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Stanley of New Haven CT (07/02/08)
I filed my 2007 taxes on April 11th 2008,with no problems that I was aware of,I then was a sent a letter by HR BLOCK stating that something was wrong with my taxes and I needed to contact them immediately and that they had been trying to contact me to no avail. There had not been one call placed to me by this agency prior to the notice at home or cell phone of which they had all contact numbers. When I arrived they said my claim was rejected because I did not list I was amrried file seperately (of which I did ,as this is the way me and my wife filed in the last 4years,nonetheless we corrected the error or so I thought, and was told it would once again be resubmitted,this time frame was approx 1 week after April 15th of which I have now been subjected to a penalty fee.
I discovered after speaking with a IRS REP.when I called to inquire why I had not heard anything re my refund and stimulus check the rep. stated that my taxes were filed in error on April 11th and had not been submitted as corrected thus far
Jeffrey of Rawdon OTHER (07/01/08)
i have been doing my taxs with this same people for ten years or more. and the only thing that they do is get my gst or qst every time i tryed to deduct anything i was told you can't. for instance a tax refund for gas i am handycaped and i am alloud to have it they told me NO so i filled out the forms and got it myself after they told me no. now this year or the last fore years i put a second floor to rent i was told that i was sopposed to get part of the 30,000 i spent from my morage in matreal she told me NO the first year because now she told me its to late THATS ALL THEY WANT IS 70$ to get a gst cheack they don't know anything just how to get the gst
figure it out 30,000$ that i spent to make a income prop. but NO deductions? i spoke to a accontent who told me i am intitled to these refunds
Arthur of Carson WA (06/03/08)
I went to H & R Block and had Amy filed my taxes as I didn't want to make any mistakes and mess something up. Wrong idea! I live with my fiance of @ 3 years and her 2 sons. My fiance doesn't work and she said it was ok for me to claim them as the father of the boys doesn't have legal right to claim them on his taxes. So I let her do it, and now I have HSBC calling on average of 3 times a day, 7 days a week because I did rapid refund and the IRS denied the claim.
I now owe over 2800 to HSBC and 3400 to IRS. I was laid off in March and have been only working 2 weeks at my new job making almost 3 dollars less an hour and driving 30 miles round trip, which is about 28 more miles than my old job. I have 3 kids of my own that I have joint custody of and pay child support for. There is no way I am going to be able to pay all this money back. I am screwed because she failed to follow the tax laws. If I had the money to hire a lawyer, I WOULD!
Arthur of Las Vgeas NV (05/22/08)
I have called many times to get my discount certifacate that is owed to me for mistakes made on my taxes. Sharron, the district manager, never returns my calls.
Jennifer of Cleveland TX (05/17/08)
I opened a savings account by putting $500 dollars on the emerald card and set up to have $50 a month taken from my personal bank account and deposited into the savings account. My first issue began with the inability to activate my card. It took weeks. I called the 1800 number on the back of the card and after being placed on hold for almost hours at a time, the person of course had no idea what to do. It took three more weeks of dealing with numerous people who had no idea what they were doing, before I finally went to the location where I had my taxes done and they got in touch with the correct people and had the issue somewhat resolved. After being so unempressed and frustrated with the account I decided to close it, and open one with my personal bank that I had just opened a new account with (I felt my money was safer there).
I then withdrew the money from the card, and decided to close out my old account which had to remain open for a short while so all transactions could clear. I called the number on the back of the card AGAIN....waited on hold AGAIN....and spoke to several people AGAIN. Finally the last guy I spoke with assured me he would close my account including the $50 per month from my bank account (I had also informed him I would be closing that account as well).
After I thought all was said and done, i get a bank statement from my old account stating I was overdrawn by $107. This was a result of H&R Block continuing to withdraw $50 a month as well as overdraft fees of $28. I called the bank and H&R Block. I finally got ahold of someone in finance. They requested bank statements which I faxed the following day. I heard NOTHING from them for over a week. I finally called and AGAIN spoke to several people (at this point I was so upset I started recording my calls). The woman I talked to gave me a case number since the guy that told me he would cancel the account DIDN'T, and gave me a correct number to follow up with since everyone else in the company gave me the number to another company that had no relation to H&R Block.
Weeks went by again, and I heard nothing. I called back, and of course talked to someone else since the same person was never available, and was told twice that the check for the amount I was owed was at the bank and processing (one guy even had the nerve to tell me I was making good time!). Another week, same old routine, different person, only this time I asked to speak to a manager. Of course I was not transfered to one. The girl told me that everything had been processed and approved, but nothing was being done. I asked again to speak to a manager, so she gave me the mystery number that had no relation to H&R Block. I called back, and of course, got a different person. I then gave her the name of the girl I had just spoken with and asked to speak with her or someone higher. She told me the girl I had JUST talked to was on break, and all managers were in a meeting, and then she hung up on me!
I then called the company that I filed my taxes with (again) and she tried to get in contact with the right person. They even gave her 2 wrong numbers, but at least one of them gave me a different number I could use. I called that number and talked to another guy that promised me I would hear from someone within 24 to 48 hours (he also promised documentation to provide to my credit company incase this matter went negative against my credit). Three days later I recived a check in the mail for only $28 which was only one overdraft fee, and of course no documentation (hardly worth all the mess I have been through). I have not given up, but I will go a different route from now on. Even though $107 doesn't seem like much, it is when it has been this much trouble just for someone to give you back the money they owe you!
Overdrawn bank account, negative report against my credit, phone overage, stress, agravation, dissapointment, negative outlook on a company that myself, friends, family, and coworkers have been using for years.
Anne of Cathedral City CA (05/15/08)
My mother purchased an Express IRA through her local H&R Block Tax Preparation center. After her death, the family contacted H&R Block to disburse the monies. With no beneficiary form on file, the account could not be closed. Because all of her other accounts and retirement funds administered by other companies had proper documentation, we believe that H&R Block, through their own negligence, lost or never ensured that she completed a beneficiary form.
The local H&R Block Tax Preparation center was unable to help us (they serve only to prepare taxes and sell, but not manage retirement funds) and we then began dealing with Customer Service representatives in an unknown location. Subsequently we filed a Declaration for Collection of Property Without Probate form (California Probate Code section 13100). We made several phone calls and were instructed by the H&R Block Financial Advisors location in Florida to complete W-9 forms and H&R Block Express IRA Distribution forms for both beneficiaries.
At that time we resent the California Probate 13100 form. We also included a letter detailing our request to equally disburse the monies and this request was also clearly indicated on the IRA Distribution forms. We have just received a check made payable to our mother's estate. As we had filed the California Probate form, we were not required to open an estate account or request an estate EIN from the IRS. We now have a check which we cannot deposit unless we open an estate account at a local bank.
H&R Block refuses to honor the California Probate 13100 form even after collecting the proper IRS forms and their own internal documents which would allow the funds to be disbursed to beneficiaries and not an estate. H&R Block has provided completely dissatisfactory service and appears to be unable to properly manage customer accounts or adequately communicate between these two aspects of their company Tax Preparation and Financial Advising. Lessons Learned: Don't Use H&R Block and always make sure you have a will, trust and/or properly executed beneficiary forms!
It has taken 20 months to have a check issued. During that time, the value of my mom's IRA lost about $800.00. We may incur additional costs as we have to request an IRS EIN, open an estate account and then close it.
Eric of Gainesville GA (05/13/08)
I have been a customer for many years and today i have learned that i can no longer trust hrblock to handle my taxes or any of my personal information. As i do each year i filed my taxes online and then complete them at an hrblock office. I filed in March got my refund had no issues until today 5/12/2008. I got a phone call at my job from another HR block customer explaining how HR Block give her all of my personal information including my tax return. She called the office to let them know and they asked for my information back, she refused to return the information if fear they would give it to someone else.
The lady was nice enough to contact me (by finding my phone number on my return) she wanted to meet with me and go over what happen as well as give me my personal information. As hrblock lost her return. I don't understand why there was another copy of my return just sitting on someone's desk since i filed in March. Not only that but my entire identity is at risk. Im really worried about what i should do and who i should contact. All i can say at this point is that i am a very unhappy customer.
Possible identify theift, having to change all my information, calling credit bureau's
Barron of Crandon WI (05/09/08)
I have filed my taxes with this company for the last 3-4 years and my service was good until this year. I have before done rapid refund but didn't want to do it this year as it was pointed out to me by my girlfriend that I could save some money by just having my refund direct deposited. I told Michelle that I wanted direct deposit she in turn told me that I would be charged a fifty dollar fee by the bank if I did that. She then in turn talked me into getting my check thru them and I would receive that check in 10 days.
