What is a Culligan Rental Agreement?
A Culligan rental agreement is a simple legal document between you, the customer, and your partner in the business of making a good thing better, to rent water treatment equipment from Culligan. You can count on your Culligan Man to carefully go through the details of the rental agreement to be sure you’re comfortable with the terms, like your monthly rental fees, the length of the term of the agreement, and the payment process. Once these important points are agreed upon, you only need to read through the rest to be informed.
Your Culligan Man will explain the purpose of your rental agreement. Seemingly obvious, it’s a very important element in a mutually beneficial business relationship. Your Culligan rental agreement outlines basic terms of your relationship with your trusted water treatment provider. For example , you’ll quickly learn how to order salt for your softener, or replacement filters for your drinking water system and whose responsibility those costs are.
The rental agreement you enter into to begin with may be a simple 12-month term, but do what you can to save up because by the end of the first year you will probably find you have questions beyond those first 12 months. At the end of the term, the process becomes a simple walk-through of the rental agreement before signing it again for another year. If you’ve moved, if your water has changed, or if you just want to take a lease to purchase or buy out the equipment, you and your Culligan Man will reevaluate the equipment and change the terms of your rental agreement if necessary.
The Parts of a Culligan Rental Agreement You Should Know
Rental Duration: Rental agreements are usually set up for a specified period of time, such as 36 or 48 months. Be sure to fully understand the rental duration because some rental agreements describe a "soft end" (which allows for a 90-day grace period) and a "hard end" (a definitive stop). You are not legally bound for months after the soft end date. However, you must pay the rental fee for the hard end if you do not return the unit before that date.
Payment Terms: Rental agreements require a customer to pay a monthly service fee in exchange for rental of the water softener. If you own the unit, you are only responsible for purchases of salt. However, if you rent the unit, your agreement also covers annual maintenance, parts, and basic salt replacement.
Cancellation Policy and Fee: In order to not be charged the fee, you must return the unit by the last day of the contract term. Although you may have plans for a quick move, the last day of your rental agreement does not change. You are still responsible for paying the cancellation fee, even if you used another water softener while getting ready to move. Return it by the term ending date to avoid the cancelation fee.
The Perks of Renting from Culligan
When you rent from Culligan you can do so knowing that you are getting the best service from service providers in the industry. By renting from a local independent Culligan dealer you have the peace of mind knowing that they value their customers needs because the business is built on customer service as a priority.
Benefits of Renting
Renting your equipment also gives you options. We try to make everything as seamless as possible when it comes to renting your equipment, and one of the things we want to make sure of is that you know the different options you have. Culligan Rentals are available with various rental terms – 3, 6, and 12 month terms to choose from. The longer the rental term, the lower the rental rate per month. Many customers choose to rent for a minimum of 12 months so that they have an idea of the typical price of softened water for their household. A rental term of 12 months also ensures that any service calls necessary during the rental period are at no charge. When you choose to rent from Culligan, you are renting a completely new, fully warranted piece of equipment. For this reason, we do not allow one rental to transfer to another. Another consumer protection that is in place is that all equipment is labeled with a unique serial number. As a result, evading a return of equipment is easy to track. Finally, in each rental contract there is a "Rental Objection" which provides the customer with a very generous grace period to allow our service department to respond to any service concerns that may occur. This also protects the customer from late fees when they are waiting on a service call.
Renting from Culligan is completely risk free. If you are trying out the process to see how your home will respond to the softened water or if you doing it to help determine if the system is too big or too small for your family’s needs, you have a full 60 days to see how the system performs. If you rent and are not completely satisfied with the performance of your system within those 60 days you are under no obligation to continue renting and you can just call your delivery driver to have them take the system out of your home.
Renting is a great choice for someone who both desires soft water, but would like to conserve capital by not purchasing equipment immediately. Since the rental system does not have any purchasing cost, the rental is usually priced to cover the customer’s initial equipment and installation costs. Even through the monthly rental seems high at first, over the course of 48 months the rental is usually less than a purchase.
