Policy Statement---Nothing is sent out that is not "fair." Always unbiased reporting. Fairness always. If it is questionable, we will ask the writer's permission to quote them. We will print information without attribution, but feel as long as we do not name the person who sent it, we can use the information.

Any information we think is suspicious, we try to have if substantiated first by at least two reliable people. We will not purposely send out "negative" news.

It is the editor's sole discretion as to what is printed and not printed. If an opinion or viewpoint is expressed, the writer or writers will be named in the by-line of the article. 

It is our policy to post all major corrections in the next earliest edition at the beginning of the news edition, highlighted in bold, and to make any major correction in the current “on line” news edition as early as possible. Typos such as wrong dates and name corrections are also corrected on line when noticed by the editor or reader(s), and if necessary, as determined by the editor, may be noted in the next edition as a “Clarification” or “Correction,” such as an email address or telephone number.

All press releases will be marked preceding and after with #### Press Release #### to note the article did not originate at leasing news.

All advertising traded for writing or for support will be so noted below the advertising.

Leasing News follows “The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, ” Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, Massachusetts, plus “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, MacMillan Publishing, Co., Inc.

It is our policy to post all major correction in the next earliest edition at the beginning of the news edition, highlighted in bold, and to make any major correction in the current on line news edition as early as possible. Typos such as wrong dates and name corrections are also corrected on line when noticed by the editor or readers, and if necessary, as determined by the editor, may be noted in the next edition on top of the start (before the Classified ad section) as a “Clarification” or “Correction.”

To be added to the mailing list, you must request it. We do not send anything about our company or personal e-mail or jokes to the leasing news list. We do not share our mailing list with anyone. We try not to send more than one report a day, if at that, unless an "alert."

We follow Internet Netiquette at all times. Our sole purpose is to provide communication to improve our profession. We reserve the right to deny sending the newsletter or purchase advertising when requested. We reserve the right to edit or delete an opinion that is not in good taste or is outright derogatory.

We prefer "positive" news. We have no "axe" to grind or are not paid or seek or accept any remuneration for product or promotion. We do not Spam anyone. 

The Leasing News Advisory Board is chosen by the publisher. They are not financially compensated. They participate in the overall direction of our electronic newspaper. As stated earlier, and as per a “printed” newspaper procedure, it is the editor's sole discretion as to what is printed and not printed; not the board of directors or any advisory board.

American Leasing is a separate company than Leasing News and does not receive any remuneration or “leads” or “business” in any manner from Leasing News.

We may refer to a specific company, for instance, if they are looking for a captive vendor program, or niche equipment. If a broker looking for a funding source, we may make a referral, but never with any “strings” or “benefit” to American Leasing. American Leasing is a small lessor/broker doing business primarily in Silicon Valley. The company does not have a “broker program” or pay fees or referrals to a “broker.” We “bend over backwards” to keep both companies two distinct entities to avoid any journalist conflicts.

Mr. Menkin sits on several board of directors and advisory boards. Should there be any conflict, it is so noted in the story. If there is a financial interest in the company, it is also so noted in the story as a “disclaimer.” 

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Major Policy Change 6/23/06

by Christopher Menkin, publisher

In a major policy decision, Leasing News now includes those companies with complaints and poor Better Business Bureau reports on all “business category” lists. Those who were also rejected from the mailing list are now invited to rejoin.

In the past, a company on the Leasing News Bulletin Board Complaint list was excluded, as well as companies with poor Better Business Bureau reports.

In changing this policy, all BBB reports and Leasing News Bulletin Board complaints will be included in the lists. Companies are invited to submit footnote comments on these reports, as well as other information about their company.

“Funders” such as Microfinancial/Leasecomm were originally not included, due to their poor BBB report. Those with recent Leasing News Complaints, such as Trident Leasing, San Jose, California, and American Equipment Financial, Warren, New Jersey would be removed. They now remain.

In addition, information from “The List” and recent news stores printed in Leasing News will also be available as follows:

BBB - Better Business Report
CBB - Leasing News Complaint Bulletin Board
CNI - Current News Information
Search-- There are six years of information, 4075 pages.

Readers also voted that those listed in the Complaint Bulletin Board who resolve their complaint listed should be removed from the list. In addition, Leasing News will use its best effort to remove the complaint from the archive section. Should another complaint against the person or company be listed, the prior listing will be re-instated, as well as archive stories. In addition, it is Leasing News policy, should a person or company not resolve a complaint, all the prior complaints
will also be posted along with the new unresolved complaint.

Leasing News is the only equipment leasing trade publication with a vast archive section, which is also free. As with all “search engines,” the changing of words bring up different findings. In order to save readers time, the searches have already been loaded. For instance, run “Fin Pac,” you will find more pages on Financial Pacific than running its name. Readers also still have the ability to customize their searches, too.

“The List,” “ Mergers, Acquisitions and Changes,” has also been incorporated; to trade the evolution of the company since 1998 to the latest quarter of the current year.

Broker/Lessor List
"Funder" List
Story Credit Lessor
Super Brokers' List

The “why” was discussed with the Leasing News Advisory Board regarding this major policy change. One of the criteria that lead to the need for the change was the discovery of several companies already on the list who had developed unsatisfactory Better Business Bureau reports. It would then become a lot of mechanical work to re-check all those listed to keep up-to-date. In addition, companies who had been rejected, their BBB report may have improved. We found several, although it normally takes three years for the changes to occur.

Our original concept was that companies would keep us informed and want to be on the list, especially if we offered to include any information they wanted on the list in their “footnote.”

We considered it “free advertising.”

We had hoped by listing all the “good guys,” readers would question why the company they were seeking to find information on was not on the list. We learned they did not understand our concept.

On our Wednesday, June 21, anniversary I had hoped to include this major policy change, but we had not finished all the lists at that time ( in reality, they are an “on going” feature.) The points in the anniversary statement were: we listen to our readers, we are not afraid to experiment, try new things, and admit when we are wrong, change things when they were not working.

Readers, including consumers ((that is what leasing clients refer themselves as “consumers,” not lessees or businesses or even corporations (most are closely held who contacted us)), vendors, funders, and broker/lessors complained when they could not find companies on the list. They did not understand they were purposely left off. The fact that all are not listed, or there is incomplete information on the list, led them to believe it meant the company was overlooked. The concept was lost to the readers.

In discussing the subject, several Leasing News advisors also thought it more fair to list everyone and let readers make up their own minds whether they wanted to do business with a company or not.

It was then decided that if Leasing News were to list all BBB reports that were available, why not list the other information, as Yahoo does on publicly held corporations, such as history and current news. If the concept was to let readers make up their own minds, then let them have all the important information we could find available to them. This is our first attempt at this, and we hope companies listed will made corrections, additions, and help keep the lists current.