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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

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SecretlyTTC14
LIF Adult

Member since 12/13

1770 total posts

Name:
B

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by coiro30

That's ok, let me know if you or anyone comes across it! I have set up 2 TV interviews about this and also set up a meeting with 2 of our council members this week. Arie Gal is my new passion project.



It's been on the news a bunch of times and last year (or maybe the year before) they had to change the wording (and add a statement regarding their services) on the contract they send out. Is there anything else that can actually be done to stop this guy? It seems like everyone is just SOL when dealing with him.

Posted 3/21/16 1:11 PM
 
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SecretlyTTC14
LIF Adult

Member since 12/13

1770 total posts

Name:
B

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by hotelcalie

We are in the process of buying a house so I am sure we wil get one of these in the mail. I want to be super vigilant that I do not sign anything. Does anyone remember what it looked like, who it came from? Just don't want to have this happen!



abc7

This article has a pic of the top of the form. Just read any contracts before you sign them and you should be good.

Message edited 3/21/2016 2:37:43 PM.

Posted 3/21/16 1:14 PM
 

Pomegranate5
LIF Adult

Member since 2/11

4798 total posts

Name:
Pomegranate5

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by hotelcalie

We are in the process of buying a house so I am sure we wil get one of these in the mail. I want to be super vigilant that I do not sign anything. Does anyone remember what it looked like, who it came from? Just don't want to have this happen!



This guy only charges you if he is the one who files the STAR form with the town, so if you go down and do it yourself you should be fine.

Posted 3/21/16 1:20 PM
 

RayRay13
LIF Infant

Member since 7/14

155 total posts

Name:
RayRay

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?

Posted 3/21/16 3:44 PM
 

ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road

Member since 12/07

6153 total posts

Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?




You agreed to have them grieve your taxes. Why would you agree to this if you didn't intend on paying if they won? Be happy they got a reduction in your taxes, that's money saved and not out of your pocket.

Posted 3/21/16 4:08 PM
 

Pumpkin1
LIF Adult

Member since 12/05

3715 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by ave1024

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?




You agreed to have them grieve your taxes. Why would you agree to this if you didn't intend on paying if they won? Be happy they got a reduction in your taxes, that's money saved and not out of your pocket.



I would agree, but only if OP signed the contract with Maidenbaum. However, if a prior owner signed a contract to grieve the taxes, the current owner would not be responsible.

Posted 3/21/16 4:13 PM
 

Paramount
Sweet!

Member since 7/12

4287 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?



Ask them to send a copy of the signed contract.

These guys are unscrupulous. If you signed you will HAVE to pay.

Posted 3/21/16 4:15 PM
 

JDubs
different, not less

Member since 7/09

13160 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?


Yes- all of these tax grievance companies charge you half of what they save you, if you signed the letter and authorized them to grieve on your behalf.

Posted 3/21/16 4:20 PM
 

LovesMike
LIF Adult

Member since 8/10

978 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?



This is different than what the majority of people on this thread are talking about. Maidenbaum grieves your taxes and if they win your grievance you owe them half of the amount they were able to reduce your taxes.

The company we are talking about charged your full STAR deduction for filing your STAR application.

Posted 3/21/16 4:39 PM
 

ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road

Member since 12/07

6153 total posts

Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by JDubs

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?


Yes- all of these tax grievance companies charge you half of what they save you, if you signed the letter and authorized them to grieve on your behalf.




You should contact Maidenbaum and try to negotiate the fee with them. I grieved with them and they won me a huge reward. They knocked off close to six grand off my taxes with the town and what I pay now is almost criminal based on what the rest of my zip code pays per sqft.

I had a $2900 bill from them and when I called to pay the woman on the phone almost sounded surprised that I was willing to pay in full right on the spot. I was so elated that I won a huge case I temporarily lost my sense of negotiation. Chat Icon I probably could have had $1000 knocked off the fee. I have a feeling they negotiate the fee with a lot of people.

Message edited 3/21/2016 6:44:19 PM.

