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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I feel so dumb. I am a generally smart person, I ALWAYS read and try to fully understand contracts before signing anything. Well, today I got a letter from "STAR Exemption Advisor" congratulating me on my STAR savings for my school taxes and for allowing them to submit the application on my behalf. 
I don't remember that.
Well, they included their applicatin that I did indeed sign. And now I owe them my full STAR deduction. Are you KIDDING ME??!!
And it says right on the form I signed that I owe them this one time fee.
SO UPSET. How could I have been so dumb? I signed it last August, we weren't even in our house yet. I remember hearing that we would have to re-apply for the STAR so I must have been super eager to apply and when I got this application, sent it in. I was super distracted with craziness at work and everything around our home, moving, work we were doing. They got me.
Do I have ANY recourse?? Any ideas? What can I do? I'm so dumb. 
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Posted 10/17/13 7:37 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I don't know but that sounds really shady to me. What's the point of applying for STAR if you hand it all over to them?
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| Posted 10/17/13 7:41 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
Exactly! And that all they did was send us the county STAR application, which we returned. It's almost like the flyers you get to grieve your taxes and they say if they lower your taxes you owe them 1/2. Fine, 1/2 I get, I'll pay 1/2 for my own stupidity, but the full amount??!!
I googled them and the first thing that comes up is a "7 on your side story" that is almost identical. They reduced the cost and worked out a payment plan, but it is apparently legal. Even though the "fees for service" is buried in the document.
Message edited 10/30/2013 10:28:53 AM.
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| Posted 10/17/13 7:44 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
Anyone?? I'm really freaking out right now / am FUMING!!!
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| Posted 10/17/13 7:55 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I have never heard of this. So they applied for star for you?
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| Posted 10/17/13 7:57 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 Goobster
I have never heard of this. So they applied for star for you?
Yes, it's a TOTAL SCAM. They submitted our application and apparently get a one time fee of our savings that we have to pay them.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:04 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
Posted by LovesMike
Posted by Goobster
I have never heard of this. So they applied for star for you?
Yes, it's a TOTAL SCAM. They submitted our application and apparently get a one time fee of our savings that we have to pay them.
Can you check with your town to see if they even filed anything?
What a bunch of crooks! Sorry this happened.
And I would put there name out everywhere to stop it from happening to someone else.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:08 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
Thanks MsSissy - yes, they seem to target new homeowners, sadly. They sent me a copy of the application they filed and it's true, we did get our STAR deduction. I'm just so mad at myself, I'm literally sitting here in tears. We just don't need this right now.
Message edited 10/30/2013 10:29:20 AM.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:11 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
deleted
Message edited 10/30/2013 10:29:35 AM.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:13 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I would contact an attorney to ask what your recourse is. I would also post their name and info so others are aware. Just the facts.
Sorry this happened to you.
ETA: I would also contact your town to inform them of this scam.
Message edited 10/17/2013 8:17:52 PM.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:14 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 Chai77
I would contact an attorney to ask what your recourse is. I would also post their name and info so others are aware. Just the facts.
Sorry this happened to you.
I am going to call them tomorrow and see if they will work with me to reduce the amount we owe them. I'm also going to contact the State Attorney and BBB to file complaints.
I will then also post as you suggested here and on other social media to get the word out.
I think the reason no one has heard of them is that they target new homeowners and people who may need to apply for STAR, since you generally only apply once.
Message edited 10/30/2013 10:37:32 AM.
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:18 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by LovesMike
Posted by Chai77
I would contact an attorney to ask what your recourse is. I would also post their name and info so others are aware. Just the facts.
Sorry this happened to you.
I am going to call them tomorrow and see if they will work with me to reduce the amount we owe them. I'm also going to contact the State Attorney and BBB to file complaints.
I will then also post as you suggested here and on other social media to get the word out.
I think the reason no one has heard of them is that they target new homeowners and people who may need to apply for STAR, since you generally only apply once.
ETA - it's not town specific. These douche bags will take anyone.
But we just recently had to reapply for the STAR exemption. They are probably having a field day with that going on too. 
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:20 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
EXACTLY!!! They must be raking it in with a lot of unsuspecting people. Here's this, it's 2 years old, but interesting. HOW is this LEGAL????
link
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:24 PM |
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KittyKatCopper
missing my handsome boy
Member since 3/09 1579 total posts
Name:
Kat - HamptonsBride (LIW)
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I would contact the NYS Attorney General and report it...if they are representing themselves to look like STAR then I'm pretty sure they are committing fraud...I hate shady stuff like that! 
NY Att General
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| Posted 10/17/13 8:36 PM |
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mandm727
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 148 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
My husband and I just bought a house. We got the same letter. We had already filed our STAR with the town so we knew it wasn't legit. This is so wrong!
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| Posted 10/18/13 6:52 AM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by mandm727
My husband and I just bought a house. We got the same letter. We had already filed our STAR with the town so we knew it wasn't legit. This is so wrong!
exactly....we had to go in person not send in an application by mail??
