How to get out of difficult elevator contracts in TN.
-Find the auto renewal date
-Provide written notice in the way the contract requires
-Line up your next provider and understand their contract front to back.
*Potential early-outs include contract breach by non-performance, out-dated and incorrect signature, early contract buy-out and others.
If you’d like, send us a copy of your contract and we can comb through it.
Red Flags:
-Auto-Renewal along with auto rate-increase. If you miss the narrow cancellation deadline, you’ll be locked into another round of unfavorable maintenance along with a rate increase.
-Difficult cancellation terms. If they are doing their job well and keeping you happy, why do they need to make it so difficult to cancel?
-No clear service interval mentioned. Terms such as “as necessary” is a major red flag, as they are not holding themselves to performing any maintenance visits at all.
- “Proprietary“ anything. In this trade, non-proprietary systems and equipment allow for more service options and easier parts acquisition by all.
- “obsolescence“ clause. If a part can be claimed to be obsolete by any stretch of the imagination, it will be, and now you’re on the hook for whatever expense may incur in retrofitting the equipment. Many parts are in fact not obsolete, atleast in our mind, as we can still track down some of the hardest to find parts.
If we can get one bit of advice out to you, it is this.
Read your contract, and understand how to terminate it if you feel the need to do so.
There are an overwhelming amount of building owners and managers that are displeased with their elevator service provider and are stuck in difficult contracts. These contracts are written very strategically with one goal in mind, to maximize profits.
These contracts are set for auto renewal, with a narrow termination window where you must submit written notice of termination. Often times more than 90 days in advance of auto-renewal, but not more than 120 days, leaving you with a 30 day window.
Most contracts also do not state frequency of visit anymore. They may state “as necessary”, likely meaning never, or they take a “callback service” approach.
A gold or “full coverage“ contract covering repair work sounds nice, until you understand that the provider is not making any money on your repair and therefore you are put at the bottom of the list and told the supply chain story while your elevator is out of service or puking oil from the hydraulics, behind the mysterious elevator doors. We see this all to often and it is frustrating. This is another reason why we do free assessments.
We do offer maintenance agreements , however they are friendly in nature and cancellation is simple. We are confident you will enjoy our service, and therefore you do not need to be entrapped.
Feel free to reach out to us and discuss options, or if you have any questions about your existing contract and how you may be able to get out.
