Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. Clear Creek Consulting is Muddy Creek of Unethical Business Practices Westminster Colorado
I have been lied to by this company. First off I was told that it would only cost me a flat rate fee of 2,500.00 dollars and now that I've been formally Ripped off for $6,300.00 over the last 20 months and I have had no resolution to my tax matters to date which in the beginning I was told was an open and shut case and that at the most it would take 3 months to clear this matter up and reach an Offer In Compromise.
After I paid them the last 1500.00 dollars that they sprung on me out of the blue and then took them nearly 2 months to send me a statement of services which I requested when they said that I had used up my retainer, I did eventually receive a typed out billing sent to my email that is so overly inflated that its actually quite funny in the sense that my phone records do not match theirs with their claims that they have kept in constant contact with me as well as the IRS.
Unfortunately for Clear Creek Consulting I can find no one at the IRS that is involved or has been involved with my case that has had any contact with Clear Creek Consulting on my behalf and they make the claim that they helped me get into uncollectible status to which the IRS claims that I was placed in uncollectible status months before when I had filled bankruptcy with another sleazy firm of tax know-it-alls.
I've been going over the Internet and the Colorado Better Business Bureau for the last several months and I have come across some things about Clear Creek Consulting that makes my blood boil and my skin crawl.
I have read the other Rip-Off Reports about this company as well as the company rebuttals against these complaints. Mr. Brian Cope (who is never in the office to be contacted but seems to keep quit busy defending Clear Creek on these boards) has had the audacity to reply to these other consumer complaints as if they are all liars and incompetents. Well, Mr. Cope unfortunately for you, I am neither a liar nor am I incompetent.
Over the course of my investigations through the BBB of Colorado, the internet and even Myspace I have learned that Clear Creek Consulting clearly misrepresents their firm and this is by admission of their own company employees.
Clear Creek States that their employees are highly skilled and that every employee is fully screened but for the life of me I cannot understand that how a high school graduate can be a “Senior Tax Consultant” and that a “Family Law Attorney” qualifies as a Tax Attorney. And furthermore I honestly cannot understand how a company that handles the most sensitive of personal material and information can hire felons to handle this type of sensitive and personal consumer information with good faith.
Of course I did my homework as Mr. Cope stated within one of his rebuttal postings and I am going to post here my homework findings and welcome Mr. Cope and Clear Creek Consulting to try and wiggle their way out of the Muddy Creek of Consumer Complaints.
1. A BBB accredited business. When I signed on with Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. They had a BBB rating of A- and currently they are standing at a C+ rating. This can be found here along with their history of officially filed consumer complaints http://www.bbb.org/denver/business-reviews/taxes-consultants-and-representatives/clear-creek-consulting-inc-in-westminster-co-1010081 Scroll down the page for the listing of complaints and those complaints that have been resolved.
2. Consumer Complaint Board found here (((Redacted))) I encourage any of you who are reading this to scroll down on this page and read the posting by a KYBOGGS whom states that they are a current employee of CCC and whom seems to clearly not deny the fact that Clear Creek has and does hire felons as well as this employee clearly stating that someone at the company misused a clients personal information for personal gain. I will say though to Clear Creek Consulting credit that this employee does state that the matter was rectified and the said employee was terminated. Of course I am still wondering where the employment screening process was and why if it is so stringent how it failed to protect the consumer in this instance?
3. The numerous complaints filed through this board most of them which can be read here http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/355/RipOff0355064.htm#359525
4. Another complaint on MSN Money was found here http://boards.live.com/thread.aspx?ThreadId=1021921&BoardName=Hide&header=SearchOnly&Footer=Show&BoardsParam=PostID%3D28069906&LinkTarget=_parent&pagestyle=money1&ForumId=18 which is posting 6 and 7 placed by an entity known as “Taxed”.
