Clear Creek Tax Clear Creek Consulting scam false debt lein fake IRS tax liability elimination services Greenville, South Carolina

Clear Creek Consulting tried to get me to retain their services for a tax debt that did not exsist!

Let me give a background of the situation.  I purchased a new home in early 2008, and on my 2008 tax return I filed for the first time home buyer's credit of $7500. 

My Father is an IRS agent, I am an honest individual who pays his taxes on time.

In Mid August, I got notification from the IRS that they were disallowing my first time home buyer's credit in 2008, and that I owed over $9200 in debit, penalties and interest.

I knew that I would need some legal assistance in setting up a payment schedule, so I did an internet search, and found Clear Creek's online site.  I filled out a form with basic information.  my name, address, phone number, and the alledged base tax liability of $7500. 

On the morning of the 28th, I received another letter from the IRS stating that I had recieved the previous letter in error and to please disregard.  (Thus there was no tax liability).   About 30 minutes after I received this letter, I got a call from Clear Creek.

I picked up the phone and spoke to a young lady.  I thanked her for her call, and said I no longer needed their services, that I had received notice from the IRS that there was no debt.  She asked me what the nature of the origional debt was, and I explained it was a disallowed homebuyer's credit.  She immediately transfered me to another Agent, Adam Sanders.

I explained to Mr Sanders that I no longer needed their services, as I had received a notice from the IRS that there was a mistake and that I had no tax liablity.   He asked me to Fax over what I had received from the IRS saying that I was clear.  So I did.   About an hour later, Mr Sanders said "Well I don't know what's going on here, because I show that the IRS has placed a lein on your house for $7500."   I asked him for clarification, and he said "well, one hand of the IRS doesn't know what the other is doing, and this happens, but I definately show that the IRS has placed a lein on your house for $7500"

Now... Here's where I started to think this was a scam...   The IRS had sent me notice that I owed them over $9200, but I had filled in $7500 on clear creek's website. 

Mr Sanders then went into this LONG scare tactic of how the IRS will destroy your life, and they are not to be messed with, and that the debts cannot be ignored.  I explained to Mr Sanders that I know how big and bad the IRS are, but from what I had received, there was no tax liability.  He replied "well, I have it right here in front of me, that the IRS has filed a Lein".   So I asked him to fax me over proof of this lein.   He said that he would, and 2 hours later, I recieved a 15 page fax retainer aggrement.

While I was waiting for the fax, I called the IRS and spoke to an IRS customer service agent.  The agent stated that because my home was purchased within 2 days of the window for the homebuyer's credit, that it was initially disallowed, but almost immediately allowed, and appologized for the inconvienience, and stated that I had ZERO tax liability.    I then stated that I was told that the IRS had placed a lein against my home.   She said "That is incorrect, there was no past or present lein against you or your property by the IRS"

I then called Mr Sanders, and said that I had not recieved the proof of the "lein", that I was faxed a retainer agreement.   I said that I would not be signing any retainer agreement untill I show that there was a lein or debt that needs to be resolved.   He said "well I have it right here..."  so I said "well then fax it on over to me..." and said that we would talk after I received proof of this debt.   He said he would fax it over.

2 minutes later, my fax rings.... but nothing is transmitted.    I called Mr Sanders and said "well I didn't receive any fax" to which he replies "Yeah, my manager says that it's an internal document and I can't send it to you".  I asked him then where I can get a copy of this "lein"  and he said "What county are you in there in Florida?"   I replied with my county and he responded "yeah, that's where I show this Lein was filed, it's down at the courthouse"  I then told him that I would check with the courthouse and call him back.

So I realized this was a scam, yet the next day I was at the county courthouse for a separate incident and asked in passing of the clerk if there was any leins against me... She said that if there was that I would have had a notary deliver it to me, but she checked anyways...   After her search she has said that there was No Lein, or pending Lein.

A Couple days later, I received a Call from Mr Sanders.  He asked me if I had contacted the courts or the IRS... I lied and told him "no" to see what he would do.   He then said that his paperwork said that the IRS was moving forward with the Lein Process and that could lead to foreclosure of my home.  I thanked him for his time, and said that I would be in contact with him if I needed his services.

So it's been 2 months since the above incident, and I have been getting regular calls (one every 2 weeks or so) from Clear Creek.   I let them all go to voicemail, and don't return the calls.   I also got a letter from the IRS 2 days ago sumarizing the changes to my 2008 tax return...   it shows exactly what the agent had explained to me at first; that the credit was disallowed, then reallowed, and that I am at a zero balance.

Clear Creek is a TOTAL SCAM...   They lied to me time and time again to get me to retain them for unneeded services.  They tried to create a problem that didn't exsist and use fear tactics to get me to pay them $1000 for nothing.

I understand the power that the IRS has, and the fear people have when they are accused of something by the IRS.  If you do need help in resolving a tax problem, then seek legal council.   But Check on things yourself, and DO NOT HIRE or sign ANYTHING with Clear Creek