IAS DONATIONS?

[Dulloldfart]

We sign a statement declaring something like "I understand that this is a non-refundable contribution..." Even after having signed such a statement, is it possible to get back IAS donations? I'd really appreciate if any one has any information about this.

I would think that if the donation were solicited under false pretenses, then any such "agreement" would be void.

Paul

 

[rizbash]

I would think that if the donation were solicited under false pretenses, then any such "agreement" would be void.

Paul

Thanks Paul. We donated for many IAS activities like fighting against psychiatry, scientology ministers cavalcades going around the world and narconon and criminon and TWTH and what not. It was all in the name of protecting and expanding the religion of Scientology. I see that they are doing those things. And along with those activities, what we don't see and what we are not told is that this money also goes towards their legal fights against those who sue them, which I now realize.

And how do I go about getting this money back? I am not sure if I can claim that they solicited donations under false pretenses because they are doing what they claim to do though those things require far less amount of money compared to the amounts they receive in donations.

(I must've been an idiot having donated all that amount. I can imagine how the Ex-SO members feel having spent years of their lives there. It was all for gaining results that I found the promise of in Dianetics. All along, though I felt that something seems not right, I had the idea that the org of LRH can never be wrong. )

 

[Kathy (ImOut)]

Thanks Paul. We donated for many IAS activities like fighting against psychiatry, scientology ministers cavalcades going around the world and narconon and criminon and TWTH and what not. It was all in the name of protecting and expanding the religion of Scientology. I see that they are doing those things. And along with those activities, what we don't see and what we are not told is that this money also goes towards their legal fights against those who sue them, which I now realize.

And how do I go about getting this money back? I am not sure if I can claim that they solicited donations under false pretenses because they are doing what they claim to do though those things require far less amount of money compared to the amounts they receive in donations.

(I must've been an idiot having donated all that amount. I can imagine how the Ex-SO members feel having spent years of their lives there. It was all for gaining results that I found the promise of in Dianetics. All along, though I felt that something seems not right, I had the idea that the org of LRH can never be wrong. )

We have sent numerous letters to the IAS requesting refunds on our donations to them. Not a single response. I heard that Tory/Magoo got her money back and would love the hat (letter used) on how to get money back from the IAS. (Tory, if you're reading this, could you please post how you got your money back from the IAS. Thanks.)

Our claim was that they are NOT preserving the tech as they promise.

 

[Smitty]

reply to emerald

Hello all,
I know this is an old thread. But I wanted to ask if it is possible to get back IAS donations? I was going to start a new thread, but then this message board automatically suggested a similar thread exists and directed me here.
I found your post interesting, Fluffy. We sign a statement declaring something like "I understand that this is a non-refundable contribution..." Even after having signed such a statement, is it possible to get back IAS donations? I'd really appreciate if any one has any information about this.
Eagerly awaiting for any response. Thanks!

A number of people have gotten their IAS membership fees back. (The IAS racketeers refer to those as 'donations'.) The bottom line is: You have to be a real lawsuit threat to IAS or you will not get anything back.
Smitty

 

[Dulloldfart]

I can imagine how the Ex-SO members feel having spent years of their lives there.

Experiences vary.

How do you feel supporting drug companies? Or oil companies? Or a criminal government? Or being a soldier killing people to protect private interests when you thought you were doing it for a more noble purpose? Or...? The list goes on and on.

One does what one does. At the time one understands what one understands. If later the understanding changes, then it doesn't change what you knew at the time. If at the time you knew how much you were screwing people over, then that is different to believing you were engaged in a more honourable pursuit. Or maybe you were genuinely helping people too.

Paul

 

[rizbash]

One does what one does. At the time one understands what one understands. If later the understanding changes, then it doesn't change what you knew at the time. If at the time you knew how much you were screwing people over, then that is different to believing you were engaged in a more honourable pursuit. Or maybe you were genuinely helping people too.

