Lanier Worldwide Inc. ripoff failed to provide us with contract up front stating we had to pay to return equipment or buy the equipment at end of lease deceptive business practice Atlanta Georgia

We leased a copier in 8/00 with the understanding they would pick up the machine at end of 36 mo.lease. When we called to request pick up, found that they had sold the copier to G.E. capital and we either had to buy out the lease for $505.00 or pay shipping costs of $400 to return. Had we been told this up front, we would not have leased from Lanier.

In fact, we were very clear that we wanted it picked up just as they delivered it. We were not given any contract from G.E. Capital. Until last week, we were unaware that they even owned the machine. When I received the overdue bill, they said that we had to call Lanier. We talked with Frank Causey 9/22/03 and 1800-333-2679 and he said he would forward the informationto the local office.

On 9/25 we talked with Mr. Upton same # and he said he would expediate this problem and returned to supervisor in Orlando office. Kim Ehrhard called back and said there was nothing he could do because G.E. Capital owned the machine. I called G. E. Capital 1-800-633-3980 Craig and was told that I had to either buy the machine or pay to have it returned. They faxed me a copy of the lease agreement that I had signed in 8/00.

I was told at the beginning that this was just the agreement and since Lanier was such a big company, I signed. I did not receive the back page until 9/19-03 when I called to have it faxed to me. I was never shown the back of any contract with G. E. Capital.

I never received a copy. I think this is a very deceptive practive and that G. E.Capital and Lanier have a system to rip off people that trust them. We are a small mom and pop business who are getting ready to retire and can't afford to either send this back or pay it off.

We paid our 36 payments on time in complete agreement with Lanier - now that the contract is up, we expect Lanier to fulfill what was told to us in the beginning.

Ronald
winter springs, Florida
U.S.A.