Table of Contents
I. Joanne Faulk 3
II. Mercedes Castillo Hanvey 5
III. Heather Higinbotham 7
IV. Lucretia Hodge 12
V. April Jones 15
VI. Kelly McDonald 22
I. Joanne Faulk
Personal Information:
Name: Joanne Soloman
Email:
My story: I received a letter from the IRS stating that I owe $17,500, and I completed online contact forms for three tax relief companies to find out what I do now.
1. Have you seen TV ads, advertising tax relief help? If yes, what companies come to mind?
Yes, the only company’s name I can remember is Roni Deuth.
2. Think of five ways to search for tax relief online. What 5 different search terms did you use?
Five search terms used and grade based on results displayed:
· Tax relief company A
· Income tax negotiation B
· Income tax settlement A
· IRS debt resolution A
· Tax debt help A
Search results that received an “A” were basically the same results, and although they were not in the same order, were similar enough so the user could find what they were looking for.
The search result that received a “B” had less results than the others, which is the reason for the lower grade.
3. Choose three of your “A” sites for more in-depth research and tell us why?
- www.RoniDeutch.com/tax-relief
- www.Nationwidetaxrelief.com
- www.Premiertaxresolutions.com
All three of these sites appear to be reputable. I have seen Roni Deutch on television, and all of these results appeared in all searches using the different terms.
Roni Deutch
This site does not cite an average amount of taxes that individuals who approach them owe the IRS, but give aggregate amounts, such as “In the third quarter of 2009 her team negotiated an end to collection activity for a group of clients collectively owing the IRS $10.6 million. It does not mention the average percentage of reduction. There are testimonials on the site of the most successful negotiations. The company states that the fees are structured on a flat fee basis, but they will quote fees only after learning enough information about the individual’s situation and the type of service they may be able to provide.
I thought that this site was the best out of the three sites chosen. It is a professional site that a person visiting will expect to see.
Nationwide Tax Relief
This site does not cite an average amount of taxes that individuals who approach them owe the IRS, but gives examples of dramatic tax reductions. The examples show the original amount owed and the results. There is a payment plan, but any other fee information will be obtained after completing the online contact form. This page looks less professional than the Roni Deutch website. The graphics are large with credit card and Paypal information on the front page.
Premier Tax Resolutions
This site does not cite an average amount of taxes that individuals who approach them owe the IRS. It does not mention the average percentage of reduction. There are testimonials on the site of the most successful negotiations. The company states that the fees are structured on a flat fee basis, but they will quote fees only after learning enough information about the individual’s situation and the type of service they may be able to provide. They could range from $1,975 - $25,775.
II. Mercedes Castillo Hanvey
1. Have you seen TV ads, advertising tax relief help? If yes, what COMPANIES come to mind?
Yes, I have, but no specific names come to mind. Mostly attorneys handling that sort of thing.
2. Think of 5 ways to search for tax relief help online. What 5 different SEARCH TERMS did you use?
-tax relief: B
-back taxes help: B
- owe taxes: B
-tax relief help: A
-back tax aid: B
3. Grade each of your 5 searches A, B, or C. (A, being you found exactly what you were looking for; B – the search brought ok results; C – the search brought few/no useful results).
Graded above
4. Choose 3 of your “A” sites for more in-depth research. Those should be companies that you would actually approach if you had tax trouble.
Caveat: Be sure to look at both, SEO and PPC sites (see SEO/PPC definition on the wiki under http://lifebushido.wikispaces.com/Marketing+-+Market+Research+Team+-+Glossary ). Are you more inclined to look at SEO or PPC sites? Why?
SEO. The SEO sites often seem more in line with what I am looking for.
5. SUBMIT AN INQUIRY on each of those sites with your dummy email address and made-up name (same as you did for the Online Education/Campus Direct Mystery Shopper task). Tell us WHY you chose those 3 sites.
www.americantaxrelief.com- Seems like I have heard of them on TV. AM not able to readily find the average amount of individuals owe or the percentage they reduce liability. Fees calculated on nature of case and workload involved. No specifics on site. No place for an email contact, must call in for a free consultation.
www.freedomtaxrelief.com: Chosen based on info on search blurb. Site does have a whole screen of amount owed/percentage lowered rates. Fees not readily found, nor are the amount of taxes individuals owed. Was able to make an email inquiry.
www.taxhelprelief.com: was able to make an email inquiry. Virtually no pertinent info on site, wants you to call in.
6. Tell us if the sites cite an AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TAXES that individuals who approach them owe to the IRS?
7. Tell us if the sites state the AVERAGE PERCENTAGE by which they are able to REDUCE a client’s tax liability.
8. Tell us what the companies’ FEES are. Are those fees set or are they calculated, based on a specific formula? What is that formula (i.e. percentage of the overall amount you owe, percentage of the money they were able to save you etc.)?
9. Tell us which site out of the 3 you think is THE BEST. Why?
I was VERY disappointed in all the sites, but guess I would chose the freedomtaxrelief.com if pressured, because they had the rate chart and allowed email inquiries.
10. If you had a SMALL BUSINESS and owed “Business” instead of “Individual” back taxes, how would you approach your tax relief help research differently?
I would use very different search terms, and would really be picky about sites I looked at, since I was so dissatisfied with the personal search results.
III. Heather Higinbotham
AKA Heather Long ()
1. Have you seen TV ads, advertising tax relief help? If yes, what COMPANIES come to mind?
I have seen such commercials, but I cannot remember any specific names. I know that I have seen different types of companies offer such services, like lawyers and consolidation companies.