Paul

I agree. What I meant to say was that it causes regret to remember that we wasted time and money. And I agree - at the time one does something that he regrets about later, his reality was different when he did it.

 

[rizbash]

Our claim was that they are NOT preserving the tech as they promise.

That is true. Thanks ImOut!

 

[Dulloldfart]

I agree. What I meant to say was that it causes regret to remember that we wasted time and money.

Regret isn't a necessity. . Hubbard got that one right, I think, wherever it came from. I don't mean one can't feel bad to some extent about it, but without getting stuck in it if there's not too much you can do about it now.

Paul

 

[Boldgirl]

I was always told that the IAS was protecting us all from suprression in the world. I knew several scn's that felt their money was best flowed to the IAS because their purpose was the most important, fighting the drugging of kids and exposing the SP's in all sectors of wogs world.....ugh.

Then WISE starting making it mandatory that if you own a business, do scn services , you are a scientologist and your WISE membership is mandatory...or you go to ethics and get pretty much labeled an sp. That went over well. Suddenyl the # people in wise in ethics trouble went way up....and they thought they finally found the BIG WHY as to the crappy stats and lack of growth in the WISE sector.

WISE used the IAS 'grand purpose' line on business owners that were not wise members...'you become a wise member because wise keeps your business environment safe and fights suppression in the business world, and....you dont ask what you get from the IAS ....it's the same with wise....'

Well, anyway...I never saw any tangible rewards from the IAS or WISE.....

and yes getting that money back would be nice .....

 

[Carmel]

Regret isn't a necessity. . Hubbard got that one right, I think, wherever it came from. I don't mean one can't feel bad to some extent about it, but without getting stuck in it if there's not too much you can do about it now.
Paul

Yeah, ditto. However, just recently being made aware of all the "fair gaming" going on, and the thought of all those bucks we donated being used for the likes of such, is still making me feel more than a just bit sick (in regards to the actual bucks - they went a long time ago, so it's not an issue).

On a lighter note - my biggest gripe with the IAS, is that THEY are the cause of me still being a smoker (got to blame someone, and I've never been in the mood to blame myself for that one ). I had already given shitloads to the IAS. One night, we had a business function, and this bitch turned up at it (around 11.30pm), to get some bucks from me. I got her to fu'k off (I thought). Later that night (at around 1.30am), there was a knock at my door. Fuck - she'd gotten past my dog!

We argued for hours. Without physically man handling her off the premises, I couldn't get her to go. At around 5am, I submitted. Got out my cheque book and wrote her a cheque. That wasn't the bad part - I took and smoked one of her cigarettes (I "needed" one), after I hadn't had a ciggie for 18months! My regret after that, was not the money, but the ciggie. I started smoking again, and haven't been able to give up again for more than a month, in the 13 years since .

 

[Good twin]

Yeah, ditto. However, just recently being made aware of all the "fair gaming" going on, and the thought of all those bucks we donated being used for the likes of such, is still making me feel more than a just bit sick (in regards to the actual bucks - they went a long time ago, so it's not an issue).

On a lighter note - my biggest gripe with the IAS, is that THEY are the cause of me still being a smoker (got to blame someone, and I've never been in the mood to blame myself for that one ). I had already given shitloads to the IAS. One night, we had a business function, and this bitch turned up at it (around 11.30pm), to get some bucks from me. I got her to fu'k off (I thought). Later that night (at around 1.30am), there was a knock at my door. Fuck - she'd gotten past my dog!

We argued for hours. Without physically man handling her off the premises, I couldn't get her to go. At around 5am, I submitted. Got out my cheque book and wrote her a cheque. That wasn't the bad part - I took and smoked one of her cigarettes (I "needed" one), after I hadn't had a ciggie for 18months! My regret after that, was not the money, but the ciggie. I started smoking again, and haven't been able to give up again for more than a month, in the 13 years since .

Wow. Now there is an interesting lawsuit.

