CAPTA is running a somewhat different scam. You'll receive an envelope saying CONTROLLER on the left side suckering you to open it, and in it an urgent message to contact them. While they do not charge an up front fee as the other scambags, it may actually cost you much more than the $189 the other scambags charge. How? They will promise you to reduce your taxes for a 50%(!) fee or you pay nothing. Since I didn't manage to reduce my 2008 taxes by myself, I thought I got nothing to loose and will be glad to pay 50% if they will succeed, so I signed the contract, failing to pay close attention to the fact that it is renewed automatically the following years!
Once I signed, they did absolutely nothing. Their business model is based on the assumption that eventually many tax bills will be lowered, and when this happens, you get a bill for 50% of the reduction!
In my case, after few phone calls in which they admitted they can't lower my 2008 taxes, I sent a letter in 11/2009 requesting to terminate the service. At the same time I contacted the county assessor office and after couple of phone call negotiations I managed to reduce my 2009 taxes.
To my dismay and disgust, couple of months later I received a call and a bill from CAPTA, notifying me that THEY reduced my property taxes and my 50% is now due.
After few more phone calls and emails proving that I was the one who reduced the taxes, they still insist that my bill is due since I entered a contract which will only expire later in 2010. Obviously, I will never pay them a fee for a service they never provided, and if they will try to collect I'll sue them, but wanted to warn others against this particular scam, which can be much more costly than the other scams.
So if you receive anything from California Property Tax Associates, do yourself a favor and throw it to the garbage where it belongs!

I received the same letter in 2009 it just didn't make any sens to me, I don't know what repelled me I just thought that it was weird to ask me to pay money so they can lower my taxes, in general when u appeal something you pay a government source not some company, I saw the same week the local news talking about the scam I was glad I actually paid attention to the little details. However today I got a letter about my house assessment for 2011 and the prices are just too low, I would have lost a third of my property value, which doesn't make any sens, I know the economy is bad but not that bad+ where is the recovery. Also they are saying that the letter is not a bill but if I am not agree with the assessment I can always call the assessor. I think I am going to call them and give them a piece of my mind.

I paid them $189 and got nothing. Their promise was fake and the County did not reduce my real estate taxes as promised.

I paid 179 dollar for the first time I received the "Property Tax Reassessment" letter.

I paid 179 dollar for the first time I received the "Property Tax Reassessment" letter. After a few month, I received the second letter asking the same thing and I realized then it was cheating.

people shold not avoid tax on properties and houses for sale Golders Green as it heart the public

The letter I received from the company below came only Yesterday, january 9th, 2010. What balls!

I have also received a letter from the L A department of consumer afffairs stating that the suspect has been brought up on charges and has a civil suit against him. I had filed a complaint with that dept. several months earlier.

Can you imagine the gall of these people to have sent me yet another scam letter? This time the company is called Tax reduction Review and Reassessment Dept. What's more, they've upped the ante from 179 to 186! I am glad the crooks will get what's coming to them, The dirty bastards.

Yipee! Got a letter from the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs. They have filed criminal charges against the suspect. In addition, he also faces a civil lawsuit filed by the State of California Attorney General's Office. I thought it was going to be long shot by filing a complaint but it paid off. I'll probably wont see my money but at least this *ucker will get his in court. So everyone please file with the Department of Consumer Affairs to get rid of any other scumbags.
http://californiacitynews.typepad.com/california_county_news/2009/05/property-tax-scam-artist-apprehended.html

Damnit, I fell for it!! pissed off at myself and them!

Don't fall for it, if its too good to be real it just is.

We got a letter in February 2009 and fell this this scam. We paid $179/ each property of ours. Mailed out to Property Tax Reassessment, PO Box 25519, Los Angeles, CA 90025-9977. I have called them and someone has told me many times for the last 7 months that I would receive my refund, but I have not yet. Please watch out for these guys.

I just received my letter today. I live in San Mateo County. It was from Regional Processing Center, 11856 Balboa Blvd., Ste. 281, Granada Hills, Ca. I looked it up and it is a UPS Store. They are asking for a $189.00 service fee. I had a feeling it was a scam. How can they keep getting away with this? Shouldn't someone put a stop to this????

Just got mine today (SF) and boy does it look official. At least in big bold letters they say their not affiliated to any government office and they offer a refund if they can't do anything for you. But like the other poster stated you gotta catch'em first. Try and Google map the address. It comes up as a body shop LOL...

Got mine for my property in San Francisco. And I'm supposed to send a check for $189 to 11856 Balboa Blvd., Suite 281 Granada Hills, CA 91344. No phone number of course. And the letter included a Proposed Assessed Value that's MUCH lower than the property is worth. Obviously they don't know what homes are worth in San Francisco.

