-WJLA SCRIPT-


ANCHOR:

A MARYLAND WOMAN WANTS TO SEND OUT A CONSUMER WARNING. BEWARE OF THOSE COMPANIES OFFERING TO HELP YOU CRAWL OUT OF TAX DEBT!

SHE'S ANGRY ABOUT WHAT SHE GOT HERSELF INTO... SO SHE CALLED SEVEN ON YOUR SIDE'S ROSS MCLAUGHLIN. HE'S HERE NOW WITH HER STORY... ROSS?


ROSS MCLAUGHLIN:

DEALING WITH TAX PROBLEMS CAN SEEM LIKE A DAUNTING TASK AND THAT'S WHY THOSE COMMERCIALS PROMISING TO HELP CAN BE SO ENTICING..BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THE PITCH. 


STORY:

Commercial: "At Tax Care Professionals we know that dealing with the IRS can be emotional and nerve racking experience."
YEAH IT CAN BE...DENA SEBSIBE KNOWS FIRST HAND. SHE OWES THE IRS 14 GRAND. 

Dena Sebsibe: "When you're desperate you do desperate things." 

SO SHE TURNED TO THIS TAX CARE PROS COMMERCIAL FOR HELP... 

Commercial: "Our professionals are here to help you solve your tax problems once and for all." 

BUT THEY DIDN'T. DENA PAID THEM 600 DOLLARS ON A 3000 DOLLAR CONTRACT...BUT WHEN SHE CHECKED ON THE PROGRESS WITH THE IRS... BAD NEWS. 

Dena Sebsibe: "And there's no contact at all from them? Okay." 

SHE STOPPED PAYMENTS. 

Dena Sebsibe: "I just want my refund back." 

AND CALLED US FOR HELP... 

Ross: "Let's give them a call here." 
Ross: "What's your name? Hello?"
Phone: "Beep, beep." 

TAXCARE PROFESSIONALS IS BASED IN LOS ANGELES. 

Ross: "Wa...UH!"
Phone: "Beep, beep." 

AFTER THEY PASSED US AROUND. THEY ONLY SAID NO TO THE REFUND BECAUSE THEY DID CONTACT THE IRS AND STOPPED WORKING ON HER CASE WHEN SHE STOPPED PAYMENT. WHICH IS WHERE JAMES LEITH COMES IN. 

James Leith/Taxpayer Advocate Service: "She probably did called from you office and said do I have power of attorney on file...and they said no." 

HE IS WITH THE IRS TAX PAYER ADVOCATE SERVICE... 

James Leith/Taxpayer Advocate Service: "If there is not a power of attorney, we'll call her up, let her know that we received her case and then reach out to our colleagues at the IRS asking that they suspend any collection activity until we've had an opportunity to digest the fact of the particular case." 

HERE'S WHAT WE DISCOVERED ABOUT TAXCARE PROFESSIONALS. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU HAS HAD 49 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE COMPANY, AND URGES CAUTION ABOUT THIS TYPE OF SERVICE...STATING MANY TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH THE ORIGINAL TAX DEBT ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL INTEREST AND PENALTIES. 

Ross: "You're better off to deal directly with the IRS and work with them."
Dena Sebsibe: "Um Hum."
Ross: "Okay?"
Dena Sebsibe: "Okay." 

BUT DENA IS NOT OUT IN THE COLD. 

Ross: "We're gonna hook you up with the Taxpayer Advocacy Service."
Dena Sebsibe: "Great. Thank you."

ROSS MCLAUGHLIN IN STUDIO:


WE'RE BACK TONIGHT WITH MORE CONSUMER INVESTIGATIONS ON "INSIDE 7 ON YOUR SIDE" LIVE AT 8:30PM ON OUR SISTER STATION, NEWSCHANNEL 8. IT'S A LIVE HALF HOUR SHOW AND IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO CALL IN.

ON THE NET: 

Taxpayer Advocates Service

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