Along with hundreds of other companies that had Popular Leasing (Popular) fraudulently assigned to them as their Norvergence (NV) rental agent, (Popular calls it a lease) for a "Matrix" box that was supposed to engineer the "unlimited telecommunications usage for a flat rate", with all of the telecom servces included (local, long distance, cell, internet, datacom).
I was forced to find new telecom services from various providers when NV was forced into bankruptcy in July. Popular was one of the leasing companies who forced NV into bankruptcy and is contending that I (as well as other defrauded customers) am still responsible for the lease of around $1800 a month for 5 years. Popular said that it is not their problem, even though they forced this action. I called XO Communications at Popular's suggestion and they were unable to help me duplicate the service at a cost near to what was being provided by NV, and worse, said that the Matrix box (which Popular held my lease for) was worthless. It was unusable for their service, but they still want to enforce the lease?
Sound a little shady? Every representative of this company that I have talked to has lied to me. As an example, I was told (in a letter by Phyllis Hardcastle, VP) I needed insurance for the equipment (worth approx. $4000—$1000 x 4 units), though they required that I insure it for the cost of the entire lease ($100,000). When I told Sharon Moss (referred to her by Hardcastle as the company insurance guru) their own insurance company offered only replacement cost for the equipment, I was told that I didn't need to buy it, as I already had equipmnet insurance for all of the rest of my equipment in my facility.
Without my knowledge, they billed me for the insurance anyway. When I called to talk about a past due bill when my services had not yet been installed, I was yelled at by the General Manager, Steve Marler, saying he was busy and I interrupted him. I don't think I've ever experienced worse customer service and I don't believe any reputable company would act in this manner.
Not only do I have communications equipment that is essentially useless, it is now secondary to Popular Lease's legal action. I am now being sued for non-payment of this "lease", even though several State's Attorneys General have required Popular to stop collections from and legal proceedings to customers like me. There are lawsuits pending with the US AG, FTC, State AG's and a class action against Popular, but they are increasing their lawsiut activity, anyway, in hopes of getting some quick cash in before the courts force them to stop.
Popular Leasing - clearly in on the scam. Follows their own rules. None that are good business tactics. I will never use them or any affiliated Banco Popular (their parent) companies. Again.
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