiece and charging people $6000 to rent them.
Krowta
Maxwell,California,
U.S.A.
A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
#3Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
I have just been informed that the company requires that you return the worthless laptop at the end of the 4 year lease. So after 4 years of paying $140/month for a grand total of $6,720 you will have absolutely nothing. So during your 4 years, you get no assistance, lies, deceit, and misrepresentation from Startup essentials and A-1 Leasing (both companies by the way indicate that they are not affiliated, yet Startup essentials directs you to this other company for an unnecessary lease). I am wondering how much worse it can get. I am quite certain that when you return the now "used" equipment there will be some type of depreciation or other fees to be charged. WILL IT EVER END?!! I cannot believe that the company is allowed to continue to scam American citizens.
Krowta
Maxwell,California,
U.S.A.
A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
#4Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
I have just been informed that the company requires that you return the worthless laptop at the end of the 4 year lease. So after 4 years of paying $140/month for a grand total of $6,720 you will have absolutely nothing. So during your 4 years, you get no assistance, lies, deceit, and misrepresentation from Startup essentials and A-1 Leasing (both companies by the way indicate that they are not affiliated, yet Startup essentials directs you to this other company for an unnecessary lease). I am wondering how much worse it can get. I am quite certain that when you return the now "used" equipment there will be some type of depreciation or other fees to be charged. WILL IT EVER END?!! I cannot believe that the company is allowed to continue to scam American citizens.
Krowta
Maxwell,California,
U.S.A.
A-1 Leasing...it just gets worse
#5Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
I have just been informed that the company requires that you return the worthless laptop at the end of the 4 year lease. So after 4 years of paying $140/month for a grand total of $6,720 you will have absolutely nothing. So during your 4 years, you get no assistance, lies, deceit, and misrepresentation from Startup essentials and A-1 Leasing (both companies by the way indicate that they are not affiliated, yet Startup essentials directs you to this other company for an unnecessary lease). I am wondering how much worse it can get. I am quite certain that when you return the now "used" equipment there will be some type of depreciation or other fees to be charged. WILL IT EVER END?!! I cannot believe that the company is allowed to continue to scam American citizens.
Easetser
Knoxville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Credit Damage Worries
#6Consumer Suggestion
Wed, December 19, 2007
I've been working on finding a way out of a lease with them myself, because I've heard stories about it being done, but no one ever divulges how they went about doing it. Atleast not for free. Anyway, I took the risk of damaging my score a bit and asked the bank to pull my credit report, just run a general query. Well, guess who didn't appear on there? Yup... A-1 Leasing. Or Bond Corp 137th (who it's actually listed as on my bank statements). Or Startup Essentials. In fact, there was no debt on there reflecting my current balance or even coming close to my monthly dues. Just a little something to think about in working towards a solution.
Easetser
Knoxville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Credit Damage Worries
#7Consumer Suggestion
Wed, December 19, 2007
I've been working on finding a way out of a lease with them myself, because I've heard stories about it being done, but no one ever divulges how they went about doing it. Atleast not for free. Anyway, I took the risk of damaging my score a bit and asked the bank to pull my credit report, just run a general query. Well, guess who didn't appear on there? Yup... A-1 Leasing. Or Bond Corp 137th (who it's actually listed as on my bank statements). Or Startup Essentials. In fact, there was no debt on there reflecting my current balance or even coming close to my monthly dues. Just a little something to think about in working towards a solution.
Easetser
Knoxville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Credit Damage Worries
#8Consumer Suggestion
Wed, December 19, 2007
I've been working on finding a way out of a lease with them myself, because I've heard stories about it being done, but no one ever divulges how they went about doing it. Atleast not for free. Anyway, I took the risk of damaging my score a bit and asked the bank to pull my credit report, just run a general query. Well, guess who didn't appear on there? Yup... A-1 Leasing. Or Bond Corp 137th (who it's actually listed as on my bank statements). Or Startup Essentials. In fact, there was no debt on there reflecting my current balance or even coming close to my monthly dues. Just a little something to think about in working towards a solution.