Anyway, the thing that got me suspicious was the upfront fee request. Last year I received a letter from a law firm in San Francisco (that really exists) that really does this type of service, with a real phone number. The law firm didn't ask for any money up front, just a percentage of whatever tax savings they could get me. That's obviously a better deal because it's in their interest to get my tax reduced as much as possible, and if they don't succeed, I don't owe them anything. Anyway, I decided against going with the law firm and did it myself.

With this Property Tax Adjusters scam, they want the money upfront and there's no guarantee that they'll do anything. So I got suspicious and did a search. Glad I did!

Got the same 'Tax Reduction Form' last year. $189.00...Repeat BS! Is there some way to prosecute these scammers?
(11856 Balboa Blvd. Suite 281 Grenada Hills, CA 91344)

Thanks for the heads up in Hacienda Heights, CA, My husband was ready to pay the $230 specially because it looked so formal and real. I had never heard of this company so I figured I should look into it, no phone # of course. I am usually pretty good at knowing what's going on with my home and taxes. This one caught me by surprise. Thanks for the comments, and confirmation that this was a scam.

The regional processing center is in the UPS store at that location. mailbox suite 281

Got Mine today in Oakley, Ca 50 mi from SF. Everyone qualifies for a reduction. So guess what No service fee refund hahaha ROTF.

We also received this same letter for our property in the San Francisco Richmond neighborhood.

The letter looks impressive with a bar-code and looks very formal and government issued. The letter does not have any contact information (i.e., phone number) other that the address to send your check.

Glad to have found this page confirming this is a scam. I just got a letter from Property Tax Adjusters in Granada Hills. Thanks so much for the info!

First, county assessor value property on fair market value. If the value falls, they are obligated to reduce the taxes. It is automatic. If you believe you are paying too much, go to the assessor's office to determine the value they have placed on your property. If it is lower than you tax bill, you need to find out when the assessor informs to treasurer's office. When that happens, the treasurer will make the adjustment to your taxes and even give you a refund, if you have already paid at the higher amount.

When I bought my house in 2008, it was valued twice what I paid for it. Of course, I paid the higher taxes on closing. I did as I outlined above and received a check for 50% of the taxes I had paid. All this was accomplished without the assholes from Property Tax Adjusters.

The clincher for me was the fact that there was no phone number on my letter. I'm glad these jerks are being exposed.

I just got the same scam letter in San Francisco today. These people are scum!

I got one in San Francisco today. Was curious and did a Google search for "property tax adjusters granada hills" and this site came up. The address on my form is also 11856 Balboa Blvd, Suite 281, Granada Hills, CA 91344. I figured it was probably a scam, and am glad to see this page as the first Google search results listing. Thanks, UCAN!!!

I guess some people have no shame. Hey, there's a major recession and people are sufferring - how can we use this to scam them out of their hard-earned money this holiday season? Jerks. I hope the state of CA goes after them with a vengeance.

Like DeeMar123 below me, my father received an letter from Granada Hills, CA for property tax readjustment. Did a search and found this site; you guys just saved him a bunch of money. Thanks!

They're spreading! A friend who lives in San Francisco just received a notice from Property Tax Adjusters with an address in Granada Hills, CA. Can the California Atty General's office do something about this?

My father just received a letter asking for 196.99 to be mailed to Annual Property Reassessment P.O. Box 25952, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 800-704-7091. Thank God, I look at all his mail, but I feel for those who are not aware of this and will fall victim. Please spread the word as I will.

can't believe these guys are still in the business. it's seems so easy to rip off people and don't even paid for it.

Hello to All!

I have been providing free assistance to all my clients the past 2 years with the proper documentation and information needed to have your property reassessed in Los Angeles County, and I am now offering to help anyone and everyone on this blog free of charge in the Los Angeles County. As a REALTOR, we have all the resources to find out the most recent sales in your area. Feel free to email me if you need any assistance: Ben@magnorealtygroup.com

Good luck to all!
&
Happy Thanksgiving!

Ben

I received another letter from the Property tax reassessment company for the same property that I had previously paid a service fee for a few months ago. I even called the 888 number and talked to a rep to verify that I would receive my money back if the property did not qualify for a reduction. That seemed suspicious so I decided to google their name and address. This website came up. I am so upset I fell for a scam like this! I should have known better! Please please beware of anything that you receive from:
Property Tax Reassessment
PO BOX 25519, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (888)879-4259.
AND
Homeowner proeprty tax review board
Tax reduction review division
PO Box 41558, Los Angeles, CA 90041.

