The complaint has been investigated and
resolved to the customer's satisfactionResolved Golden Eagle Leasing/SKS Associates — Leasing Contract
resolved to the customer's satisfaction
I leased a credit card machine from Golden Eagle Leasing years ago. I actually can't remember how long ago, but it was in the 1990's. I cancelled the contract a couple years after getting the machine. I finally figured out it was a ripe-off. I paid off the contract and returned the machine and they finally stopped deducting from my account. I just received a letter today from SKS Associates in NY that they had acquired all the rights of Golden Eagle Leasing. They say that I owe back taxes and related filing costs pertaining to the equipment and will debit my account for that amoung. The amount is $160.25. I can't believe this. I'm sure my paperwork from those days is long gone. I know I had confirmation that the contract was satisified. Does anyone know of any legal action anyone has taken with these people or how to handle?
Thank you for any information.
a verified customer
What's the date on your letter? And have they debited your account?
Please check out SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account on Facebook. There are over 200 of us there who have also been victimized by this company.
I got the same letter, billing notice of amount due and payable now, in the mail telling me we owe $90.90 for taxes, processing fees and filing fees. I am sending all your comments along with my letter to the IRS and the States of California and New York. At least they will have to pay taxes on those who were had their accounts debited by these criminals.
a verified customer
Unfortunately I am in the same boat as many of you. I signed a contract with Northern Leasing but not being told it was for 48 months. I was under the assumption it was for a year and then I could decide whether I want to continue. I actually told the lady that I didn't want to sign anything longer than a year. I called the lady back after realizing that 48 months was put down on the contract and I told her I would never sign for anything that took 48 months to pay off. Then I noticed she put in that I would generate about $5000 a month in earnings. WTF! I'm in the t-shirt business and trust me, business has been slow. When I looked at that I was like these folks are really a mess. I have been contemplating on what I need to do. After looking at my account this morning and seeing that they (Encore Payment Systems) are taking out whatever they fill, I am going to close my account because I can't keep going on like this, not knowing what the hell they are going to take out next month. These folks are rediculous. Any ideas would be helpful. I will file a complaint with the NY Attorney General. Please feel free to email me if you have any suggestions. [email protected]
Thank you!
It took me years to realize the scam. I first leased a credit card machine from Golden Eagle in 1995, which was later bought by another company and then this one by another company. I tried at various points to contact these people to no avail and they kept charging my PC checking account year after year. I finally got to formally terminate the agreement and return their equipment in January, 2011. However, I discovered today that my PC checking account was charged $195.00 by SKS on March 29. When we contacted SKS they argued that it was related to "certain taxes and related fees due that were either not collected or under collected". The exact same thing they've done to so many other companies. This is FRAUD with capital letters.
a verified customer
If you haven't joined our FB group, "SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account" please check it out - there's helpful info there.
I have not received a letter but noticed that my bank account was charged $150 by SKS Associates..in a panic i call the number listed and find out that its Northern Leasing..The credit card machine company I used from back in 09. Filed a dispute with my bank and now I will sit around and wait for maybe a refund. That is so bs though. Highly upset!!!
a verified customer
Yeah, they've already got so many reports against them it's not funny. I'm surprised they are still even trying to collect since there's a restraining order against them right now but if you initiated the contact... that probably doesn't count.
Check out the FB page, "SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account". All the latest news on this is posted there.
I also received the letter about 30 days ago, I have called the company 4 times. I told them not to draft my account, that they could not give me a 3 day notice to draft, that I would mail a check in April. I was told to contact my county tax accessors office to find out why I owed the money. Today I called back and demanded to talk to a manager was told that they were busy and given the same line about SKS associates acquiring the leases and that these were back taxes owed. I told the guy on the phone that I was going to contact the NC State Attorney Generals Office, the guy started back treading saying that he didn't want me to go to all that trouble and that he would talk to the billing office and have the fee removed.
a verified customer
They got me before that too. But at least if you need some proof of misconduct in order to get the money back through your bank, you can show them the TRO. Yes they got you under the wire, but it demonstrates that there's shenanigans going on.
That's just great because they got us on the 7th.
a verified customer
A temporary restraining order was granted on 4/8/11 to prohibit SKS and it's aliases from debiting the accounts of any more former clients with terminated leases. It also prohibits them from reporting any negative remarks with credit bureaux.
