How to get your money back when you’ve been conned
My friend recently booked a package holiday online only to find that the company was a complete sham and that the holiday he’d book was in fact a complete con. He wasn’t staying anywhere near the location he’d been promised, his flights were at completely untenable times and he’d been hit with countless hidden charges. Suffice to say he wasn’t in much of a holiday mood by the end of it all and he just wanted to cancel and get his money back.
Unfortunately the company were not particularly helpful on this front either (surprise, surprise) and despite battling and arguing with them completely reasonably he didn’t manage to get a whiff of a refund mentioned. Fortunately my friend isn’t a fool and he knew all the right channels to go through to eventually get his money back.
Such companies and con artists are despicable but they are only able to operate at all because so few people realise the various options available to them when it comes to getting their money back. Here we will look at some of the things you can do to make sure that none of these horrendous outfits makes off with your cash.
Complain
The first port of call, even when you think a company is pulling a fast one, is to ask for a refund with the company directly so that your request is recorded. You’d be surprised how easily you can often get your money back if you make the right noises – many companies simply rely on their victims being too timid to complain or just not being bothered so if you make it obvious you won’t just ‘go away’ they’ll often concede that they’re in the wrong.
That said, certain things can show you mean business and help the process for one. Make sure that you always ask for names for instance to make sure the people you speak with no that they will be held accountable for their actions or their inaction. Likewise, ensure that you are speaking to the highest level of management possible, and to try at least one formal complaint in writing/via e-mail so that you can keep a copy for your records. Mention during complaints that you aren’t afraid to take your dispute higher and that you will involve their superiors, the press and the law if necessary.
Try Other Organizations
If the company you’re dealing with still will not play ball then this leaves you with one option which is to complain to any other companies whose reputation may be at stake. For instance if you booked the service through a third party such as Amazon or Groupon then you may find that they will help you get your money back, or that they will even refund you directly (and probably remove the offending con artists from their site).
Financial Institutes
Another place to turn is your bank and if you inform them you have been a victim of fraud they may be able to help. If you booked on credit card in particular, then you will be covered against such situations and they should chase down the money for you meaning you don’t need to worry about anything. If you have any direct debits with the company you have a quarrel with, then you may still be able to cancel them.
The Law
Finally if you still don’t get your money back then you may wish to involve the law. While not everyone can be bothered or even afford to go through this process, if you have lost a considerable amount of money then it may well be worth your while (and you may find that the first letter is enough to scare the company into playing ball). Don’t let these outfits get away with it.
Author Byline:
John Lowrie is an expert financial journalist who works for a very well known financial website by the name of Payday Angels. To know more about this keen blogger, you can follow him on Twitter.
Categories: Federal Tax, Income Tax, State Tax, Tax Evasion, Tax Law Tags: fraud, scam
Federal tax code may favor driving over other transportation modes
There are common complaints that transit is subsidized and roads pay for themselves; however, this is found over and over again to be untrue. Taxes are due in less than a month, and the Tri-state took a peak at the available and recently-expired tax credits and deductions that are related to automobile and transit use in the federal tax code. They did so in order to see if the tax breaks being proposed had a bias towards automobile use over other transportation.
It is possible that the federal tax code provides benefits for automobile owners; however, it seems as they offer limited incentives to taxpayers that take transit or travel by bike. This article isn’t meant to be an expert analysis on taxes, as we aren’t tax advisers, but it may be an optional guide or simply seen as an educated opinion.
If you own or operate a vehicle, these are some of the benefits you may earn:
Tax payers who choose to donate their vehicles to charity can receive a tax deduction
Individuals who have experienced an automobile crash that aren’t fully reimbursed by the insurance of the other driver, as long as the crash wasn’t the individual’s fault, may be able to deduct the unreimbursed amount.
Automobile owners may also receive tax credits to purchase or lease fuel efficient vehicles or even fuel cell vehicles and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, individuals may take a tax credit for qualified fuel cell vehicles that were serviced in 2012.
Also, individuals that drive to work may be eligible to take up to $245/month in a pre-tax deduction in order to cover parking expenses.
Categories: Federal Tax, Income Tax, Tax Law Tags: federal income tax, federal tax, gasoline tax, income tax, sales tax, taxes
Comptroller applicant withdraws more than $34,000 federal tax lien
There is one city comptroller in Grand Rapids that is withdrawing from consideration following a MLive inquire about a federal tax lien for his property.
The comptroller applicant named Mark Pospiech disclosed delinquent city income taxes on his application. Supposedly, he also owns $34,813 in federal income tax for 2009-2011, according to a tax lien that was filed in November of 2012 with the Kent County register of deeds.
Jerry Czaja, the county’s chief deputy register, says that it looks pretty clear that Pospiech didn’t pay his 1040 tax. When a person doesn’t pay their 1040 tax, the federal government will file a lien in the office, and the lien will become attached to any interest they have in any property. Currently, it doesn’t seem like a discharge will be recorded to release the lien.
Pospiech was one of the three applicants for the position of comptroller that was vacated when Donijo DeJonge stepped down from the position in December. He responded to MLive calls about the talked about lien with a written statement that he is going to withdraw from consideration of the comptroller position.
Pospiech said that throughout the application and interview process for the comptroller position, he said that the focus of the Press was more on his situation, eclipsing his abilities for the position. He believes that there are a variety of factors that have led to his current tax issues, but those factors are personal, and shouldn’t be drawn out by public opinion.
Categories: Federal Tax, Income Tax, State Tax, Tax Evasion, Tax Law Tags: avoiding taxes, corporate tax, federal tax, federal tax fraud, filing taxes, income tax, tax code, tax fraud