Tracy
Akron,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, March 28, 2007
If you want to see a copy of FDLS's lease contract, go to firstdata.com. in the search line, put in "leasing equipment contract". That will take you to many hits. The one you want will say at the top is... Mircosoftword-genericE39FD0333REV08.05AB.DOC . That is thier leasing contract. If you dont really know what to look for, you can miss it easily. But then, they dont WANT you to find it. I have copied it and I would ask anyone who has a problem with FDLS to do the same. okay. I have a question.. A friend of mine has a small business. He wanted to get a updated machine to take credit cards and checks. He calls Telecheck, who sends out a sales rep, Holly. She gets him to sign a lease contract with TELECHECK, for a machine. Then, a month later, he gets a letter from FDLS, aka First Data Leasing Services. It tells him that they have BOUGHT the lease from Telecheck (less than 30 days!) and that he, subject to section 4b of the lease, he is required to reimburse FDLS an amount of $74.48 to cover applicable sales taxes due for the term of the lease. There IS NO SECTION 4B IN THE TELECHECK LEASE. First Date never sent a new lease to be signed. He asked me to look into it. The first place I looked was his bank statements. I find charges from FDLS that he never signed for. in 12 months, they charged him a little over $362.00+. The second place I looked was Ripoffreport.com. Voila! Then, I checked the website for First Date Leasing Services and after some digging, found THIER leasing contract. In THIER contract, there IS a section 4B!!! Now, I always thought, if a company sells a customer's account to another business, then it is that business's obligation to let the customer KNOW the new changes (ie.. FEES) and to put those changes in WRITING, giving the customer the opportunity to get out of the lease. Apparently, FDLS immediatley uses thier contract and holds the customer responsible for it. They tell the customer that the lease is NON-CANCELABLE (as per FDLS's lease contract, and also states that if lease IS cancelled, the customer owes them the remainder of the lease. There is a thing called Federal Consumer Protection, and it is there for a reason. For businesses just like FDLS who think they can get away with buying a lease contract from Telecheck and then holding the consumer responsible for a lease contract with FDLS that the consumer has NEVER SEEN OR SIGNED. Bad business? yes, I think so. What I can't believe is that Telecheck would actually be in business with them. Just goes to show you, even if it LOOKS like a reputable business, you better still keep eyes in the back of your head. oh, and for anyone that wants to see it, this is the FDLS leaseing contract. All you have to do to see it is to go to Firstdata.com. Then in the "search" line, put in "leasing equipment contract". It will direct you to many hits. The one you want will probably be at the top. The correct hit says "mircosoft word-generic E39FDO33REV08.05AB.DOC . That will take you directly to thier leasing contract. Which, by the way, DOES have a section 4B
A
Maryland,#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 13, 2007
WOW! You're exactly right! You sound like one of the few First Data AEs that actually have a conscious. As a Relationship Manager, I see these situations all day, every day. My advice to any prospective merchant is to read the small print of your contract and Program Guide. Also, think carefully about leasing equipment, it's usually a nightmare!!!