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H&R Block Charges

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Brooke of Port Hueneme, CA February 19, 2006

I went to H&R Block to have my taxes prepared for the first time this year 2005. I usually do them myself, but this years were a bit more complicated, due to getting married and my husband joining the Military. I called the local H&R Block office and set an appointment. On the day of the appointment I arrived a few minutes early and was serviced quickly. I gave the "Tax Specialist" all of the W-2's, and his response was "Wow, you worked in a lot of states this is going to be expensive" (that was not reasuring to hear).

I asked "How expensive?" and he replied "About 100.00", that didn't seem to bad to me, I had worked for the same company in MO, IL & now CA. My husband worked in MO and now for the military. As we sifted through the W-2's and got figures on what my refunds would be and what I would owe if anything, I asked "Can I deduct my personal property tax from the MO state taxes?" he replied "I'm not sure but I doubt it".

As we started to finish he stated, "You will be getting a refund of X amount from Federal, X amount from IL, X amount from CA, You owe MO 1,100.00", I couldn't believe it, I have never owed state taxes before. But I trusted him, (they are tax professionals, right?) and asked if he would check into the MO state taxes further, he agreed and we set an appoinment for the following Tuesday.

I returned to the H&R Block office, to find out that my "tax specialist" was not in that day, but that someone else would assist me. As I waited I wondered if I had made the right decision, by using this company. After talking to another "tax specialist" she showed me why I owed MO state taxes, I agreed and she gave me the balance I owed for H&R Blocks services -- 237.00!! I asked why the cost was so high, and she replied because you had out of state taxes. Well yes I did, and the original amount qouted to me was "around 100.00" so why so much more?

With no other choice to my knowledge but to pay, I did. I thought I had to, because they had E-filed some of the taxes. 

Beth of Cold Spring, KY February 17, 2006

Because I had recently gotten married, and had to file tax forms in both Ohio and Kentucky, I went to H&R Block thinking that they would be able to straighten everything out. The associate who was assigned to me was obviously very new to the United States, but I tried not to be biased.  However after I explain my situation to him, it was obvious that I knew more about taxes than he did.

He was simply a data entry person who took my forms and entered them into the computer. I was capable of doing that! 

While he was entering the data I asked him how much they are going to charge us, because it seemed like we could do a better job, and was told 144 - JUST for my husband's taxes, and not mine!

I've used accountants in the past and never spent more than 50.  Spending 144 is absolutely ridiculous, considering there was nothing complicated about my husband's forms. 

I took my forms, walked out and went straight to Walmart where I bought TurboTax.

Emily of Woodruff, UT February 9, 2006

I called H&R Block to see if they did Utah taxes.  They said yes they do taxes from all states.  I told them my taxes were simple and that I could do them myself but needed them e-filed. I asked the price and they said 49.95.

After they prepared my taxes they gave me a bill for 180.25.  They said the reason it was so much is because I have a dependent.

The next day I called to talk to a manager because it just didn't seem right. She informed me that Utah taxes are an extra 60 and that I must not have given them the right information.  She said she had IMPORTANT clients to talk to and hung up the phone!

I feel that I was completely mislead on the price and treated very unprofessionally.

David of Akron, OH January 21, 2006

I filed my taxes on 01/19/2006.My return was to be 2721.00. I have filed for nearly 10 yrs. having a 1099misc. every year it cost 142.00 for preperation fees. This year they tell me it cost 208.00 (they tell me they're not sure why , must be the forms, note: I use the same forms every year. I filed the same as every year for the RAL to receive it back in 1 to 2 days. This year they tell me I was declined because I owed the bank (HSBC) 142.00 from last year.

Last year the 142.00 was taken out of my return along with the 99.95 charge for HSBC bank fees.I contacted the IRS about this matter and they disclosed to me that the entire check was directly deposited in HSBC's Bank in Buffallo N.Y. on Feb.18th. which means I did not receive my return this year in 1 to 2 days instead I have to wait untill the banks receive my check from the IRS and then they will loan me my money minus their fees.That will take about  3 weeks.

I just can't figure out why I would want to have my check sent to them first so that they can take fees to loan me my money.I have been reading up on all the H&R and HSBC scams. I only wish I would have investigated them first.I am a low income tax payer with EIC credit. All that H&R Block kept informing about was ther Peace Of Mind deal that would cost me 39.99 additional so that I could feel secure that they did their job right.

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