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rileysmama
needing a vacation..!
Member since 10/09 2162 total posts
Name:
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To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Were you successful? If so, how much did you save?
Message edited 1/17/2010 8:57:47 PM.
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Posted 1/17/10 8:53 PM  |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
We first grieved them 4 1/2 years ago when we first bought. Our taxes were lower to begin with but they went down another 15%.
DH and I are planning on doing it again this year.
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| Posted 1/17/10 9:27 PM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
We greived ours last year...they went down a little more than a thousand dollars a year, but honestly, I still think they are very high.
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| Posted 1/18/10 9:13 AM |
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strongisland
All you need is love
Member since 8/07 2474 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
what exactly is involved in grieving your taxes? do they come to your house to inspect it, do you just fill out paperwork? what's the process?
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| Posted 1/18/10 2:04 PM |
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betty
My boys
Member since 5/05 4380 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Ours just went through (FINALLY) and we saved $800
I was told by my cousin who's a lawyer that you should grieve every year. It doesn't cost anything unless they save you $$ so there is no downside.
No, they didn't come to the house, it was just paperwork.
It did take a LONG time for the grievence to go through the first time but it was worth it!
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| Posted 1/18/10 3:48 PM |
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seeinstarz
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/08 382 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
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| Posted 1/18/10 4:44 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
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| Posted 1/19/10 11:19 AM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
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| Posted 1/19/10 11:24 AM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
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| Posted 1/19/10 11:40 AM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
in-law's grieved them when they were in fort salonga. they did so right before they sold so that they could market the property without such high taxes. they saved over $3,500. they were very pleased. mind you, to save that much imagine how much they were paying  it was outrageous! and one of the reasons they moved - they wanted to downsize and the taxes (at around 27 grand a YEAR) were just killing them. they couldn't bear paying that much anymore. now, they pay half that amount.
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| Posted 1/19/10 11:42 AM |
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seeinstarz
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/08 382 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
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| Posted 1/19/10 12:00 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
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| Posted 1/19/10 12:02 PM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
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| Posted 1/19/10 12:57 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by babymakes3
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
FM sent
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| Posted 1/19/10 2:03 PM |
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pnbplus1
Family
Member since 5/09 5751 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
Can you FM me the reason too? I've done it myself for my parents and haven't saved that much. I've been thinking about using one of these tax companies. Isn't using an attorney going to be pricey?
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| Posted 1/19/10 4:27 PM |
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ryeguy8585
LIF Infant
Member since 1/09 111 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Clue me in too
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| Posted 1/19/10 6:11 PM |
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LINewbie
Tigger the the Rescue!
Member since 8/08 5647 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
IDK what is going on with all this PMing but I'll tell you one reason:
Our lawyer said she'd do it for $150, flat rate. Mark Lewis (who we were going with when she told us) takes 1/2 of what it is reduced by.
Ours got denied and we got the letter that he was fighting it but we've never heard back so I guess it is a lost cause. Which sucks, I know we are paying too much but whatever. if we do it again his year, we will go trough our lawyer.
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| Posted 1/19/10 8:34 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Just to clarify: an attorney who specialize in tax certiorari matters will charge the same (if not less) than any tax grievance agency. The normal fee in the industry is 50% of any tax refund/savings for the first year plus court filing fees (currently $35 per year per taxing jurisdiction) and any appraisal fees if necessary.
If you can find an attorney who will work for a flat rate - that's great but rare.
It is strictly a contingency - in other words, you pay a fee only if they're successful.
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| Posted 1/20/10 7:10 PM |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by babymakes3
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
FM sent
Ive used Mark Lewis in the past and have had no issues what so ever...
In fact...they have gone above and beyond for me....
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| Posted 1/20/10 7:14 PM |
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GraceAndAdam
LIF Toddler
Member since 12/08 487 total posts
Name:
Grace
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by pnbplus1
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
Can you FM me the reason too? I've done it myself for my parents and haven't saved that much. I've been thinking about using one of these tax companies. Isn't using an attorney going to be pricey?
Do you mind FMing me the reason too? DH and I were planning on using Mark Lewis this year.
