ComplaintsforGreatAmerica Financial Services

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Our company signed an agreement to lease two copiers with DEX Imaging. Unknown to us they sold the lease to ************* Financial Services. The lease does not have the signature of DEX Imaging and we never received a copy of the lease. We were sent a copy via email once we requested a copy earlier this year. The copy of the lease that was sent to us is not fully executed. We sent ************* a notice of non-renewal on 08/25/2023. They didn't notify us of any charges until 11/27/2023. At which time, they sent us an amount that we owe if we want to keep the equipment and another if we return the equipment. They will not provide us with the return address until we pay them what they demand we pay them. Therefore, we are not able to even calculate if returning the equipment is the right thing for us to do financially. Additionally, I requested accounting records of our account from inception to current and a breakdown on how they came to the amount due to return the equipment (and purchase it) and they said they referred it to their legal team. They refuse to give us a breakdown. To make matters worse I see in the agreement that if we do not return the equipment by 12/27/23 that the term renews. We believe they are purposely lengthening out the contract to get it to renew which is also the reason why they didn't send us this information sooner. They have numerous complaints for unfair business practices. Their unwillingness to provide our company with the return address, until their arbitrary balance is paid off, is a clear indication that they feel they may not be able to collect their balance if additional steps are taken to dispute the amount. Our dispute should not allow the agreement to renew in perpetuity.

  

  Business response

  01/27/2024

  We are disappointed to see this complaint, as GreatAmericas records reflect a different story of the communications that took place under this account,including unreturned messages left with the business leasing the equipment.Additionally, for purposes of clarity, the agreement referenced in this statement contained assignment language and the following, standard language in a commercial equipment lease agreement: YOU AGREE THAT THIS LEASE IS A NET LEASE THAT YOU CANNOT TERMINATE OR CANCEL. YOU HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL OBLIGATION TO MAKE ALL PAYMENTS DUE UNDER THIS LEASE, AND YOU CANNOT WITHHOLD, SET OFF OR REDUCE SUCH PAYMENTS FOR ANY REASON. Given the business that was leasing the equipment under this agreement has since made all payments under the initial term of the agreement and has indicated that it has returned the equipment to the third party listed on the return instructions, GreatAmerica has closed this account in good faith while it verifies this statement.

• Initial Complaint

  12/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My father leased a commercial printer from them, but due to various struggles, he was unable to make payments starting earlier this year. He contacted them in April to try to cancel the lease, but they refused, saying it will cost too much to ship the printer back and put it back on auction. My father had already paid over 2/3 of the lease by then; their decision doesn't make any sense. Essentially, they had the option of making almost double the amount of money from that one printer. Instead, they chose the easier route of suing my father for $6500 instead of just taking the printer back. They are taking advantage of my hard working, immigrant father who speaks very little English.They are a group of unscrupulous, money hungry, amoral pencil pushers only set on making as much money as possible with as little effort as possible. They do not help businesses as they claim to.

  

  Business response

  01/27/2024

  We greatly appreciate the BBBs efforts to assist with the informal resolution of this matter. After reviewing the account, here is GreatAmericas response:

  In June of 2020, ********************* doing business as Zuprinco Printing and ************ (the End User), needed to acquire a new Ricoh color production printer for its printing business. Rather than take out a loan at a local bank and purchase the printer from the equipment vendor, the End User decided to lease the printer by agreeing to have GreatAmerica, a commercial finance company, pay the vendor on its behalf for the printer and pay GreatAmerica back over time.  In other words, just like a bank,GreatAmerica 1) provided the money that allowed the End User to lease the printer and 2) expected the End User to pay that money back over time.  And, for 32 of the 60 months, the End User made payments under the lease.  It wasnt until April of 2023 that the End User stopped making payments without explanation.

  GreatAmerica made multiple oral and written attempts to contact the End User in a good faith effort to resolve any issues amicably and without court intervention.  Unfortunately,however, the End User did not respond to *********************** communications.  Nor did the End User make any effort to fulfill its contractual obligation to return the printer to a ********** designated by GreatAmerica at its expense. At that time, GreatAmerica was left with no choice but to seek Court intervention. When there was no response to the lawsuit, the Court entered a judgment against the End User.
  

  Shortly thereafter, the Complainant contacted GreatAmerica asking if the End User could be relieved from its obligations to pay GreatAmerica its money back.  Given that the End Users credit score indicates that it has sufficient ability to pay this and other debt obligations, GreatAmerica responded by asking Complainant if the End User could commit to a monthly payment plan of a modest amount, but Complainant refused to provide GreatAmerica any number. 

