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American Tax Relief

4801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

Timothy of Chicago, IL March 6, 2008

Timothy of Chicago IL (03/06/08)
I am one the unfortunate victims of American Tax Relief (ATR). This company based in Hollywood and Los Angeles, California, advertises by way of radio and television that they can help individuals with issues with the IRS and can stop liens and negotiate IRS debt down to next to nothing. I enlisted their services with a deposit of 2750 to which they debited from my credit card on January 29, 2008. Robert Campbell (the representative from ATR) said that he would have the lien removed from my payroll check immediately. A month later nothing much was done. Unfortunately, after they received my deposit I found dozens of complaints about this company defrauding customers out of thousands of dollars and their being in worse shape than when they first contacted them. I faxed a letter to ATR on March 5th expressing my dissatisfaction with their service and my concerns about the many complaints I found, and requested a refund. Typical of the behavior other past customers experienced, Mr. Campbell left me a phone message around 8:15 a.m. on March 6, 2008, calling me a liar and said that they will pursue collection of the additional 2750 I supposedly owe their company.

I am sorry that I had anything to do with this company. Not only do I still have to clear up this IRS issue, I have incurred more debt by charging this 2750 on my credit card, and now my credit will probably be in jeopardy because they are coming after me for the balance. Someone needs to pursue putting this company out of business for good! How someone with such a horrible reputation and history of defrauding consumers can continue to do business is beyond me.

Tom of Oro Valley, AZ March 1, 2008

Tom of Oro Valley AZ (03/01/08)
I thought I was dealing with an honest company to assist me with a huge tax burden. I was so desperate for help that I completely lost all of my common sense...that is: If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. These people are so sick and deserve dire consequences. I had originally tried to deal with the IRS on my own but had little success. As my tax liability (with penalties and interest) grew, I was at a loss at what to do. I went to ATR for help after hearing their commercial on TV and radio. I should have known from the start that this was nothing but a scam. Unfortunately, I was so desperate. How I have come to regret that now! I paid ATR 2 separate payments of 3250 to help me settle a tax liability of 51,000 for less than 20,000. Wow, I thought, this is the way to go. I was so wrong. They make you fill out tons of paperwork to masquerade as actually working a case file.

Sadly, I came to find out yesterday that my entire bank accounts have been cleaned out by the IRS due to a levy! I am ruined financially, no thanks to American Tax Relief. These guys, especially Sean Madden, are evil.

I lost 6500 to American Tax Relief. I also had 9300 seized from my bank account to pay a portion of my outstanding balance. I was left with the impression that they were still going to work on my case. After reading all of these horror stories online, I am certain my options have totally run out.

Berto of South San Francisco, CA February 13, 2008

Berto of South San Francisco CA (02/13/08)
I want all consumers to beware of this unethical company with their false claims of being able to settle your tax debts for pennies on the dollar. All they want is to collect your money before they ever understand your specific tax situation. The individuals that answer their phones are hard core sales people with no tax knowledge or expertise. They take advantage of individuals who truly need help on very serious tax situations and never intend to do anything about it, except to collect outrageous fees before they ever even examine your specific case. At the end of the conversation they ask you for your bank information and want you to immediately fax over documents to them that will allow them to take money right out of your bank account for their fees.

When my husband called them and asked them questions, they yelled at him and said 'when you get serious about your taxes, call us' and hung up on him. Out of curiosity and already disgusted, I called back and this same guy was making disgusting comments about women referring to them as 'chicks' and then proceeded to ask me to fax a power of attorney and my bank info. I was smart enough to know a scam when I see one, so I want to warn anyone else out there who is thinking of using them to BEWARE! I settled my own issues with the IRS directly. The IRS posts a warning on their website about agencies claiming to settle tax issues for pennies on the dollar. Before you ever give your money to a place like this, try to work directly with the IRS or call the tax advocacy. If that does not work, find a legitimate tax attorney!

I am lucky that I was smart enough NOT to consider dealing with this Boiler Room, so they did not get one, single penny from me. You can even call the tax advocacy and they will help you to resolve your issue. This is what I did. THANK GOD I did not buy into this horrendous scam.

Leslie of Walton, NY January 22, 2008

Leslie of Walton NY (01/22/08)
I hired American Tax Relief about 8 months ago to help me resolve some tax issues. I paid them 4900 and was told that as soon as I signed over power of attorney to them, the tax dept could not legally take any of the aggressive actions they were threatening. Three days later the tax dept. did show up and took possession of my restaurant, changing the locks and threatening to start auctioning off the business contents in 12 days if I didn't come up with almost 9000. I borrowed the money, opened my business back up and continued dialog with the people at American Tax Relief. They assured me that what the tax dept. had done was illegal and that they could still help me resolve the tax problems. I returned all the questionnaires and all other requested statements, etc. For the last 8 months I was under the impression that this company was working for me.

I finally received a voicemail in November 2007 from Shawn Madden, from ATR, stating that he would really like to get moving on my case, and I needed to return his call. Upon calling Shawn Madden I learned that nothing had been done on my case. He claimed that he had never received a completed questionnaire and that I had terminated his company's POA with the tax dept. I sent him proof that the POA was still in effect but was told that I would still have to send him another 3500 to resume work on the account as he hadn't received the questionnaire. I told him that I desperately needed help as the tax dept. was once again threatening to seize my business, and that I didn't have any more money to give him. He told me to call him back when I came up with the money, until then there was nothing he could do for me.

I've had to close up my business. The tax dept gave me until 1-17-08 to come up with 26,000, or they were going to once again seize and auction off my business. I just didn't have the money, and I didn't have any choices. I'm out of business, unemployed, and so far in debt that it scares me to death. The people at ATR made me a lot of promises and assurances and did nothing at all to help. They took my money and ran. I was desperate for help. I guess that makes for the perfect victim.

Tina of Eden, WI January 17, 2008

Tina of Eden WI (01/17/08)
In 2003 I paid ATR 3500. in cash to settle my tax debt with the IRS. Every time I contacted them (they never called me), to inquire about progress they were making, they gave me an excuse as to why I could not speak with my attorney. My tax debt continued to increase and my wages were garnished. I still could not get an answer from ATR as to what was going on. I ended up calling the IRS myself and found out that no one from ATR had ever contacted them. In 2006, I wrote to the CA Attorney General, WI Dept. of Consumer Protection and I attempted to file a complaint in small claims court. Three times I paid the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. to serve the papers. They were never served on time. I contacted a local process server to serve papers and he claimed that ATR was out of business and nothing further could be done. Within the past three months I have heard their advertisment on the local radio station and they have the same address. Is there anything more that I can do to recover my 3500? I would use that money to pay the IRS. I still owe them well over 12,000.

My wages were garnished 25% of 9.00/hr. I was able to have that reduced to 15%. I now work part time and I am paying them 50.00 a month. I have suffered great embarrassment at my jobs as they knew how much I owed to the IRS. My credit is non-existent. I saved some money to make an Offer and Compromise. Money that I should be saving for retirement as I am 52 years old. This situation has also taken a toll on my mental health and I continue to take antidepressants to combat the resulting depression and anxiety.

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