The Company that was running the scam is RDI and is located in 4350 Glendale-Milford Road
Suite 250
Cincinnati, OH 45242
. I have all the information that you need in a way to prove they are resposable for this.

Another thanks for those who posted on this site.  This is a pretty legit looking letter, so I cannot even imagine how many people are being suckered into to sending payment for something that appears to be fraud.  Especially since it comes right on the heels of the tax bill (at least in my case), which by the way has anyone noticed came much later than normal this year?  I can't help but wonder a couple things - 1. how these people even received my assessor's id number, which I would hope and assume is private information.  And 2. Why doesn't the official website of the LA county tax collector post any kind of warning on their website?  Even if this is not an official "scam" they should at least post something saying they are not affiliated with this agency.

I had received a similar letter last year, but like all others it looked rather authentic so I sent in a check for $189.

After receiving another one this year, it seemed suspicious to me so I finally googled and also found this page amongst others about this being a scam. I just hope this scam alert will get around others that don't have the knowledge or access to get to this website.

Current letter from:

HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAX REVIEW BOARD

Tax Reduction Review Division

P.O. Box 41558

Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558

-Has a bar code and all accurate ass# and name on the letter.

Sad that this type of scam is going around feeding on people when we are all already suffering from a financial crisis. No more than we want to save our hard earned money, but to have these scavengers pick at us; it is quite a tragidy.

the letter came the day after the assessment bill. it contained the exact assessed value and assessors id# as the bill. MANY PEOPLE will fall for this. there is no address, and no phone number, if there is any way an enforcement agency can prove they did nothing but sucker you into paying for a service not performed, they should be prosecuted, and proceeds confiscated.

I receieved another one the day after I received my REAL property tax bill. The scam artists made this one look like a real bill so be very careful! It has a bar code, my assessor's id no and all my assessment info. Also NO PHONE NUMBER so you may have a hard time getting your money back this time around. Here's all the new info:

Homeowner Property Tax Review Board

Tax Reduction Review Division

P.O. Box 41558

Los Angeles CA 90041-0558

And of course $189 is due now LOL!

After reading this and posting above about how I totally fell for this "SCAM"  I just spent half the day looking for my last tax bill (the reason I hired them to do this for me in the first place).  When I finally found my bill, I looked on line and in fact my property taxes have nearly been cut in half.  I didn't fill out any paperwork, so they must have done it for me.  WELL worth the $189.  We bought our nearly $700,000 home at the height of the market and are very upside down on our mortgage.  This is why, they DID in fact save me thousands.  THANK GOODNESS!  There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with hiring an ourside company to file paperwork for you. 

Not scammed after all

Why don't the police just go to their PO box?  I've been getting letters from this company for two years!  Further, why wouldn't they just complete the paperwork for you?  It would be an excellent business.

I'd been meaning to have my property reassessed for a couple of years and so after recieving this add X number of times I went ahead and paid them to do it for me.  It sounded like a fair price and a good idea for a business.  I just don't understand why they wouldn't have filed the paperwork...or how they can be scamming for THIS LONG!  UNBELIEVABLE!

I should have known, I'm just so busy, I'd hoped it was a legitimate third party.  I tried calling all those numbers, but have to listen to too many recordings just to ultimately file a complaint which obviously has been to no avail and worthless for others! 

Wow, this sucks.  Don't care as much about the $189...care much more about the paperwork not getting done on my property taxes!  AWFUL.

Succered.

I also just received the scam letter to reduce my property taxes and at first was definitely excited as my california taxes are outragious.  My father owned the home last year and paid 1200.00 for property taxes. This year after inheriting the home my taxes went to 5800.00.  This is the only home in the neighborhood that is taxed at that rate.  My home has been assessed at 499,000. by the assessors office and is assessed at 345,000. by all other agencies.   I wish there was a legitament office out there that could actually do something about these money grubbing ripoffs (county assessors). Just because arnold has totally broke the state of california doesnt give them the right to bleed the people of their money.  I think the assessor office is the real rip offs.................

I just received a letter to my father in laws estate for tax reduction review division

tthey call themselves Homeowner property tax review board  P.O. Box 41558 los angeles, ca

it apppears that these peopkle sure move around alot. It looked real to me.

Very greatful for this site.I was getting ready to pay the $189.00 to the scamers and them i saw this site.on mine it says:

Homeowners Property Tax Review BoardTax Reduction Review DivisionP.O. Box 41558Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558

Hi, I googled this topic, as I just received a notice

Homeowner Property Tax Review Board
Tax Reduction Review Division
P.O. Box 41558
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558

It looks official and for $189.00 they process an application to the County Assessors office and can save you "thousands". Thanks for all your info. I am staying away from this SCAM! :)

Just got this in the mail today, from po box 600124, 619-288-3340. Thanks for having this site!