  That said, it is a great sign that subsequent to ************ communications, the End User has recently reached out to ********************** asking for the judgment amount. If the End User would like to continue discussions with GreatAmerica in an attempt to resolve this matter, we would be more than happy to participate.  

  Customer response

  01/29/2024

   
  Complaint: 20962770
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  They have completely glossed over fact that they're taking advantage of my father who doesn't speak English very well.

  They're also leaving out the part where my father did indeed attempt to cancel the lease because of the financial issues. This was back in April.

  They are not an honest business. Perhaps they should try pivoting their business strategy into more of a comedy club?

  Sincerely,
  
  *****************

  

  Business response

  01/30/2024

  Thank you for passing along the Complainants response. The End User entered into an unambiguous, non-cancellable contract.Additionally, a court of law entered a judgment against the End User related to this contract, reaffirming the outstanding obligations to GreatAmerica. Given this, and that the Complainant is a third party that believes there is still no obligation to pay GreatAmerica back, it appears that we are at an impasse with this Complainant. We remain, however, ready, willing and able to discuss the resolution of this matter directly with the End User.

• Initial Complaint

  12/04/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Great ******** is not acting in good faith concerning the cancelation of a lease that is paid in full.

  

  Business response

  12/08/2023

  We are sorry to see that St. **** Catholic Center felt unclear about the account closing process. We believe we have promptly responded to communication from St. **** Catholic Center, including providing the information and steps needed to close its account. St. **** Catholic Center recently paid off this account and return instructions were sent. We do not believe any further action is needed from GreatAmerica at this time.

• Initial Complaint

  11/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  GreatAmerica Financial Services has financed the lease of my copier equipment for over ten years. I finally finished 3 of my leases and followed the instructions, and sent in a cancellation letter with equipment numbers and lease account numbers. I heard nothing back. I emailed a week later to ask for confirmation but still heard nothing. I finally reached out to them three months after the original cancelation request to see why I haven't gotten a confirmation and why I haven't received any instructions to receive the equipment. I was told on the phone that they could not cancel the lease agreement (even though the lease period had already been fulfilled) until a salesman from the company who sold me the equipment had a chance to call me to make me an offer of some sort. Needless to say, I was not happy that I couldn't cancel my lease agreement and asked the arrogant representative on the phone that the agreement stated that this was the process and I had no choice but to keep paying on the lease until I had a salesperson from the company I bought the equipment from call me and that I heard them out on their quote and proposal. I was livid because I had already turned them down and did NOT want to continue to work with them; the fact that I am returning the equipment, not renewing, not getting new equipment, and not taking their calls should be enough notice that I do not want to work with them. Now, I am being charged for a third month for these leases that have finished, which is over almost $2000 of fees for machines I have wrapped up and ready to ship; I am just waiting for return instructions that ************* Financial is refusing to send me.

  

  Business response

  11/22/2023

  We are sorry to hear about Exacta Bookkeeping & Tax Services Incs (Exacta) dissatisfaction. Our understanding was that the supplier was communicating the cancellation information and working with Exacta on a new proposal to ensure Exacta didnt go without equipment it needed for its business. When we heard that Exacta and the supplier were no longer working together, we promptly provided the applicable information. According to our records, we have sent equipment return instructions to Exacta. We have not yet received the equipment; however, given Exactas statement, we fully anticipate that Exacta will promptly return the equipment. 

  Please let me know how we can be of further assistance. 

  Thank you, 

  **********************************

• Initial Complaint

  05/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  We did not receive an invoice in a timely fashion from ****** Connect so we were assessed a late fee even though the company stated it was mailed timely. They waived the late fee in April, 2022 and we signed up to get our invoices emailed so we could avoid this issue. We then mailed our monthly payment on 12.14.2022 when it was due by 12.25.2022. They processed the payment on 01.04.2023. The entire country was tied up due to storms all across the country and I am sure they were not in to process my payment on Christmas Day but they refuse to waive the late fee because I already got one in April, 2022. This was from their mistake not mine. I called to find out what their company name was and they were shady about that as well. This is a super shady company and unfortunately, our lease is not up for another two years. I want the late fee waived as I used a normal means of mailing my payment in.

  

  Business response

  05/03/2023

  Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I spoke with a senior manager and he informed me that we will waive this late fee. We take into consideration the number of times a lessee has been late, and upon further inspection, this individual has a fair pay history. 

