| Are you overpaying for your copier maintenance? I'm | | | | payments may be current, the service is in arrears and |
| willing to bet you are. Most people pay little attention to | | | | you can't get out until it's been satisfied. Also, you |
| their cost for copies and the copier companies are | | | | should remember when you mix your maintenance |
| betting on it too! | | | | payment in with the equipment lease, the service |
| First and foremost, know your company's needs. | | | | becomes third party billing, any changes you wish to |
| Oftentimes you will be paying for copies that will never | | | | make regarding copy charges become more and |
| be used. I can't tell you how many customers sign | | | | more difficult. Sadly, you may find yourself on the |
| contracts for 10,000 even 20,000 copies a month | | | | phone for hours trying to get something resolved or |
| when they average 8,000 copies monthly. It's true, the | | | | changed and more often than not it won't be, setting |
| larger the block you purchase the lower the click | | | | you up for even bigger problems and losses. |
| charge, but does it really make sense to pay for | | | | I'm not saying your office equipment provider is a |
| something you're not going to use? Calculate the | | | | crook, but they, like you, are in business for profit, and |
| charges before you commit to or sign anything. | | | | once the equipment has been funded, their only income |
| Another huge mistake is to tie your service into your | | | | for your account is on the service contract. |
| lease payments. It may be convenient to get only one | | | | There are many reputable consulting firms you can |
| bill each month, but there is no wiggle room when you | | | | contact to look over your documents before you sign |
| sign up for this type of service. | | | | and again I cannot stress enough your need to |
| If you dispute a charge on the lease payment, the | | | | negotiate every aspect of the purchase. |
| lease company will simply apply the service payment | | | | Remember, the lease or purchase of office equipment |
| to the disputed or deducted amount leaving you in the | | | | is usually a minimum three year commitment and |
| red on the service side and you won't know when this | | | | almost every machine will require maintenance during |
| is happening. This action can be a real problem at the | | | | this time. Be diligent in your research and you will avoid |
| end of your lease term, since although your lease | | | | most common pitfalls. |
