Startup Essentials A-1 Leasing Startup Essentials, A-1 Leasing, Never kept their promises, should be shut down Ripoff Addison Texas

Margo of Chesapeake, I live in Portsmouth, Va. We need to get together, would love to meet you maybe we can get something going to fight and get help from all the others.

Why should I buy out? I signed a contract that stated I would receive certain services, which I have not, they also said I received credit card equipment, which I did not, buying out is not a option that I am looking to do, I refuse to pay for something, that I have nothing to show for, this would be a waste of my hard income. I have contacted a lawyer and I am following his direction, changed banks, sent letters to all credit agencies, Attorney Generals in each state and now going to file one with the Federal Trade Commision. THESE COMPAINES HAVE TO STOP, a buy out is only allowing them to do this to others and that is unacceptable.

Contact Steve at A-1 Leaseing 888-222-0348 Ext 3007

I had the same lease and contacted him today, I had a balance of $4200

and bought out the remainder of the lease for $1800. That is less than .50 on the dollar and I am done with this NIGHTMARE!!!

In response to letter that Startup Essential made in its response to the BBB; It is incorrect regarding the four calls and additional documents being sent out. I received one phone call and at that time the lease was provided for initialing, 2 days later the laptop arrive at my home address and was signed for by my mom.

The same day the laptop arrived; I received a call to confirm if the laptop was received and that's how they get you locked into that lease. No other documents were sent only that acer laptop and nothing else. There was never a time period given to go over the lease or get the advice of an attorney before signing the lease. The salesperson from SE said that this was a one time interview and if you didn't take advantage of the opportunity now, that the opportunity would go to the next person on his list that he had to interview that day.

I also received a cold call from the SE salesperson, I never contacted SE through an advertisement on tv or the internet. Fortunately for me I have my phone connected to my computer and all my incoming calls shows the number, the time and state that the call was made from. I have an actual record of that call and the number belongs to SE.

This response that SE made is just a rouse to cover up their tracks. The bottom line is that SE and A-1 Leasing, USA Card Service have been leasing a defective product and still expects to receive monthly payments for a product that is defective. This is fraud and breach of contract. Consumers have the right to expect a quality product for their money. The Acer laptop is nothing but a worthless piece of junk.

SAM
Irvington, NJ

09/10/07 reopen complaint
09/10/07 receive business response
09/10/07 manuall forward business response to consumer

If they did not have something to hide! WHY? did it take this long toj answer the complaint. I'm still contacting a lawyer, I've already called one but he has not called back, so I will be calling again tommorrow, if anyone knows anything else about this lawyer in Texas please give a good way in which to contact him.
Thanks

Today I came home from work to find, guess what? A letter from BBB with the same info as you and others. You are right they did cold call me because I never respond to any ad, I never called them, there was never a process of several calls before signing up with their so called company, it was one call about 3 hours long initialing things they said was just a formality.

It's funny because I talked with another gentleman tonight about another company, whichI will not disclose their name, that stated there is a 3 day period in which to cancel, especially if it was done over the phone, this company has been in business for over 10 years and has a great track record according to my research. Startup Essentials has not been in touch with me from the get go.

Just to let everyone know I orginallly put my complaint in on July 16, 2007 the process goes,
07/16/07 case received by BBB
07/19/07 Case reviewed by BBB
07/19/07 Send Acknowledgement to consumer
07/19/07 Notify Business of dispute
08/06/07 No response to first notice to business
08/06/07 reminder of dispute to business
08/15/07 No response received from business on reminder
08/15/07 Informed consumer NO Response from business
08/15/07 informed consumer- case closed UNANSWERED
08/15/07 informed business- case closed UNANSWERED

First, they called me and made it sound like I had been recommended for a position in their company.. Then they made it sound like I had won some position or something and that they were spending a lot of money to train me and make me a success. To make an example out of me. To put their time, mnoney and energy into me now if I was willing to do the work so I could be a success and they would have a good example for the company. (They did cold call me - I never answered an ad for them)

Second, They never gave me a choice about the laptop. They said the $134 was for business overhead and the laptop was just a tool that I needed to get the job done. They said it would be loaded with items I would need for the job.

Third, on the top of my Startup Essentials contract it says - Merchant Account - When you are ready - $23 per month. When they activated my account it was $80 a month.
Is anyone still in contact with the company as far as support goes?
I am watching to see what they are doing on this end and they are not doing anything for their existing customers. It is like they have shut down and moved on. Only I am sure they will still debit those bank accounts..

I also contacted BBB in Texas, Startup Essentials had 22 days to reply and they never did. Today I have contacted a lawyer, everything I'm reading is disturbing, but I think we all need to talk and work together to get rid of these companies once and for all. Macon Ga. said to go to Yahoo Group and look for Startup Essentials Fraud, but I didn't find anything. Will let everyone know what I found out when talk to lawyer.

I sent a letter to the Dallas BBB as well. The exact same response from Startup Essentials was mailed to me and also on the BBB website. That must be their response to all of our letters to the BBB.

