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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I don't get it. How are these contracts enforceable?
If a designer makes something that looks like it could pass for another's, it's basically contraband/imposter/an illegal knockoff.
How can something look so much like government correspondence that smart, reasonable people get taken, and the contract stands?
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Posted 10/22/14 6:25 PM  |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by Bigt00F
Wow, I received a letter from the "Star Exemption Advisor" in the mail the other day stating we owe them $1,700.00. My wife and I, being new home owners, were swamped with paperwork in the beginning and we did the best we could. We noticed we were getting a large amount of mail for things we "needed" to do and it was all spam and scams. Needless to say, one had slipped through our hands... the Star Exemption Advisor. It looked like legit government paperwork with the letter head and name and we were trying to stay a little ahead of the game, so we filled it out and sent it in. Little did we know we were being scammed by the spawn of ***** himself. We are already struggling to make ends meet and then a low life like thus comes along to take advantage of people who think they are doing the right thing. This is what happened.... Instead of us filling out paperwork for the star program and giving it directly to them, we gave it to this jerk to give it to them for us, in turn giving them the first years savings the star program saved us. Now why would anyone in their right mind do this? They wouldn't. This wouldn't save you anything by doing this. We fell victim like everyone else with them. We searched the address for them 1936 Hempstead Turnpike East Meadow Suite 321 and saw nothing but complaints of the same thing. We, not only want this to be dismissed, but we also want to shut this person down and keep them from scamming anyone else. If anything we want to make everyone aware of this scam so nobody had to go through this again; therefore putting this person out of business. It is truly unethical and how the town can let him get away with it is beyond me. It goes to show money buys power and power ignore fractures in the law. What an all around POS. He needs to be stopped and I would be all about a class action lawsuit. The town knows all about him and what he does and how he has many other "businesses" like this. He just happens to be a contributor to the attorney general from one of those businesses, therefore nothing is going to be done to stop this guy. This came directly from someone who works with the program. There's no way in hell I am going to pay this thug.
I understand your frustration and anger. FWIW, as I said in earlier posts I reached out to the AG along with a number of local authorities and not a single one replied to me. No one. Dept of Consumer Affairs were the only ones I was able to get through to and they advised about past cases being settled with minor reductions and then being closed. Total BS and I'm with you.
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| Posted 10/22/14 7:41 PM |
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Sky
LIF Zygote
Member since 12/14 1 total post
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I am a new victim of this scam. I filed the complain to the authority office. So far I haven't hear anything back. Probably will not get any respond. Is any of you end up paying this a** hole. If so have you try to negotiated with the amount? Please let me know. Thank you very much.
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| Posted 12/11/14 4:15 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Has anyone contacted any if the news channels about this? Maybe they can do a story and hey the word out on this guy.
What a POS.
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| Posted 12/11/14 4:22 PM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2046 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
This was recently in Newsday:
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is urging homeowners to avoid fee-based services offering help applying for the STAR property tax exemption, which they can easily do themselves for free.
Officials said new homeowners in particular have received letters offering to enroll them in the New York State School Tax Relief Program, for a fee equaling the amount of their first year savings.
Those savings average $700 statewide and can be as high as $3,000 for senior citizens.
Cary Ziter, a spokesman for State Tax Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox, said Friday that the scheme appeared to be "targeted to the Long Island area."
"New Yorkers should not be fooled," Cuomo said in a statement. "I encourage any homeowner not receiving a STAR exemption to apply on their own and avoid disingenuous schemes that seek to charge you for the tax relief that is rightfully yours."
The release cited a letter from Star Exemption Advisor, an East Meadow-based company that is offering to file for the STAR exemption on homeowners' behalf, with first-year savings as a fee.
A man who answered the phone at the company hung up Friday when asked to comment. No one could be reached Saturday.
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| Posted 12/11/14 4:43 PM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2046 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Fraud Warning Link
And this was issued recently.
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| Posted 12/11/14 4:45 PM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
My sister's dear friends were also victims and were featured on the news recently:
7 news link
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| Posted 12/11/14 8:58 PM |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
WOW!! I'm glad this being taken so seriously and that even Cuomo has made a statement about them. What will it take to put them out of business though and if they acknowledge it's a scheme and disingenuous, why can't they do anything to help the people who have unknowingly fallen prey to this guy?
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| Posted 12/12/14 8:37 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I'm really surprised that the state hasn't done anything to shut this scammer down.