  Customer response

  05/03/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have been attempting to return the equipment to GreaterAmerica Financial Services. They've been a nightmare; I hired an attorney to communicate with them, as it is impossible. They have lied to my attorney and given him the run-around. They were finally forced to speak to him after *** Imaging called them out. We are attempting to return the equipment for ************ **** *************** as we are closing, and our office lease has been terminated. We don't have a place to store the machine. They've failed to provide information to my attorney or me. I've paid well over the device's cost, and I can't even purchase it from them. Please provide an address for the return of the machine. At the inception of the lease agreement we entered with GreaterAmerica we were deceived about the actual cost of the equipment and what exactly we were signing. they are intentionally deceptive. Their business practices are not acceptable, and I advise that no one use Dex Imaging if they partner with companies such as GreaterAmerica.

  

  Business response

  03/28/2023

  Im sorry ********** (initial name on contract) is having such a difficult experience. The *** Imaging Lease Agreement is a short, two-page agreement that outlines, among other things, the initial term and payment obligations of ***************** (the Agreement).The Agreement clearly states in all caps right above the signature line that Keenabilitys payment obligations are absolute and unconditional and are not subject to cancellation, reduction, or setoff for any reason whatsoever. As a condition to approval, a personal guaranty of the owner, *****************, was required, and ********** executed the personal guaranty of the obligations under the Agreement. *********** selected the equipment and the term based on its needs. GreatAmerica merely accepted the terms of the Agreement as assignee to *** ************* and funded *** for assignment of the Agreement and the related equipment. *********** and ********** are now attempting to change the terms of the Agreement and not pay the obligations owed GreatAmerica under the Agreement because (as noted in its write-up) *********** is closing and its office lease has terminated. The Agreement with GreatAmerica is separate and distinct from any office lease *********** has with its landlord, and as stated above, *********** and ********** agreed that the payment obligations under the Agreement were unconditional, which GreatAmerica relied on in purchasing the Agreement and the equipment thereunder. As requested,GreatAmerica has provided *********** a payoff quote to close out the Agreement. Unfortunately, to-date, Kennability and ********** continue to not uphold their payment obligations under the Agreement. 

• Initial Complaint

  07/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ******** a copier through GreatAmerica. Recently, we were put out of business due to no fault of our own. And though we would have preferred to remain in business and fulfill the remainder of our lease, we can't. In trying to return the copier to GreatAmerica, we understand the cost of shipping is our responsibility. However, GreatAmerica is stating that they can't give us an estimate of that cost. Without an estimate of this cost, we feel that they could literally charge us more than the copier is worth to ship back and we would have no recourse but to pay. Additionally, if the cost is more, it would be better for us to pay to keep the equipment than to pay just the buy-out. I feel it is highly unethical to be able to require a business to ship something without any indication of the charges.

  

  Business response

  07/26/2022

   It states in the contract that the lessee is responsible for the return of the equipment. I looked into our notes and see there were communications with the lessee on this subject. We shared that it could be around $300-500 to ship to ************, **, but with gas going up this could be higher. We suggested that the lessee call a shipping company and make arrangements since we are not a shipping company. 

  Customer response

  07/27/2022

   
  Complaint: 17622033
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  This is what they sent to me after I filed the complaint:

  We used to say $300-$500 was a fair estimate, but with gas going up, shipping costs are going up as well.  All depends on the weight, and distance traveled to.  We are not a shipping company so they are likely better off calling one, but I'd say it would be tough to find anything less than $500 nowadays.  2 companies that I've talked to recently who did get quotes, for one machine, were quoted over $900 for one, and over $1000 for the other one.  No idea of the size of the copier or how far it had to be shipped, but that is a lot higher than what we have been used to.
  Im not sure where these get returned I think to ************, ** would be the location given the lessee address. They would need to pay the end of term quote and receive the return instructions; this is the extent of anything we would have being a Finance company.

  They "used" to say $300-$500. They "think" ************, ** - I can't get a quote based on "think". They say they can't help because they are just the finance company. Well, we were just a cell phone store - that is no excuse not to help your customer. They do deal with these transactions often. We do not. Again, I understand it's our financial responsibility but their lack of willingness to assist is unacceptable. 

  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  

  Business response

  07/27/2022

  The lessee appears to believe it is our responsibility to return the equipment when the contract states it is their responsibility. Lessee quoted our notes where it is clear we were trying to help the lessee by stating approximate costs to return the equipment, hence the uncertainty in the notes. We simply don't get involved in cost estimating equipment moves from one place to another. To move forward, lessee must make their own arrangements to return the equipment to ************ **.

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