[Resolved]  TaxSpanner.com — Misguided selling of service

Address:	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500032
Website:	TaxSpanner.com

I had an issue with my tax filing and I wanted an expert help for guidance.
I tried to contact different tax consultancy service like cleartax, taxspanner and some more.
Only cleartax and taxspanner replied. I explained them the issue I am facing in a lay man language.

My explanation was:
I am a salaried person. Tax is cut from TDS only. But I did share/derivative trading sometime
but mostly lost money. In 2012-13, I filed ITR-4 on my own. But due to some reason, I received mail for defect from IT which I could not understand.I ignored it. Next year 2013-14, I did not file again due to confusion.
Recently I received compliance mail from IT department and I replied on my own. But after that, I felt I should correct everything and take a expert help to resolve it.

My question was, What is the process after this? can cleartax or taxspanner help on this?
Both of them said yes.

Taxspanner initially had a chat with me and then we had a discussion over phone. I communicated the same both the time.
They said for 2012-13 I need to purchase 3000 + ST package and for 2013-14 I need 1499 +ST package.
They will prepare the filing along with a covering letter and mail it to AO.
I asked whether I have to visit AO. They said NO if AO is not satisfied then you will be called and that time,
you might have to visit. I was little worried and from day 1, they were assuring me that it will be resolved and nothing to worry.

Due to better offer and assurance of end to end solution, I choose Taxspanner service.
I completed the payment. After 4 days, I inquired about the status and they said draft will be ready by end of the day.
Then they asked for my income tax login/password.
I provided. After some time, I received a call from them saying that my 2012-13 defect is 139(9) and transferred to AO.
I have to visit AO. I told them that the reason for choosing your service was you were giving a end to end solution
and I do not have to visit AO. Now how come you are asking me to go to AO?
They offered me another package where they will take care AO visit. They asked another 9000 + ST.
I was frustrated. Now package becomes almost 15000 from 5000.

I asked for refund as I would not have opted for this service if I would have known this is not going to solve my problem
completely or complete solution needs a 15000 package.

Taxspanner started blaming me that I did not provided them full information. I said I explained everything which an non-technical
person can explain.
1) I repeatedly mentioned about the defect mail received from income tax long back which I ignored.
2) I repeatedly mentioned that I received a compliance mail which I already replied.
3) I always mentioned that I am confused and I want a expert help on the process here after.
4) I always mentioned about my worry because of these mails.
5) I never asked for simple tax filing help.
6) After doing the payment, I even sent my response to IT dept. for the compliance, in pdf format along with tax documents.

What else I can explain? How come TaxSpanner provide a solution without knowing the actual issue?

They said you did not mention it is 139(9) section and It is transferred to AO. They started referring a screeshot of one small portion of the chat. Even that screenshot says about defect, compliance mail of 2012.
They never asked any further question on defect mail or what section? or what technicality?
They never checked the document or wanted to check.
How can they give a solution without knowing the issue? I never asked for simple tax filing help.
I always mentioned that this is my situation and can you offer a solution?
They simply assured me of a solution and asked me to go ahead for a package which I did.

Now they are trying to force me to take the package which will not solve my issue.They are saying this is what is promised in the package. But the question is that it is not providing me the complete solution and they only suggested this solution after listening to me.
Now they are saying this will solve one part and other part will cost 3 times more in total.

If this is not misguided selling then what is?

Finally after lot of argument and blame game, they said that if I like then refund is an option. I said please refund as I wanted a complete solution and your solution is too costly for me. They agreed to refund and asked for my bank account details
which I provided.

After 1 hour, I received a mail from TaxSpanner that they are proceeding with the service and they will prepare the draft.
They are simply trying to force me to take the filing draft from them which they know, is not going to solve my issue.
Also I opted this package only because they said it is going to resolve my issue.

Is this not a clear case of fooling people to sell their service?

Already I am worried and I explained them the same. They are simply trapping me for selling their service.

I have the screenshot of the chat where they agreed for refund (Attached)