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| Posted 12/12/14 10:39 AM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Is this the same type of business as PTRC in Jericho?
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| Posted 12/12/14 11:52 AM |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by racheK
Is this the same type of business as PTRC in Jericho?
I don't think so - those reduction companies are legit.
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| Posted 12/12/14 12:18 PM |
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newtovs
LIF Zygote
Member since 2/15 5 total posts
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I recently got swindled by Star Exemption Advisor. We refused to pay so he took us to small claims. Got in front of the Judge, told the Judge why it should be dismissed including that it was intentionally misleading, showed the envelope that it was sent in which has the Nassau County assessors office on it. Arie Gal who represents himself in court as Arie Gal DBA Star Exemption Advisor (Interesting how he does not write that as the name on the contract or literature he sends us?) swore he does not use such an envelope, however did not show the court what type of envelope he uses. He just shows the signed contracts and walks the court though the steps he took to get the paperwork files and make sure he dotted his i's and crossed his T's, but never justified his price.
Anyway Judge said he reserves his decision after hearing both our arguments. Two days later we get a notice from the court saying the judge granted the plaintiff his suit and we owe all the money + interest and court fees. No written explanation of the Judge's decision and why the law supports it.
We could sit here and ***** and moan about guys like Arie Gal, but the reason they are in business is because the Judges in Nassau county uphold them. There is a reason why you don't see people in the boroughs getting duped by STAR exemption scams, its because Judges in NYC dismiss these cases with prejudice.
Perhaps, what we as taxpayers of Nassau & Suffolk county should demand is that Judges who uphold these scammers without even the courtesy of giving the families who have been defrauded by them a written explanation of how the Judge managed to contrive the law so as to render such a decision, well then we should demand of our elected official to get rid of such Judges.
If anyone is interested here is my Judge, James Darcy:
http://liherald.com/valleystream/stories/Jim-Darcy-former-VS-mayor-nominated-for-judgeship,62449
Message edited 2/7/2015 3:36:50 PM.
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| Posted 2/7/15 3:35 PM |
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kingfamily
LIF Zygote
Member since 2/15 1 total post
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
The exact same thing happened to me… literally, what you write is literally what I experienced. In October when you posted this, I received the bill from what I thought was a SCAM, not realizing I had already been SCAMMED by this Arie Gal ( and his family - Stephanie and Jonathan ). … in October when I received the Bill i threw it out… because I was like why would Nassau County want me to PAY THEM? when the star is a credit to ME? this past friday I received a judgement for small claims court… SHOCKED. I AM SHOCKED!!!! I have started to research this Arie Gal… of YCA CORP only to find every phone number I can locate rings and rings and rings to no answer. I have contacted the Attorney General and have to make some more phone calls… Are you willing to get in touch with me directly? let me know
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| Posted 2/24/15 6:17 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
You can put this guy out of business by not allowing this to happen. A judge ruled in his favor because despite people thinking its a scam, the way his contract is worded you are paying for a SERVICE and you are hiring this company to perform the SERVICE.
IMO the judge has no choice but to uphold what is a legally binding contract. If he doesn't it opens a huge can of worms which would allow judges on future cases to rule on their own opinion despite what is written in a contract.
If judges in the city are dismissing with prejudice id be curious to see a case where they are doing this because if they are any defendant can cite this case in court as an example and reason to dismiss.
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| Posted 2/24/15 6:42 AM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
IMO, they can and should be dismissed because of 1) fraud---defendant is defrauded into entering a contract by being duped into thinking that they are doing business with the gov; and 2) public policy voids it---it's deliberately misleading.
There is definitely a way out of this based on what the PP said. Why aren't the Nassau judges seeing that?
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| Posted 2/24/15 7:26 AM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
you should try contacting a federal agency. I would start with the US postal service. They can probably investigate based on mail fraud.
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| Posted 2/24/15 10:04 AM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by newtovs
I recently got swindled by Star Exemption Advisor. We refused to pay so he took us to small claims. Got in front of the Judge, told the Judge why it should be dismissed including that it was intentionally misleading, showed the envelope that it was sent in which has the Nassau County assessors office on it. Arie Gal who represents himself in court as Arie Gal DBA Star Exemption Advisor (Interesting how he does not write that as the name on the contract or literature he sends us?) swore he does not use such an envelope, however did not show the court what type of envelope he uses. He just shows the signed contracts and walks the court though the steps he took to get the paperwork files and make sure he dotted his i's and crossed his T's, but never justified his price.
