After my first call to Taxmasters 4/30 I called back about 30mins later with my wife on the phone to cancel and the salesman told me I could call him at anytime that we had any questions that he would be here for me and my wife. All false statements in fact Mr. Balentine was only a salesman (which I had no idea). According to Taxmasters own Engagement agreement page 12 states (3) If client requests or requires excessive consultation (as defined by Firm sole discretion) either by phone or in person (4) service requirements on Clients case exceed the norm either to clients needs or to the requirements of the IRS or other governmental entities pursuing Clients case. The additional professional fees when applicable will be based on actual time required and the firm's professional hourly fee rates that range from fifty to eight hundred and fifty dollars per hour depending on the type of service and the staff providing the service. Both me and my wife were convinced and were ok with the firm at that moment.
I signed the Engagement agreement and emailed it to the agent. The agent however could not open the documents. I re emailed everything over to the agent on 5/4 I called to confirm that everything was signed and Mr. Balentine told me he forwarded everything over to the audit Dept. I thought about it after hanging up there was no way they would be able to contact the IRS in the few short days I had to take care of my audit. I stressed the importance of someone getting in contact with the IRS. No one had even called the IRS to even speak with them because I called them myself on 5/5. No one called but taxmaster had started drafting money out of my checking account. I called to cancel. I faxed over a letter to cancel on 5/4. On 5/6 after I canceled I got an emailed IRS consultation from Debbor Coleman at Taxmasters. I immediately emailed Ms. Coleman asking what is this. I was advised by MS. Coleman that this is information that was disclosed by the IRS regarding your tax mastters and is part of your service you engaged taxmasters for. The file dosen't make any sense. I replied with a email that I have terminated service with your company and I still don't know what the so called consultation is. I called approximately a week later to find out what was the status of my refund and spoke with Ms. Coleman. During a phone conversation with Ms Coleman I was given another sales pitch. Pertaining how they generally handled IRS audits. Nothing specific because I had not sent over any information to Taxmaster or even verbally old them what paperwork I did or did not have. I listened quitely and Ms. Coleman made a statement that she was a paralegal and there was a team of paralegels and a lawyer and they have a great success rate of working with the IRS and if there are monies to be paid that her department had a high success rate at getting the amount owed reduced even after the date the IRS sets to close the case. I politely told Ms. Coleman that her company would not work for my situation. I also remember reading the email that was sent to me in which Ms. Coleman's title was Bookkeeper / Audit Assistant not a paralegal. A complete lie that she was a paralegal. I didn't confront Ms. Coleman about it
Since 5/7 the date I originally filed the complaint with BBB. I have been in contact with Taxmasters. I have been in contact with Mrs. Perry in the quality assurance Dept. Mrs. Perry has told me 3 separate stories as far as the refund process. The first story was that I did not qualify for a refund because I signed the engagement agreement. When I questioned Ms Perry why am I not getting any money back when your company hasn't done any work. I was told that she would have to go and get a file that was created for me that she did not have but she had requested it and once she had the file she would be able to see what has taken place. When i asked her if she doesn't have a file but she is able to tell me that I don't qualify for a refund I was told it was not her that makes those decisions it is a board that decides those matters.
After about 2 days of waiting for the file to appear Ms Perry told me that she was going to submit my refund paperwork to the board. This process would take 2 to 3 weeks. Approximately 2 1/2 weeks later and constantly calling. I was told by Ms Perry that I did not qualify for a refund. When I questioned why? I was told that she doesn't know that she didn't make that decision and that the director had made this decision. When I asked to speak to this director I was told that was not possible. I then questioned what work has taxmasters actually done for me since i have hired them. Again Ms Perry avoided this question craftily. I was then told by Ms Perry that she would listen to a tape supposedly of me calling to see if she could find that I had been mislead on 4/30. I express to Ms. Perry repeated times that initial salesman (James Balentine) made comments as though he would personally take care of my tax matter. I had called Taxmaster because I had just left an audit that day and I needed representation because the IRS agent I had was a but hole. However I only had 1 week to call the agents supervisor to let them know who my representation was going to be or they would automatically close the case out. Meaning I would owe taxes for 2 years.