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| Posted 10/18/13 7:27 AM |
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StarsStripes
LIF Adult
Member since 12/12 1192 total posts
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
That's crazy! You just made me double check because I remember getting a letter about STAR last week. I got a reminder letter from Albany telling me to go the state website to reapply...for free. Those people who scammed you are complete assholes.
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| Posted 10/18/13 8:01 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
I could also see them really taking advantage of seniors, especially since we all had to re-apply on line. I'm so angry, I don't exactly know what tone to take when I call them this morning.
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| Posted 10/18/13 8:42 AM |
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CanThsBit
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 451 total posts
Name:
Kina
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
The same thing almost happened to us about the Deed to our house. We just moved in and I got a letter saying I needed to have a copy of my deed and I need to send $125, the letter looked 100% legit and I probably would have sent in the money but I just happened to call our lawyer and see if he would have access to the deed at a cheaper price lol. He said I was the 3rd person to call him that day about this "deed letter" new homeowners are getting. People are so shady!!!
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| Posted 10/18/13 8:44 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 CanThsBit
The same thing almost happened to us about the Deed to our house. We just moved in and I got a letter saying I needed to have a copy of my deed and I need to send $125, the letter looked 100% legit and I probably would have sent in the money but I just happened to call our lawyer and see if he would have access to the deed at a cheaper price lol. He said I was the 3rd person to call him that day about this "deed letter" new homeowners are getting. People are so shady!!!
We absolutely got this same letter too! It totally looked legit. I think I even put it aside in my "something to deal with eventually" pile. When you purchase a home, you are INUNDATED with mail - some legit, some not. And they don't make it easy or clear to tell which is which. It's shocking. You don' tknow what deadlines are real, or in my case, completely fake and arbitrary, to get you into a panic. It's your first home!!! I am so sick over this.
I just called and left a message. They aren't answering the phone. Shocker.
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| Posted 10/18/13 9:22 AM |
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CanThsBit
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 451 total posts
Name:
Kina
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
So funny it was in my pile also.
But I have a question, how will they know how much you end up saving? Will something go directly to them? Id put a call into your lawyer and maybe if he drafts up a letter to them they wont go after you?? Hopefully?!?!!
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| Posted 10/18/13 9:41 AM |
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I would also consider getting in touch with your local elected officials at every level. My parents had a glitch with something related to Medicare or Medicaid (I don't recall which and I don't recall specifics) and my dad contacted Peter King's office. They helped resolve the issue and my parents were very impressed. Even if you stay on the hook, you can probably single-handedly put these f*ckers out of business by using social media, etc to bring them a lot of bad publicity.
Message edited 10/18/2013 9:45:26 AM.
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| Posted 10/18/13 9:45 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
I talked to them. They called RIGHT BACK after I left a message sounding pleasant and interested in more information about them.
But wow, was this guy ready for me. It must be his sole job to answer these calls because he was not interested in hearing me out AT ALL. I guess then they wouldn't have any business. I'm now in touch with the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affaris - the State Attorney suggested they would be able to help and are familiar with this company. Needless to say, their lines are busy.
STAR Exemption Advisor did offer to either do a payment plan of 4 payments, or they knock $60 off the bill.
I like getting in touch with my local officials. I'm doing it now.
ETA: Actually, I have to do some work. THEN I am getting in touch with everyone. I will draft a form letter I can use.
Message edited 10/30/2013 10:30:34 AM.
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| Posted 10/18/13 9:48 AM |
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Kitten1929
LIF Adult
Member since 1/13 6040 total posts
Name:
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I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
I'm so sorry this happened! Keep trying to contact the media because this is totally bogus!!!!
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| Posted 10/18/13 9:54 AM |
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femalej
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/11 833 total posts
Name:
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Re: I got taken - I can't believe it- STAR related
Posted by LovesMike
Posted by CanThsBit
The same thing almost happened to us about the Deed to our house. We just moved in and I got a letter saying I needed to have a copy of my deed and I need to send $125, the letter looked 100% legit and I probably would have sent in the money but I just happened to call our lawyer and see if he would have access to the deed at a cheaper price lol. He said I was the 3rd person to call him that day about this "deed letter" new homeowners are getting. People are so shady!!!
We absolutely got this same letter too! It totally looked legit. I think I even put it aside in my "something to deal with eventually" pile. When you purchase a home, you are INUNDATED with mail - some legit, some not. And they don't make it easy or clear to tell which is which. It's shocking. You don' tknow what deadlines are real, or in my case, completely fake and arbitrary, to get you into a panic. It's your first home!!! I am so sick over this.
I just called and left a message. They aren't answering the phone. Shocker.
same thing happened to us! looked totally legit, then i read further and in small print it said something to the effect that it was not through any county or governmental authority and it was a third party solicitation. what BS!!!
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| Posted 10/18/13 10:04 AM |
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