Well my girlfriend was looking over my tax forms and informed me that I was being charged about fifty dollars for them to receive my check. She also told me she did her taxes on line and wasn't charged a fee for direct deposit. I did call them at H&R block about this but I didn't receive a very good response. I believe that this woman scammed me into thinking they were saving me money and I believed her when she told me my bank would charge me a fee. I will never again use H&R block I will do my taxes online.
I really would like to bring this to someones attention that people are being ripped off or scammed by this large company. I just can't imagine how they can sleep at night knowing that they are taking advantage of people like that. I don't consider myself stupid but what about the people who are literacy impaired. I fell for it. I would like to let the president of this company know how this place are being ran in our small town.
I probably wouldn't have complained but I was also told by this same woman that I would be receiving my stimulus payment today May 9th but because I received my payment thru them I will not get my payment until June 27th. I don't make alot of money and I have 2 children so any extra cash I have helps us out. I directly told this woman Michelle that I did not want rapid refund, I just wanted them to do my taxes and do direct deposit. So as a result of this I will no longer use their services.
I spent money that I could have used for my family and I was lied to. Maybe to them 50 - 100 dollars is just chump change but not to me. Thank you.
Greg of Honolulu HI (05/05/08)
I used H&R Block for the convienience because they had a kiosk set up on the military base on which I live and I couldn't get ahold of my usual tax-preparer. The agent set my bank account routing number from a drop down window, and I said that we should check it because my account was with a subsidiary of the bank in question. I retuned with my checkbook and gave him the CORRECT routing number and was assured that my 1040 would be updated before it was sent out.
My tax rebate and 2007 incentive package never arrived because the routing number for my bank account was wrong. Instead the IRS is sending a check and I can't afford the airline tickets that I desperately needed for my wife and I to come home! They offered me no refund for preparation fees and refused any attempt at rectifying THEIR mistake. With H&R Block you DON'T have people!
Cindy of Brandon FL (04/30/08)
I filed my taxes in 2001-2004 with H&R Block. I purchased the peace of mind assurance plan each year. I was audited in December 2006 for 2004 taxes and IRS found several errors clearly made by HRBlock. I immediately contacted HRBlock. I was rerouted so many times and promised so many calls back it is indescribable. Finally, after intense pounding, I was asked to go to a Florida office and file the peace of mind claim. Thye found the errors and stated it is a result of our computer glitch. They were unable to even ammend the taxes for that year because the computer would keep doing the same errors. The agent filed the claim once, denied. Twice, denied. Three times, case closed.
I have now spent over 140 hours of my time. I had to pay the taxes, interest and penalties owed, and I still remain without an amended return for the federal and my state returns. while she was auditing, she found further errors the IRS did not find. I demanded my peace of mind claim cover all costs as contract clearly states and promises it will do. To no avail..I got a check after a total of 16 months of my efforts (they guarantee 4-6 weeks to pay the claim). It was for the interest only. I never received the taxes owed or any of the other monies owed due to their mistakes. I put in 11 complaints in 16 months. I put a demand for payment. I wrote the Attorney General and the BBB about them. I called their legal department. The lady who said would help me no longer works there.
End of story is: Today on day 526 I believe, I was told by HRBlock administration that your case is closed. It is black and white here. Even though it was reopened last week, it was closed one minute later. I suggest you take the legal route and you might get paid. So, tomorrow I will file a lawsuit obviously, since this is the thirs time an employee has said that it is sad, but it is the only way I will get the claim paid. This is unconsionable in my opinion.
I have had a threat of a lien on my bank accounts and life in general for 15 months now. My husband had his tax refund witheld for 2007 because we married in 2007. He had nothing to do with 2004 or their mistakes. I will now owe more money for other mistakes their own agents found. I will now have to pay a new accountant to do all the years taxes they did to ammend properly. The amount of damage is not known, only can estimate the taxes owed alone will exceed $2000 plus penalties, interest and attorney fees, accountant fees etc. This and all my hundreds of hours of time and over a hundred pages of notes regarding this claim. The stress is not measurable.
Judy of Kettering OH (04/30/08)
i invested $1000.00 in 2006 but havent received a statement. i called the local branch of HR Block and was given a phone number that was incorrect. called back and was tolk they didnt have any information on the IRA Company. i went looking online for contact information and found this article. Please provide me any additional information you might have, greatly concerned that i may have gotten taken advantage of.
Joseph of Westland MI (04/29/08)
Filed 2007 taxes. April 1, 2007, With H & R Block, have used them once before in the year 2005. This time my spouse was out of state in NC. I informed the prepairer I would be going to visit on the 2th of April. My return from the Federal tax return was $317.00. State return $40.00.. My expectation would be a higher return, which didn't happen and excepted that. Then the prepairer inform me they needed $319.00 cash or check for their services. I explained this would not be possible due to non-employment and receiving no benifits. The prepairer told me my return didn't qualify for an electronic filing because not enough funds were being returned.
I received the forms to carry with me to NC, and have signed by my spouse and mailed back to the office. They were informed I would be out of state past the 15th filing date. The 15th, of April I received a phone call from the firm, stating my tax returns would not be filed until the payment was made. Time being around 4:30 pm. A call could have been made before the last day, the forms were in their pocession. After being informed they are putting me in contact with the branch supervisor now regarding this. I believe my conversation and the explanation, was being given to the branch manager. Being told I would not be obligated to pay, if I choose to pick up my W-2's and filed after I returned. This I accepted to do. Later the same night I recieve a call from the branch again telling me, sorry the manager never got with me because she was busy. And the prepairer told me, you must file by midnight today, or your not eligable for the economic stimulus payment. After a lenghty conversation she stated my filing fees could be reduced by $30.00 so that electronic filing could be excepted. The neccessary paperwork would needed to be signed, again express being in NC and unable to get into the office, and the wife would still be remaining in NC when I do return.
Obtaining full power of attorney for my wifes behalf, the papers were signed upon my return. When receiving the paperwork, I asked when I could expect a check from the state portion of the return. Being informed by her at that time. You will not get a check, it is being assigned to our H & R Block green card. Useable at any ATM's however there will be a fee for whichever ATM you use. Inquiring about the time a check for the economic stimulus would arrive, I was told. It will not be mailed instead, it has to go on their green card because of the filing practice.
Serveral questions now arise due to hearing several law suits against the company. Also another look back into my previous filings with the firm. Personnaly feel as though force into expenses and fees outside of my control, due to the firms practices. Also a major deception, told to clients about requirements, to receive the economic stimulus check. I believe fees should have been explained up front and prior to starting any paperwork. I'm also concerned now about any privacy information releases.
Latti of Aurora IL (04/29/08)
First off, the tax professionals are NOT professionals at all, rather, they are temps. When I came to their office in the beginning of April, I had already had my taxes fully prepared. I asked them to do an efile for me so that I could receive my refund quicker. I had my 2006 taxes as well as my 2007 taxes with me at the time. Both of which needed done. When we were there I specifically had told them that I knew I had back taxes owed that would need to be deducted from my returns I was filing.
My question to them was if I paid the extra money to have them prepared with the quick efile, quick return process if this would hold up anything. Of course she assured me that would not happen, they would still be in the 8-15 day category. I agreed to pay the additional fee and have them take the money I owed out of the refund. Now it becomes bad. After 4 weeks and several hours on the phone, the IRS informed me that because of the amount owed my refund was delayed and would need an additional 2 weeks to process.
Furthermore, my direct deposit refund would now be considered a paper refund when it came to the stimulus checks that were going out. When the money owed to H&R Block is taken out, they put their own bank account number on the refund, not mine. So instead of receiving my stimulus check as direct deposit, on April 29th as it should, I won't receive it until June 9th. Warning to all people, H&R Block tax professionals are no more than temporary employees who take a quick course on tax preparation. They are a fraud and will be holding many of us up due to their lack of knowledge.
My 8-15 refund is now a 6 week affair, and my stimulus check will be delayed by almost 2 months due to them.
L of New York NY (04/28/08)
HR BLOCK due to their lax policies and procedures (not verifying personal data, drivers licenses,place of residence,telephone #'s, W-2 Forms,deductions declared or keeping copies of such )have made it easy for ID THEFT and HAVE EXACERBATED THE CRIMES OF FORGERY, FRAUD and MISAPPROPRIATION OF MY ID.
Joshua of Albany OR (04/26/08)
My wife and I filed our tax returns with H & R block March of 2008 and they sent the money to the wrong checking account on April 4th 2008. The routing number and account number arent close by even one digit. Furthermore, they sent the money to a U.S. Bank account and we bank at Wells Fargo. My wife and I have to file IRS paperwork to try and get our tax returns ($8,500). Everyone I speak to including the District Manager doesn't have an answer. The IRS person we spoke to said it sounds like the H & R Block computer defaulted and put in a different routing and account number. We have paid H & R Block $269.00 and they didn't have a problem getting that money from our savings account, but can't help us any further. My tax money is sitting in someone else checking account.