5. Yes, I saved the very best for the last one... Go to Myspace and type in Clear Creek Consulting and search people and take a look at some of their “Senior tax consultants” better yet since it's on Myspace and now considered public domain I shall do the work for you and give you their links.
http://www.myspace.com/296218366 Junior Consultant (High School Diploma)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=129854543 Occupation listed-Senior tax consultant (High School Diploma)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=31776975 Occupation listed as Senior Associate Taxes
In the end I am just curious how an attorney that is not a tax attorney but licensed as a family practice attorney in Missouri can practice tax law and therefore be represented as a “Tax Attorney” in good faith? And, is there no prerequisites for being a tax consultants? Or even Senior Tax Consultants without some further training such a business school or college or even tax courses through the IRS? Let's just say that I'm curious and of course I do wait with abated breath for Mr. Cope's reply.
On another issue for Mr. Cope have you not violated client privilege in your rebuttal post to a Mr. T. Kevorkian (the posting and rebuttal can be found here http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/410/RipOff0410837.htm ) by publicly stating his tax issue online for all the world to see. I am sure that in some way Mr. Gevorkyan has rights to privacy and it would seem that in your arrogance as well as your ignorance you just publicly violated his right to privacy not to mention you have just proved to me and perhaps to everyone else that will read this that neither you or Clear Creek Consulting have any scruples or business ethics regarding the consumer.
Now that I've done my homework I do wish that Mr. Cope and his overly sleazy firm would just do the right thing and refund my 6,300.00 dollars but I highly doubt that I will ever see that money again without taking further matters to which I am in the process of completing.
My next letter is to the Colorado Attorney General and Bar Association as well as the Missouri Bar to file formal complaints. I am sending all my findings to the BBB of Colorado with my formal complaint then on to the FBI with all these findings. I also plan to contact the Colorado Drug Enforcement Task Unit to see if they can investigate these allegations of illicit drug use and find out if such behavior is true among their employees.
In the end I'm just sick and tired of being ripped off.
Did someone say something about Class Action? I'm game. Anyone else?
Just for fun more consumer complaints about Clear Creek Consulting, Inc.
http://whocalled.us/lookup/3034261075
Sickntired
Greensboro, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
DIFFERENCES NOT SETTLED!
#10Consumer Comment
Wed, July 01, 2009
After Brandon cope stated that he wanted to settle our differences and send me a refund, I received a check for only $750!
It was sent to the WRONG address, and should have been closer to $3000!! I called CCC and asked why I only received a check for $750, Brandon Cope called and left a message that their "legal team" determined that no refund was due, but he talked them into giving me $750! NO, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY ME!!! Where's the REST of the refund?? I think another $2250 is due to be refunded! And to the correct address!
If they get paid $3500 which they said would cover everything from start to finish, then only do a small portion of the work before I find out they lied to me and cancel their services - which leaves me being owed a refund of close to $3000, and they only send a check for $750 (to the WRONG address) and say I wasn't even due that - then our differences are NOT settled and they STILL owe me a refund for the rest of the money!
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Update on Clear Creek Consulting
#10Consumer Comment
Mon, June 08, 2009
Brandon Cope, Executive Vice President of Clear Creek Consulting, has contacted me with a resolution to settle our differences and has agreed to issue a refund. We have agreed to settle our differences.
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Who wants to join a class action lawsuit against Clear Creek Consulting?
#10Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
I have been ripped off too and want a class action lawsuit against these liars and theives! If you want to join, email me at cmbssvc@yahoo.com, or if you already have one started or know of one, please let me know.
sickntired, you are right that Brandon Cope violated privacy by stating information on a client - another reason NOT to hire Clear Creek Consulting in addition to them being liars and theives!
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Who wants to join a class action lawsuit against Clear Creek Consulting?
#10Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
I have been ripped off too and want a class action lawsuit against these liars and theives! If you want to join, email me at cmbssvc@yahoo.com, or if you already have one started or know of one, please let me know.
sickntired, you are right that Brandon Cope violated privacy by stating information on a client - another reason NOT to hire Clear Creek Consulting in addition to them being liars and theives!
