Sounds like maybe the brake levers need to be rotated upwards around the handlebar...?
On any normal bike that's a 2-second job with a screwdriver. I just test-rode a couple bromptons this weekend but I didn't pay that much attention to how the brake levers were attached so I can't remember if it's that simple.
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Now living in the land of the cheesesteak.
But working at a job where I can't surf BikeForums all day any more...