The documents are posted on Facebook on SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account.
a verified customer
Thanks! That was me :) Took a while to find someone in the media who would run with it (or return a call or email) but it's out there now.
Another victim in Albany, NY had a crew out tonight - they are airing at 11 EDT on their local ABC affiliate.
Yep, it's spreading. Hopefully it will come to a head soon. The CA Law Firm involved in a pending Class Action has filed for a temporary restraining order. I sure hope it's granted.
a verified customer
I see this is spreading like crazy. The heck with the NY AG lets get Oprah involved! this group is bilking millions. Good TV piece from Atlanta on the facebook site... SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account. Go to it quickly.
a verified customer
I just received notification of an unauthorized cebit on my account for 129.00 from SKS Associates formerly Northern Leasing. My contract with them and confirmed by them ran out in 2004. As I see it based on unautorized charges I have found they owe me 3040.00 I called three times and was given a different name each time and was told information was going to be faxed. These people are liars and ###. I think it is time to light up the social networks on SKS Northern Leasing and anyone affiliated with them in addition to filing with the NY AG
I plan on contacting the top not Customer service who has given bogus names continually Here is Northerns info who I had agreement with and feel they are the ones to start with call them if you had them if not call the top of the other companies you had agreements with and post numbers.
Jay Cohen President 212.239.3500 [email protected]
Steve Bernardone VP, Chief Information Officer 212.216.8206 [email protected]
Ron Kincheloe Chief Financial Officer 212.216.8204 [email protected]
Dinesh Kulangroth Controller 212.457.8488 [email protected]
Rich Hahn VP, Sales 212.216.8500 [email protected]
Sara Krieger VP, Operations 212.216.8202 [email protected]
Harry Roth Director, Asset Management 212.216.8258 [email protected]
Frank Zito Director, Collections 212.457.8216 [email protected]
Allan Bey Director, Facilities 212.457.8442 [email protected]
John Fragos Director, IT 212.216.8334 [email protected]
Natalie Nance Director, Human Resources 212.216.8212 [email protected]
Isaac Taylor Manager, Asset Management 212.216.8260 [email protected]
Reshma Kamath Manager, IT Programming 212.216.8340 [email protected]
Michael Rodriguez Manager, Network Services 212.216.8226 [email protected]
Dorothy Szabo Manager, Collections 212.216.8246 [email protected]
Go to top if not sales if they don't sell oops customer service is a waste
a verified customer
Interesting...
I started a Facebook group (SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account). I mailed in my complaint to the NYAG, but one member of the group called today and was told they don't handle business-to-business issues.
Interesting that the NY DA knows already... which one? (Manhattan?)
If you are willing to join our FB group and share this info, it will motivate 30-some others to action also. We've already been trying to get our point across with various authorities but haven't really made much headway yet.
This also happened to me today. I got a debit from on my Wells Fargo Checking acct for -$95.52. I had equipment with Northern Leasing from [protected] which was closed and finalized. I still have the same bank acct which is how they debited my acct UNAUTHORIZED for this or any other amount. It also triggered a $35.00 over draft fee as I wasn't expecting.
After searching Northern Leasing and SKS online, I see that this FRAUD is being committed all over the country. I reported it to my bank and I am following the instructions that other victims have recommended. I have already filed a complaint with the New York Atty General, California Atty General, will be filing a local police report, filing a report with the local FBI office (as the fraud crossed state lines) and filing a report with the District Atty of New York and Dist Atty of Los Angeles. Iteresting that the New York Atty General & California Atty General WERE AWARE OF BOTH these CON-ARTIST companies. They WERE ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM AND BEING INVESTIGATED!
PLEASE E V E R Y O N E call your Atty General in the state you live in AND the New York AG where they are located. Call the FBI and make a report and with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If EVERYONE makes a complaint they will get what's coming to them. Also, there is a Class action suit underway. Call the number on the website www.NorthernLeasingClassAction.com (Chittur & Associates, PC) and give the atty the paperwork he requests. Hopefully this will prevent these CREEPS from continuing this scam and FABRICATING FAKE FEES in the future. They will continue to committ this FRAUD if people don't complain.
It only takes a few minutes to participate in the reporting of this abuse. Also, unless you close your bank account, it is likely that they will attempt to illegally withdrawal more funds in the future, possibly under a different company name. STAY ON THIS CASE EVERYONE INVOLVED!!
