Regus: A Lease Trap with Hidden Costs and Ambiguous Contracts
Regus, under the umbrella of International Workplace Group (IWG), offers a deceptive leasing experience that can quickly spiral into a financial nightmare. While they advertise a dedicated desk for $245, this is far from the actual cost. A hidden 30-day termination notice clause means you’re locked in for at least two months, bringing the total to $490. But wait, there’s more! A non-refundable retainer fee adds another $245, totaling $735. Cardkey access is an additional $55, pushing the cost to $790, and taxes can easily push it over $800.
Regus relies on their complex invoice systems and ambiguous contracts to obscure the true cost, leaving you with a hefty bill for what was supposed to be a short-term lease. The retainer fee is particularly troublesome, as it requires a proactive request within 30 days to be refunded, rather than being returned automatically.
If you’re considering leasing here, be prepared to pay double the advertised price. Terminating the agreement immediately won’t exempt you from the retainer, and even if you do, you might still be charged for an extra month if your lease ends on an inconvenient day. Proceed with caution, and be ready for unexpected expenses.
Reply from Regus - WA, Seattle - 2nd Ave
Hi David,
I’m very sorry to hear of your disappointment.
As the world’s leading flexible workspace provider, we do not engage in anything 'deceptive' with our customers.
We ensure that any questions about services, fees, including the retainer, are clearly addressed before an agreement is signed.
The retainer refund should be requested when ending the agreement online. Upon checking, we noticed that you have not requested your retainer refund online. Requesting a refund is easy. You should log into your online account at myregus.com, select My Account > Billing and payments > Retainer balances, where a specific section for refund request is available. We will then confirm your payment date and amount. Your refund will be processed within 30 days after your agreement end date or request date (whichever is later). It’s an automated process. However, we ask you to go through some security steps as part of our fraud-prevention policy.
Your current agreement will expire on 30 September 2026, as we received your notice after the required notice period had passed.
A member of my team contacted you to address your concerns but please feel free to contact me at lorraine.brule@regus.com for additional support.
Best,
Lorraine Brule
Global Customer Service at Regus