Request to Post NorVergence User's Lament

“I recognize that there is an entire industry of Good Leasing Companies out there that in your eyes may be getting a bad rap due to the misadventures of a few bad eggs. Rest assured, at least by me, that if your Leasing Company isn't involved in this mess that we would certainly turn a favorable eye to you for future lease purchases for ‘EQUIPMEN'". I think we all agree that Leasing ‘EQUIPMENT' as a whole is a fairly acceptable practice and one that will continue for many years to come.

“What we as a group are fighting is the apparent "Bait and Switch" scam that somehow turned a ‘PHONE SERVICE' contract into an ‘EQUIPMENT Lease'. What we were originally sold by the carefully trained Norvergence sales staff was a total "Phone solution" that would address all of our current and expanding future Telecommunication needs. We were told that this proposed "Solution" would be guaranteed in writing not to increase in cost for a period of 60 months. As far as I was concerned, I was locking in a fixed out-of-pocket cost for a comprehensive Telecommunication service contract for the next 5 years. They did invite us to check competitive prices frequently and if a lower price package for the same or similar service were found, they would immediately match that price to keep us as a customer. That doesn't sound like an ‘EQUIPMENT LEASE' to me.

“This all encompassing ‘Service contract' proposed by Norvergence addressed all of our current local and long distance office phone costs with a new "Low Cost" method of routing in-coming and out-going phone calls through a modern and sophisticated high speed T-1 circuit. At the heart of this system was a seemingly sophisticated piece of equipment called the MATRIX. All of our future calls would be routed through a T-1 line via this MATRIX and because there was no involvement with local phone company lines, the cost incurred would be next to nothing.

“Because of the small band width required to operate the incoming and outgoing phone traffic, we were also afforded high speed T-1 internet access and free e-mail accounts. I'm sure that many of the companies saw this benefit as a powerful business tool that they couldn't currently afford. I know that we as a company previously had a slow speed, dial-up connection to the internet via a modem, and the T-1 service feature simply sold itself.

“Modern flip style cellular phones with camera features were also addressed and provided as part of this comprehensive package. Big name companies such as T-Mobile and Sprint assured us of the cellular phone quality. The cell phone package promoted with a free roaming service through a "Carrier Neutral" agreement that Norvergence had with various cell phone towers. You could freely roam in and out of network without losing your call because the signal would simply be picked up and transmitted by the next cell tower along the way. These phones could also be replaced yearly for new technology models by simply placing a call to our Customer Service rep. and requesting one. That doesn't sound like the terms of an ‘EQUIPMENT LEASE' to me.

“A free 800 number and 800 fax number were also made possible through the high speed routing of the phone system via the T-1 connection. We were also promised a full refund price for any/all reproduction costs associated with the printing of new company letterhead, business cards and any other associated business forms that would show and display our new 800 numbers and cell phone numbers. All we had to do was submit a proof of payment along with representative samples of the items purchased. We were instructed to forward that information to Customer Service also for immediate payment. Any and all pre-existing phone service contracts, cell phone contracts and internet service contract "termination fees" were also to be forwarded to Norvergence for prompt payment. As an interim bonus, we would also see a monthly check from Norvergence for the net difference between our current combined monthly phone services and the Norvergence proposal up until the system was installed and operational. As a final incentive, we would also be awarded a $300 per customer "finders fee" referral bonus for any company that we had our salesman contact. Of course that incentive assumed that the company referral would be approved by Norvergence and that the referral company also accepted the installation of this system. AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING REDUNDANT, That doesn't sound like the terms of an ‘EQUIPMENT LEASE' to me.

“How all of these promises and multiple telecommunication services are now being neatly wrapped up into an ‘EQUIPMENT LEASE' by the leasing companies is driving all of us crazy. They are somehow attempting to void this comprehensive Telecommunications Service package and reducing it to a piece of equipment hanging on our phone board wall. This mystery black box called the MATRIX has been reported by many to be nothing more than a high tech signal "splitter" that can receive and transmit phone and data signals through high speed internet lines. It can be purchased at electronic wholesalers across the country for as little as $800.00. This same system of routing incoming and outgoing local and long distance calls is currently being offered by our current service provider and also another large phone service provider, and guess what, it didn't require an "EQUIPMENT LEASE" to get it.

“The leasing companies are basing their case solely around this piece of equipment and hoping that a judge will somehow reason and determine that this "Equipment" has a VARIABLE" market value equal to the remaining monthly payments agreed to by the customer. It has been reported through this group to be as much as $70,000 or as little as a few thousand dollars. The absurdity that a single piece of equipment has a ranging value to these extremes is in and of itself incomprehensible. Surely anyone with a little common sense will see through this SCAM for what it is and side with us, the true innocent victims!

“Maybe the Leasing companies initially didn't know the entire story, but maybe now by my posting this message they do! I invite any and all challenges to what I have reported here!”