Anyway Judge said he reserves his decision after hearing both our arguments. Two days later we get a notice from the court saying the judge granted the plaintiff his suit and we owe all the money + interest and court fees. No written explanation of the Judge's decision and why the law supports it.
We could sit here and ***** and moan about guys like Arie Gal, but the reason they are in business is because the Judges in Nassau county uphold them. There is a reason why you don't see people in the boroughs getting duped by STAR exemption scams, its because Judges in NYC dismiss these cases with prejudice.
Perhaps, what we as taxpayers of Nassau & Suffolk county should demand is that Judges who uphold these scammers without even the courtesy of giving the families who have been defrauded by them a written explanation of how the Judge managed to contrive the law so as to render such a decision, well then we should demand of our elected official to get rid of such Judges.
If anyone is interested here is my Judge, James Darcy:
http://liherald.com/valleystream/stories/Jim-Darcy-former-VS-mayor-nominated-for-judgeship,62449
Appeal the order. Write the Court and request a copy of the written Order from the Court. Then, call the Nassau County Bar Association 516-747-4832 and speak to their lawyer referral department. There may be some pro bono projects applicable to your situation or, alternatively, they can refer you to a lawyer to speak with for some guidance. Explain the situation, advise of all the documentation you have and see if a lawyer there is willing to help you.
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| Posted 2/24/15 10:50 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by seaside
IMO, they can and should be dismissed because of 1) fraud---defendant is defrauded into entering a contract by being duped into thinking that they are doing business with the gov; and 2) public policy voids it---it's deliberately misleading.
There is definitely a way out of this based on what the PP said. Why aren't the Nassau judges seeing that?
The judges aren't seeing your opinion because your opinion is not legally binding in this case. No where in the application does it state that the plaintiff is the government. If the defendant didn't bother to read the letter, who's to blame here.
Look at a copy of the letter here.
http://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/archive/assets/documents/STARScamRedacted02.pdf
The letter even says By acting as your agent. That right there says this is a service.
Letter than says on the first line You can file for Basic STAR Exemption by yourself and do not need to use any service or agent for this matter.
They then say Fees for this service: ... first year tax savings. Shows that you will pay for this service.
How are they "acting as the government" here? The judge is ruling in favor of this company because they aren't doing anything illegal. Legally this is no different than hiring a company to grieve your taxes. The same laws apply.
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| Posted 2/24/15 3:57 PM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by ave1024
Posted by seaside
IMO, they can and should be dismissed because of 1) fraud---defendant is defrauded into entering a contract by being duped into thinking that they are doing business with the gov; and 2) public policy voids it---it's deliberately misleading.
There is definitely a way out of this based on what the PP said. Why aren't the Nassau judges seeing that?
The judges aren't seeing your opinion because your opinion is not legally binding in this case. No where in the application does it state that the plaintiff is the government. If the defendant didn't bother to read the letter, who's to blame here.
Look at a copy of the letter here.
http://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/archive/assets/documents/STARScamRedacted02.pdf
The letter even says By acting as your agent. That right there says this is a service.
Letter than says on the first line You can file for Basic STAR Exemption by yourself and do not need to use any service or agent for this matter.
They then say Fees for this service: ... first year tax savings. Shows that you will pay for this service.
How are they "acting as the government" here? The judge is ruling in favor of this company because they aren't doing anything illegal. Legally this is no different than hiring a company to grieve your taxes. The same laws apply.
No one's personal opinion is legally binding. Only legal precedent would be binding. 
And I never said they were "acting as the government."
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| Posted 2/24/15 8:14 PM |
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olive98
LIF Adolescent
Member since 11/12 791 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by ave1024
Posted by seaside
IMO, they can and should be dismissed because of 1) fraud---defendant is defrauded into entering a contract by being duped into thinking that they are doing business with the gov; and 2) public policy voids it---it's deliberately misleading.
There is definitely a way out of this based on what the PP said. Why aren't the Nassau judges seeing that?
The judges aren't seeing your opinion because your opinion is not legally binding in this case. No where in the application does it state that the plaintiff is the government. If the defendant didn't bother to read the letter, who's to blame here.
Look at a copy of the letter here.
http://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/archive/assets/documents/STARScamRedacted02.pdf
The letter even says By acting as your agent. That right there says this is a service.