We have paid $269.00 to have our taxes completed. Economic damages consist of lost interest, time, cell phone minutes, and home repairs to make the house more economical. We may have to cancel a trip this summer if we don't get our money; however, we have already purchased our plane tickets. Physical damage resulted in anxiety and stress attracts. We have four children and two foster children that needed items purchased from the tax return. Please HELP!
Helena of Franklinton NC (04/15/08)
I too used the Emerald Card $500 advance in February 2008. I began receiving bills in the mail stating I owed the bank over $400. I put them aside as I believe that this was just to let me know what would be taken from my return. I pulled my annual credit report this past week and behold, there was a 30 days past due for the Emerald Card statement on my credit. I immediately contacted the Emerald Card company and was greeted with the nastiest customer support operator in the world. I informed her that this issue would most definitely be filed with our State Attorney General's office. She stated, If you had READ your agreement, you would have seen that the IRS is the one responsible for making sure your payment was sent in on time. If you want to turn someone in, turn in the IRS to the general or whatever you called him. I asked her what her name was and she stated, what you didn't get it the first time, and hung up on me.
I contacted the H&R Block office where I did business (for over 10 years on and off). They are suppose to contact me in 30 minutes with some information about the problem. I also went online to check my account (Emerald Card), which naturally had a 0 balance. I printed off the statement and added all the monies transacted on the account and found that they were missing account transactions which did not total to the $500.00 initially placed on the card. I don't know what's going on, but if it had not been for my annual credit report draw, I would have never known and would have been racking up late fees on my credit with 30, 60, 90 day past due account amounts on my credit. So, I suggest anyone that has gotten the Emerald Card IMMEDIATELY check your credit report, I can almost bet you will find that you have been reported to the credit bureau by this unscrupulous company.
My credit (which is not the best in the world) has a stain that I feel is not a fair stain as I would have NEVER taken this card if I had known that this was going to happen. H&R Block has just lost a long-time customer. I have called all my friends that I have referred to H&R Block to have them check their credit and/or their account balances with the Emerald Card. This is shameful and someone should be prosecuted for this.
Glenda of Detroit MI (04/15/08)
I went to an atm machine to get funds, there was no funds available. I had a little over $300.00 dollars in the account. I called customer service and got the run around as to I must have used all the funds. When it was figured out I had not used the funds I was told I called and had a new card issued, which I never did. I called all the numbers I was given to clear up the problem up and the supervisor would give me a call. Never received the call.
So I call back and get someone who tell me I have to dispute the withdrawls and send a fax to those facts. That I did, I had to call back because I never got and feed back as to when I would get my funds. Called again got a customer service rep told me they received my fax and now I had to get an affidvit from H&R and have it notized get a police report and sent that in.
That was a week and a half ago and I have not received the affidvit for H&R bank. This started March 26, 2008 today is April 15th. If it that easy for someone to have my addressed changed and divert my stuff to another address think about all that money coming in from the government from the government rebate. However you received you income tax refund that's how you will receive you stimulas package. Some of mine got into the wrong hands via that emerald card. I do not want my rebate to go that way.
I saved that for my daughters promotion trip to Washington DC this May. A working mother has no extra money to lose especally to a bank. They charge me enought for not having enought money to keep from paying high fees.
Kathleen of Westminster CO (04/08/08)
2003 I had a restraining order on my husband- I was told that I had to file taxes with him because he took his pension out. I did not want to get in trouble so I went down and talked with Loren Smith the H&R block tech. He assured me three times that the money my husband took out was a rollover into the house. I signed and now I am paying off 15 thousand dollars! I trusted them to help me not hurt me. Loren was fired because he was messing up everybodies taxes~!
Financial hardship and stress. I can not pay my other bills because I have to pay 230 dollars a month to IRS.
Loretta of Los Osos CA (03/30/08)
I have used this company for several years for filing my taxes. I married in 2006 and filed my taxes as usual. My husband is on SSDI and has been for several years. It states on the tax form that he is disabled. The problem is that even though the tax preparer knew that my husband is disabled, she didn't bother to ask if he collects SSDI. We got a refund but later we received a letter from the IRS stating that we owe back the return plus penalties and interest. She should have asked if my husband collects SSDI so we could claim it in our taxes. Is H & R Block liable for this situation?
I just got laid off after 30 plus years in the Escrow business and my husband is disabled and does not work.
Wallace of Modesto CA (03/21/08)
My wife files her taxes with H&R Block, and they talked her in to putting me on her taxes under injured spouse. We had told them I owed back child support and was insured without fail--that no way could they take any of it. Well, they took every penny--even hers. I would sure like to know what happened to their employees that they talk soooo highly of.
H&R Block is blaming IRS on this matter and don't want to back up their promise if anything happens to your money, that they will pay for it. This is simply false advertisement. We may lose our car because of the planning we did to pay other bills.
Nancy of West Chester PA (03/16/08)
Lisa Brooks was supposed to do my taxes for me. I gave her all my paperwork then she promptly disappeared from the office. She didn't call me back for several weeks. When she did call back she did them in a couple minutes. She was supposed to mail me back my copies and she never did. Then someone from the office called me and said that she hadn't done them correctly. Also she had never filed my local tax. This is after she told me they were all done. In addition she had me paying local taxes to Philadelphia when I never lived there or worked there. On top of that she tried to jack me for more money then we had agreed on. She said she was doing mine under friends and family.
Luckily someone else in the office took over and straightened out everything she had messed up. But consequently she has my copies and I doubt I will ever get them from her. She called me and started demanding that I pay her (I had already paid H&R Block). She called me several times and harassed me over the phone.
Paul of Tallahassee FL (03/12/08)
I went to H&R Block last week to have my taxes done. After seeing the options for getting my return back, I opted for the Emerald MasterCard route. I received my return back on the card a couple days later. Ok, no problem. But wait! After two days and paying some bills, I should have had (according to my ledger) $179.00 left on the card. I went to buy about $40 worth of groceries, and the card was declined. I called the 866 number on the back of the card, and the computer told me that I had a balance of $5.00! I then called Block to find out what the problem was but was told by them that HSBC was responsible for the card, and despite the fact that the card clearly says H&R Block on the front, they have no say-so in how the monies on the card are dealt with. Then I called the 866 number back, but it wouldn't recognize my number.
I tried twice to no avail, then waited for customer service. After 20 minutes on hold I finally hear somebody pick up and then this cackling laughter in the background: the rep making jokes with his peers. Once he realizes someone is on the line, he hangs up. Another call, and another 20 minutes got me a woman in India, I guess, whose English was sub-standard at best, who couldn't enlighten me in any way about the lost money, why the computer wasn't recognizing my card# or even apologize for the earlier treatment. She gave me a URL to check the list of transactions made by the card, but getting there I found I needed an ID# and password, which she didn't mention even though I asked if such was required. It led me to another page which asked for my card# and its password. I entered these, got a network error message and was dismissed. So where is my missing money? Has this happened to anyone else? This is outrageous.
Since I came up short on the card, I missed my phone bill and will have to wait until next Friday to pay it. Hopefully I won't lose it in the meanwhile. I'm riding my bike to work now as some of that would've been used for gas and have become a little more disenchanted with the financial institutions and the system at large. I feel like I've been robbed. But the way the system works, taking them to court would cost me more than the $179 that I lost. As usual, the law favors the rich and disregards all others, or so it seems.
Rob of Clyde OH (03/11/08)
H&R Block - what can I say? I too went down there and got my taxes filed there. What a mistake that was. First of all, they figured my city tax wrong. Well, its a good thing I did my taxes before the dead line date to file. When I called to tell H&R Block of their mistake, the lady said they were running off an old system. Needless to say, it got me thinking about the State and IRS tax forms. I called them again, and went in and sat down with them; and they looked through everything again and assured me that everything else is correct. In my way of thinking they should have given me a refund on the city tax form part, seeing they erred, but guess I think wrong or something because they did not give me the money back. Later I called the 1800 number to complain to them about my local office, and got a letter back from the local office in concerns of my complaint to the 1800 number.
I ended up going in there again, with the same questions I had before for my 2005 tax return. Receipts that were used to deduct on what I owed the IRS--some were used and some were not. And my figures and theirs were way off. That year I had to pay a lot, more than I did any other year. So what gives, I thought? It is the receipts since some they used and some they did not. When asked about this, the owner of this H&R Block branch said she assumed that some were personal and not for business. My response was simple and to the point: So you think I drove up to the tank and bought 300 gallons worth of fuel of diesel for a company truck in a different state--that this was a personal adventure? Give me a break. Towards the end I got up, and said this and many other reasons are why I have not been back since. How can anybody think H&R Block can do other peoples taxes when they have failed to do their own right when they filed with the IRS?