If you are interested in having your property taxes lowered via the informal and formal process, it's best to utilize a CPA or other tax professional. Of course, you could do it yourself. You can prepare income taxes, bankruptcy filings and dozens of other legal/financial related matters yourself, but you run the risk of investing a lot of time and headache only to find that out of ignorance or oversight you missed a big item when you filed and it cost you big money!
I'm not a CPA, but I provide a system used by CPA's, Tax Attorneys...etc, that prepares the property tax appeals.
If you need help, and are in the Southern California area, let me know and I can direct you to someone in your area.

I just received a letter about a Property tax review board about a Property Tax Deduction Form with an address like this:

Regional Processing Center
P.O. Box 3966
Chatsworth CA 91313-3966
(800)581-0628

The letter tells me to send a check for $189.00 service fee before September 25.It looks like a government letter with a bar code and assessor id #.It is a totally a scam be aware and be careful.It is not from the government,they have no website,po box instead of their exact location,and they also have a (800) number.

New Name:

Annual Property Tax Review
Tax Reduction Review and Reassessment Department
P.O. Box 251649
Los Angeles California 90025
(800)832-9905

Same nonesense. Fee $167 , if not mailed by deadline $187. They want the check to be made out to Annual Property Tax Review . On the envelope it says Final Notice, has a bar code on the stub, and portions of the "bill" are highlighted to look official.

just received letter from "annual property tax review" - post office box, 800 number, no website, requests for check sent - same stuff. do NOT send a check - especially with account info, etc. printed on it. NEVER send check without more information than a blind letter sent to you unsolicited.

At first, the letter looked official and legit, but I was skeptical. I did not request such service, but I kept getting this letter from "Tax Reduction Review Division" The letter does not state its a private company offering this service. Upon googling "Homeowner Property Tax Review", search result showed "SCAM"

I would love to call and request to be removed from their mailing list, but of course, the phone number is not listed.

DO NOT SEND CHECK to these companies. You might be the victim of ID theft as well. Here's the address:

HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAX REVIEW
Tax Reduction Review Division
P.O. Box 41558
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558B

After ten calls and two copys of check,, and around 8-9 weeks ,,, I GOT A CHECK TODAY FOR 179.00,, OFF TO THE BANK FRIDAY,, LETS SEE IF ITS GOOD, I WILL UPDATE BY WEDNESDAY 9-23-09 My only tip is to be nice, and it was hard to do...

I've just received a letter from "Property Tax Review Board" containing a "Property Tax Reduction Form", with an address as follows:

PROPERTY TAX REVIEW BOARD
Not a Government Agency
REGIONAL PROCESSING CENTER
PO BOX 3966
CHATSWORTH, CA 91313-3966
(800) 581-0628

This letter urges me to send a check for $189 service fee before September 25. It looks like an official government letter with a bar code and an assessor ID #. It is certainly a scam; be forewarned and notify responsible authorities.

Red Flags: Los Angeles County mailing address for San Bernardino County property
Not a Government Agency
PO Box instead of actual physical location
(800) phone number
No computer website
No e-mail address

I looks realy official but it smellesd fishy they wanted $189.00 fee to save me $1300 not responding

I entered into an agreement with a firm that worked an a contingency fee. "No Savings. No Fee." However, the assessor's office in my county reassessed over 350,000 properties purchased between 2001 and 2008 and automatically reduced the assessed value of thousands of homes; including mine along with every house on my street. Now I have received a bill from the consulting firm demanding 50% of the savings. Should the consulting firm be billing me for savings that they had nothing to do with?