How to Sign a Culligan Rental Agreement
To sign a rental agreement for drinking water or a water softener, the first step is to reach out to your local Culligan dealer for consultation. For most locations, filling out the online form on this website will get you in touch with someone at a local dealer, but you can also try calling them directly if you have a specific one in mind.
Through the consultation process, the dealer will be able to determine if a rental agreement makes sense for you. Opportunities exist to install water conditioning systems into homes with or without existing plumbing , and dealers aspire to create the best possible solution for each customer. If rental is the right choice for you, the dealer will walk through each of the terms and conditions, clearly communicating setup fees, rental rates, payment due dates, warranty information, termination terms and credits.
Once terms are agreed upon, the two parties will sign the rental agreement. At this time, the dealer will order equipment if needed, schedule a delivery and installation, and begin setting up payment information.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Culligan Water Rental
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about Culligan rental agreements:
Question: Do I pay a fee for returning to old equipment?
Answer: No, unlike some competitors who charge a restocking fee, Culligan does not charge fees for returning old equipment. There is no fee to update your softener or conditioning system as long as you choose another Culligan system.
Question: Do I have to pay sales tax on the rental agreement?
Answer: Yes, you may be required to pay sales tax on the rental agreement. In some states, you may also be required to pay sales tax on bottled water delivery.
Question: Am I stuck with this contract?
Answer: Absolutely not – you can cancel your contract at any time without penalty. Most customers end up extending the contract because they love the results of their unit and want to keep enjoying it.
Question: Will the technician turn me away if I want an upgrade?
Answer: Not at all. If you’ve had time with your current softener and appreciate having soft water in your home, your technician will be happy to discuss an upgrade with you. You’re free to upgrade at any time, even if you’re in the middle of a 12-month rental period.
Question: Are there any hidden fees with your rentals?
Answer: Not unless you have a rental agreement for a water cooler that is electric. In that case, Culligan cannot be responsible for paying electrical costs. If you wish, the company can provide you with an electrical adapter to purchase separately.
Have more questions about Culligan equipment costs? Speak with your local Culligan Man for all of the answers.
Rental vs. Purchase of Culligan Water Equipment
Renting or buying your water treatment equipment from Culligan depends on your budget and your family’s needs. Which is right for you?
Although renting will give you the lowest payments, you’ll never own the equipment. Depending on the type of equipment, purchase payments can be slightly higher than rent, but they’re over a much shorter term (12 to 60 months) so they’re also generally lower overall than rental. If you do choose to purchase, you own the equipment and, as a result, incur no more payments once it’s paid off.
Keep in mind that you are also responsible for permitting and inspections, repairing, re-insulating, and replacing connections, and plumbing modifications and repairs. Renting frees you from maintenance responsibilities.
Including an Automatic Water Softener Removal Option in the Rental Agreement.
If you have a Culligan water softener, you’re responsible for keeping it fully serviced during the rental term. If you have an RO unit, remember that the filters and repair of the system are your responsibility too. If you were to purchase the system , you would be responsible for any required permits or inspections to connect the treatment equipment to the water supply.
If you ever have to move, you need not worry about the unforgiving timing involved with purchasing water treatment equipment. If your softener needs to be reinstalled or your RO system moved to a new location, call Culligan. If you have a rental, you can even transfer the rental agreement to your new address. A rental has reduced financial impact in the event of a move, and the end of rental term is usually between two to five years. In addition, if you own the system and plan to sell your home, it can be difficult to explain to buyers why your home has a water filtration system and get a fair return on your investment.
Overall, renting enables you to enjoy your warm showers, clean clothes, spot-less dishes, and delicious drinking water sooner. When deciding to rent or purchase, consider the following:
Those who choose to rent receive ongoing system maintenance and repairs for free. This means no surprise charges like $150 for a quick home visit or $30 for a clogged filter. While warranties often do cover maintenance and repairs, you may have to wait weeks for a scheduled service.