Complain about a product or service

American Tax Relief

4801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

carol of las vegas, NV May 8, 2009

i too have been duped. However, I feel since this is interstate commercial, that each and every person should be contacting their senators and representatives about this scam. i was put in this situation due to acts of a CPA. most of the monies they wanted was penalties and interest. an attorney would have to be hired at this point, however, all the money is gone. NOW WHAT.

Debra of Newport News, VA April 29, 2009

In December of 2008 I spoke to R. Campbell at American Tax Releif who stated that they were able to help me with reducing my business taxes of 2007 and 2008. I had to pay 5500 up front. They worked on the taxes for a few months requireing tax information one after another. Finally I got supsious after a phone call from C. Hanna who cliamed that they could settle with the Irs for less than the original arrangement. However, he was requesting 3900.00 more in payment to the company. I refused to go along without some proof of what waw orinally was to be settle. So I contacted the Irs to find out if a settlement had been made with the and they stated no.

At this point i got even more suspious, then went to my bank the next day to make a bank deposit to find out that even though i didnot agree to the new agreement Chris Hanna and Atr fraudley withdrawn 1950.00 from my account using their own check with a fake account number with a stamp on saying no signiture was reequired for the bank to honor this check. When i call ATR to speak with the supervior P. Franklin and C. Hanna they state that they had a right to do this and that i should be glad that they could reduce the payment for less. They rude and threaten to discontine my case no matter what i paid them and i would not be getting my money back.

So i went to my bank and closed the account and put in a fraud claim against the company and their check was stopped. Now i a seeking legal assistance retain my 5500.00 back for unfinsh work and reporting them to the federal trade commission. I try to call back to Atr to inform them of my actions and that my lawyer would be calling them. After that they are refusing my calls.

Larry of Sonora, CA February 20, 2009

In April faced with a large tax debt to the IRS and State and no job. I was living off of my 401k plan to make my house payments and feed myself, daughter & grand-daughter. I made the biggest mistake of my life and seen the ad on tv from one of the worst companies on the face of the earth and made a call to them asking what they can do for me, to make a long story short.

Sean guaranteed me that they could eliminate all but 3 - 4 thousand dollars of my tax debt if I paid them 5,900.00 well, I did and after that it was next to impossible to get a hold of them and when I did get a hold of them they would run me in circles giving me every excuse in the world as to why things are not settled yet. Then one day out of the blue I get a letter from the IRS saying they have set up a payment plan for which I am too pay them monthly, probably for the rest of my life. I then called ATR to find out what was going on and they told me that they set up a payment plan for me.

When I told him that this is not what you said you were going to do for me he said that once I have paid off a substantial amount of the debt they would pursue abatement of the penalty and interest. This company is nothing more than a bunch of illegal crooks preying on good honest people who found them selves in trouble. I will be filing a lawsuit against them in Los Angeles County Court this coming month 03/2009 as I hope to have the approx. 200.00 need to file the case so I can try and recoup my money, But, probably I am going to be spending more money on a dead horse.

If there is anyone else that would like to join me in this lawsuit maybe we can make it a class action lawsuit and put these scum bags out of business permanently and possibly any other firms like this one. although I am fairly certain now that there could not be any other company as scummy as this one!! How does a company like this stay in business as long as they have? Why doesn't the State shut them down? And, Why doesn't the Federal government and/or State put this scum bags in jail where they belong. I want my money back please if there is anyone out there that can help me please call me.

John of Dryden, NY February 18, 2009

They Wanted 4k to start my file. after doing some research I figured I would help some other people. Check the Better Business Bureau website for more information about this company. There rating is F

Thanks to others posting the problems that they had.

Larry of Oak Harbor, WA February 17, 2009

they took my last 5,000.00 and did nothing for me. they are pure scum, and i get a stomach ache every time i see their commercial on t.v! i cant believe its still on, but it is! someone please contact me and lets stop them! i was so distrought after dealing with them.

Joyce of Sykesville, MD February 2, 2009

May husband passed away suddenly in November 2008. I contacted American Tax Relief on 1/7/09 after finding evidence that my husband had not filed some of his tax returns. Since he was coming out of backruptcy after a previous marriage, we filed separate returns. I spoke with Chris H or ATR who promised they could resolve my husband's tax situation. I paid 8500 through a bank draft but never received any disclosure forms. I kept calling Mr. H and asking for some paperwork or documentation.

On 1/28/09, I asked for a refund only to be told that they did not give refunds. He then proceeded to tell me how he was trying to be nice about it and that he needed and additional 21,000 for attorney fees since my husband owed 400,000. I told him that I did not have any more money and that I was not responsible for my husband's tax burden before we were married and that I believed the burden to be excessive. Mr. H kept saying that the paperwork was in the mail and that if I contacted the IRS the amount would be larger.

To this day I still have not received any disclosure forms, contract or anything in writing stating that they do not give refunds, or exactly what their services cover. I believe ATR preyed on me because of my vulnerability after losing my husband of only 6 years. They should be sued and made to repay each client WITH interest. Losing my husband has been tough enough without having to deal with ATR representatives who are nothing more than crooks.

Since I'm out of 8500, I have no funds to pay the IRS. I could have given that amount to the IRS. I have spoken with the IRS and my tax burden should be much less than the 400,000 that ATR quoted.