These services are exactly like any other professional services, such CPA, Tax preparer, Realtor, fisherman, lawn service man, builder of your home or your computer virus cleaning service company. Unless that individual or company actually takes your money and does not do anything for it, then it is a SCAM. If you knowingly accept the offer, you pay for it and you should do your best to contact the company and if they in fact do not do what they've promised, then I agree 100% that you have a valid claim. Just like my tax preparer, I pay her over $250 per year to do my income tax and yet no one call her a scam just because I could do the income tax myself. You know I could just go down to the IRS office and get the easy form 1040 and its handbook and their toll free number where IRS agents would be gladly help me with any question that I may have. The taxpreparer itself does not consider a scam. But if someone offers you to do similar thing like help you fill in forms, preparing documentation to appeal your real property tax appeal, gather the data required and shipped it off to the county assessor, you consider them a con artists? Please think again!!!!! For $179 to get my property tax appealed, I think it is a good price. Just because of something you can get it free and you pay for their times, experiences and inconveniences that you don't want to face, you think it is a scam? Why would you pay for fish at your grocery store? Would all the fishermen are scam artists because you know you can also go to the river or lake to catch your own fish for FREE! DUH! (oops, did I mispelled that duH or Hud?) Another thing, attorney general or government official will lose billions of dollars from the local county assessors because they have to reduce the taxing revenues because your asset dipped. Do you really think that they are looking out for your 'best interest'? Instead of wining, please go down to the assessor office and do the filing yourself and see if all the efforts and inconveniences are worth less than $179? Let me know. I am professional real estate investor and I am by far having more experience about these tax appeal processes than 99% of you out there, I still would gladly pay someone to do the paperwork and send in my property tax appeal for $179. I paid several thousands of dollars to have my property taxes reduced last year and I will continue paying someone else who has more experience than I. It is a service that I need. If you don't need the services, save your money and use it for movies or something. Oops, before I forget, you can cut your own hair; why you pay a barber? Is your barber a scam? My advice, check your county's deadline and go file your appeal if you don’t trust anyone but your tax collectors. READ other article that put out by the assessors. One, I remember reading, in Santa Clara, about 1/2 of those who filed last year got their property tax lowered. If your county assessor is working on your best interest, why would they 'mistakenly' or 'intentionally' over assessed those 1/2?

For those who had paid $179 without reading the offerings, I feel for you. Please contact the company, making sure they actually have filed your tax appeal by now. If not, insist that they do. For the meantime, because the government filed complaint in the court does not automatically make all tax appeal services fraudulent. Because the government has right to collect taxes on the land it governs; this itself does NOT necessary grants them ground for its lawsuit. I am anxiously waiting for verdict of the court. :)

I fell for this scam also. I am going to call them tomorrow and demand my money back or drive down to that PO box and wait till someone collects. I will keep you all updated. I am pissed!

does anyone have information to demonstrate the reduction in home/land values that can be used to support the re-assessment

Thank you to everyone who has posted a comment. After reading everyone's comments, I am pretty sure I will never see the $179 again. But, I thought what the heck, I am going to call these jerks again. I got some guy of the phone that was really nervous to talk to me. I asked to talk to a manager and he would let me talk to anyone else and he kept saying they were just a call center. I told him, that there had to be someone who could help me and he better figure out who that was. So, anyway, he broke down and told me to Google the company name and gave me an email address. Maybe he was trying to let me know it was a scam, because when I Googled the name, this is the first website that came up. I am sure no one will respond to the email, but it is worth a try. The email address is info@propertytax.us.com I sent an email to see if it was legit and it went through. Good luck to everyone....Lesson learned.

These guys should be rooming with Bernie Madoff in jail for 150 years.

Your verbose diatribe of logorrhea (look it up, schmuck) doesn't hold water. Your premise is that you have to pay for a cup of cofee as Starbucks, etc. Well the difference between Starbucks and the reassessment scam is that Starbucks delivers the coffee. tYou pay hte maid, the house gets cleaned. These scam-bags take your money and give NOTHING. (Not even a cup of Strabuck's.) I fell for the ploy LAST DECEMBER and the apllication WAS NEVER FILED! So get off your wiseass high horse and stop belittling pepple who need to vent and seek recourse. Are you perhaps one of the sammers? Why else would even you be looking at this site, if you were not a victim or prospective victim? Just for the fun of dissing honest persons? or for more sinister reasons? Heh?

Whoever says it's not a scam is out of touch with reality! The first letter looked "official" - not by coincidence but by crafty design. I felt the idea sounded illogical, but what do I know about government workings? So I asked my accountant - who did not see the letter. He told me to pay the fee, unaware of the ploy, and said the tax assessor probably requires a fee. I paid $179, like all the other naifs. That was last December.
The scam is that no document was filed in my behalf as I was told by the tax assessor's office. When you pay your gardener, the grass get mowed; you pay your maid, the house gets cleaned, etc. These bums take the money AND RUN! PERIOD! end of disussion! I wrest my case! I'd like to wring some necks. But whose?

All I have to say is that these people will burn in hell. I really cannot stand that these low lifes are stealing money from people. Carma is a bitch and I really cannot wait unitl one of them opens up the letter from that guy that wiped it with his ass. haha. I'm so glad they are getting sued for 2.5mil. Seriously, may they burn in hell, if they want I can reassess the taxes their for them for $179...Bastards

I almost got suckered in..and For TWO properties.
Thanks Everyone for their postings...

I received a letter from this company based out of Los Angeles County and i live in Sacramento County. Why is a LA based company trying to do reassessment in Sacramento County. This company is a SCAM!!!!! KEEP YOUR MONEY AND GO THROUGH YOUR COUNTY ASSESSORS OFFICE.