 

[rizbash]

Yeah, ditto. However, just recently being made aware of all the "fair gaming" going on, and the thought of all those bucks we donated being used for the likes of such, is still making me feel more than a just bit sick (in regards to the actual bucks - they went a long time ago, so it's not an issue).

This is what I too am not very happy about.

On a lighter note - my biggest gripe with the IAS, is that THEY are the cause of me still being a smoker (got to blame someone, and I've never been in the mood to blame myself for that one ). I had already given shitloads to the IAS. One night, we had a business function, and this bitch turned up at it (around 11.30pm), to get some bucks from me. I got her to fu'k off (I thought). Later that night (at around 1.30am), there was a knock at my door. Fuck - she'd gotten past my dog!

We argued for hours. Without physically man handling her off the premises, I couldn't get her to go. At around 5am, I submitted. Got out my cheque book and wrote her a cheque. That wasn't the bad part - I took and smoked one of her cigarettes (I "needed" one), after I hadn't had a ciggie for 18months! My regret after that, was not the money, but the ciggie. I started smoking again, and haven't been able to give up again for more than a month, in the 13 years since

very funny

 

[Voltaire's Child]

A few people have said that they got their IAS donations back. Tory was one of them. It did not sound like it as difficult as getting a/p or funds paid for auditing or courses back.

Here are some previous threads from a.r.s. about that

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....6d3c287f45d9?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#11036d3c287f45d9

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....9174e833568d?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#3eda9174e833568d

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....?hl=en&lnk=st&q="IAS+refund"#573913ec2493496f

and this last one is about when Tory got her money back

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....oup:alt.religion.scientology#4d94e77ba3bbf8ca

 

[Kathy (ImOut)]

A few people have said that they got their IAS donations back. Tory was one of them. It did not sound like it as difficult as getting a/p or funds paid for auditing or courses back.

Here are some previous threads from a.r.s. about that

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....6d3c287f45d9?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#11036d3c287f45d9

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....9174e833568d?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#3eda9174e833568d

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....?hl=en&lnk=st&q="IAS+refund"#573913ec2493496f

and this last one is about when Tory got her money back

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....oup:alt.religion.scientology#4d94e77ba3bbf8ca

Thank, Fluffy. I'll have to look at these and forward the to my husband. It would be really sweet to have the $40K back. I'm sure we'll have to pay taxes on it. But it would be worth it.

 

[Dulloldfart]

I'm sure we'll have to pay taxes on it. But it would be worth it.

Did you take the donations as tax deductions originally? Is this any different to paying tax on income as usual, apart from the interest you would lose? I guess the IAS doesn't pay interest.

Paul

 

[Kathy (ImOut)]

Did you take the donations as tax deductions originally? Is this any different to paying tax on income as usual, apart from the interest you would lose? I guess the IAS doesn't pay interest.

Paul

Paul,

Yes, my husband took the tax deduction in the year that he made the donation(s). You treat repayments as 1099 income. I went thru this last year when we got our repayments.

 

[Voltaire's Child]

I hope more and more people get their money back. Even when I was in CofS, I thought the IAS thing was a ripoff.

 

[Smitty]

comment to fluffy

I hope more and more people get their money back. Even when I was in CofS, I thought the IAS thing was a ripoff.

I did as well. But if you get vocal about that scam as a member, there is retaliation.
I gave very little above the fraudulent "Lifetime Membership".
Smitty

 

[Voltaire's Child]

Oh, I can see that! If a member speaks out or does anything to rock the boat or someone even gets the idea that they did, then they get all kinds of crap.

 

[Minuet #1 in G]

Hmm tax deduction for donations would be nice if one couldnt get the money back. Perhaps the australian government will declare scio a ridgy didge religion and then I can claim all my donos for IAS and services. (looks for icon of pig with wings...)
Once (other) nice thing about being out is being able to hang up on Howard Becker, if one is unfortunate enough to answer one of his calls in the first place.
Howard lost me when he rang up once and said 2 billion people were going to die because of the war precipitated by 9/11 and so I had to give all my money to the IAS (again)