I have gotten three letters from A-1 Leasing threatening to give my account to a collection agency.

I filed a complaint with the Dallas BBB, and I got this response the other day:

I got an email from the Dallas, Tx BBB. It referred me to a link, which I clicked on. Following is Se's reply to my complaint. I don't understand how anyone can say this company's out of business.On September 06, 2007, the business provided the following information:
September 6, 2007

Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas
1601 Elm St., Suite 3838
Dallas, TX 75201

Re: Eileen Keane - Comp #:
To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in response to a complaint issued by the above referenced individual. The following is our response to their concerns.

Our services are offered solely and exclusively to those individuals who have previously and expressly requested information about starting a business or enhancing an exiting business. They did so by responding to an ad or email on the Internet or a television commercial. In their response, they stated they understood that someone would be contacting them. We do not cold call. We responded to their initial request for more information.

The program can include a wireless laptop computer to assist them as they build and develop their business, a merchant account established with a credit card processor, but always includes extensive training material. The training material consists of written instructions, CD's, videos and links to numerous additional resources. The Merchant Support staff is also available to assist with specific questions or concerns.

Prior to accepting a merchant's commitment to purchase or lease any of our products or services, we provide complete and full disclosure of all services, rates, and fees via a Merchant Agreement that the merchant is required to electronically initial and sign before they can be approved for the program. They must initial several statements on the form acknowledging their understanding and agreement as to what they are to do and what Startup Essentials does and does not provide with the program.

Among other things, they acknowledge they are entering into a non-cancelable lease (if they have not purchased all the material), that Startup Essentials does not provide a business opportunity or products to sell. The merchant also agrees that no employee of Startup Essentials has made any statement guaranteeing or even implying a guarantee of financial success of the merchant. Startup Essentials provides tools, information and support.

The form also states that Startup Essentials does not build a merchant's website for them. Startup Essentials provides tools and Customer Support, but does not build the site or select the products for the merchant to sell. All of this is clearly outlined on the Merchant Agreement.

For those that choose to lease, we take several steps to make sure they understand they are entering into a non-cancelable lease. In addition to the lease application itself, we ask the merchant to electronically complete and sign a Lease Confirmation Agreement. This form requires the merchant to initial separate statements indicating, among other things, they understand the payment amount, the length of the lease, and that the lease is non-cancelable. They also indicate they understand that simply returning the leased items will not automatically terminate the lease.

Each prospective merchant is instructed to save all electronically completed forms on their computer. They are asked if they need help in completing this task. If they need help, help and instructions are provided. This way every merchant should have all the forms, agreements and applications saved on their computer for easy access and review.

Before the merchant is approved they participate in two additional phone calls or interviews. The first call - internally this is referred to as the Welcome Call - usually happens shortly after they submit their request. This call is designed to fully explain the various parts of the Merchant Agreement and make sure the merchant understands and agrees to each point they initialed. We want to make sure they not only fully understand and agree, but more importantly, are committed to all aspects of the program. At no point do we make any guarantees about the profitability of their business.

If any prospective merchant has any questions or concerns, the process is stopped and they are returned to the Senior Business Analyst who had explained the program earlier. If the prospective merchant is not comfortable with any part of the program, the entire process is stopped, and the prospective merchant is under no obligation to continue the process.

If the Senior Business Analyst answers the prospective merchant's questions and concerns, the merchant is then sent back to the Welcome Call Group. Once that call is completed to everyone's satisfaction, the equipment and training material is shipped to the prospective merchant.

The second call is a conference call involving the merchant, a Startup Essentials' staff person and the lease company. This call usually takes place a day or two after the Welcome Call and after the merchant has received their equipment and training material. We want to make sure the prospective merchant has ample time to see the material, and where appropriate, look at their laptop computer.

It is during this phone call that we once more make sure the merchant understands they are entering into a non-cancelable lease, the length of the lease and the amount of the monthly payment. Additionally, we once more confirm they understand Startup Essentials is not providing them a business, or a business opportunity, and is not providing them products to sell. Also, we confirm that no Startup Essentials employee has made any guarantees about the financial success of the merchant's business. After all of this a merchant may be approved and allowed to enter the program.

After going through every step as outlined, this merchant was finally approved for the program. They completed the lease application and Lease Confirmation Agreement. They confirmed in writing and in two separate phone calls that they fully understood the length of the lease and the monthly lease payment.

We are very sorry the program has not yet met their expectations. We have provided this merchant every part of the advertised program. Again, they completed at least four phone interviews and three separate documents over at least a two day period - if not longer - confirming their understanding and agreement to all aspects of this program. They had ample opportunity over several days to stop the process. They did not stop the process. We have not done anything unethical or deceptive, much less fraudulent.

Our Merchant Support staff prides itself on helping our merchants succeed with their businesses. We still want to help them grow their business.

I trust this is the information you need. If not, please let us know.

John D. Brutsche'