I was taken in. Yes, I feel stupid and ripped off to the tune of $179. Before even finding this site, I received a follow-up letter thanking me for "choosing Property Tax Reassessment for your property tax reduction needs."

Too Late.

I called the letterhead phone number (888)879-4259, asked to be removed from their program. I was instructed to send a letter to their P.O. box with this request and a copy of my canceled check front/back; refund will appear in 8-10 weeks. I am hopeful but not optimistic.
Lesson learned.

I got the same notice regarding my property reassessment and with all these positive and negative comments I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW!!!! Can someone tell me what the best to do?????

Thanksssss

Even if they are a private company does it give them the right to scam people? I call this place and at first they said they had no records and then they said it was being appealed. These guys are lying through theie teeth, I checked the LA COUNTY Assesors website and they have a SCAM alert about these companies. It says on the website that reassessment is FREE!, by the way I checked my property records, NO reassessment paper work has been done. In my opinion, Dont trust anyone here that posts that these companies are legit or you will be out $179. Im so angry, never again, by the way my mother in law got the same notice, luckily we told her about it.

Check out the website it tells you everything you need to know about the scam, I wish I would of done my homework.

assessor.lacounty.gov/extranet/list/newsList.aspx?newsid=89

I was skeptical at first and I should of went with my fist instinct, I called today and gave them an earful. First I wasnt in there system, then my case was going to appeals. I asked for a Supervisor and I was told he was in a meeting, yeah sure. They told me to send a copy of the check to get a refund, Im not even going to bother after reading some of the posts. WHy are these people still in business, I guess all you need is a PO Box, 800 number and Adobe Photoshop to scam people. We are so pissed, we want to take them to small claims. Who are these F*ckers and why are they still in businees? Will filing a complaint to consumer Affairs get my money back? FYI here are is the address from these peopole who scammed me"

Property tax reassessment
PO BOX 25519
Los Angeles, ca 90023
Phone 888-8794259

Sadly, I thought only old people fall victim to these crimes / scams. I applied for home reassesment (legitimately) in Feb 2009, in April I recieved this scam and thought it was the city's response to my request. I paid the $186 thinking that was the fee owed and now my property assesment was complete. I sure was wrong, becuase of the fraudulent way they crafted thier scam letter, I paid for a service which I had already done myself. Has anyone got thier money back from these guys. Their San Diego number is listed at 619-288-3340...

First of all, this is not the first time an outfit has sent us "official" looking letters. AARP, insurance companies and others do it all the time. If you read the entire letter they fess up to not being a government agency in bold type. So they seemed legit enough to us.

However, we balked at the $179 fee, and googled property reassessment to see if they had any competition.
They do, and for a lot less. There are several firms that will send you a do it yourself package with forms and letters and tips for rproperly requesting a reassessment from your county.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We received the letter from the Property Tax Reassessment co and WOW at first it looked legit but lie many others who have commented, we Googled it and found your website which in turn confirmed our suspicions.
Thanks for your help

Hi -Just found your site. We were scammed by these guys years ago. Frankly, I don't understand how some of you are defending these people as legit (unless you work for them). They don't pay refunds, nor do a reassessment as they say they will. They have an F rating with the BBB., where it is also shown that the Attorney General is investigating as of May 12, '09. Check 'em out yourself!

I was about to write my check and then thought, hey, can't I just do this on my own? When I Googled property tax reassessment, your blog and notice came up. Thanks for saving me thet $179~~~

WE FELL FOR IT..N PAID THE AMOUNT N SEND IT.. WE DIDNT KNOW THIS WAS A SCAM UNTIL NOW THAT IM READING THIS.. WAT DO WE DO KNOW..IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD DO?

Okay, for the sake of being objective lets just say they do provide you with a service. Then why haven't I heard from them?
Yes, I fell for it too. It looked very official and I didn't spend the time to read through it. I just thought the county was going to reduce my property tax and mailed it off.
I'm usually pretty darn good at not falling for this BS but I did and I except my mistake as a $179 learning experience.
I hope it helps to put food on the table for one of their employees.
I did call them to cancel and followed their instructions for a refund but that was 3 months ago. the money is gone and I'll never see it again.
Don't fall for this crap.
The idiot who keeps giving you the line about how state and county doesn't want to lower your property taxes is probably right but this bullshit company sure won't get it done for you.

I received such a letter from Property Tax Reassessment, P.O. BOX 25519, Los Angeles, CA 90025 .. Phone 888-879-4259 . It does state that this is not a government agency in bold print on the bottom.

First of all did you understand what you were paying for? If so then what is the problem, is the problem that a stupid website like this says its a scam and you are worried the company won't perform the services? If you did not understand the services, why don't you simply just ask for a refund?

