Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute

Home
>
Leases & Leasing
>
Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute

Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute

Mike Caringi, owner of a small New Jersey business that sells pumps, found himself facing a gut-wrenching dilemma last summer. Should he continue paying $ 1,500 each month for essential telecommunications services he no longer receives and for leased equipment he claims was never installed? Or, should he stop making payments and face a potential lawsuit from the firm that financed the equipment under a 'hell or high water' lease? Mr. Caringi's company is one of several thousand small companies around the country reeling from the bankruptcy of Norvergence, a reseller of telecommunications and Internet services. At the core of the quagmire facing Mr. Caringi and others is that Norvergence succeeded in getting customers to sign separate lease and service contracts that provided its services.

When Norvergence abruptly shut its doors, it left thousands of its customers scrambling to replace telephone and Internet services while they were obligated to shell out over $ 200 million in lease payments to Wells Fargo Financial, CIT and 30 other leasing companies over the next five years.

How can you protect your company from being victimized in a similar situation? Certainly, most transactions involving equipment leased in connection with a related service carry some degree of risk. You can reduce that risk by taking certain precautions. First, where possible, avoid leasing equipment when the equipment is proprietary to a service. The chances are that you will be stuck with the equipment if the service provider fails. Make sure that the leased equipment has an underlying value that justifies the lease. By doing a present value calculation of all payments owed under the lease agreement and comparing that value to the fair market value of the equipment, you can see whether the lease value is reasonable.

Check to see whether the equipment is used by similar service providers, in case you need to switch services. Finally, make sure you can resell the leased equipment in the after-market, if necessary. As a last resort, you may be able to cut your losses by having the ability to buy-out the equipment from the leasing company to be resold to someone else.

Perhaps, one of the best protections against getting stuck with service-related leased equipment is to thoroughly evaluate the service provider before proceeding. Make sure the service provider is financially sound and has a long track record of providing excellent service. If possible, ask for and review financial information on the service provider. Do an Internet news search to make sure there are no troubling stories about the service provider. Be partial to services that offer equipment under contracts that tie service and use of the equipment together, such that your obligation to pay is conditioned on the service being provided.

Lastly, since these transactions always carry some risk, make sure that an abrupt interruption in the service will not have a material negative impact on your company or cause financial hardship.

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. ("LTI"), responsible for LTI's marketing and financing efforts. A co-founder of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing.

Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com.

In The News:

North Korea tests underwater attack drone that can generate 'radioactive tsunami'
Fri, 24 Mar 2023 02:01:00 +0000
North Korea has tested a new underwater attack drone that can generate a radioactive tsunami, the country's state media has claimed.

Fears for King and Queen Consort's first state visit as violent protests continue
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:20:00 +0000
The first state visit of the King's reign could be disrupted by fierce protests in France over a plan to raise the retirement age.

'Closing the door' on trans people: World Athletics criticised over decision to exclude trans women from female events
Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:58:00 +0000
World Athletics has decided to exclude transgender women who have gone through male puberty from female events.

911 call released as boys trapped in tunnel told to 'scream as loud as they could' to be found
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:45:00 +0000
Five boys aged 11 and 12 who became trapped in the New York City sewer system were told to "scream as loud as they could" to help firefighters locate them before being rescued.

'What did they do to deserve this?': Mother's heartbreak at three children killed in besieged Yemen city
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:08:00 +0000
Two pickup trucks with half a dozen heavily armed men on board escort us on the journey into the besieged city of Taiz.

tikatoshop.it

Erfahrungen mit Pallhuber Wein
Agen Bola SBOBET Terpercaya

Travel in comfort and at your leisure with CT Airlink Limousine & Car Service for top quality private transportation and exceptional customer service. We operate Sedans, SUVs & Vans for CT Car Services to covering all Connecticut airports including Car Service from CT to Newark Airport , Mohegan Casino Uncasville CT, Foxwoods Casino Mashantucket CT, Manhattan Cruise Terminal NYC, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal NYC and Bayonne Cruise Terminal NJ. CT Airlink hire licensed and friendly chauffeurs who have in-depth knowledge of the Areas.