{"ezoma_uuid":"15ed1db4-7fba-5b18-96d7-b2d5c5072337","name":"Platinum Tax Defenders","address1":"40 W Easy St","address2":"","city":"Simi Valley","state":"CA","zip":"93065","phone":"(805) 210-2010","extra_phone":"","categories":[{"code":"8009474","name":"Tax Return Preparation"},{"code":"8005102","name":"Taxes-Consultants & Representatives"}],"primary_category":"Tax Return Preparation","business_closed":"","website_address":"http://platinumtaxdefenders.com","email":"","hours":{},"holiday_hours":{},"payments_accepted":"","latitude":"34.278275","longitude":"-118.798065","reviews_requested_at":null,"overall_score":null,"subscription_tier":"free","last_verified_at":null,"auxiliary_r2_key":null,"selected_categories":null,"media":null,"blogs":null,"review_count":1,"average_rating":1,"website_scraped_at":null,"door_pin":null,"prompts":null,"reviews":[{"author_name":"Delete my reviews D.","review_text":"Please do not be fooled into using this company to pay off your fed tax debt! This is a sister agency of Optima Tax Defenders, who I initially contacted. I was informed that since I owed less than $5000, they could not help me & referred me to Platinum Defenders. I explained my situation- I enrolled in a PhD program in Jan 2017 & had no income as I was not working. I explained I worked part of 2017 & expected a tax refund for the first time in years (I usually have to pay). I was told by the intake person that based on the info I provided, they could settle my case “in 90 days” & they could get the IRS to settle for “$50-100 dollars”. I thought “great” & paid their $750 fee, thinking this would save me $ in the long run. From Aug to April 2018, I spoke to no less than 7 people (I’ve kept all correspondence) & was told “no your refund will NOT be taken”. PD scheduled conference calls with me which never occurred & took me away from class. I kept being told that the IRS accepted lowering my tax debt but PD was waiting on “the official letter from the IRS”. This went on for 7 months. The IRS ended up taking all of my refund & I am still left with a balance. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I then received an email from a third party, US Corporate- Mr. Carl Tartt who told me he would refund me 1/2 the fee since PD dropped the ball on making scheduled conference calls if I retracted my BBB complaint. He emailed me the next day removing his offer because he found out the BBB will not retract complaints (this is now in arbitration). So, I still owe a balance to the IRS & am out $750 with nothing to show for it. A lot of misrepresentation and my questions were very goal directed, e.g. “will the IRS settle? Will they take my refund?” I would not have paid them if they answered honestly. For PD to talk to the IRS, a POA is required. I was told I signed a form that “nothing is guaranteed”. This is how they get out of being sued. THIS IS A SCAM!","rating":1,"date_published":"2018-09-05"}]}