Mark of Fort Lewis WA (03/04/08)
I am active duty military and made the mistake of going to a tax preparer not near a military post. I came into the H&R Block Lacey, WA office in order to have my 2007 taxes filed. I was charged 50 dollars for federal and 70 for state. I noticed that my state return was very low when compared to the previous years and asked why this was so. The tax preparer stated that they were not sure and that it could be due to the fact that perhaps the state did not withhold as much as they did in the past. I went home and examined my taxes from the previous year and noticed that I was being taxed as a resident although I was stationed in another state. California state tax laws allow full refund of taxes paid if a service member is stationed out the state. I took my previous tax return and a copy of the tax law (printed out) to the office the very next day.
Another tax preparer stated that they were unclear about military taxing and would get back to me in a few days. I instead took the documents to a H&R Block next to Fort Lewis (Preparers that knew what they were doing) and had them call the Lacey office and provide guidance. Upon returning to the Lacey office later that day I received the properly filed tax return and informed the preparer that I would like to speak to the manager. I received no call, so two days later I called the manager and asked for a refund of fees paid as per the H&R block policy. Maximum Refund Guarantee Get the maximum refund you're entitled to, or your tax preparation is free. This is clearly stated on the H&R block website. Instead of honoring the agreement, the manager instead made the statement that he did not understand why I needed a refund when his office corrected the error and got me a bigger refund than originally quoted. He went on to say that refunding my fees would come from the preparer's salary. I, in return, explained the above events and told him that if H&R Block honoring their refund agreement entailed another working person to lose part of their pay, then I'd rather not be refunded. With that I ended the call, but I still have a VERY bad taste in my mouth from the whole experience. If the tax preparer is not familiar with the tax laws then he/she should refer them to another office that is familiar. Furthermore they had no problem accepting payment even though they could have cost me my full entitlement. I as a consumer should not have to tell my tax preparer what is wrong with my return, and how to correct it. Nor should I have to go between two offices to have my paper work done correctly. If I wanted to do all that work then I would not have gone to a tax professional to have my taxes filed.
Wasted time, wasted gas, and work that a paying customer should not have to do.
Tanya of Joliet IL (02/27/08)
I was supposed to get my refund check direct deposit. It came in the mail and I didn't know it was there all day because I work nights. Then I took the check to my bank to get it cashed and when the rep called to get it verified after 45 minute wait on the phone an H and R Block rep told her they don't verify checks at that number and gave her a number that was disconnected. She then returned the check and told me she couldn't do anything with it. I called back to the number on the stub of the check and was told that was false info and to return. The bank didn't want to deal with it again.
I called to see if there was a bank in my area that I could cash the check at that contracted with H and R block and they told me Bank of America. Well, when I did a search, the closest one to me that told me they didn't cash those checks. I came home again after missing 16hrs. of work because I had no money for gas, I called and was told to take it to a Currency exchange. Well, when I got there it was going to be nearly $100.00 to cash it there and when the cashier went to verify, she also was told that they couldn't verify it until the morning. I came back home and called the same number and someone told me that she could verify it until 12am. Well, the currency didn't want to fool with it until the morning. So I missed work my morning and night job. I am a single mom with four children and this has been very inconvenient to me.
I rode around all day with my fuel light on. I also missed 16 hours of work which will have my budget short in the long run.
Scott of Taunton MA (02/26/08)
I recently had my federal and state tax return processed at H&R Block. When I first went to have the taxes filed, I was claiming my daughter as a dependent, with the additional tax credit which was applied by the representative that filed my claim. After speaking with my wife, she informed me that she filed for the same tax credit, and I called H&R Block to correct the situation. The tax credit was not applied to my return. I thought that everything was all set, until I logged onto the IRS website to check my claim status, I was unable to check the status due to an error. Evidently, when H&R Block corrected the tax credit, they changed my filing status from Head of Household to Single without my knowledge. I was never advised this would be done, and wanted clarification.
At 8:11 pm February 26 I called the local H&R Block office where my return had been processed and asked to speak to someone regarding the unapproved change in filing status. A woman got on the phone who would not answer why the status was changed, only repeatedly stated very rudely that she was with the company for twenty years, and that the status just changed. Because this woman was so demeaning, cruel and rude to my questions, I asked to speak to a manager, a supervisor at least if no manager was available. This woman refused. I then asked her what her name was, and she began again to say that she had been in the business with this company for twenty years. I expressed that my concern was not how long she worked there and that I would like to speak to a manager. The woman then disconnected the call.
I have paid over $300.00 to this organization to have my tax return filed incorrectly without any explanation. As a consumer I am completely dissatisfied with the nasty treatment received by these people, and I am very upset that after paying for a service that is provided by professionals that I was treated very unprofessionally, and told that my tax status is not my concern. I will be moving forward to report this with the attorney general and better business bureau if no resolution occurs. This is an extreme disappointment that I am not given an explanation as to what has occurred with my taxes. My concerns also involve my personal well-being, for if there are any errors to these said documents, I may be penalized by the IRS; and I am avoiding any conflict that may occur at my expense because of the error of this company.
Cam of Bennington NE (02/26/08)
My wife and I have filed with HR Block for the past few years, and this year we decided we were going to itemize because we have a new house and numerous deductions. Last year, we paid $140 to file, and we did the express return option. So tonight we sat with the HR rep for less than an hour--maybe 45 minutes, really--and during that time we caught him making 4 different oversights/errors with our return. Our information was essentially the same: employers, automobiles, etc. So we run through the calculation, and he shows us our estimated return, which was fine. Then, as we are packing up our stuff, he shows us the fee. $330! Really? $330 for filing essentially the same return as last year?
My wife and I already had everything itemized ourselves with the appropriate calculations, and when we saw the fee, we just scoffed. Fortunately, we told them to put the return on HOLD. The rep said his manager might be able to give us coupons, and we said, "Yeah, we'll get back to you" as we took all of our paperwork, right out the door. See you later, scam artists! Using a computer program poorly does not entitle you to $330 dollars of my hard-earned money. I will purchase Turbotax, and my wife and I will file ourselves. It might take a little longer, but we will save over $200 in the process.
Sharice of Atkinson NC (02/24/08)
When I filed my taxes I put $300.00 on the card for the savings and the rest went to checking. Well my problem is that my money is not in the savings acct. It is saying I have $-1.50 of money I never touched. I called the 1-800 number on the back and all I get is the run around. All I want is my money replaced on the card. They have you waiting long periods of time and transfer you from one person to another. I was charged a fee of $2.00 when I called to inquire about the card and did not even get anything resolved. I have sent various emails but no response. Can someone help me to get my money back. What I do not understand is how can I have $299.00 one week and on Feb. 23rd a negative 1.50. Can I please get some help retrieving my money back on the card? That was part of my tax return.
Not having access to my money on a much needed basis. Having to borrow from family and not being able to supply for my two children's needs at that moment. I am a single parent mother who works very hard everyday and I do not need to be cheated with my income tax money I earned.
Jennifer of Jerome ID (02/23/08)
I got my taxes done at H&R Block. My federal taxes came back ok, but when it came to getting my state taxes I have had nothing but problems. I was told that it would come in no longer then 5-7 days; it has been 22 days now, and I have got nothing but a bad attitude from the employees. I have called every day since the state of Idaho has informed me that the check has been deposited into the H&R Block bank account. Every time I talk to them they tell me the same thing: We have printed the checks for the day, and yours is not here, call back; it wont be here any later than tomorrow. I have left several messages with no call back, and more importantly, no check. At this point I don't know what to do. I have tried everything even down to calling the district manager. I will never ask for H&R Block's assistance again, and I don't recommend them to anybody.
I have made payment arrangements for all my bills, and have no money to pay them. H&R Block told me a certain date, and I went with that. Now I have no electricity. Thanks to H&R Blocks horrible service I have had nothing but problems and no money to pay my bills. Thats what I get for depending on a guaranteed tax preparation service.
Timothy of Janesville WI (02/22/08)
So I get my taxes done with H and R Block cause I want the quick money, I was approved; and they gave me my card. I activate that card and check the balance again and again and find there is NO MONEY ON IT. I call there 1888 number that you can't understand at all and reading off some paper to tell you some lies. They CHARGED me for the RAL; but yet I am not getting it, I have been trying to contact any one I can. It seems like NO ONE CAN HELP ME AT ALL. What should I do?