Call your bank and dispute the charge. I called my bank and they took the charge off. SKS Associates tried to fight it but the lost.
a verified customer
There is a new pattern evolving with multiple charges to the same account. Very disconcerting indeed.
Don't wait for "them" to refund your money - it won't happen. Contact your bank post haste and file disputes immediately for both charges. You have protection under Federal Regulation E. Have the bank reverse those and charge them back. Also, see if you can find out what bank the money was destined for, and contact them, yourself, and let them know what is happening. I did this and so did another complainant. In one instance, the bank account was shut down so they can't use that account anymore.
Today (04/04/11) two charges appeared on my bank account from "SKS Associates" one for $100.00 and one for $75.00. I called the telephone# on the bank transactions [protected]) and was informed that these amounts were the result of an audit of "Northern Leasing Company" (who they apparently purchased) and said they were due to remaining balances on credit card terminals I had leased. Well, I have never had any credit card terminals. I did have some equipment on one lease and some software on another starting in Feb 2001! All of that was was completely paid of in early 2003. In 2003 I even received a check for excessive payments I had made! So here these people are EIGHT YEARS LATER, claiming some BOGUS ERROR-FREE AUDIT and I owe more!!!
I called explaining I had never leased any credit card equipment and I had a full accounting of all of my charges with "Northern Leasing". I was told they had sent a letter explaining the charges. I explained that I never received any such letter and if I had I would have called "yelling and screaming" much earlier. I was so pissed off when I heard the reasons, however the "customer service" person I was talking with told me "you don't need to yell and scream". She actually provided "customer service" and took the time to review the paperwork and contact her "manager". She came back to the phone and told me they would be promptly refunding both charges.
I apologized for yelling at her and will keep an close eye to see that the refund happens at the same speed the charges did!
I sure wish I could find EIGHT YEAR OLD PROBLEMS IN MY OWN ACCOUNTING and go back to my customers and charge them for my own mistakes!
Lonaldo
a verified customer
Thank you. I'll be faxing in my complaint within the hour.
a verified customer
Fax is [protected]
a verified customer
I have started a Facebook page called SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account.
I'm hoping it goes viral and draws some media attention. If you're on Facebook, please search for that title and join the page.
a verified customer
What's the fax number? I have a complaint ready to mail (and I have a copy). I'll happily fax it.
a verified customer
Good news about AZ bank. I think I'll call the AG in NY today and follow up on my complaint see what comes up.
Again Everyone posting here NY Attorney General after me NY Attorney General fill it out pdf on their site print it and fax it don't mail it Fax IT. I'm going to call the bank and see if big national bank will tell me the receiving bank for my funds, then their getting a call.
a verified customer
I just heard back from the Arizona bank where the scammers are putting the money. The representative there thanked me for contacting them and advised me that they will be investigating that merchant.
Small victory there.
I'm sure they must have all kinds of other bank accounts but that will put a kink in one of them at least.
a verified customer
Well our "gun" is to fight back. That's what I'm doing. I just hope enough others do too. It's easy enough to come to a site like this and post a complaint, but it takes a bit more time and effort to make noise where it counts.
I'm still waiting to hear back from the AZ bank where the deposits were going. I read somebody else's posting where they contacted a Texas bank that was involved and that bank put the brakes on it. I hope the AZ bank does likewise.
Class action takes years. The wheels of justice turn very slowly and the scammers know this so they'll maximize what they can get before they get cut off. Sad state of affairs indeed.
Keep on keeping on. I'm like you - first thing I check the bank account. I have to - money is so tight that I have to account for every cent.
At this point I'll have my money back that they stole but that's not enough - because I have a feeling they'll do it again, or try to mess with my credit or whatnot. I'm ready - bring it on. I don't take that kind of stuff lying down, and I'm ready to fight it until I win.
a verified customer
They don't care to look in the mirror. That 's we have to watch out for ourselves my day starts with a trip to online banking. Everyday. 7 days. I still bothered by this whole thing stick a gun in my face at least I get to pull mine too.
a verified customer
I'm right there with you, brother. I've been standing for 9 years and that's longer than most in my industry in this area. I've seen plenty go away... new ones always pop up and most don't last. It's almost a test of wills to see who makes it and who doesn't. I'm a stubborn old cuss so I plan to stick around no matter what.