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Who wants to join a class action lawsuit against Clear Creek Consulting?
#10Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
I have been ripped off too and want a class action lawsuit against these liars and theives! If you want to join, email me at cmbssvc@yahoo.com, or if you already have one started or know of one, please let me know.
sickntired, you are right that Brandon Cope violated privacy by stating information on a client - another reason NOT to hire Clear Creek Consulting in addition to them being liars and theives!
Cmartin
Buckeye,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Who wants to join a class action lawsuit against Clear Creek Consulting?
#10Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
I have been ripped off too and want a class action lawsuit against these liars and theives! If you want to join, email me at cmbssvc@yahoo.com, or if you already have one started or know of one, please let me know.
sickntired, you are right that Brandon Cope violated privacy by stating information on a client - another reason NOT to hire Clear Creek Consulting in addition to them being liars and theives!
Sickntired
Greensboro,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Clear Creek Consulting Inc Westminster, Colorado
#10Consumer Comment
Sun, May 10, 2009
I hope that any of you that are interested took a moment to read my original posting about this "firm" and of course I use the term loosely because I believe that this outfit of misfit teens/felons/ and scammers have developed the perfect scheme for ripping off and terrorizing those that are already in trouble with the government, be it federal, state or local taxing agencies to which they use your already troubled state of affairs for their own personal gain while they promise you that they will take care of all your fears and get you a deal for a set amount of money.
Lies, lies and more lies. This seems to be the mantra that Clear Creek sets its corporate values upon. I urge you if you have been a victim of this company to write to their Vice President of Services Rian Peonio and ask him to reply to you in writing about any and all concerns that you have or have had with this company as I do doubt that you will get a response in writing but you will be bombarded by phone calls from Mr. Peonio stating that he wishes to speak to you about the contents of your letter but will not under any circumstances reply to you in writing. I did this under the advisement of the Colorado Attorney Generals office and to my surprise when I asked for any further correspondence to put into writing Mr. Rian Peonio informed me that Clear Creek Consultant's Corporate attorneys informed him (Mr. Peonio) that Clear Creek did not have to respond to me in writing because my allegations didn't warrant the time and effort to respond to me by letter and furthermore Mr. Peonio adamantly refused to address any issues I had with this company but he did inform me that I could no longer speak to the Attorneys that were assigned to me and that my case would be kept on his desk for an undetermined amount of time unless I removed my original posting to which he then added that if I did remove my original posting that he would then free up some of my money and would then move ahead with an Offer in Compromise... of course foolish me I thought that my payment of over $6,000.oo was in order for them to get me an Offer in Compromise not for sporadic phone calls to the IRS hotline to see if I had been assigned an agent... for formatting letters two and three times over and charging me numerous times for power of attorney when to my knowledge I had only been assigned two attorneys. I cannot even begin to count the times that I was charged for those involved with my case to sit in their meetings and discuss my case. My question is: What were they discussing when nothing had changed with my case, no agent had been assigned to my case and their plan of action never deviated except for the constant draining of my retainer and then the threats of case termination (which they used the term of will close your case and you won't be protected from the IRS coming after you) unless I coughed up more money. So what were these constant meetings about? How to get more funds? How to drag out my case until I was financially devastated? Well, guess what, Clear Creek Consulting? I am financially devastated as the last $ 1,500.00 dollar retainer caused me to lose my health insurance for nearly 5 months, depleted my funds that I could not pay my heating bill through the winter and caused a chain reaction of debt that I cannot seem to crawl out from and now I'm looking at an electric termination. I mean I guess all these things wouldn't be so bad if my $6,500.00 had actually gone towards the resolutions that they promised.
