Complaint Review: taxsalelists.com

John Lane offers a free webinar regarding buying tax liens and deeds at auction. During this webinar he pitches a special deal: sign up now for his expanded webinar and he will "give you a scholarship." It will cost you only $397 dollars, but you must "be willing" to work with a private consultant-tutor and if you earn $10,000 in the first year, then go on video to "testify" to the greatness of the program.

Why does John offer such a stellar deal? Because he's in the business of selling lists and he wants you to become a buyer of his lists for life.

So to get the $397 deal, you have to be among the first 30 to sign up. You have to go right now to the web page that sells you the deal and buy it right now with your credit card. So I did. Nowhere is there an agreement to sign. Nowhere on the sign up does he explain his refund policy. Sure, there is the "guarantee" of 125% of your money back after a year, but beyond that there is no explanation of your rights to not get a refund after the workshop starts.

Here is why I think John Lane and taxsalelists.com is a ripoff:

1. REFUNDS.
I asked for a refund. I was told about their no refund policy. I asked where I agreed to or was even informed about this policy.  Here is the reply I received from "Mary":

I have already told you that our students do not sign contracts.  The information is on our website and states that there is a one year money back guarantee as does our free workshop.  You have to use the program for a year before you are eligible for a refund.  You are more than welcome to see for yourself at http://www.taxsalelists.com/csp/faq.html.  

Problem: I was not told this before I paid them, nor did I have access to the FAQ page before I signed up.

Go ahead: go to their site and try to access the FAQ page right now.  You can't.


2. PERSONAL ATTENTION
John Lane would not answer my questions during the webinar. I had a specific question regarding the states I operate in, and he did not know the answer.


3. RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION
John Lane gives you specific information about each state, and holds himself out as an expert.  But will he stand by his info? No. He gives it to you and then says you can't trust it or really rely on it: you have to check it out for yourself.


4. YOU CAN GET YOUR OWN INFORMATION FASTER AND BETTER FOR FREE.
Every list I have received from John Lane has been either incomplete, incorrect or way too late to be of use. I have learned that I can find all the lists I need myself directly from the state or county in question.  For free.


5.  SO-CALLED ENHANCED LISTS
John Lane offers "enhanced lists." These lists are supposed to be complete, accurate, timely and more useful than regular lists. Problem: he won't enhance the list you need. He'll enhance whatever list he darn well pleases and you better be satisfied with that. I asked "Mary" to enhance a list for me for Lincoln County New Mexico where I work. John Lane and taxsalelists.com never did that. And their regular list for the county came out only a few days before the sale. I had the regular list in my hand from my own research, for free, 30 days ahead.


6.  PERSONAL CONSULTATION
John Lane offers you a free consultation after the webinar to determine your own business plan for investing.  I never received that.


7.  SCHEDULING
John Lane and taxsalelists.com does not care about you or your schedule. The first 3 of six sessions of my webinar was scheduled the very day before session #1. Sessions 4-6 were scheduled the very day of the session #4, and when time came for the session it was cancelled 10 minutes *after* it was supposed to start. And rescheduled for the next day. This guy doesn't care about your time. OH? You can't make the session he scheduled with 10 seconds to spare? Fine: go to the website and listen to recording...


8.  PHONY WEBINARS
The webinars are supposed to be John teaching you personally, but they are in fact pre-recorded. You are promised 15 hours of John's time, but you get 14 hours of canned lectures.


9.   PROOF OF PHONY WEBINARS
Here is the response I received from "Mary" when I tried to View my webinars that I missed:

You can access the videos on our website by following the instructions below.  Although we have changed video platforms since then you are still able to view the workshops on our website.  They are videos from April, but will contain the same content.


10.   THEIR MANUALS ARE OUTDATED AND INACCURATE
Here's an email I sent them.
I just learned the hard way that in New Mexico the mortgage lien is NOT extinguished by a tax deed sale. Further, a lien on an inactive loan more than ten years old is expired. 

I think it would be very useful for some of your students if you would add this info to your NM manual.

THEIR RESPONSE:
We are working on updating our manuals and will make sure that we check this information and validate it in the new manuals.


11.  THEY WILL NOT STOP TRYING TO RECRUIT YOU EVEN AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN RECRUITED!
I WROTE THEM:
I have unsubscribed three times from the "Lead list." As you can see, I am still receiving pitches.
As you know I am already a workshop customer.
PLEASE remove me from the list!
THEY WROTE ME:
No, I wasnt confused.  If you dont want to receive the promotional stuff then unsubscribe.

Even today, 9/17,2012, I still received promotional materials.

All I want is my lousy $397 back. They do not offer me a single thing of value. And they are rude and unresponsive.