Customer First.

Who We Are

At ABS, integrity is the guiding principle that shapes everything we do. We believe in giving back to the community that supports us by actively participating in local initiatives and charitable efforts because we understand that a thriving community benefits us all. Our employees are the heart and soul of our organization, and we treat them with the respect they deserve. We also believe in supporting other businesses and forging partnerships that promote mutual success. However, our ultimate goal is to create lasting relationships with our customers built on trust and satisfaction. We prioritize open communication and transparency in all our interactions, so we offer transparent pricing, ensuring our customers always know exactly what they’re paying for. 

From the quality of our products and services to our ethical business practices and how we treat our employees and partners, we believe in doing what’s right, even when no one is looking. For most people, when you hear that a company follows industry standard practices, you would think to yourself “that sounds fair.” Here at ABS, there are even industry standard items that we don’t believe in because we feel they are deceptive.

With that said, we aim to shed light on deceptive tactics commonly found in other company’s agreements. As an organization committed to integrity and trustworthiness, we aim to protect businesses from falling victim to various forms of deceptive practices. We particularly want to highlight hidden shipping fees, hidden monthly surcharges and hidden/steep escalation fees concealed within complicated contracts. We recognize that most individuals do not meticulously read every word of lengthy agreements, and disingenuous companies exploit this fact to their advantage.

Hidden Shipping Fees

Hidden shipping fees are additional charges associated with the transportation of goods that are not prominently disclosed to customers when they make a purchase. These fees often come as an unpleasant surprise to buyers because they are not clearly stated during the lease agreement. Hidden shipping fees can include various costs, such as handling fees, fuel surcharges, residential delivery surcharges, and surcharges for expedited or special delivery services. 

Hidden Monthly Surcharges

A hidden monthly surcharge refers to an additional fee or cost that is not prominently disclosed or readily apparent in a service agreement, subscription, or purchase contract. These fees are often obscured within the fine print or obscured in a way that makes them easy to overlook. They can encompass various charges, such as administrative fees, maintenance fees, regulatory fees, or even subscription rate increases that are not explicitly mentioned when the service is initially advertised or agreed upon.

Hidden Escalation Fees

We want to protect customers like you from falling for these deceptive practices, such as the one pictured to the right. If you ever come across an agreement that appears too good to be true or raises suspicions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will happily review the documentation for you.

We can simplify the complex contract language and clarify the actual costs you’ll incur by the end of your lease agreement.

Screenshot 2023 09 26 121704
An Example of Hidden Escalation Fees In A Lease Agreement

What does this writing actually mean for companies, behind the complex contract language?

Once the first year is over, and then once every twelve months after, companies can raise the Base Payment and any additional per image charges by a maximum of 15% compared to what you previously paid. By lumping the equipment payment and the service payment together into the “Base Payment”, this increase applies to both items, which is not an industry standard.  ABS only increases the service portion of their payments by an average of 10% per year, which is considered the industry standard. In many cases, by the end of your term, your payment can be nearly double the price of the “base payment” listed in your agreement that you have signed for.

Whether you’re a customer or not, we’re dedicated to safeguarding your company from being lured by an appealing initial price only to find yourself trapped in a contract with escalating costs year after year.

ABS Upfront Pricing Vs Competitors' Hidden Fees

We collected competitor data, ensuring its anonymity for legal compliance

Example of Compared Lease Agreements

Here is an example.  ABS is quoting a customer an equipment payment of $218 per month with a service payment of $87.  Company X is quoting you an equipment payment of $178 per month with a service payment of $70 per month.  On paper, it seems as though you are going to save yourself $57.  Assuming Company X is going to provide you with the same quality service that ABS provides, this seems like an obvious choice.  However, if you don’t pay attention to the fine print, you wouldn’t realize that Company X’s proposal is actually almost $1000 more over the period of the contract due to their escalation clause.  In Figure 1, you can see that you start out year 1 paying less to Company X, but by year 5 you are paying significantly more.  Figure 2 shows total expenditure over the period of a 5 year lease.

Our Promise to You

Our commitment to transparency is at the core of our business values. We promise to provide our customers with clear and honest pricing information, ensuring they have a full understanding of the financial aspects of our services.

Our aim is to help everyone make informed decisions, navigate contractual complexities, and avoid falling victim to hidden fees or misleading terms commonly employed in lease agreements. Through education and transparency, we aspire to build trust and foster long-lasting relationships with our valued customers.

High-Quality Solutions

We ensure that our solutions are not only technologically advanced but also tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

Transparent Pricing

We will answer all your questions about pricing and will make sure you are well-informed about your lease agreement.

Proven Track Record

We have established a proven track record of success that speaks volumes about our reliability and expertise.

We are here to help!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us anytime via phone or email if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. We are here to assist companies in staying informed, and we hope you’ll consider this information when assessing future agreements