Clear Creek Consulting promised me resolution within a 60 to 90 day time frame and for the original price of $2,500.00 to which now two years later I'm out $6,500.00 dollars and told on my final statement of services that I owe them money!!! And For what? For ripping me off, for the ton of broken promises or for the tactics that border on coercion to make me cough up more money? Or for Mr. Peonio's fraudulent claims of how they have kept me protected from the IRS and for the liens that they removed, etc... No, they did nothing. There were no liens as of yet, they filed no motions with the IRS and apparently after sending in copies of my tax returns and all my monthly expenses that they stated they needed to file the 40 plus pages of the Offer In compromise they even failed to do that as I never got copies of anything that they did in the way of work on my case. I requested for my file to be sent to me and all they sent me was the copies that I had sent them. Where are the copies of all these letters that were formatted, copies of the Offer In Compromise that they were supposed to fill out, copies of the motions to remove liens that Mr. Peonio had stated that they removed and copies or transcriptions of any correspondence that they had with the IRS on my behalf? There are no copies because they did nothing on my behalf except call the IRS hotline to which I could have done myself. I did request to Mr. Peonio that I wanted a full refund to which he replied “Remove the post and I'll see what I can do but it might take several months” but then I got my final statement of services to which now they claim that I owe them.
BEWARE OF CLEAR CREEK CONSULTING AND THEIR FRAUDLENT CLAIMS
BEWARE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADS THAT CLAIM TO BE SENIOR TAX CONSULTANTS.
BEWARE OF THE FELONS THAT THEY HIRE TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION- EVEN THEIR OWN EMPLOYEE BY THE NAME OF KYBOGGS(see postings at (((Redacted))) FULLY ADMITS TO THIS PRACTICE.
BEWARE OF RIAN PEONIO, VICE PRESIDENT OF SERVICES WITH CLEAR CREEK CONSULTING WHO USES LANGUAGE THAT BORDERS ON COERCION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A STEADY FLOW OF YOUR FUNDS INTO THE COMPANY BY MEANS OF THREATS VIA THE IRS.
CONSUMER BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE!!!
In closing have you noticed that Mr. Brandon Cope, Vice President of Clear Creek Consulting has stopped responding to these posts?
I urge all of you that have been victims of this company to contact the Attorney General of Colorado and your own States Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau. Furthermore I urge you to contact your State Senator and demand that there be oversight of these tax firms and their fraudulent claims.
Also contact the Office of Professional Responsibility_ Internal Revenue Service Office of Professional Responsibility SE:OPR, Room 7238/IR 1111 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20224
Phone Number: (202) 927-3397 Fax Number: (202) 622-2207
If anyone is interested in Class Action against this company please let me know. This type of victimization needs to stop and pronto!
This is a copy of the letter that I sent Mr. Rian Peonio
April 20, 2009 In regards to: Conversations April 10th, 11th, 14th and 17th 2009 Mr. Rian Peonio V.P. of Services 8620 Wolff Court Suite 330 Westminster, Co. 80030
Dear Mr.Peonio: Subject: Refusal to reply/Stipulation Demands
As per our conversation on the dates stated above I am formally requesting that you place in writing a detailed summary of our conversation along with a detailed explanation as to why you originally refused to reply to us in writing as per my request. In your return letter I am asking that you give us your reasons for refusal to originally honor my request in writing as well as the stipulations you have set out in order for Clear Creek Consulting, Inc., to continue to represent my husband and myself in our tax matters. I also wish to receive from you in writing as to why I am no longer able to speak to the attorneys that were assigned to our case and why our case file folder is being held on your desk until your stipulation demands are met since our statement of services states that we have a remainder of $508 75 left on our current retainer. I am also requesting that you place in writing an explanation of all the negative complaints that have been alleged against Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. by several ex- clients and or ex-employees as well as some current ones, as we have been unable to receive any answers that would restore our trust within this company that you represent. We would also like to receive in writing the educational requirements that a potential employee must have to be considered a Senior Tax Consultant and if you could address in writing an explanation as to why several members of Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. state that they are “Senior Tax Associate and or Advisors” on the social networking site MYSPACE and list no further education than that of a high school diploma. I would like to have in writing the issues of drug abuse on the job site addressed as well as the drug use of your employees during their off time as well as Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. policies regarding employees and drug screening. I am also requesting that Clear Creek Consulting explain in detail the corporate policies on hiring felons which a KyBoggs who claims to be a current employee of Clear Creek Consulting, Inc. states on the Consumer Complaint Boards that Clear Creek does and has hired felons. In closing we hope that you will address our concerns and fears in a timely matter and that we can begin to come to a resolution of these issues.
