Mr. Madden for ATR (American Tax Relief) was contacted by me and asked about the particulars of his services. We discusced my situation is dentail. The fee's were also discused and what could cause addissional fees also.
He clearly stated that addissional fees would arrise only if 1) more issues came up after master file was received from the IRS. The fee's dependeded on the issue to be resolved by I was told to be ready for large fee's 2) if i was unreasonably late providing information they requested from me.in this case it would be a few hundred dollars.
I hired ATR and paid $6500.00 as promised never missing a payment. I was late filling out a form and providing copies of bank statements. This casued the original power of attourney to expire. They called me advicing me that a new one had to file and that the fee will be $4500.00. I was in shock at the amount. I immediately complained about the amount they agreed to reduce the amount to $3900.00.
Mr. Madden wanted the payment right there and then. I was out of town then and could not accomodate him until I returned to my office and budgeted for this unexpected fee. I agreed out of desperation but I certainly told Mr. Madden he was only concerned about fee's and not my situation. They way he handled me asking me for a checking account number as if he knew I needed him and he knew if i said no, he would drop my case. I was very clear with him about me not having the funds to pay at once. He promised to work with me.
When I returned to my office, we spoke on the phone and he again asked for the fee in full. I then adviced him if I were to pay him at once that this would cause me to be late on tax paymnet comming due. I asked for a payment plan I could afford.
He put me on hold. When he came back he told me I was jerking him around and that unless I paid right away... I would be dropped. I asked him about the initial fees. To which he would never address directly. Why are you chaging 3900.00 for when you have already collected 6500.00?? What have you done to earn this fee? He would say that fee is still working for you. We need 3900 to protect you an addisional 45 days.
Mr. Madden now had a diffrent tone of voice more like a NYC stock broker.
I ws left ababndoned, they certainly did not ear the fee they collected. And it seems that they were not telling about a pending levi they got notice on. I only found out when I went to IRS office myself.
ATR is a questionable busniess practicinf predatory pricing and seting up clients for mistakes so that they can charge ridiculous fee's. They will also frabricate facts to make the cliend something they are not.
This company is a camming entity, no doubts.
I have asked for a partial refund. They say I will get NO refund. Any advice anyone??
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