The problem is the government is blasting companies like this because they don't want to lose money, so they call it a scam. Yes some companies have had a very aggressive marketing campaign while others have informed the homeowner they can do it themselves if they wish to. However, regardless of the marketing campaign, the end goal seems to be the same across the board and that is to save homeowners money. Now I keep reading how the Assessor's office is doing this for free right? Well of coarse they are, it's their job to make sure your home is properly assessed. What these companies are offering is a service to appeal your taxes, they are saying that your taxes are not assessed properly and that they will help you reduce them. One question I have always had for the people argueing "this can be done for free" is the following;

If you simply fill out a form and send it in to the Assessor for review, do you think they are really going to review their work and say oh yeah we were wrong? Why would the same agency that placed the assessment on your house in the first place think for one second they are wrong?

Now I know people are going to blast me, saying I work for one of these companies and in fact I kind of do, I am currently an employee of the Los Angeles Assessor's office. Here's some inside information for you guys out there, the Assessor only put out these press releases because its an election year for him and he did not tell any of his constituents that a service like this even existed, these private companies did. In fact if you don't believe me go to the Los Angeles Assessor's website and read the press release's. There is not one press release stating this service can be done without mentioning something along the lines "homeowner's have been receiving solicitations...".

My advice to any of you is pay attention to who benifits the most from the appeals service, the private company charging a couple hundred dollars or the state who is broke and does not want homeowners paying less?

I will be checking this board for any questions you may have on this process or any questions you may have on some of these companies, so please ask away. The reason why I can try to answer questions on some of these companies is our office is flooded with their clients appeals so I do know a little about them, however my answers will be limited to what they send us, not who runs them or where they are located, etc.

Oh and one more thing for the board, the Los Angeles Assessor has been saying for months now to just wait to see if your home has been choosen for review, right. Well again a little insider knowledge, every home has been listed for review that was purchased in the last couple of years. However we are not reviewing anything, we are performing our normal duties to get the next tax roll out in time. There is no one over here double checking / reviewing anything, like I said above, why do you think we would change our own work?

How is it that they can continue to operate??! Who Is PTR?

Got a letter from an Los Angeles Post Office. However, the return envelope has a San Diego address. A SCAMMER within a SCAMMER???

I didn't have the time to waste to read all of the posts here. I didn't find one post that stated whether or not they were actually cheated out of cash. After carefully reading the letter I received I could very easily see that it was a non governmental service being offered, to use or not to use. It mentions a service fee at a discounted rate before a certain date and higher fee if you use their services after that date. I also could easily see that I could ignore it and throw it in the trash like any other junk mail. I didn't see anything that shows the company is fraudulent. If someone here sent money in and didn't receive any services, then rail on! Otherwise I just see a lot of mean spirited gossip going on here. This may not be a legitimate company but I can see how some ones innocent reputation can be destroyed by gossip, just like in our media

I also want to Thank You for the postings.
I live in Orange County and received a Property Tax Reassessment letter. The letter looks official. It is not dated, but does state a response is due by 5/26/09. If I do not repond by this date the fee goes from $179.00 to $209.00. The address on the letter is P.O. Box 25519, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
Phone #888-879-4259. Again, thank you for keeping us all aware!
Terri

I live in Orange county. My Property Tax Assessment letter was from P.O. Box 25519, Los Angeles CA, 90025. I have not paid because my wife, who runs our checkbook, asked me if it was a valid request. I have a GREAT wife!

I received the letter last week

I moved from California over a year ago (04/01/08) and now I live in Arkansas. I did not own any property in Ca and these people are asking for $189.00 and it says that if I don't pay the amount by 05/15/09 I will have to pay $219.00
The address is:
ANNUAL TAX REASSESSMENT
P.O. Box 341755
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(800) 652-3123

I received a letter as well. Thank you for your postings. Something about the letter did not look right. I hope that the Attorney General's office for the State of California is involved in this!

Thank you again for taking the time to set this up and keep us informed.

I've received today, May 8th 09, their SCAM letter. Does anybody know which agency in Silicon Valley should I contact to report this SCAM,

TIA

Grey Geek

I sent them a check for $179 in February, which they cashed. In April they mailed me an authorization form for them to proceed, which I signed & returned. Meanwhile, a second solicitation arrived asking for $189 for a possible reassessment that was lower than the first. I phoned them 3 times about this, leaving a message, but they did not return my call. This scam is sophisticated, not only in the format and wording, but in the research on homes that they do.