Respectfully, Donald and Teresa Leslie
Results of My original Posting-Clear Creek Consulting closed my case, kept my money and now claim that I owe them.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
Cnb
Algonac,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Look them up on myspace, you will find a buch of young kids, whom admit to drug use
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, April 11, 2009
I do not know either the author of this complaint or the company Clear Creek Consulting, however I did some research. I was impressed with how much effort was put into this authors post. I decided to check it out on myspace. And low and behold when you enter Clear Creek Consulting what you will find is laughable if you're not the one who has had your money ripped off by them. Their consultants are a bunch of kids with only High School Diplomas,granted one is a junior consultant. The name he uses is "Napalm Hampster"and he does list his company as Clear Creek Consulting and title junior consultant. He also has pictures with captions stating "I was drunk and high as hell at this company picnic". I would like to know what kind of company picnic that was.He also has comments from friends that say they blaze all day and will save a rock for him. Not really sure what that means, but it sounds like slang for drugs to me. Their senior consultant who calls herself "Red" lists herself as high school graduate in 2006. She states she is 21 years old. Neither list any previous work experience. The other girl I found doesn't state her position or if she's even still with the company. She lists several previous employers most having to do with marketing and I believe a verizon job. Nothing having to do with taxes. Like I said I don't know either party here. It took me two minutes to find this info and I think I would probably pass on this company if I had a tax situation. You would think in this job market if they weren't a scam they could employee someone with real tax experience. People with excellent resumes are knocking down doors for jobs in this day and age. Smells rotten to me!
Tax Resolution Specialist
Brighton,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Complain with those who will help!!
#10Consumer Suggestion
Fri, April 10, 2009
Make a complaint with the Office of Professional Responsibility. I have attached the information you need to contact them, which is also available on www.irs.gov.
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) At-a-Glance
Mission
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) establishes and enforces consistent standards of competence, integrity and conduct for tax professionals (enrolled agents, attorneys, CPAs, and other individuals and groups covered by IRS Circular 230.
Strategic Priorities
OPR supports the IRS strategy to enhance enforcement of the tax law and to ensure that attorneys, accountants and other tax practitioners adhere to professional standards and follow the law.
Headquarters
Internal Revenue Service
Office of Professional Responsibility
SE:OPR, Room 7238/IR
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20224
Phone Number: (202) 927-3397
Fax Number: (202) 622-2207
Program Background
The Office of Professional Responsibility provides education and outreach to the tax professional community and administers the enrolled agent exam. To support the IRS' strategic priorities, OPR ensures the integrity and credibility of the American tax system by working through tax professionals and with IRS operating divisions and functions. Circular 230 changes have created a need to increase awareness among tax professionals regarding the consequences of non-compliance. This awareness, plus increased enforcement and additional legislation, should help deter non-compliance.
Business Objectives
To increase the percentage of tax professionals who do adhere to professional standards and follow the law by:
Establishing procedures to identify and address the most egregious non-compliance cases
Strengthening partnerships with tax professionals
Establishing and communicating standards of conduct for tax practitioners
Establishing and maintaining a system of tax practitioner oversight
Rejuvenating the referral process
Publicizing actions taken to promote the integrity of the system and deter further non-compliance
Establishing and administering a system of sanctions for tax practitioners who fail to observe standards of conduct