Allisa of Red Wing MN (02/21/08)
I had purchased a printer with my Emerald card and canceled the transaction three days later (ordered 2/2/08; canceled 2/5/09). I have been going around and around with HR Block over my money ($105) being returned to my Emerald card. Dell has sent 3 authorizations releasing the transaction and for some reason HR block will not put the funds back onto my card. I have been on hold with HRB numerous times (approximately 2 hours) at this point and have spoken with different agents who say they will send me to the holding department, but when transferred there...I am on hold once again...running up my minutes on my cell phone because I do not have a home phone. It also irritates me that I am being charged $2 every time I am even transferred to someone although nobody can seem to tell me why my money is not being put back on my card. If I am not having my problem solved why am I being charged?
I am still wondering where my money is, and it is now 2/21/08. I also think it is absolutely ridiculous that they charge the fees that they do when it takes a whole ten minutes to file my w2's. It seems to increase every year. I look forward to tax time to get myself back on track, but HRB charges extremely high interest for their RAL, and charges you once again if you do the Emerald card advance. Why should they take more money than the average tax service? I see a lot of consumer complaints and also lawsuits pertaining to their practices, and with all honesty...would love to see how they get away with this. I work very hard for my money, and because they prepare my taxes, should I be shorted hundreds of dollars that I never see but help them take advantage of others because my money makes their business grow? It would seem to me if they are such a growing company they should hire more agents to handle these issues.
I am a single mother of three, and although HRB may not care...$105 dollars is a lot of money to me and my family. I also feel frustrated that a few hundred dollars is what it costs to get my refund. I feel HRB takes advantage of many of us low-income taxpayers because they know we need money, and we need it now!
Robert of Seaside CA (02/21/08)
I took their Emerald Card advance loan for my tax refund. Then they sent me a bill to pay it back. I paid it by check, and they cashed it. Then they took it out of my refund again; now I am out $467.00 . They admit they have it, but they won't put it back on my card or give any reason for not doing so.
This has caused me a lot of stress and time. I also had to go and take a loan to pay my bills that the money was supposed to be used for. I have called daily but only get promised that they will put it back. I've weeks of these lies. Guess I'm just out of luck. After reading the Consumers Affair web site, I know now what's up.
Tiffany of Rochester MI (02/21/08)
The tax preparer asked me questions regarding claiming my sons. I have 2 sons with my fiance. He claims one and I claim one. I explained this to her, and she asked me if I was married and I answered no, but we live together. She then asked me if I was having sex and that cohabitation was illegal in the state of Michigan. Since when is having sex relevant to filing taxes, and when did cohabitations become illegal in the US?
My fiance's mother went to the office and spoke with both the manager, Carolyn and the preparer, Melani, to express to them both how surprised and offended she was and to have a formal complaint on file with them.
Angelique of Auxvasse MO (02/15/08)
I usually do my own taxes but due to a separation with my spouse I decided that I needed to have that refund right away and went to H&R. I opted for 8 to 15 day return, called on the 10th day, and found out that my return had been denied. The mistake was mine; I gave the wrong number for my son's social. I asked why no one had called me to tell me, and they were like "Oh, I don't really know why." She corrected the social and told me I would have the money the following Friday which would have been day 20. I am still waiting for my refund. I called the 800 number and was on hold for an hour, e-mailed my complaint while still on hold and received the reply to call their 800 number so they could help me.
I was still on hold with the number! Someone finally picks up and was asking for another name and then said, "Oh sorry, I picked up the wrong line and put me back on hold for another 40 minutes where the line then rang and disconnected me! I called back and waited and was then disconnected again. I'm sure that none of my fees will be refunded, and I will never do any business with them again. I hope I don't get my car repossessed while I wait on MY refund, that I probably would have had by now if I hadn't been greedy and impatient and just done them myself as usual.
Everyone that I promised I would pay in anticipation of the refund, I now have to call and beg for an extension yet again and hope they understand. I don't think walking 36 miles every day, one-way, to work will be feasible.
Cassimeda of Clarksdale MO (02/13/08)
I have used H&R block for several years and this will and was my last time as they messed up my taxes. I have never claimed my daughter and I have gone to the same person for several years and now because of their mess up my daughter cannot file her taxes until mine are amended and she has to mail them. But H&R Block gave her a free coupon to get her taxes done as well as mine for next year. I don't think I'm going back to this place again. It's been 15 days and I still haven't gotten them back.
I usually pay my personal property and house taxes and My daughter was getting her car licensed and neither is done yet.
Joan of Los Angeles CA (02/11/08)
In an attempt to withdraw money off of the H&R block Emerald Card Debit Master Card that was issued to me by H&R Block upon filing my income taxes, before the transaction was completed it was canceled. H&R Block Emerald placed a hold on the card for six weeks. They then informed me that the merchant I went to requested the hold. I contacted the merchant (Wells Fargo Bank), and I was informed that they did not place a hold--they only canceled the transaction, and the funds should have been placed back on my card within 3 business days. It has now been 2 weeks, and H&R Block Emerald has not released my funds. Instead they are on hold until 3/13/08 which is more than one month.
I have been unable to pay my bills and my rent due to this problem.
Kristen of Monterey CA (02/09/08)
I went in to H&R Block to have our taxes done. My husband was not present with me.The tax specialist talked me into putting our refund on their Emerald Prepaid Mastercard. I was a little leery about this, but she assured me that because my husband was not present with me, we would have to come back in to H&R Block the next day, and she would go over the paperwork with my husband. If any changes were needed to be made, she would do it at that time; then we could sign the paperwork, and she would e-file them. When we came back the next day, we sat down with the same tax specialist and told her we wanted to change the refund from the Emerald Prepaid card to a check from the IRS. She then told us that we couldn't do that because she already sent off our taxes earlier in the day. My husband asked her, "Who gave you permission to send them off without our approval or signatures?" All she said was, "Sorry".
When the Tax Specialist explained the Emerald Prepaid card to me she told me it was free and no charge, but they charged $20.00 for a check from the IRS. In the end, the prepaid card has more fees and charges associated with it than receiving a check from the IRS. Isn't it FRAUD to file someone's taxes without their approval and signature?
Eric of North Liberty IA (02/08/08)
I purchased the H & R Block Taxcut Premium + State product. After filing, I discovered a serious error on my State of Iowa return. The amount for Home Mortgage interest and points reported on Federal forms is exactly double what I entered when I went through the interviews. When I log into Taxcut and review what I entered for the different questions, the amount I entered for Mortgage Interest was correct. The Federal form was correct, but the State form is showing that I'm deducting an amount that is exactly double what it should be for Mortgage Interest. I called technical support. They agreed that it was a technical problem with Taxcut, but they told me to call the Tax Advisors. The Tax Advisor all but scoffed at me and told me to call Customer Service; and Customer Service had me write an e-mail and send it to some random e-mail address. The e-mail was not returned after 9 days, so I called Customer Support and demanded a refund of my fees.
So, I've had to call Technical Support, then the Tax Advisors, then Customer Support, had to write an e-mail (which wasn't returned) then call Customer Support again - when the very first person I talked to recognized the problem. Customer Support said I can have a refund of my fees, but I'll believe it when I see it on my credit card statement. That is a lot of passing of the buck, even for an accounting firm. That was also a lot of waiting on hold, a lot of time out of my work-day explaining this mess all over again to each individual department and a lot of frustration. I'd say I've spent five solid hours on this issue. In addition, to contact the tax advisers, you have to log into Taxcut online and send them a message to call you. I did this, and 20 minutes later, I got an e-mail saying that there was no answer at the number I entered. This is not possible. I was sitting at my desk from the time I sent the request for them to call and when I got the message saying they couldn't get a hold of me. The web page where I submitted the request was still up, so I could see that I entered the correct number. The other phone that they could have possibly called was my cell phone, which was also at my desk. To get them to call me again, I had to submit another request...which cost me $19.95. They saw it as a second question, which isn't free. The refund for the $19.95 is pending, but it was even more hassle and evidence that their customer service and online application is broken.
Both returns have already been accepted by both the IRS and the State of Iowa Dept. of Revenue. This means I have to wait until the State of Iowa processes my refund and sends it to me. Then I have to return the check with an amended Tax Return, thus drastically delaying my State refund. I used Taxcut not because I don't know how to do my taxes but because it is more convenient. Because of this error which is definitely some sort of bug in Taxcut Online, this experience has been incredibly ridiculous and time consuming both by the initial error and because I had to make four calls to three different departments, wait on hold and then explain this mess to them. I also had to write an e-mail, which is insulting because it seems like they are hoping most people will just let it go if they have to write a complicated mess in an e-mail in order to get a refund. All of the agents that I spoke to at H & R Block were nice enough but were completely clueless and seemed to want to pass me on to someone else. Furthermore, I now have a wildly overstated tax return accepted by the State of Iowa. This is the kind of thing that gets people audited.