We received the annual tax reassessment last weekend and laughed our heads off. We live in an apartment and do not "OWN" any property. We haven't owned any property since 1994. Besides that, the 800-652-3123 number on the letter always has a full mailbox so you can't talk to anyone. The PO box number is different than the other listings I have seen on line at this site. It's po box 341755 Los Angeles, California 90034. These people need to be stopped.

I got the letter this weekend as well. Appears to be the same company:

Property Tax Reassessment
PO Box 25519
Los Angeles, CA 92005

I got that letter this weekend... I live at Imperial Valley CA, the letter that i recieved is from LA Po box 25519

Thanks for the heads up... on the scam...

Well I to Live in San Clemente and received this letter from this Scam company....Right after I read this I knew right away that a red flag jumped out at me that this might be a scam, and went to the computer and Googled this in the search slot and your site came up warning me that this is a scam....Thank You ! I to saw many flaws in the letter that were way wrong...such as the various values they stated were way off to begin with...and Why would a LA CA address appear when we have our taxes go to the Orange County tax assesser..In Orange county??? Also the lack of the property Lot, Parcel,and page that I am on in Orange counties records...
Anyway I cought this for what it is and will report it to the authorities..

Rod

Resident of Coto de Caza, I received the letter yesterday and it did catch my eye at first. Upon closer examination, realized the company wasn't affiliated in any way with the County Assessor's office and thought that if I was due a refund, I probably wouldn't have to pay money first to get it. Call me crazy. So I carefully filed this in the repository for further review never.

You know what is the funny thing bout this letter, there are so many flaws i could easily point out. One of it was the refund policy. If you read along the line, they stated that you will get your money back if for any reason they cant get you a lower tax on your property. Ask yourself a question, why do they tell you that you qualify but at the same time you might not be qualify. If that the case, why send in the money in the first place when its the same as you never send in the money to get a assessment review. The only good part about not sending in money is, they dont have control over your money, plus you dont have to go through all the hassle to get your money back, just by one reason alone that they cant get you lower tax. My conclusion is they take us for a fool when they are stupid in many ways. it is sad that some people did fall for it. yea and sometime it make you wonder why is this happening, and no authority is looking into it.

This whole summary is summarized to that we all got common sense, by readin what they wrote, we could already catch the problem. Go with your sense.

i received this scam letter on saturday. i hope the cops can trace who owns that po box and put them to jail as soon as possible!

I've just received a letter from "Property Tax Reassessment" whose address is PO BOX 25519, LOS ANGELES, CA 90025. This letter urges me to send a check $179 before May 26 or $209 after May 26. It really looks like an official government letter with a bar code, an assessor ID. As I suspect it, I googled "Property Tax Reassessment" and found this web page. Now, I am sure it is a scam. Be careful. Thank you.

I live in San Clemente and received this document yesterday - Googled the phone number and got to this site! Thanks for the heads up, I hope no one gets stung by these crooks!!! Hope they get caught at their game.

Thank you for the heads up! Live in Huntington Beach and received one yesterday.. googled it and found your site. How many elderly people have been scammed! I hope someone does something to nail them!

I also received their letter today!

I say... flood these bastards with lots of mail! You will get a big bang out of a single stamp by enclosing their letter and sending it back to them in their own envelope. I wiped my ass with their letter and stuck it in their return envelope! I felt it was worth the stamp for satisfaction! I wish I was their to see their face when they open it... and oooooooooooooooooooh that smell! I'll bet they can't wait to open all of those green envelopes with all of out ass-wipes waiting for them inside.

I say... if you can't beat them... join them! Stick it up their asses! They will go broke hiring people to open up all of the empty, ass-wiped document envelopes!!! lolololololol!

~Sebastian

Nowhere on these "documents" is any official seal or stamp or logo ...or???

"Regional Processsing Center " .....for what ? and whom?

Am i to believe that "Property Tax Assessment" is a company ?

These clowns are obviously taking advantage of thier own stupidity and others...

The LAPD or LA County needs to investigate the PO Box 25519 Los Angeles location and
Contact the Building Manager and start from there...

This is the second or third time we have received this. WHAT CAN BE DONE to scavengers preying on people?? What about those who are elderly or gullable and fall for this scam.

It is obvious to both myself and my wife that this is a scam based on 2 things.

(1) I called the 888 number and the voice mail says it is a "PRIVATE COMPANY"
and
(2) which is hilarious as hell when and I quote "REQUEST FOR PROPERTY TAX REASSESSMENT available to you as a result of Proposition 8"
Prop 8 is the GAY RIGHTS INITIATIVE how stupid do they think we are??

Again, there will be those that fall for this unless something is done. I intend on contacting the Attorney Generals Office!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, got same letter today in Laguna Niguel. First thing I did was google it and found your website.

Thanks
Leen