But you're right - times are tough enough without these jokers stealing our hard-earned money right out from under our noses like this. I'm still shaking my head from the gall of it, really. I mean, how do these employees look themselves in the mirror. I sure wouldn't want to work for a crook and have to be on the front lines when angry former customers call to find out why their money was stolen. Makes me wonder why an employee hasn't blown the whistle? Have we gone that far as a society that one will enable crime just to keep a job?
Never mind - don't answer that :(
a verified customer
It's slow all over the butcher can't pay the candle stick maker so the candle stick maker goes out of business and can't pay the grocer who's extending credit to people who ultimately can't pay. I do believe that at one point they called this trickle down economics unfortunately what's trickling down is brown and smells bad.
My goal is to break even long enough to be one of the last three guys in town when the recovery hits tap tap tap I'm still waiting.
Good luck to all with these crooks but we all need to be diligent and push this to the end times are tough enough without these miscreants stealing from us.
a verified customer
FADoc I feel your pain. My bank said the same thing - that if they change the amount even by a penny, it can go through. If changing accounts isn't practical (it's not for me either), watch your account like a hawk. I check mine daily - always have. In my case, I picked up my snail mail the morning after, but I still got the letter in hand before the debit hit - but it was pending. It did go through my account last night but my banker emailed me this morning telling me not to worry - it had to post before they could reverse it so it will be back in tonight.
My banker has been very helpful. She gave me the name of the bank the money went to, so I've sent them a polite but succinct email explaining what their client is doing and encouraged them to check into things for themselves and take whatever steps they deem appropriate. I also spoke with a rep with a law firm that currently has a class action in progress against these entities, and I gave her the banking information and sent her a copy of the letter I emailed to the receiving bank. We'll see what happens there.
I'm like a dog with a bone on this - I hate getting ripped off and it makes me even angrier that so many others are being ripped off too. It has to stop - but it won't stop on its own.
I have my complaint filled in to the NY Attorney General's office it will be mailed in the morning. Trying to balance this nonsense with getting my real work done too... unfortunately business here is kind of slow at the moment so fortunately I have a bit of time on my hands, but I can't let it eat me alive either. I'm just really ticked off about the whole thing.
I just hope that the "other" lease I had with another incarnation of the same outfit doesn't get resurrected too. That will really push my buttons.
a verified customer
Its probably true your correct all complaints need to be focused at the NY AG'S office. If in fact it was the credit card processing equipment it was $ 33.95 a month on a 60 month lease that at the end was supposed to be a buy out. That was 1997, I woke up 2005(they just rolled the lease for another 60 months) and purchased the thing from them for I wanna say $900.00 lease done with apparently not. Total Paid close to $4200.00 2006 had to buy another machine that could accept debit cards I believe that was $1, 400.00. What A dope.
My bank says the can't stop them from debiting the account for another amount they only can stop future debits for the same amount they took this time. The bank said I should close my account easier said than done everything runs through it payroll, retirement plan unemployment, medical insurance and just about anything else you can think of. Who do I see to get the time back that this has already cost me?
a verified customer
The one that's haunting me now was a lease/purchase through "Northern Leasing" for a sign. Since I'd already been burned by leases like this by the time this one was due to end, I contacted them in Feb. of 08 (lease was up May 15 08) to advise them that I would be ending the lease and buying out the value of the equipment for the amount on the contract. I faxed them a letter of intent on 02/01/08, they took the final payments as agreed and I thought that was it... until now.
So yes, that's probably why they are stealing from you now, because they still have your info on file and for whatever reason they've decided to help themselves to their former clients' money.
I also contacted local media but haven't had a reply yet, I just sent another email to another local TV station. Somebody needs to blow the lid off this thing. Looking at the complaints, it's all over the country but I think the NY Attorney General is the key because that office should get every one of our complaints because that is where the business entity is located. A complaint here and there in this state and that one won't get the attention that a few hundred in NY will get.
They messed with the wrong person here - I don't take junk like this lying down. We already got ripped off with the overpriced leases and there wasn't much we could do about it after the fact, but to take more from us after the fact for bogus reasons is just beyond sleazy, in my opinion.
What's funny is that the sign salesman still calls on us from time to time. I have an earful ready if he should happen to visit us again. I know he's not directly at fault for this but he's got to know how this mess works.
The credit card processing salesman that duped us was long gone even before the equipment was installed here. High turnover in that business. I cringe every time a telemarketer calls me to try to sell me "better rates" and all that garbage. I own my own equipment now and I'll never lease/purchase anything ever again.
a verified customer
Grashoppr I just faxed my complaint to the NY AG. Commonwealth of MA and US attorney next. Complain to everyone as loudly as you can Folks.