Posted 3/21/16 6:43 PM
 

gina409
TWINS!

Member since 12/09

27635 total posts

Name:
g

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by Pumpkin1

Posted by ave1024

Posted by RayRay13

I received a letter from Maidenbaum Tax Services over the weekend. It said that I saved money on my taxes, but now I owe them half. Is that legit?? I feel like a moron for signing this....

Anyone have the same experience?




You agreed to have them grieve your taxes. Why would you agree to this if you didn't intend on paying if they won? Be happy they got a reduction in your taxes, that's money saved and not out of your pocket.



I would agree, but only if OP signed the contract with Maidenbaum. However, if a prior owner signed a contract to grieve the taxes, the current owner would not be responsible.




Is this true?? We got this letter too bc the owners grieved right before we bought the house

Our taxes went down 3k but I assumed we owed bc we own the house now

Posted 3/21/16 9:36 PM
 

coiro30
LIF Zygote

Member since 3/16

5 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Yea he won't send it, he knows he's a scumbag. I have been all over him, not so much for my small claims case which I'm certain from the histroy of this with others that I'll lose but I'm working to shut him down forever.

I've e-mailed every elected official in Nassau County, most were no help except my local town of Hempstead councilman's office. He has someone working to help our case out but my importantly putting pressure on Consumer Affairs who he believes are the only people that can really make a difference. They have been after Arie and 2 other guys for the past year.

I have his home address and did a news story with channel 11's Help Me Howard. Howard and I went to his house (which is like a fort...camera's everywhere and every window covered) and knocked and got a very unwelcome response from his live in non american girlfriend! We are currently trying to get Arie on Camera or find a picture of him.

Anyone with any info or a picture please let me know!

If anyone wants to call Arie Gal the scam man his cell is 516.252-2276. He never answers but he will call back.

Message edited 4/1/2016 4:50:59 PM.

Posted 4/1/16 4:49 PM
 

tbmoore
LIF Zygote

Member since 4/16

1 total post

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Hi Coiro30. Any updates on your case? We're going through the same thing right now and I'm furious. We had filed for STAR on our own and I believe we didn't actually even sign this contract. We have no recollection of the contract and it's signed by husband - who NEVER handles the house bills, contracts etc. So it seems even more of a scam to me.

1. Did you have any luck in your small claims case yet?

2. What happens when you call Arie and he calls you back? Is he willing to drop the case or at least settle out of court?

I wonder how he sleeps at night.

Posted 4/28/16 12:08 PM
 

Isabellasmom83113
LIF Zygote

Member since 11/13

20 total posts

Name:

I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that this case is now going to be picked up by the attorney general and his office will be bringing him to court. I got a call today from a person in Schneidermans office. He read me my letter I had sent to his office back in 2013. I also filled out an affirdavid as well. If you filed a complaint with his office you will be recieving a phone call from them. I am so happy justice will finally be served. His office said that many people complained and they finally have enough evidence to take him to court. If you did not fill out a complaint I suggest you do so soon.

Posted 5/6/16 5:26 PM
 

LovesMike
LIF Adult

Member since 8/10

978 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Hi everyone! Just wanted to confirm that I was contacted by the state AG office on Friday. I was in the middle of a work meeting but I tried to rack my brain to recall the details (and I'm glad I had this thread to look back to!). I'm excited at the possibility that the system might actually work ...we shall see! It's a start at least!

Someone mentioned a class action lawsuit a while back and I wonder if that is where this is headed!!

Posted 5/11/16 8:38 PM
 

gina409
TWINS!

Member since 12/09

27635 total posts

Name:
g

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

I am so glD he is getting what he deserves

Posted 5/11/16 11:41 PM
 

mommy2be716
LIF Adult

Member since 1/16

2921 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by LovesMike

Hi everyone! Just wanted to confirm that I was contacted by the state AG office on Friday. I was in the middle of a work meeting but I tried to rack my brain to recall the details (and I'm glad I had this thread to look back to!). I'm excited at the possibility that the system might actually work ...we shall see! It's a start at least!

