SKS Associates/Northern Leasing Attempting Unauthorized Debit New York, New York

Hindsight is 20/20.  You're right - and after we got totally bamboozled by this company, we learned some hard lessons.

If I had known in 2003, what I know now in 2011, this would have been a non-issue, because I never would have got conned into one of these ridiculous leases in the first place.

Alas, I'm not alone.  This company may have had up to 700,000 of us rooked since 1991. 

They prey on the honest.  "We" would never do that to somebody.

Bottom line - a LOT of us got ripped off - more than once, by this company.  The TRO was granted on 4/8 so hopefully no more of us patsies will be relieved of our money.

Lessons have been learned.

The Facebook group, SKS Raided My Bank Account is still growing.  All the documents pertaining to the TRO are posted there, so if any other reader needs to see them in order to get restitution from their bank, feel free to visit.

I cannot understand why so many people freely give up their checking account info to anyone who asks for it! NEVER allow anyone to access your checking account! I never allow anyone to debit my checking account for any reason.

If I need to pay someone, they will first send me a bill, then IF I decide to pay them, I will write out a check, or go to my online banking and pay them myself. It's just plain stupid to give anyone access to your checking account.

I have been corresponding with an attorney at Gutride Safier in California.  They are involved in litigation against Northern Leasing and its aliases.

This afternoon 4/8/11 they were granted a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting SKS et al from any further collection activities on terminated leases.

They are also prohibited from reporting on former lessees credit bureaux.

This is in effect immediately, until a hearing that is scheduled for May 5.

The war isn't over, but this battle has been won for now.

Any further debiting of peoples' accounts by SKS/Northern, etc., will be in violation of the TRO.

There is a Facebook Group started to draw attention to this nightmare. It's called SKS Associates Raided My Bank Account.

I just received an email back from the bank where the scammers are putting the money.  The representative there thanked me for my contact and advised me that they will be investigating this merchant further.

Hopefully that will at least slow them down a bit.

This is an update to my posting of yesterday.

I have filed a complaint with the FTC and BBB.  I have a complaint ready to send to the NY Attorney General's Office and I'll be preparing one for the GA Attorney General's office.

I also found out the name and address of the bank that SKS had the debit from my account go into, and I've contacted them to let them know what is going on.  It will be interesting to see if they respond to my concern.

I also spoke with another local business owner who purchased a similar sign to mine, and she just got hit with $126 "surprise" debit from her account.  She got the same letter, and the same song and dance over the phone with the company, that I did.

I have also spoken with a representative from a law firm that currently has a class action pending against Northern Leasing and several of their DBA companies and they are adding SKS to the complaint.  I provided that rep with some information and I'll be providing her with more later today as time permits.

I hope everyone who has been ripped off, takes the time to register some complaints and takes some action against this company.  Many of us have posted here, but I'm sure there are untold numbers who either haven't noticed (yet) or won't take the time to report it.