I had been solicited over the phone by The Tax Club to provide Tax filing services and accounting services and unlimited consultations based on different pricing packages. They stated that the service was being provided at a discount from the Learning Annex since I had purchased and taken a class with them, and that the price was included with my original purchase with the Learning Annex.
Dave Hash was the salesperson on this call. He gave me the pitch stating that they can do all these tax services even though I'm in California. I signed up with him on Monday morning and thought I'd check out their website knowing that I had 3 days to cancel. They are based out of New York and I had asked if they know California tax laws and are able to do taxes (they weren't able to confirm this, other than state they can file it for me.
I looked them up and noticed that there were several complaints with this company on usacomplaints.com which made me decide to cancel my contract with them. I had purchased the $1495 package for the service and unlimited consultations.
I cancelled within the first 24 hours and notified them on the first call "appointment" they scheduled, which was with Ken. He said that he needed me to email my cancellation request and they would process the refund for me. Then they had this girl from their company call me, Erica Mathlin, to "try to convince me that all the reports on usacomplaints.com were just 3 incidences" and that they are a reputable company and she handles all the cancellations and refunds.
I still wanted to cancel and she proceeds to tell me that I have to sign a cancellation form and then they will refund me money minus 15% of their processing fee. FIFTEEN PERCENT which amounts to $230.00 for doing NOTHING FOR ME and being signed up for just 24 hours with them!!! I tell her that this is not acceptable and she said that she will be emailing me the refund authorization form and proof that I accepted the Terms and Conditions.
So get this... Their terms and conditions Cancellation and Refund Policy states: "To receive a FULL REFUND you must inform us of your termination and reason for your refund request no later than three (3) days after the first charge date. Your refund request must be made via email at [email protected]... WHICH I DID.
BUT!!! In the paragraph before this, under Termination of Service, it says "If cancellation occurs during the standard 3 day right to rescind time frame, client is subject to a maximum 15% processing fee. This fee covers administrative and other costs." IF ANY LAYMAN WERE TO READ THE WORDS, "TO RECEVE A FULL REFUND"... That to me means a full refund... All monies being REFUNDED. This is DECEIVING!!! Any reputable company would give 100% money back if they cancel within the 3 days recision period. They did not do one thing for me. I never used their service and cancelled almost immediately. Furthermore I find out that they used deceptive and false statements during the sales pitch on the phone.
I contacted the Learning Annex and spoke to a representative, Brett, and explained the situation and that I was upset over their refund policy. I explained what they said during the sale and that they sold me the product based on my previous transaction with the Learning Annex and stated that the Tax Club was affiliated by them and that the product was partially paid for in advance by the Learning Annex as part of the class that I purchased and attended with them.
Brett called me back and said that they aren't aware or familiar with the Tax Club and he recommended that I speak with the Learning Annex general counsel to talk to him about my situation.
I speak with their Attorney Andrew Hyams, for the Learning Annex, and he states that he was preparing a demand letter to the Tax Club requesting that they immediately stop saying they are affiliated with the Learning Annex and stating that their service is being offered as part of a purchase that the consumers had transacted with the Learning Annex. I was able to get a copy of this letter. This letter was sent to Joel Sessions, VP of Operation for the Tax Club, in St. George, Utah.
I called my credit card American Express to cancel right away after I spoke with Erica and I find out they didn't even PROCESS THE CHARGE on my card yet and they should have been able to stop the charge from going through to begin with since I had cancelled within the first 24 hours. TWO DAYS later the charge still went through even after I had cancelled with them. I am working on cancelling this charge with American Express.
If you have also been subject to this fraudulent sales tactic or purchased this service based on the same sales pitch they used, let me know as I want to file a Consumer Sales Fraud complaint with all appropriate organizations and state board of New York, Utah, Arizona, California and where ever they made sales.
I am open to starting a Class Action Lawsuit against this company as well to help you all get your money back too or help you cancel out of your fraudulent sales contracts. I would appreciate any additional information or complaints with this company if you've had similar complaints or problems with them. Please feel free to POST, POST, POST.
I hope to help prevent more people from being victimized by deceitful sales tactics and fraud with the TAX CLUB ORGANIZATION. People, you need to STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY! STAY AWAY!
If they are not willing to give 100% refund if you cancel within 3 days, and they have to use false statements to sell you a service, the company is NO GOOD. The TAX CLUB probably doesn't provide a legitimate service too and you may even be able to get the same service with a local company that would be truly worth your money and investment.
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