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| Posted 1/20/10 7:19 PM |
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strongisland
All you need is love
Member since 8/07 2474 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by GraceAndAdam
Posted by pnbplus1
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
Can you FM me the reason too? I've done it myself for my parents and haven't saved that much. I've been thinking about using one of these tax companies. Isn't using an attorney going to be pricey?
Do you mind FMing me the reason too? DH and I were planning on using Mark Lewis this year.
i'd like a FM too! i want to do it this year as well-thanks!!
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| Posted 1/20/10 8:22 PM |
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
We used Mark Lewis and were approved! We saved about 1K in taxes a year!!!
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| Posted 1/20/10 8:25 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by hbugal
Posted by Mill188
Posted by babymakes3
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
FM sent
Ive used Mark Lewis in the past and have had no issues what so ever...
In fact...they have gone above and beyond for me....
not knocking Mark Lewis, Real Property Tax Reduction Services or any of the other tax grievance companies out there. The bottom line is that when you file a tax grievance you are filing a LAWSUIT against the taxing municipality. Since it is a LAWSUIT, you should be properly represented. If you were being sued by someone, you wouldn't go to a person who just watches Court TV would you?
It's a full Court proceeding.
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| Posted 1/20/10 10:00 PM |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by hbugal
Posted by Mill188
Posted by babymakes3
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
FM sent
Ive used Mark Lewis in the past and have had no issues what so ever...
In fact...they have gone above and beyond for me....
not knocking Mark Lewis, Real Property Tax Reduction Services or any of the other tax grievance companies out there. The bottom line is that when you file a tax grievance you are filing a LAWSUIT against the taxing municipality. Since it is a LAWSUIT, you should be properly represented. If you were being sued by someone, you wouldn't go to a person who just watches Court TV would you?
It's a full Court proceeding.
I agree with you...
However....
Wouldnt most attorneys want a retainer up front? As well as fees?
In my case hiring a real estate attorney to do the grievance for me would have cost me money I didnt have...
I have used Mark Lewis 3 times...
Was properly represented...
AND...
Saved myself a ton of money....
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| Posted 1/20/10 10:17 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: To those who have tried to have taxes grieved...
Posted by hbugal
Posted by Mill188
Posted by hbugal
Posted by Mill188
Posted by babymakes3
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
Posted by Mill188
Posted by HeatherRose
Posted by Mill188
Posted by seeinstarz
I tried to do it myself..I got denied at the town level and didn't pursue going to court because I didn't know what was involved. I will be using Mark Lewis this year!
Please please please use an attorney not a tax grievance company!
I'm very curious as to why you should use an attorney over a service?? I've heard great thing about Mark Lewis.
the house we are buying is currently using Mark Lewis and they asked us to sign paperwork if we would like to continue with them?
if you don't want to post it can you FM me??? thanks!
You have FM
Please FM me too Im confused!!
FM sent
I'm curious too.
I got denied at the town level too and I'm confused about the next step. I have about 6 letters from tax grievance companies on my desk right now.
FM sent
Ive used Mark Lewis in the past and have had no issues what so ever...
In fact...they have gone above and beyond for me....
not knocking Mark Lewis, Real Property Tax Reduction Services or any of the other tax grievance companies out there. The bottom line is that when you file a tax grievance you are filing a LAWSUIT against the taxing municipality. Since it is a LAWSUIT, you should be properly represented. If you were being sued by someone, you wouldn't go to a person who just watches Court TV would you?
It's a full Court proceeding.
I agree with you...
However....
Wouldnt most attorneys want a retainer up front? As well as fees?
In my case hiring a real estate attorney to do the grievance for me would have cost me money I didnt have...
I have used Mark Lewis 3 times...
Was properly represented...
AND...
Saved myself a ton of money....
Nope - you are incorrect. Attorneys who specialize in this field work on a contingency fee basis. You sign the same kind of retainer you would with a property tax reduction agency (actually it's more protection for the consumer due to state bar association rules), there are no up-front costs associated with it other than the court-imposed filing fees ($35 currently) and possibly an appraisal fee which these tax reduction also charge.
If you're paying the same fees, why not use a professional? That's all I'm saying.
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| Posted 1/20/10 10:28 PM |
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