Northern Leasing Systems Scammed, Misrepresentation, Illegal Business Practices, Con Artists New York, New York

A representative for Northern Leasing went to my place of business in 2007, the representative was told to come back when the owner was available. The representative encouraged my employees to sign my name to a contract for a credit card machine and told them that the deal was only good for right now not later and that the owner would have an opportunity to review the contract and cancel within 30 days. However, when I reviewed the contract later the same day and called the company, Northern Leasing, I was told basically Tough Shit you signed a contract that is noncancellable. I was stuck in a contract I did not want or need since local banks provide credit card machines for minimal charges and no long term lease agreements. Not only did the representative con my employees, but when they realized the contract was not filled out in full, they proceeded to fill in my name where it was left off, how can I tell:  My name is spelled incorrectly. When my business closed in 2009 I returned the machine.  That company has been harassing me ever since to pay the remainder of the lease. They have now filed as of 10/2012 a civil suit in the courts in New York.  I find that this company disregards any and all good business dealings. 

There is a Statute for Legal Actions by Debt Collectors states that any action on a debt against a consumer shall bring action only in the judicial district in which the consumer signed the contract (that would be Florida not New York).  And there is also a Federal Law for door to door salesmen that there is a 3 day cooling off period in which a consumer may cancel a contract within 3 days of the sale (the representative said 30 days, but even the same day I could not get it cancelled). Then someone from Northern Leasing called my place of employment and I told them not to call me at work. Per the Federal Trade Commission Statute 805 that deals with Communication in connection with debt collection that if they come to know that the employer prohibits such communications they cannot continue to call. And under Statute 806 Harassment and abuse by causing the phone to ring repeatedly.  The person from Northern Leasing was told to not contact me at work and then proceeded to call back 3 more times in succession until I threatened to get my supervisor on the line.

 These people are scam artists. They misrepresent/lie just to get a company to sign their contract and then hound them forever to get money that they do not need nor deserve once the machine is returned to them.  They have no right to con people into signing something that is non cancellable. I have filed reports with the Attorney General and Governor's Offices in both Florida and New York. I have also filed a complaint at the White House and with the Federal Trade commission.

 I am a single mother living pay check to pay check, I cannot afford for them to garnish my wages or my bank account or I will lose my home for me and my daughter and be unable to provide for her.I have filed a response to the civil suit in New York asking for the Judge to please dismiss this action. But more needs to be done to stop these people from continuing to scam people and small businesses all over the U.S.