Merchant Account Scams

Review...

We were drawn in by a flyer from an employee of this Northern Leasing Systems promising 6 months free trial, no long term obligations, and just a phone call to cancel. We signed up and received our first machine without instructions and no face plate to identify the buttons. We called and were told a face plate was coming. It never did. We called several times for instructions which were vague and the machine never worked. We again asked to cancel.

Instead, we were sent a new machine. We called again and canceled and never opened the box on the new machine as it was unsolicited merchandise. We set it aside. My partner then called and said we were sending the equipment back and canceling. At that time she was told the "representative" had locked us into two year contracts with four companies. The money was taken from our company checking account each month. She believed that we were locked in even though her signature was forged on all four contracts using her "signature on file." She allowed this to go on for a year thinking she had no alternative.

I wasn't made aware of the situation until we were dissolving our company in November 2006. At that time I sent a letter to Northern Leasing Systems, advising them that the contracts were forged and that no auto debits were authorized.

Northern Leasing Systems, Inc. informed us that the "representative" who "no longer worked there" had signed us to a FOUR YEAR contract which they would not let us out of. They threatened us with legal action. We asked what it would cost us to get out and paid them the $1091 they demanded. They then demanded another $45 for "property taxes" on the equipment which had all been returned. It has been a costly nightmare. We don't hope to recover any money, but we want to warn others!