Platinum Tax Defenders

Please do not be fooled into using this company to pay off your fed tax debt!
This is a sister agency of Optima Tax Defenders, who I initially contacted. I was informed that since I owed less than $5000, they could not help me & referred me to Platinum Defenders. I explained my situation- I enrolled in a PhD program in Jan 2017 & had no income as I was not working. I explained I worked part of 2017 & expected a tax refund for the first time in years (I usually have to pay). I was told by the intake person that based on the info I provided, they could settle my case “in 90 days” & they could get the IRS to settle for “$50-100 dollars”. I thought “great” & paid their $750 fee, thinking this would save me $ in the long run. From Aug to April 2018, I spoke to no less than 7 people (I’ve kept all correspondence) & was told “no your refund will NOT be taken”. PD scheduled conference calls with me which never occurred & took me away from class. I kept being told that the IRS accepted lowering my tax debt but PD was waiting on “the official letter from the IRS”. This went on for 7 months. The IRS ended up taking all of my refund & I am still left with a balance. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I then received an email from a third party, US Corporate- Mr. Carl Tartt who told me he would refund me 1/2 the fee since PD dropped the ball on making scheduled conference calls if I retracted my BBB complaint. He emailed me the next day removing his offer because he found out the BBB will not retract complaints (this is now in arbitration). So, I still owe a balance to the IRS & am out $750 with nothing to show for it.
A lot of misrepresentation and my questions were very goal directed, e.g. “will the IRS settle? Will they take my refund?” I would not have paid them if they answered honestly. For PD to talk to the IRS, a POA is required. I was told I signed a form that “nothing is guaranteed”. This is how they get out of being sued. THIS IS A SCAM!