Consumer Law, Warranties Stuck in a lease??

[Pastor_Talbert]

As the new pastor of a church, I inherited a $525 a month lease for a copier/printer. The lease was supposed to be up in February this year, so we bided our time.
Upon beginning to check as to where and who to send our letter of intended termination for the copier lease, (beginning back in November), we only just today (Jan 2nd) found out that our lease was automatically renewed in October. We received no notice. We have tried to locate the lease agreement, which apparently the previous pastor did not file properly, so it is unlocatable. We did find the delivery receipt for October 29th of 2002, with a 63 month lease noted on it (Jan/Feb 2008 ending).

We have contacted the company, only to be told, we have no options til the lease is up next year (October 2008), and we cannot contact them any more then 150 days, and no less than 90 days prior.

Questions:
1. Was this action legal on their part?
2. Is it binding, though none of the previous officers of the church still are present?
3. What can happen if we break contract?
4. Is there any practical advice for how to negotiate, or who to contact for negotiations?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[mafioso]

First ask them to send you a signed copy of the previous lease. Then see if there are holes or penalties you can afford if you break the lease. Only a review of the lease would give you an idea on your best options.