Ron of Port Orange FL (02/08/08)
H R Block has deceived the lower class and middle class taxpayers of this country with deliberate lies. The execs at H R Block knew that the banks and the government were not going to go along with the RAL programs they offer, and that everyone was going to be denied a rapid refund, so what do they do? They offer a $500.00 advance on your taxes and tell you that you MUST file your taxes before February 15th with H R block and repay this loan, or you will suffer heavy penalties. They did this knowing that once they sucker all the cash strapped humans into the $500.00 loan, they will come back to get their taxes done and to get the RAL that is not going to be paid. I have had my taxes done for the last three (3) years at H R block, and the only reason I had them do them is because I received my return the same day and then the next day. Well this year after getting their Emerald card and paying $222.00 for their service, I was denied by the bank for a next day refund. THEY KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN and said nothing before I agreed to have them do my taxes.
How hard is it to do a 1040 EZ? Really! This is a deliberate fraud, and the excuses they give people are a joke. They try and blame everything but what they know is the truth. I want my $222.00 back for fraudulent and misleading advice. Blatant LIES! This is a corporation that is falling right in line with every other corporation in treating the American people like we must take everything they throw at us, and we have no voice. I hope they pay for this and someone teaches them a lesson about playing with the working class and thinking we are stupid enough to come back for more.
I spent money I didn't have thinking I was getting my refund the next day, and the result is me having to pay late fees on my bills now while I wait for my money. I have the overwhelming feeling of me being a peasant and having to deal with these corporate losers in the first place!
Jennifer of Barnesville MN (02/07/08)
My ex-boyfriend took my and my son's (not his child) social security cards, went in to do his taxes, and this guy at H&R Block allowed him to claim all of us on his taxes. We were never married, and my oldest son isn't his, so he shouldn't have been able to claim us. Now I have to wait 8-12 weeks for my return because it has to be amended when he shouldn't have been able to claim us--or at least I should have needed to sign something. It is illegal; and they need to fix it, but they just give us the run around when we call.
And also when I went in to do my taxes at H&R Block, they let me file and said I would get my money in 1-3 days. I called back 3 days later, and they hadn't even sent them yet.
I've been in an abusive relationship for 3 years, and I needed that money to get out.
Jason of Winter Haven FL (02/06/08)
I had my taxes done with H and R Block in 05. I had just moved to Florida in October. My son had only been living with my for five months. Hr Block said I could claim him. Come to find out I could not because he was not living with me long enough. I had paid the extra money to have the piece of mind insurance that is supposed to protect me if I am audited which I was. I ended up having to pay back over $4000 to the IRS. I have been making payments but I am behind on bills because H and R refused to honor the claim. They said that I signed the papers so it is my fault. They said that I must have told the tax pro the wrong information. Which is a bold faced lie. I told the pro when I moved and how long my son was under my roof and they said it was ok, go ahead.They never once mentioned that I would later need proof that he lived with me for over six months. Which he had not and that is what I told them.
Now we are far behind on bills and our credit is suffering. We have not been able to catch up for two years. I have had to sell my truck just to get by. Now we have one car and two jobs and things are very tight thanks to a company that does not seem to care about customer service. They just want their money. I am not a tax professional that is why I went to them. They are suppossed to know what to do. My two year old could have done our taxes and got the same result H&R Block did.
Janet of Topeka KS (02/04/08)
They have a stated guarantee that they will get you the largest refund on your tax return. They did not on mine. I tried to get a refund on my tax preparation. I called the 1-800 numbers and only got a brush-off. I asked to speak to a supervisor and have to wait over 30 minutes and refuse to take my number to call me back. I also called teh district manager in Topeka, KS; he doesn't call me back. Nobody at HR Block knows how to honor their stated guarantee! They also state they can get you the fastest rapid refund and RAL--guaranteed; but Jackson Hewitt got the faster refund for me.
My biggest problem was the bad tax preparation by HR Block. I could have gotten more considering I have a dependent child. I asked them if it helped adding him, and they said, "No." Now I have to amend my tax forms. They are also falsely advertising their guarantee which is posted on HRBlock.com.
Dawn of Stormville NY (02/03/08)
I have my taxes done there every year. I received some money back but had to pay the IRS a lot more. I just received a letter in December telling me I owe the IRS $1500 more. I cannot understand what they did to make me owe more to them after they took most of my refund. I am afraid now when I do my taxes I will not get anything back, and I am in dire need of the money. What can I do to make them fix this? Please help me.
Cara of Lexington TX (02/03/08)
My husband and I chose to have out taxes done again by H&R Block; we've done so for 5 years without any problems. This year they had an Emerald Card to have our refund put onto; they said it would be activated by the next morning, and it was. I began paying my bills online using this debit card, and on the fourth bill I used my card on, it said my card was denied. I called the number on the back of the card and explained to the woman I was speaking with. She said I had put my PIN in incorrectly too many times. I never put my PIN into any online bills. All it asked for was the 3 digit CVN # on the back of the card. I explained this to her, and she called me a liar. Yes, she said, "You are a liar." I asked to speak to a supervisor, and she hung up on me. I called again, and got someone else. She said I had exceeded my limit of usage on the card. Now when I signed up for this card, no where on the user agreement does it state that you can only use the card 7 times in one day, which is what she said. I read the agreement to her, and she hung up on me. I called again, and they transferred me to the H&R block main number. They told me that I had used the card too much.... This is MY money, I should be able to use it as much as I like. I told her this and asked to speak to a supervisor and was told there was not a supervisor available.
She proceeded to put me on hold, but forgot to mute her mic, and I heard her call me a bitch Some customer service! I went to the bank's ATM and withdrew $1000.00 from my card. I will try to get the rest tomorrow. Please, what ever you do, DO NOT get the Emerald Card: it is a rip off and a scam, and the customer service reps are extremely rude.
I have bills to pay. We need new tires on our car, and groceries. I feel I was ripped of by having to pay $90.00 to get this card and not even be able to use it. I should be refunded $90.00 from H&R Block. I was on the phone for 3 hours and was spoken to like I was a criminal, cursed at, and it was a horrible experience.
Brad of Sebastian FL (02/02/08)
I spoke to Mr. Arron Edwards and Russell Cartwright, both titled supervisors by first line call center personnel, about the payment of my mortgage loan by others not named in the mortgage contract. I asked H&R Block/Landsafe to refund payments made by others not listed in the contract in exchange for funds from my bank account, offering to cover expenses for this request and stressing the importance of my request to respect the contract I signed. I was told No, we are not going to refund any payments made from anyone that are directed to this account. We take money from anybody. I asked why I was not notified of the transactions, and the response was "We don't have to notify you; that's not our job." This mortgage was transferred to H&R Block by Option One Mortgage without my consent or opportunity to respond. The publicized separation of these companies is a scam.
As a result I will have to suffer the cost of counsel and the possibility of losing the ownership of the property.
Aileen of Toledo OH (01/29/08)
I am a single mother of two and buried in bills after the holiday. Having filed bankruptcy this year, I needed money to try and get my bills paid and try and rebuild credit. I went to HR Block on January 18th, against the protest of many family members. I was told good news on how much I was getting back and then was talked into the anticipation loan. I told the person doing my taxes that I had filed bankruptcy and would not qualify for any type of loan and did not want them to be putting any points on my credit report by checking it. Was told no problem. I would have no problem qualifying for the two-day turn around. I told my teenage daughter who is always seeing me worry about bills that Mom would get enough back to pay the bills on time, plus some. So of course my girls and I left happy that we could see a light at the end of this tunnel.
More than 10 days later I only had empty promises to many bill collectors as well as to my girls. I have no money. I am upset and worried, and my teenager is angry that this company made a promise that they did not keep. So not only am I scared that things will get shut off, I am having to explain to my girls why this place made us believe that we were going to be ok--and lied.
So H&R Block, what do you want to tell my girls about dishonesty? I am crying and upset. And if I would have done what I went in there to do--just a direct deposit--I would have paid less to HR Block. I would probably have my money in my account by now instead of calling every day looking for it. By the time I get this money I will have additional late fees and charges.
I will have possible late fees, shut off's--but the biggest upset is having this company build up me and my daughters' hopes, to crush them with their lies. That is the biggest let down of HR Block: they are building peoples' hopes of a easier future with money that belongs to us any way. They are preying on the lower to middle class who are living from pay check to pay check with hopes of a safe and fast tax return. And then they take their huge fees and do not care about the consequences. They need to be held accountable for their actions--as I am being held responsible for the actions of the promises I made to my creditors because of this. An acceptable consequence would be for them to refund all fees related to this transaction. I have learned my lesson: I will never use them again.
