Konica Minolta KONICA MINOLTA SCHEME TO COLLECT MONIES PAST CONTRACT END Chicago, Illinois

I own a business with two locations.  Four years ago I leased two copiers from Konica Minolta.  The contract ended in October 2011 but prior to that in May of 2011, I was approached by another company that offered us a much better deal and, if we signed with them to start the term right away, they would give us a check to pay Konica through the end of their lease term. 

I took the deal.  I then called Konica and told them of my intentions in May 2011.  I told them I would not be renewing my contract and that they could pick the copiers any time because I had signed with a new company and thus had new copiers.   At no time during this conversation was I given instructions on how to proceed to ensure my wishes were carried out.

The company did not pick up the copiers but I just assumed they were waiting for the contract to end.   Additionally, every month,  I got a call from the sales rep asking me to set up an appointment to discuss a contract renewal.  Each time I told him of my intention to end the contract and, again, I told him the copiers were not being used and that they could be picked up at any time.

Fast forward to October 2011.  Well, I was so relieved to send in the last payment to Konica (finally rid of them) well at least I thought so.  In November, I received a billing statement.  I called them immediately thinking that they made some sort of mistake.  The woman in accounts payable pulled up my account and said that even though the contract ended, I did not send an an official letter to end the service as stated in their contract.  I told them I had called them way back in May with my intention to not renew the contract, and spoke several times with the sales rep reiterating that intention.  I told her nobody told me to send in anything.  She was uninspired and offered no help at all.

After all my conversations with several different associates at Konica about my intentions not to renew the contract, not a single person ever told me how I should proceed.  Anyway, I thought I'd better get a letter over to them immediately as I didn't need to billed for another month.  At the end of November, I faxed and mailed a letter ending services and, of course, my complaints.  I still to this day have not received any communication from Konica EXCEPT another billing statement for January 2012 and a past due amount for November and December. 

I am LIVID!!  I wouldn't have taken the time to express my feelings about this ridiculous company hadn't I seen that others are dealing with this same issue.  Somebody should put Konica in it's place!!!!!!  Stay away from KONICA MINOLTA, they are rip-off artists!!