the tax defenders tax resolution Kansas Widow ripped off Big Time Chicago, Illinois

I,too, feel the fool for ever thinking there were honest and hard-working firms to help those of us who owed over $10,000 to the IRS. Rightly or wrongly, I really needed to know if this money was owed by me to the gov't. I had responded to one of the several solicitations received in the mail. I found out later that my financial indebtedness was available on-line to anyone knowing where to look. I did pay $800. up front. Since I thought the services were at little or no cost to me, I did ask the woman on the phone what the $800.00 was for? She said to research my records re this tax problem. Okay.

What could I do? this problem had gone on for too long and even my accountant could no longer help me.This endeavor was started back about 6 years ago. I even checked with Chicago BBB before I even made the call.

All the time with them representing me, I sent reams and reams of copies of my tax returns, my bank accounts, financial records etc. These excursions for research and getting copies made was tiring and expensive. All of their fees were going on credit cards, as I didn't have extra money laying around.

I signed a paper giving them power of attorney over all dealings with the IRS and was told to never contact the IRS either by phone, mail or in person. If I did, our agreement was off. They would not handle my case any longer.

So, off to the races. There were a few phone calls with requests. I am disabled and the requests were to be filled and then faxed. I'm not in an office. I live in a very small town. And sometimes had no transportation to run around to get things done.

I think alot of their problems stemmed from a bad communication mode. I surely did not understand some of the abbreviations given me, or legal terms to do with taxes and the IRS. And if I did inquire, I still wasn't sure what they told me. I am college educated, but had little expertise in using or understanding "tax terms".

I spent another $500 (on a credit card) to pay for further costs. I was asked to fill out more forms and give a history or explanation why I didn't pay my taxes, didn't file in a timely manner and also why I might have reason to think their (the IRS') figures may be wrong. Then I was to send to them a picture of me standing in front of my house!!!!!???? What the heck? I sent them a copy of why I couldn't or wouldn't pay may taxes. But never found someone to take my picture in front of my house. So, with that small bit of non-compliance, I figured I was on my way to a resolution with the IRS.

By then my house had two liens on it, my checking and savings had been levied. I lost over $600. in that deal. I did not know the difference between lien and levy. Then the IRS levied my pension from my being a survivor of a spouse who'd worked for the government (Air Force). That was approximately 15% of the monthly amount.

Yes, they were aware of all this. I did get the levy lifted for one whole month. Later I asked why it got lifted. The Tax Defender person said that I didn't make enough money that month for them to levy!!!! I was so exasperated with them all. Was I not on a fixed income? How did I not make enough money...I knew they'd get it by extending the levy.

Then came the letter from Alex Harris, one of the owners of the firm. He sent me a letter of the cheerleading type. If I could fill out 20+ pages of forms and send them back to them, preferably in a box, I would be near the resolution I was seeking. I felt so hopeful. I had surely experienced many negative effects on my health due to stress from this long-term procedure.

These papers when I received them were very in depth questions. I remember spending 48 hrs. two times in my quest to fill them out correctly.

During this time I once had tried to reach the firm by the 1=800 number and it was no longer in service!!! They had changed their address once during my time with them. The firm's name changed to "Tax Resolutions". I managed to get their new number. I would call them from time to time and keep them up on my progress with the forms. Then I was called one day saying that an attorney from their firm would call on such and such a day at a certain time. So, I was sure to be near the phone. He called over 2 hrs. late and I let him know so. My time was worth something too. And I had become assertive at times with these people. So he got my wrath. I don't even remember what he called about.

I never was told their would be a certain deadline for my info I was to give and send to them in a box. But one day I got a phone call telling me that one of the BIG GUYS was going to call me on a day which was it turns out, was the day before Christmas Eve. Well, he did call. Told me in no uncertain terms that they would no longer be handling my case. They'd dropped me!!! His only comment was that when 2014 came (and that would be quicker than I realized, he said) I wouldn't have to worry about owing the IRS. What on earth could I say in response? And what did the prophetic year of 2014 mean?

I never cried 3 whole days before. I suffered from long-term depression and this treatment of me after many years, just drew me down into a state it took a long time to recover from. I called my kids and told them what had happened. They lived a long distance from me, but helped me with my workings with this tax relief organization.

I still have the liens. The levy ended, but I still am scared when my pensions come to my checking account and savings. You don't ever get over someone taking all your money. I haven't.

So once again, some hayseed from the midwest got raked over the coals by the BIG GUYS.