Nicholas of Cleveland OH (01/22/08)
I was given an estimate of $1,929 and I was given a $500.00 loan which also had interest of $60.00 dollars upfront fee and an additional $60 to be paid on the 15th of every month which is the $120 to file. The money borrowed was all due on Feb. 15th. I went and now they claim I only get back $400.00. How can they ESTIMATE such a big difference?
I owe them now and cannot pay, therefore this will only lead me into more debt. I know this is still early and this is going to cause me more grief.
Tami of Bogalusa LA (01/21/08)
H&R Block filed my federal and state taxes for 2007. I received a letter dated 12-17-07 from Louisiana Department of Revenue advising me that I owe $662.47 for tax, penalty, and interest that was filed by H&R Block. I called the H&R Office to report the employee to her Supervisor. The Supervisor, Sonya, asked me to come to the office with all my documents, since she admitted that files had disappeared from their office, and she would look into this and attempt to get get this taken care of. I took all the documents to Sonya at the office, where she copied them and agreed to call me within the week with results, stating she would attempt to get this refunded to me. Since then, I have contacted Sonya on 5 different occasions and have each time been led to believe she is still working on it. Now she doesn't even return my calls.
This has put me in serious financial hardship. Furthermore, I not only paid for their services, but now I am paying penalties and interest for their mistake.
Dawn of Naugatuck CT (01/21/08)
Last year I filed my 2006 tax return with H & R Block. That is when they had their special going on with bringing in your last pay stub and getting your return through rapid refund. I did this. Then when this year's tax return came in, the IRS informed me that my return was never filed because their was a mistake with form 4224, which is the dependent day care expenses. I never received any notice of this incident. Then I come to find out when I called H & R Block that I owe them that money back now. No notice, no nothing!
Lisa of Lancaster TX (01/17/08)
Last year I filed my 2006 tax return with HR Block. Deborah J. (tax preparer) typed an error on one of my dependent's social security. This error delayed me from getting my refund by a day late. HR Block charged me the same fee for filing rapid--1 to 2 days. I had also purchased the Peace of Mind Ext. service plan. When I complained about this to Deborah, her response was, "I'm sorry, just come in and resign the papers and you should get your refund the next day."
A year later, I filed my 2007 tax return on 1/17/2008 at the same office. Mr. Wayne Valentine (office manager) prepared my tax return. I explained to him about the mistake Deborah made on my last year's return. He said that she should have reported this error becauseIi had purchased the Peace of Mind Plan. He also stated that he would take care of this matter himself and to wait for a settlement. Still waiting to get a response.
Wendy of Mount Jackson VA (01/11/08)
My husband and I filed our 2006 taxes on April 10, 2007. The agent told us that we would be getting $5000.00 back in taxes. Now, I dont know anything about taxes, that is why I take mine to a professional. Even though I dont know anything about taxes, I thought something didn't sound right. I questioned her 5 or 6 times, are you sure? how can that be? Her answer was the same, "I've entered everything and this is what I come up with." Then when she asked if I wanted the peace of mind insurance, I paused for a moment, and before I could say anthing, she said, "I really don't think you need it." And my thought is, my peace of mind should be that I'm taking my taxes to a professional, it should be done right!
Well, it is now January 2008 and I've just received a letter from the IRS stating that my husband and I owe $5000.00 for the 2006 tax year. We took our letter and tax return to the preparer and come to find out, she made a huge error. Instead of putting $20000.00 for my husband's income, she put $2000.00. So now we have to pay all this money back.
Because of having to make payments to the IRS, we are going to have to move out of our home and into my father's house, as there is no way for us to make these payments and pay rent and all utilities. Thanks a lot H&R BLOCK!
Stephanie of Bogalusa LA (12/16/07)
Back in Sept 2007 we received a letter from the IRS stating we owed taxes from 2005. H&R Block has done our taxes for years so we called them (office has off season hours Monday and Friday only) and after several attempts and the proof that we had indeed provided all the necessary information, they acknowledged they made a mistake and an amended return was done and we paid the amount. We had purchased the piece of mind guarantee so they actually owe us $3000.00.
I have called the office which is the district office and spoke to the Manager, Elaine, who did our taxes for the year 2005 and currently. She is the one who made the mistake. We have spoken to the owner with the promise that we would get our money in 4-6 weeks. Now no one wants to own up to the mistake. I have called the regional office in Telxas, spoken to several people at the International World office as they call it in Kansas City to no avail. We can't even get poeple to return phone calls and when they do its the same story, "The check is in the mail." We are truly upset and frustrated with the company, and the people. So what are we suppose to do? I call every other day and will contiue to do so because its our hard earn money. Even the owner of the office in Mandeville, LA offered to give us a gift cert to get our taxes done this year. I have no idea what she thinks. All we want is what was promised with this peace of mind. and that is our money.
Since this has happened my husband has had open heart surgery, and his gall bladder removed (all in a 3 week period). I have had to take off work to help in his recovery and when I don't work, I don't get paid. We have exhaused our savings.
Catherine of Royal Palm Beach FL (12/12/07)
We had our taxes prepared by H&R Block, Eastern Enterprises I, West Palm Beach, FL 33411. We have been notified by IRS that we owe over $2,000. I tried to contact that store and they are closed. We were directed to the H&R Store Forest Hill in West Palm Beach, FL. We left many, many messages for Marcella. All we need is some help on WHY since H&R Block did our taxes and we received a refund no less. I faxed my IRS letter to that store and as of today I have not received a call back. Today I called and their mailbox is full. Can you please help in someway? In the meantime, IRS is adding interest to our supposed OWE. Does not H&R Block stand by the customers? If I don't get any results, maybe a TV station could help me. We have been with H&R Block for many, many years and the issue in question was the Health Care Tax Credit, and I told my husband, she did not seem to know what she was doing.
Where do senior citizens get over $2,000 to pay the taxes. We had, and I repeat, had faith in H&R Block.
Michael of Millington TN (12/11/07)
In Feb 07, we filed our taxes online with H&R Block. They failed to file our taxes, but was paid for the job. We were given our receipt and told not to file as H&R Block would do it. We were never called and told they did not do it.
On Dec 10th 07, I recieved a letter stating that the IRS hadn't received money and that we didn't file. H&R block says they aren't responsible.
Shiela of Miami FL (11/14/07)
The 1st Miami H&R block office that did my Federal and NY state tax, made errors. I purchased a peace of mind agreement. By the time the IRS notified me of an error, the HR Block branch was not open (post season) so I had to go to the district office. The district office took MONTHS to review the return and the NYS explanation of errors. Finally one person was able to do an amendment and that came back from NYS with errors! I don't get calls back so I have to go in every week. I am told week after week that a supervisor has it locked in their office, and they apologize for the delay! They are unprofessional, not knowledgeable tax preparers, and I will never use them again!
I paid taxes to the IRS for NY State, but apparently I should have gotten a refund.. Those thousands of dollars could be gaining interest in an account. Also, I am spending time and gas to get to the HR Block office weekly. And, early in the process I took time off from work to go to HR Block to address the mistake.
Andrea of Lockport NY (11/06/07)
I paid extra to H&R Block in case of mistakes on tax returns. Now I owe IRS $4200. Just read many reports from people dealing with same problem who cannot get H&R Block to deliver.
H&R Block needs to own up to its promises.
Angela of Vancouver WA (11/05/07)
In 2001 my father went to his local HR Block to file his taxes, as usual. They gave my father incorrect advice on his taxes and filed incorrectly. They continued to file incorrectly for him from 2002 through 2005. The IRS is now telling my dad that he owes money for all those years, money that has during the last 6 years accrued interest and penalties.
My father has had Multiple Sclerosis for 20 years. This terminal disease is very stress related, so my dad leads a very simple life. He can't work, and hasn't been able to for a very long time. The stress of this horrible situation caused his large intestine to fail permanently, adding an additional $100,000 in hospital bills. The stress of H&R Block completely dropping him after 35 years of being a loyal customer, and refusing to help or correct the problem that THEY CAUSED has also made him lose the use of his legs. I have tried going to the Better Business Bureau, the media, and H&R Block WORLD HEADQUARTERS. No one will answer me, and no one will help. How can a company get away with this?
Ronald of Chicago IL (10/10/07)
Mrs. Brown told me not to file a form, and now it is costing me and my wife over $5,000.00 which we do not have. I have tried over and over to talk to someone but no one was there for us. I took out the peace of mine Mrs.Brown told me to take out for $29.00. Why did I have to take it out if no one will help us went we need it the most.