Someone mentioned a class action lawsuit a while back and I wonder if that is where this is headed!!



this happened to us and we paid them because it was such a headache. If it becomes a class action lawsuit, I wonder if we can still fight it even though we paid.

Posted 5/12/16 7:53 AM
 

LovesMike
LIF Adult

Member since 8/10

978 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by gina409

I am so glD he is getting what he deserves



Whatever happened with your situation, Gina?

Posted 5/12/16 1:16 PM
 

newtovs
LIF Zygote

Member since 2/15

5 total posts

Name:

I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Has anyone tried this strategy against Arie Gal in court:

Arie Gal presents a form which was submitted to the county assessors office and stamped as submitted by the clerk. But without testimony from a representative from the Nassau County Assessors office is hearsay. Even if we are to believe the form was actually submitted to the assessors office, there is no proof that Star was granted as a result, the box at the bottom showing if the Star exemption was granted is not checked “YES” and is not signed by the assessor. The burden is on the Plaintiff- Arie Gal to prove the case that he is bringing to court and he fails to do so by bringing into evidence a form that is not ratified by the Assessor.

Basically merely submitting is not proof of the exemption being granted. His whole argument is based on 1) The house did not have star, 2) the owners signed the form and Gal submits to the Assessors office, 3) In the public records a few months later the house has Star. So he gets everyone to believe that fact #3 is directly caused by fact #2, but that may not be true and with no sign off by the assessor on the form he is submitting one can make the argument that there is only proof(if you want to concede that to him) that Arie Gal submitted the form to the Assessors office, but no proof that the Star exemption was granted as a result of him submitting and therefore he failed to meet the burden of proof (which is on the Plaintiff) and therefore the court should dismiss the case, as he failed to establish that Star exemption was granted as a result of the form he submitted.

Just wondering if anyone tried this approach in small claims?

Posted 5/15/16 7:19 AM
 

gina409
TWINS!

Member since 12/09

27635 total posts

Name:
g

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Posted by LovesMike

Posted by gina409

I am so glD he is getting what he deserves



Whatever happened with your situation, Gina?



We ended up paying. I called
Him to try to talk and he never picked
Up. Wrote emails,contacted news companies. Never heard back. So we just paid it and I put the malocchio on him Chat Icon

Posted 5/15/16 9:44 AM
 

Isabellasmom83113
LIF Zygote

Member since 11/13

20 total posts

Name:

I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Everyone should contact Eric Schneidermans office and file a consumer complaint. This is the website to file your complaint. https://forms.ag.ny.gov/CIS/consumer-complaints.jsp

Posted 5/16/16 9:05 PM
 

mommy2be716
LIF Adult

Member since 1/16

2921 total posts

Name:

I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Did anyone get a letter in the mail from the Nassau County Attorney General office? I just got one that said i might be getting restitution money!

Posted 7/9/17 1:21 PM
 

seaside
LIF Adult

Member since 6/08

3101 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

People were quick to shut us up a while back, but a couple of us said that there might very well be a basis to fight him.

If it looks enough like something official that must be done to fool enough people and you're actually agreeing to pay someone 100% of what you could easily get yourself for no real value added, there are tons of potential issues.

People were too quick to shame the victims and not quick enough to understand the potential of the law and how it works.

Can't know what will happen for sure without all of the facts, but I hope you all get your money back.

Posted 7/9/17 4:47 PM
 

brooklynbird
LIF Zygote

Member since 7/17

15 total posts

Name:

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

Yup! I got the letter last week. Made me so happy to see something is actually happening. Getting all the paperwork together now to send to assistant AG. I was unaware of this unfolding because after so much frustration (and research on the guy which just made me more mad) i just gave up thinking anyone would go after the scumbag. Fingers crossed this works out. He deserves to go to jail but i'll take getting my money back.

Posted 7/9/17 4:55 PM
 

gina409
TWINS!

Member since 12/09

27635 total posts

Name:
g

Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related

I got the letter too!

Posted 7/9/17 5:02 PM
 
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