Municipal Auditing Services Unsubstantiated invoice for non-existant claims! Fresno California

This is a very poorly-run collection agency.

In 2011, my entire neighborhood in Hawthorne, CA (Bodger Park area, we all talk together) received identical form letters stating:

"We believe you are selling retail merchandise in Hawthorne. Pay for a business license or face penalties."

-17 identical scare-tactic form letters mailed to us in the last six years.

- 12.9.17: They mailed me an unsubstantiated "Invoice" for $7,253
(claiming over $500,000 in "gross retail sales" per year for the past seven years.)

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE RETAIL SALES BUSINESS!

- with a Feb 1, 2018 deadline.

- THERE IS NO WAY TO REPLY TO THEM:

- Invoice says, “absent further taxpayer submissions,” yet

- 12.12.17: I called twice during weekday business hours: NO ANSWER at their number 877 845 7370

- 12.12.17: I mailed a certified, registered letter to their ONLY LISTED ADDRESS, a PO Box, not yet signed for as of 12.28.17

- MAS website www.mastax.org has no information on their Co: instead just a list of click-thru ads for unrelated companies such as “investing, signage, adoption, auto glass repair, gift baskets, medical facilities, TV shows," etc

- No information on how to request an extension of their Feb 1 deadline.

- Their Invoice: - only one page long - said “continued, Hawthorne business tax application package attached,” - nothing was attached

- Invoice says, “taxpayer has been properly noticed and has failed to resolve this matter,” incorrect - this is the 1st notice/Invoice I've received.

Signs MAS is actually just a poorly-run collection agency:

-           Their Caller ID says “Unknown”

-           When I call back, phone never answers

-           Website is just ads for unrelated companies

-           Not accepting Certified mail or emails

-           “If” no response from them, my only recourse is to direct my lawyer to hire a courier to wait daily at their PO Box until someone arrives to pick up mail (if ever,) and require MAS to pay legal fees