We are a small Book Publishing Business. In July 2005, we started accepting credit card payments through a company called Retriever aka NPC. Our sales rep arranged a credit card terminal.
We were to pay monthly for this terminal. The monthly payments of $39.00-$46.00 were automatically deducted by a company called LFG or Lease Finance Group, LLC. The term of the contract with LFG was 48 months.
January 2010, we contacted LFG, via fax, letter, and phone, to ask why LFG continued to take monthly deductions from our bank account. No Response from LFG.
On February 1, 2010, we finally got an LFG rep on the phone. This rep said our LFG mo. payments would continue indefinitely, unless we formally cancelled 'in writing'.
On Feb. 1, 2010, we sent a letter to LFG, via fax and mail, to state we expected all monthly deductions to 'cease'. LFG also stated we had to pay $250 to stop deductions. We agreed to allow LFG to deduct this amount to end this relationship.
In the meantime, I contacted our rep with Retriever-NPC, who claimed LFG is a separate company, and he had no control over LFG. This rep acknowledged other NPC customers had 'issues' with LFG.
LFG has continued to deduct the same amount from our bank, without any confirmation of our formal letter. In August 2010, we mailed a certified letter to LFG. LFG signed for this letter. Still, No Response from LFG. Deductions continued.
In November 2010, we asked our bank to put a hold on all LFG deductions. Now, as of Dec. 28, 2010, a collection-demand notice was received from LFG, claiming we owe for two months, at $46.59 per month.
Yesterday, Dec. 28, 2010, we spoke with LFG on the phone. LFG claims the only way we can cancel our contract (although the 48 months expired July 2009), is to comply with difficult to understand, small print in the contract signed July 2005.
LFG claims we must pay $46.59 indefinitely, if we do not comply. All we were told by our rep, and what the contract shows is to pay for 48 months. This would be from July 2005 to July 2009.
This terminal isn't even working now. It is very cheaply made. We never made an issue of this. We paid the monthly payments as required. Now, LFG says we must continue to pay, unless we can figure out legal terminology in this contract. Our credit card company says we are on our own, even though our rep arranged this contract.
Help!
Helen
Dublin, California, USA |