My wife called every other day for 2 weeks for Ms Perry to listen to a supposed tape of me calling. My wife called and got tired of hearing Ms. Perry tell her that she was listening to a tape of our initial call in and ask to speak to a supervisor Ms. Perry had Mr. Dwayne Logan on the phone to talk to my wife at that time Mr. Logan said that he did not feel like we deserved a refund because signed the engagement agreement. I called to speak to Mr. Logan that same day 6/15 at that time Mr. Logan asked me for my name and address and told me that Ms. Perry could help me that he was not able to. I spoke to Ms. Perry and she still hadn't listened to the tape yet. She assured me that she would be done listening to the tape tomorrow. On 6/16 And as soon as the case with the Better Business bureau was closed out it was then that Ms Perry had listened to the case and i don't qualify for a refund. Again I questioned the fact why had your agent misled me into believing he would personally handle my case and that I could call him anytime. M. Perry at that time told me that this was a true statement I could call Mr. Balentine at any time. However in Taxmasters on engagement agreement that is not true that would be considered excessive consultation and i would be billed for that. Of course Ms. Perry had never heard or read that in Taxmasters contract before. Furthermore Taxmasters has performed no work on my behalf towards the IRS. Ms Perry told me at that time that they had performed a consultation on 5/7. Which I asked why am I going to be billed for a consultation and why is your company doing a consultation after they have taken my case. No answer to both of these questions.
At this point I asked to speak to a supervisor. Ms Perry placed me on hold as she checked to see if he was available. She came back and said the director was not there at this time. I said fine can I have his name and extension please. Ms. Perry stated his name was Dwayne Logan. At that time I asked Ms. Perry if she was joking I had spoken to Mr. Logan a day before called him directly after he told my wife that we probably don't qualify for a refund and that he in turn and just transferred me over to you (Ms. Perry). I am positive your company is just playing games had no intention of ever giving me and my family my money back. Ms. Perry told me no that Mr. Logan had transferred my original call over to her because she was better equipped to help me. "That is outrageous' I told Ms. Perry. When you ask for a supervisor if it is in fact a supervisor he doesn't stand behind the agent and say help them. I even asked MS. Perry why her story has changed so many times.
Ms. Perry first told me that she would have to submit my request for a refund to a board of directors. Second there was a director she could submit my request to. Lastly she was going to listen to a taped recording of my initial call in. Which I told Ms. Perry that I strongly Doubt that Taxmasters actually has a recording of every call they field. Also I told Ms. Perry that it is said that during these economic times that your company is stealing money from hardworking Americans because that who is getting suckered into this scam. Taxmasters dosen't represent any corporation. The working man can't afford a lawyer and is scared of the IRS and doesn't read this outrageous contract till after the fact. Still to this day there has been no work by taxmasters on my behalf to the IRS. No correspondence not one phone call to the IRS. Taxmaster is not a law firm or a CPA which I found out after researching and thoroughly reading the Terms of Engagement contract.in fact in the very same contract page 7. Any and all references to the word retainer are herein agreed to mean fee. No other definition of the word retainer is intended nor shall any other definition apply.in the contract and MS Perry refer to the initial moneys sent to them as a Retainer. This is not a law firm so how can this company call it a retainer As well there is a early termination clause in this ridicioulous contract. Mislead from the beginning to the end. When I asked Ms Perry what exactly could her company do that I could not do? Since they are neither a law firm or a CPA this company can't do anything I can't do myself statements such as retainer, there is a team of people consultation all confusing and prey on people to use this service. Which is only a service not a product in which they have essentially provided me no services and taken $4500 from my family's bank account and are hiding behind a contract.
On 6/16 I received a letter from Taxmasters regarding my cancellation in which the statements from this company are a flat out lie. I have never presented any documents that I have regarding my tax situation. I have never spoken to anyone about a strategy to combat or help me with the IRS. I have spent hours on the phone trying to get my money back from this company after speaking to the initial salesman James Balentin. All I have received is sales pitches and false hopes because this company would not have worked in my situation. I stated to the salesman that I had a limited amount of time to reply to the IRS about 2 weeks or they would close the case repeatedly. Taxmasters has not made a phone call or wrote a letter to the IRS on my behalf. I have had another audit with the IRS already resubmitted documents and I'm awaiting the IRS to close my case out. I have never heard of a company doing a consultation via email and the so called consultation that I received from this company was a report that showed what years from the IRS I am being audited for hardly a consultation.in fact I received the consultation after I canceled and how can you give a consultation via internet. Also without knowing what info that I possess it would be impossible to come up with any strategy. A flat out lie. This company doesn't even have a consistent reason why I should not get my money back.
After I reread the contract I am ashamed I got caught up in the impulse of fear of the IRS and didn't research this company. Still have not received any services or any explanation of any work that was performed other than a consultation a day after I cancelled the service. According to Taxmasters own web site there is a free consultation http://www.txmstr.com/. Why is this company now trying to charge me for a service that they advertise as being free. I cancelled the service 1 buisness day after I signed the engagement agreement or binding contract. I would like a refund there have been no services that Taxmasters have provided me with. I have filled a report with the BBB to no avail still not one red penny refunded yet
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