I purchased a property that had a per-exhisting contract with Jetz services (the contract had been in existence since 1986). We have a small coin laundry, and even though the machines look like they were made in the 1980's, we just continued on with them.
About 18 months after purchase, I asked about the terms of the lease. Their answer?"Oh, well, it autorenewed, and this new contract expires 5 years from now"
Five years? There's nothing so good about this company that would mean I want to commit 5 years to them. I asked if we could reset to a 1 year lease, with a 1 month termination. Ron Summers, the impolite chump from Jetz, responded "Can't go back in time. Sorry!"
I tried to be reasonable. I tried to explain that there was no company that I was so dedicated to that I wanted to sign a 5 year contract, especially for an antiquated coin laundry machine that looks like it could be purchased off Craigslist for $50. Their position was - I should have looked at the contract that came with the property. Which is fair - but refusing to negotiate a new lease with a new owner? Locking the property into a 5 year contract that runs on negative-option continuity - meaning, the client has to say "GO AWAY" a quarter of a year before the lease expires in order to modify anything? Well, maybe some people enjoy that - I don't.
So - if you like getting locked into half-decade contracts, that have negative-option autorenew clauses that go 3 months out, then make sure to pick Jetz Services.
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