Roger of Ballwin, MO January 24, 2009

On November 8, 2007 I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I talked with Chris H from American Tax Relief (ATR). I had a significant tax issue that I couldnt solve myself. I fell for the ads that American Tax Relief has on TV and called them. Chris informed me that ATR could solve the issue for pennies on the dollar. He said all I had to do was send him 12,500 and ATR would take care of the rest. Just two months later without any correspondence in between Chris called me to inform me ATR needed another 8,500 to upgrade their service.

Then just one month later Chris called again and claimed another 8,500 was needed to once again upgrade their service. Again there had been no other correspondence in between the requests. I was desperate and still believed his promises so I paid the additional amount. Fast forward to today. ATR has had exactly one meeting with the IRS on my behalf and they botched that one. In working with Melissa I supplied her every document she needed for the meeting. During the meeting ATR was advised that there were other filings that I needed to have completed so I was put into a non-compliant status. ATR didnt advise me of that either because they didnt know or they wanted to upgrade their service again. I didnt give them a chance because I fired them yesterday. Perhaps you can add my letter to the voluminous stack you already have on ATR. Maybe someday they will be held accountable for their actions.

David of Cayce, SC December 3, 2008

I own and manage a small business, and interact with the public on a daily basis. I thought I'd dealt with some low life's, but these guys are without question the worst group of schiester rip-off's that I've ever had to deal with. Some months ago, I contacted ATR about pending issues with the IRS, and explained IN FULL DETAIL my situation. The 'sales' agent (Robert) told me that this would not be an issue - that they would take care of my situation and would most likely be able to handle it in entirety. He went to great lengths to promise that it would NOT be an issue, that they in fact WOULD be able to get my fines reduced/eliminated, and that if that were NOT to happen (and if they couldn't help me), they would close out and not charge me full rate (8500)..

I gave them a credit card for the first half of the charge (4250.00), on the agreement that they would charge this, contact the IRS, and determine what they could. They were to also immediately mail me a set of papers and documents, which I would need to fill out. After 10 days and 2 phone calls I never received these papers. Now, my situation was quite urgent, as I had communicated. In fact after 3 days I called in to find out why I hadn't heard.

After 14 days still no papers. I needed some action with the IRS, as I was under threat by a lawyer. 2 further calls. no paperwork. No return phone calls. AFTER FOUR WEEKS, I had my CPA represent me to the IRS and moved forward. I called ATR,got more run-around. Was told they were i motion. When I told them I was cancelling the transaction,I was told that was not possible,as I was contracted and couldn't cancel. They then began calling me repeatedly. Robert and another agent (don't remember off the top of my head) told me I had lied to them, that I hadn't disclosed my situation, made threats against me (that my supposed misrepresentation was illegal, blah blah blah), and that I wouldn't get any refund and no furter help from them.

Fortunately I hadn't wired the funds (as they had originally demanded!), but had a credit card company pay them (note only the first half was paid). several days ago I checked my credit card account. Guess what - - these guys had charged me (WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON MY BEHALF) another 4250.00. FURTHERMORE, My credit card has had 2 more unauthorized charges in the past 4 weeks. (please note that this card has NOT been used for ANY OTHER online or phone purchase in 3 years, nor have I ever had unauthorized charges in this time!) My credit card company is investigating this currently.

Meanwhile..... I faxed the company this morning, with a note reiterating two things from my prior phone conversation: 1. any further contact is unathorized, not allowed, they do NOT represent me at all to ANYONE, and 2. do not contact me except by fax or mail (do NOT phone me again). Guess what. these clowns called me ON MY CELL PHONE not 5 minutes after getting the fax. I do believe that is a felony. I didn't answer my cell phone, but Robert left me a nice voicemail.. Then after 3 minutes, he called me at my office. I had the forethought to record that conversation, during which he agreed that he KNEW I had legally warned him not to contact me again, and that he did so anyway. He then continued to attempt to coerce me over the charges, claiming I had received paperwork from them, that I was negligent, and supposedly I was somehow legally to blame for this, and that I still owed them even more funds! I am out of a lot of time dealing with these guys, and quite possibly I may be in deep water with the IRS, due to their negligence. There is not a chance in hell I would recommend these clowns to anyone.

Cora of Glen Allen, WA December 3, 2008

They charged me 12,000.00 for 11,000.00 taxes owed. Now I cannot pay my taxes. I still had to pay an attorney in Virginia to do my taxes and he got the reduction not ATR.

I cannot pay my taxes because they took all of my money.

Kevin W. Gross of Ridgedale, MO November 14, 2008

hired american tax relief back in 2004..they promised me that my buisness taxes would be settled for pennies on the dollar..400,000.00 inbuisness taxes which these were fraudulent due to sell of buisness. they said i ieed to give them 10,000. i agreed to give them 5,000.00 down but they would not get the other 5,000.00 until we had a resolution...i received my packet in the mail and filled it out complete and mailed it back. didnt here from them so i begin calling, which was a run around everytime i called.. couldnt get them to return calls. 30 days into it i noticed they hit my credit card for 5,000.00 ... never got any resolution. lost 10,000.00 and still owe taxes. which im still fighting. when can the government step in and cut the nuts off these guys and put there ass in prison...? there just seems to be no justice in america...

lost 10,000.00 i want it back

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