My bank actually required a faxed written complaint be sent to them and their telling me they my reverse the charges in about three days What? I did lease a credit card terminal about 12 or 13 yrs ago From Northern Capital Leasing but I Purchased the equipment at the end of the lease and 7 yrs ago I purchased newer equipment that could do debit cards. I don't know if these two are connected.
a verified customer
FADoc, I agree. If the authorities are flooded with complaints, somebody will investigate.
It dawned on me yesterday that we also had a lease with Lease Finance LLC and I've noticed similar complaints being posted about them. I have a feeling they are all one and the same (SKS, Northern, Golden Eagle, Lease Finance and who knows what else).
The one I got dinged with yesterday was in my business partner's name - I've already briefed him on it and what I'm doing about it. When I realized that I might be "next" because of the other lease, I pulled my paperwork on that one too... just in case.
I check my credit bureaux a couple of times a year, and I pulled my reports that I did in September 2010. Sure enough the lease that was in my name (which hasn't come back to haunt, yet) is on my personal credit report and shows as paid, closed, never late. The one in question now is likely on my partner's credit and ought to show the same - paid, closed, never late. For what that's worth it's proof that the contracts were paid in full and closed. I don't think it's quite legal to re-open them, so it's something everyone affected should check - if nothing else it's proof that you paid in full.
I filed complaints with the BBB and FTC yesterday. Last night I pulled my paperwork from home and I'll be hitting up the Attorneys General in NY and my home state today (I need to get some of my own work done first though)...
After realizing that I had a second lease with what's probably the same entity, I got a sick feeling that I'll be doing all this again, part deux.
a verified customer
I was recently hit for $ 179 without a letter or phone call that other people have gotten. I did call but they couldn't help me until I gave them my bank account # and SS# that's happening I refused and was hung up on. we need to flood NY AG's office with complaints and complain to the AG in your home state and the US attorneys office.
a verified customer
Same thing just happened to me. The debit of $97.63 is pending to my account but I've been in touch with the bank to put a stop payment on it. I called Northern Leasing - they faxed a copy of my lease (which I have at home) and my payments (not reflecting the 2 checks I gave to the sales-weasel). On the lease, it says monthly payments of $131.09 "plus applicable taxes". In actual fact, I paid $141.90 for the 36 months. Is that not the "taxes"? I just called them again and asked to see a breakdown of how each payment was applied - where did the "taxes" go and how much were they?
It's a huge scam, IMO.
a verified customer
Well... even after my bank manager told me she'd close my acct, SKS was still able to debit it for $90.89. I have asked the bank to reverse the charges as I am disputing them. I will call the manager this morning after they open to see why the acct was not closed as discussed. The on-line division wrote that I would need to cancel the debit card to prevent an further charges.
With all the people nationwide for years and recently having the same issues with this company there has to be something that can be done to stop their actions. I hate injustice and bullies!
They may not be able to get any money out of your bank account - they can, however, flaw your credit.
I went to the Gutride Safier website (listed under _KristenS_ post), clicked on the "Cases" pulldown... got to the Northern Leasing info - some pretty interesting stuff. SKS, Northern Leasing, and all the rest are just taking us for one big ride. I don't know much about class action suit details, but I may call them today to find out. It "only" cost $125 for my particular case. There is appx $700-$1, 000 just from the postings so far and most don't include a $$ amount. How much have they gotten from coast-to-coast? Who's paying for this? My bank credited my account but now they have to pay someone to investigate it then pay someone to recoup and collect the $$ they credited back to me. And so it goes and goes and goes.
SKS/Northern Leasing et al has alot of people hopping while they're laughing at us all the way to the bank with the money they steal from us.
I just recieved a charge of $125 from SKS associates on 3/29 this is more than a year after I talked with a representative about closing the account. No notice at all, just money debited from my account. I had locked the account from Lease Finance Group for any future charges, but apparently will have to change all of my account information.
a verified customer
I received a letter back from the NY AG's Office-- basically a "form letter". They said, "your problem is not one for which our office can offer assistence" and went on to tell me to contact the BBB. So my bank did nothing because of a technicality beyond 24 hours with an ACH transaction, and the AG will do nothing... THIS SCAMMER KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND THEY WILL GET AWAY WITH IT. ONLY IN THE US! WHAT A COUNTRY!