Print the value of index0
SKS Associates Golden Eagle Leasing Unauthorized bank account debit without establishing contact or consent- theft, basically! Harker Heights, Texas
Today I was informed by my husband that Golden Eagle Leasing, DBA "SKS Associates", debited our bank account for 35 dollars and change... I asked him why, and he stated that they cited that this charge was for unpaid taxes during the time I had a contract with them. He stated that they told him that this was because there is no time limit on my contract.
Really, now... let me back up and tell you how I'd become involved with this company. I attended a seminar way back in 1999 or 2000 about opening up a home- based business. I'd just completed a 12 hour+ shift (nurse) and attended this seminar with my mother. I signed the paperwork, having just been pumped up about a business called "Future Link". One I brought everything home and began researching, I found out that I needed an Internet server who didn't even service my area in order to do this thing. I was also a whole lot less computer literate, so when I asked my "coach" for help, I was basically dumped. Just like that. But not only dumped, left with a credit card machine that I couldn't even use. I attempted to tell Cardservice International ( the company that was billing me) this situation and I was told, " Well, you can open up another business." I insisted that I would not use the machine and did not have the time to JUST open another business. Their response was basically, "Oh well. You still owe us $32.95/mo." Having felt like I was just kicking a dead mule, we paid this bill for years.
In March of 2004, I again contacted Cardservice International. I requested to terminate my contract immediately, as it was for a term of 48 months. At the time of the letter, they had debited my account outside of the contractual limit since Nov. 2003- four whole months- and I wanted to stop them from taking any more of my money. They still took the March payment, which intentionally created a $299.75 overpayment for nothing. They then told me the contract had switched to a month- to- month basis - this was not indicated on the contract and I was not contacted about this change, either. I again brought the nonuse of the account and the machine up to them, and demanded they review my account- full of zeroes, other than the easy money they were collecting from me. I was instructed that I had to write them a letter of cancellation with an explanation as to why I wanted to cancel- so I did so, at 13:30 on 10 March 2004. How do I know this? Because I SAVED EVERYTHING. On 16 March 2004, they sent me a fax cover sheet and following letter from their fax 1871 with their letterhead. It was sent from 132 W. 31st St. in New York City. This is what it states:
"Lease Number: 0320844A Dear Sheila *******, Please be advised , Golden Eagle Leasing LLC has released Sheila *. ****** and Sheila ****** of the obligation on Lease Number 0320844A. If you need further assistance, contact me at (888) 692-7177. Sincerely, Nicole Matthews Golden Eagle LeasingLLC." This response was sent to me at 15:41. It only took them a little over two hours to realize they screwed me over, so they released me from this rather fraudulent contract. Until today...
When my husband told me about this, he was really surprised that I'd saved everything and within seconds had it all in my hand. He told me about this website and gave me their number to call. So I called, oh, did I call.
The first woman I spoke with was either Indian or Pakistani dialected. I do not remember her name. I asked her why this company went into my bank account and helped themselves to my money. She asked me to confirm my business name. I told her my name, my real nme, my given name, and she wanted to know my business name. Irritating! Then she asked me to confirm my last four for " security purposes". I told her that I wasn't confirming ****, that they took my money without my authorization, confirm that. She stated that it was a payment for past due taxes, they had an audit and now they were collecting. I told her that this was bull****, that noone contacted me about this nor did they obtain my consent for payment, that they were thieves. She was quickly flustered and handed me over to another Indian or Pakistani- dialected woman. I asked her the same thing, and then, admittedly, I just let her have it. I told her in no uncertain terms that I had a paper in my hand that absolved me of any further relationship with this company and that I wanted MY MONEY BACK. I informed her that the company that she was working for basically committed a theft against me, I have proof that I clearly indicated a severance from them. Then, she had the unmitigated gall to tell me that she would give me my money back, but that if she did she was going to report me to a credit agency. Big mistake on her part. I told her that she needed to make sure she was recording this F- ing call, because this is where it is- they will give me my money back IMMEDIATELY. I have proof that this business relationship was dissolved and now I have proof that they illegally accessed my account and committed theft by deception. She then told me that they did try to get in touch with me by letter, "Oh, you did not receive that letter?" I told her absolutely not and asked her what address she sent it to. She read only part of the address, a key part was left out. I pointed this out to her and told her that this was their mistake and I, in fact, owe them nothing. There WAS NO LETTER. Here's where it gets really good...
I then read to her the name of this website. I told her that I was looking at it right now and that it had a whole section just devoted to SKS Associates. I then began counting to her, "One, two, three.." and told her the total number of complaints that I'd seen launched against them today, the day before, and the day before that. Then I asked her, " Shall I go on?" Then she tried to AGAIN confirm my address for the fourth time- and I told her that I just got done telling her three other times, that this conversation shouldn't even be happening in the first place so I shouldn't have to confirm ANYTHING with them. Then I told her that if I see their name show up on my credit report, I would get in touch with every single person complaining on this website and have them file a class- action lawsuit with me against them, did she understand? I told them "how dare you," and that she really needed to look for another job and not work for theives. Yes, she was flustered. I sure wanted it that way- because I know she's probably sitting in the same room with the other one I spoke to, and as soon as she got off the phone with me, I knew that she would immediately discuss her experience with me. The last thing I said to her was " I want my money, thieves." Click.