2. Think of 5 ways to search for tax relief help online. What 5 different SEARCH TERMS did you use?
Tax relief company
Help with back taxes
Owe back taxes
Tax assistance
Tax help
3. Grade each of your 5 searches A, B, or C. (A, being you found exactly what you were looking for; B – the search brought ok results; C – the search brought few/no useful results)
Tax relief company – A
Help with back taxes - A
Owe back taxes - A
Tax assistance – C, most was about help with filing taxes, not actual tax relief
Tax help – C, same as my ‘tax assistance’ search
4. Choose 3 of your “A” sites for more in-depth research. Those should be companies that you would actually approach if you had tax trouble.
Caveat: Be sure to look at both, SEO and PPC sites. Are you more inclined to look at SEO or PPC sites? Why?
Tax relief company – http://www.tax-tiger.com (PPC) – I would probably consider this company because they have a lot of information on their site and offer a free quote. You can find out a lot of great information and that tells me that this company is serious about really helping people and not just out to make a buck.
Help with back taxes - http://www.backtaxeshelp.com/ (SEO) – I probably would try this company, too. Again, they offer a lot of information and a free quote.
Owe back taxes - http://irsmeds.com (PPC) – I probably would not use this company. The page is too sales-like and offers no real information. I also do not see any quick way to contact them for a free quote option. They have a generic contact form, but they do not ask any questions. It seems like a set up for someone to contact you and get you involved in a sales call.
In a case where I am looking to buy something or to find a service I might be more likely to check out PPC results over SEO results. Generally, though, I do not even browse the PPC results. I know that they are paid advertisements. For me, I like what I find in the SEO results because I just feel I can trust those results more.
5. SUBMIT AN INQUIRY on each of those sites with your dummy email address and made-up name (same as you did for the Online Education/Campus Direct Mystery Shopper task).
http://www.tax-tiger.com
http://www.backtaxeshelp.com/
http://irsmeds.com
6. Tell us WHY you chose those 3 sites.
I choose these three sites because they seemed to stand out to me. They all had some type of promise to save me money.
7. Tell us if the sites cite an AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TAXES that individuals who approach them owe to the IRS?
8. Tell us if the sites state the AVERAGE PERCENTAGE by which they are able to REDUCE a client’s tax liability.
http://www.tax-tiger.com – “Since 2002, we’ve saved our clients a documented $20,000,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest. This figure was calculated based on helping clients settle a total of $21,284,798 they owed to the IRS for just $1,145,803 an average Offer in Compromise success rate of just 8 cents on the dollar!”
http://www.backtaxeshelp.com/ -
http://irsmeds.com – Nothing specific mentioned.
9. Tell us what the companies’ FEES are. Are those fees set or are they calculated, based on a specific formula? What is that formula (i.e. percentage of the overall amount you owe, percentage of the money they were able to save you etc.)?
http://www.tax-tiger.com – Just say they charge a flat fee.
http://www.backtaxeshelp.com/ - I didn’t find any actually prices, but they say they have set fees that do not change.
http://irsmeds.com – No information
10. Tell us which site out of the 3 you think is THE BEST. Why?
http://www.backtaxeshelp.com/ - I just felt this site was helpful and professional. The company seemed to want to offer information, while also making it easy for you to understand how they can help you.
11. If you had a SMALL BUSINESS and owed “Business” instead of “Individual” back taxes, how would you approach your tax relief help research differently?
I would use different search terms, including the word ‘business’. I would want a company that specializes in business tax relief.
IV. Lucretia Hodge
1. Have you seen TV ads, advertising tax relief help? If yes, what COMPANIES come to mind?
Yes I have but only JK Harris is the only company I can recall at this time.
2. Think of 5 ways to search for tax relief help online. What 5 different SEARCH TERMS did you use?
Tax relief help, tax debt assistance, tax relief assistance, back tax assistance, tax debt solutions
3. Grade each of your 5 searches A, B, or C. (A, being you found exactly what you were looking for; B – the search brought ok results; C – the search brought few/no useful results)
Tax Relief help— A
Tax debt assistance— B
Tax relief assistance—C
Back tax assistance—C
Tax debt solutions -- A
4. Choose 3 of your “A” sites for more in-depth research. Those should be companies that you would actually approach if you had tax trouble.
www.JKHarris.com
www.premiertaxsolutions.com
www.taxreliefsource.com
Caveat: Be sure to look at both, SEO and PPC sites (see SEO/PPC definition on the wiki under http://lifebushido.wikispaces.com/Marketing+-+Market+Research+Team+-+Glossary ). Are you more inclined to look at SEO or PPC sites? Why?
I look at both. I will admit I am somewhat leery of the PPC sites because some of the site addresses do not seem legitimate on first glance.
5. SUBMIT AN INQUIRY on each of those sites with your dummy email address and made-up name (same as you did for the Online Education/Campus Direct Mystery Shopper task).
I submitted the inquiries on 12/01 at 9:30 am eastern.
www.jkharris.com
www.premiertaxsolutions.com
www.taxreliefsource.com
6. Tell us WHY you chose those 3 sites.
I have heard about J.K. Harris from the television ads. The other two sites were impressive based on the FAQ’s and testimonials. Some of the information seemed to be very helpful.
7. Tell us if the sites cite an AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TAXES that individuals who approach them owe to the IRS?
None of the sites gave info on average amount of taxes of their clientele. Will determine once speak to consultant.
8. Tell us if the sites state the AVERAGE PERCENTAGE by which they are able to REDUCE a client’s tax liability.
None of the sites gave info on average percentage of reduction of tax liability of clientele. Will determine once speak to consultant.
9. Tell us what the companies’ FEES are. Are those fees set or are they calculated, based on a specific formula? What is that formula (i.e. percentage of the overall amount you owe, percentage of the money they were able to save you etc.)?