Letter than says on the first line You can file for Basic STAR Exemption by yourself and do not need to use any service or agent for this matter.
They then say Fees for this service: ... first year tax savings. Shows that you will pay for this service.
How are they "acting as the government" here? The judge is ruling in favor of this company because they aren't doing anything illegal. Legally this is no different than hiring a company to grieve your taxes. The same laws apply.
I agree nothing illegal here. The letter states that you can file on your own and what the fee is.
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| Posted 2/25/15 6:58 AM |
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Pumpkin1
LIF Adult
Member since 12/05 3715 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
http://longisland.news12.com/news/star-application-fee-disputed-by-li-homeowners-1.10239524
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| Posted 4/11/15 8:34 AM |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by Pumpkin1
http://longisland.news12.com/news/star-application-fee-disputed-by-li-homeowners-1.10239524
I just read this. Still going strong. Clearly what he is doing is legal and he knows it despite the fact that he continues to take advantage, nothing is ever going to happen to this guy!!
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| Posted 4/11/15 9:00 PM |
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Just googled his name and seems many were taken by him.
I know it sucks but the description of him on the mast review is pretty hilarious...
http://www.manta.com/c/mrlc9c3/star-exemption-advisor
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| Posted 4/11/15 9:10 PM |
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ladyrain
LIF Zygote
Member since 4/15 10 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
My husband just got back from smalls claims court thanks to this POS. Everyone in the Nassau county clerks office is on a first name basis with him. "Hey Arie." "How are you doing Arie." He is in there ALL the time and the judge/mediator sides with him in 100 percent of cases. I'm sure he is lining someone's pockets. I am so furious that his completely unconscionable practice of basically tricking people into using his "service" isn't in some regard illegal and that he is still in business! It makes me sick to my stomach that he continues to conduct business at all and profit from taking advantage of people in such a heinous way. Literally laughing his way to the bank. The BBB is completely useless, and his responses to every complaint filed there is the same BS over and over and over. I have gathered every negative bit of information on the guy and i will be mailing it to anyone i think might be able to do something about it. Consumer protection, DA (not helpful as this thread reveals), Cuomo etc etc. This will probably be a fruitless effort but cathartic nonetheless. Too bad he doesn't even have an office we can go stand outside of and protest. Here's another link to another news story about the scam. http://cbs6albany.com/news/features/bottom/stories/the-bottom-line-star-rebate-letter-119.shtml l am so sorry we hastily returned those forms amidst the chaos that was buying a new house. Normally we read everything we fill out but since we had already been given those forms when we closed on the house we just ASSumed they were the same thing. And that's exactly what the success of his business relies on. ******** weasel that he is. How many people do you need for a class action suit?
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| Posted 4/24/15 2:17 PM |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by ladyrain
My husband just got back from smalls claims court thanks to this POS. Everyone in the Nassau county clerks office is on a first name basis with him. "Hey Arie." "How are you doing Arie." He is in there ALL the time and the judge/mediator sides with him in 100 percent of cases. I'm sure he is lining someone's pockets. I am so furious that his completely unconscionable practice of basically tricking people into using his "service" isn't in some regard illegal and that he is still in business! It makes me sick to my stomach that he continues to conduct business at all and profit from taking advantage of people in such a heinous way. Literally laughing his way to the bank. The BBB is completely useless, and his responses to every complaint filed there is the same BS over and over and over. I have gathered every negative bit of information on the guy and i will be mailing it to anyone i think might be able to do something about it. Consumer protection, DA (not helpful as this thread reveals), Cuomo etc etc. This will probably be a fruitless effort but cathartic nonetheless. Too bad he doesn't even have an office we can go stand outside of and protest. Here's another link to another news story about the scam. http://cbs6albany.com/news/features/bottom/stories/the-bottom-line-star-rebate-letter-119.shtml l am so sorry we hastily returned those forms amidst the chaos that was buying a new house. Normally we read everything we fill out but since we had already been given those forms when we closed on the house we just ASSumed they were the same thing. And that's exactly what the success of his business relies on. ******** weasel that he is. How many people do you need for a class action suit?
I'm really sorry you guys got caught up in this scam too. What did your DH say about small claims court? Did he even get to state his case? The way you explained it is exactly how I imagined. 
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| Posted 4/24/15 3:17 PM |
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