Then I called my husband, started filling out a complaint, noticed I needed an address. He didn't have it and suggested that I call back. So I did :).
I spoke with a man this time, with a very, very thick Indian or Pakistani dialect. I tried to make my voice sound sweet, but that wasn't very successful for long, especially since he announced his business name as Northern Living Systems. I asked him again to repeat his business name, and he repepated it- Nothern Living Systems! I sweetly asked him for his address. He gave it to me- 132 W. 31st St. in NYC. Go figure, the same exact address that showed on the faxed letter of contract dissolution! Then I asked him for his web address. He became very hesitant and asked me why, then asked to confirm the last four of my Social Security number for security purposes. I asked him why he couldn't just give me the address, why did he need to know my last four? What if I was just someone who wanted to do business with him? He placed me on hold. He came back, asked me for my last four again. I asked him why. He said that he needed to make sure I was on the up and up. I asked why, do they do that to every new customer? He relented and said that his web address is Northern Living Systems.com. He asked me if there was any other business he could do with me, and I told him no, thanks, I was the one that just chewed out his friends, thieves. Click!
I'm serious, folks- it looks like I'm not the only one out there. Smells like a class- action lawsuit to me. As a matter of fact, it's really pissing me off that MY MONEY is collecting interest in THEIR account- perhaps I should demand that, too... and perhaps I should charge them for all of the time that they've made me spend proving to them that they are not entitled to access my bank account... yeah! That's it! I'm going to tax them... well, I'm sure they're feeling a little taxed now. DING, DING- fight's on!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Billie
Dudley,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
SKS assoc.Inc. IS Northern Leasing
#3General Comment
Sat, April 02, 2011
Sheila, probably what you heard was NORTHERN LEASING, not Northern Living.
I found out about 5pm EST today that $94.87 had been debited out of my OLD business acct. by SKS assoc. as an "authorized payment". Not only did I NOT authorize the debit, up until today I had NEVER heard of SKS. My Bank Googled SKS and found out that the company had recently acquired Northern Leasing. (which by the way i am already involved in a class action against).
In 2004 I contracted with Northern Leasing to " lease to own" my debit card machine. A 4 yr. Lease.At the anniversary of the 4 yrs. I contacted N. Leasing and was told that my "Buy-out" was over $1,900. after arguing, fussing and cussing, my business closed in 2009. I keep the acct. open as I am still paying small business loans, in Dec. 2010 after paying N. Leasing $47.00 a month WAY beyond the contract date I FINALLY got the acct with them paid off, cancelled and closed.( for $285.00)
Then Today.. Here we go again! An UNAUTHORIZED debit from my acct from SKS. My bank is filing it as a fraudulent charge/withdrawl and contesting it. I called the number provided for SKS (1-866-781-0440) at 5:39 est. got a recording, followed the prompts, was told that the offices were closed and that their business hours are 8:30 to 6pm..est. and was forwarded to voicemail.
20 minutes prior to their close of business I was transferred to voicemail. Guess I'll see if I can reach a human being between 8:30 am and 6 pm. est. MONDAY. To say I am "pissy" is an understatement. IF I can not achieve my goal by noon Monday, My next call will be to the NY Attorneys that have the class action case, and then to my State Attorney Generals office!
JennM
Canton,Georgia,
USA
Your story sounds like the rest of ours
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, April 01, 2011
Except you got to have some fun with them on the phone.
Please... file a report with the FTC, the NY Attorney General's office, your state Attorney General's office, the BBB and anywhere else you can think of (those are the ones I've done).
I also started a Facebook group - SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account.
I tried contacting some media outlets but nobody appears interested. I wish we could get somebody's attention and shut them down.
Another complainant on here found out what bank the money was going to, contacted that bank and had that account shut down. My money was headed to another bank, and my bank provided me with their information and I contacted that bank directly (other complainant's money went to TX, mine was headed to AZ) - it seems they are using smaller, community banks. I sent a nice email yesterday to the AZ bank that drafted my account on SKS' behalf and I got a nice reply saying they would look into it.
Whether or not they do, time will tell, but I'm sure as soon as the charge-backs start rolling in, they will be compelled to - that is, if the thieves haven't cleaned out the accounts before the paperwork catches up.
They have a number of class actions in progress. As time permits I'll put some of the info I've found on the FB group. As of now there's not a lot on it (just put it up this morning).
We had a lease on a sign - that's what they hit us for this week. I also had a credit card terminal (different leasing company name, same group of thieves) so I'm wondering if the other shoe will drop.
Contact your bank and get your money back... then pursue all legal means available to try to get these jokers stopped!