Paul of Honolulu HI (05/08/07)
I went to H and R Block for my 06 return. First of all they didn't add all my w-2s to my return. Was offered the rapid refund but turned them down. Was told refund we be in 8-15 days and would be sent my checking account. In the mean time i was out of the country for all of April. Returned and found out my refund had gone missing. Contacted H and R they said my refunds had already been sent to my bank. Checked with bank and no refunds had been deposited. Call IRS to check and was told the same thing it had been sent two weeks ago. But amount of taxes paid in and refund from my copy and theirs was completly differnt along with my bank info. Dont know where the money was sent IRS is now tracing where the money went. H and R Block now says that this is just a small mistake and they will investigate it. And file an amended return for me free.
Paula of Englewood CO (05/04/07)
I have had my taxes prepared at Block since I started working, I have never had any problems. However, I recently received a letter from the IRS stating that I owe 3500 in taxes for tax year 2005. I immediately took the paperwork and letter to my usual office, and was told that they would see what the issue was. Weeks go by with no word so I started trying to reach anyone who was working on my paperwork. After trying repeatedly with no retun calls, I started leaving messages with the manager. I finally received a response, and was told that my peace of mind claim was being put though the appropriate channels. When I asked what to do about the IRS deadline, her response was not to worry about the deadline, that its not a big deal. After nearly 2 months of this, I received a letter that my peace of mind claim has been denied, that I can contact the regional office to contest. I spoke to another manager at a different office, and the mistakes just continue. The original mistake came about becasue a first year preparer had worked on my information, the others came about because the agents at the offices are just badly trained and misinformed. The manager I spoke to yesterday was going to resubmit my claim, but I will talk to a lawyer if I dont receive some assistance with this tax bill. Also, I also find out that I owe the state an additional 657 for 2005.
Barnabas of Springfield IL (04/22/07)
I purchased the Piece of Mind guarantee at HR block on April 14, 2007 after working with HR block tax professional for several months. I was convinced to do the Easy Pay program to pay off my federal taxes, which was a loan through HSBC. I overpaid my state taxes by over $1000, and the IRS is taking money from my account, as well as HSBC bank for my federal taxes. I am being double charged for my federal taxes. I am unable to get help from ANYONE at HR block, at their offices, their phone number, or their online help. No one at HSBC can help me either. I feel like I've been scammed.
Ali of Grand Rapids MI (04/11/07)
I filed my taxes with hr block in 2004 and i was told that my information would be confidential and i also signed. so they gave me coupons to give people and i would recieved 10 dollars. so i gave one away to a friend of mine and i wish i didnt. All of my information which included my ssn my daughters ssn the amount i recieved and was stapled to her copys she recieved from them. When she brought it to me i was shocked i didnt know if my info.. was suppose to be in there or not. it was not worth 10 dollars. what if she was a stanger. in result of this now im not sure if my info.. is in someone else file.
Glorita of Rancho Cordova CA (03/09/07)
On February,19,2007 we went to H&R BLOCK to get help to file our taxes. 10 days later we get call from them tell us our check ready but the check amount was wrong so my husband did not take the check. My husband went back again to find out what happened but the lady did not explain to my husband, she just do is call amended and it was not even right the next day. We think she swapped our 1040 and 540 she sign it and dated march,1,2007 when we ask her about the original copies of our 1040 and 540 dated and sign on febraury,19,2007 she said what you talking about she had no idea. The IRS not have our 1040 original signed and dated.
Alicia of Pindale WY (03/03/07)
My husband & I are separated and wants me to go sign the tax returns that he filled under married joint when he should have filled under married separated. When I called H& R Block to have it changed to married separated and to find out how much the returned was. The sales representative rudely answered saying that she couldn’t give me any information unless I came in and sign the papers and that she would not give any information until after I signed the tax returns. I do not want to be signing something that I am not able to know what is on the form.
Christopher of Lacey WA (02/28/07)
On Feb 17, my wife and I filed our taxes through H&R Block. We usually file them through the army for free but I’m on orders for deployment to Iraq very soon so I needed to receive the refund as soon as possible to purchase things needed. We decided to go with the 1-2 Refund Anticipation Loan with the emerald debit card. After waiting 5 days, we still had no refund on our card so I called H&R Block. They told me that my loan was denied and gave me the number to the bank they had set it up with. After calling the bank, they told me that my loan was denied for unknown reasons. I’m out the extra fees for the 1-2 loan and still waiting on my refund 11 days later, unable to purchase equipment needed for Iraq.
Allie of Fort Lauderdale FL (02/27/07)
Last February I visited H&R Block to have my taxes prepared. I am a single person, with an adult son living at home and attending college for engineering full-time. He has no income and I am basically helping him with everything, even child support, until her graduates this June. When I visited the preparer I took my son's birth certificate and social security card in with me and explained that he had not worked for the entire year. I told the preparer that I would like to claim him as a dependent; I was fairly sure that this would be allowed. The preparer was helpful in assisting me in finding a lot of deductions that I was unaware of, but that had to be listed on forms that added to preparation cost. At the end of the day she told me that it would not make a difference in my return if I claimed my son so I should not bother to do so. Well, it really made a big difference not claiming my son. I discovered while using Turbo Tax to prepare my own return that claiming my son provides me with an addition $3,200 tax deduction.
As a result of H&R Block's incorrect information I was required to pay the IRS $1,071.
Linda of Lowell IN (02/26/07)
When we filed our taxes, our check was kicked out because someone had already claimed our daughter on their taxes. I was told that it was probably an error in the numbers. I took the necessary steps in case it was identity theft. I contacted the FTC, Transunion, Equifax, and filed a report with the police. All this started within the first week of February. H&R had us file without our daughter and was told in a couple of weeks we can file an amendment with her on it. I told the agent to deduct all the fees so that when we file the amendment, all we have to do is sign it and send it on. The other day she called and said we can come pick up the amendment and the fee is $116.00. When I complained, they instructed me to go to the IRS to check up on tracing it back to who originally claimed our daughter. The IRS told us that there is no way to find out who did it.
James of Middletown IN (02/25/07)
HR Block has twice double-booked my tax preparation appointments and I will no longer use them to file my taxes.
Nathan of Winter Garden FL (05/02/06)
I purchased their "peace of mind" plan because it is supposed to cover any errors prepared by the advisor. They did make multiple mistakes costing me over $1000 in additional taxes. I have spent days trying to speak with someone who can help me resolve this. The problem is most of the offices close down so I had to find a regional office. Longwood is the closest (1 hour away). They are open three days a week so I had to leave a message.
The peace of mind offer is a scam. H&R block makes no effort on their part to resolve issues and their "experts" are not so experienced. I would suggest to anyoned using this company to be very cautious. You will undoubtedly spend significant out of pocket expenses (time, fuel, etc.) trying to rectify any errors created by this company.
Brian of Penn Valley CA (03/08/06)
H&R Block forgot to file State form 568 in 04 and 05 for my taxes on my LLC. Now im up against penalties, interest and fees for 04.
J. of Pittsburgh PA (02/17/06)
My wife and I went to H&R Block to have our taxes prepared (our 5th year to use them). After going through the entire process, we were told that our taxes could not be filed because the Form 1041K from last year could not be removed from their system because "the IRS hasn't provided H&R Block with updated software."
We were told that it would not take more than "a few days." THIS WAS OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.
No one from H&R Block has called us, and when I contacted them two days ago, I was told that "the software still is not updated."
This seems ridiculous to me---why would H&R Block need to wait for software from the IRS in order to update their own records?
Martha of Chicago IL (02/03/06)
I was told to claim head of household because I was paying child support and also paying medical and dental for my son who attended school here in Illinois. I was audited and ended up paying $4000,00 making payments I called and faxed and went into the office and they basically shrugged me off. I WILL TALK TO A LAWYER.
K H of Chapel Hill TN (01/23/06)
In 2003 we used H&R Block for tax prep. Only having used them 1 year previous. In 2004 we went back to H&R Block and a different preparer found a mistake that their office had made the year before. It was a giant mistake that cost us 5,000.00. The preparer that made the giant mistake was no longer employed there. We went to them because I had recently started working for myself and we no longer could prepare the return ourselves. I thought, H&R Block, they are reputable, they know what their doing, boy was a so very very wrong.
They had made a mistake that we didn't catch, but that was due to the fact that we could no longer prepare the return and relied on them. We didn't catch their mistake because we didn't know how to file the taxes, hence the reason for going to H&R Block. But according to them WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THEIR MISTAKE, so it was our fault they made a mistake.
Along with that years mistake the preparer for 2004 made some mistakes of her own that would have cost us a evern more money, along with the fact she only put maybe 1/3 of my write offs on the return, like my travel distance, when we gave her the total milleage for the year she put maybe 1/3 of number we gave her. We caught that mistake along with a few others, like leaving out a form that was needed, before it was filed by going to a CPA and paying him to redo 2 years of tax returns. Which by the way wound up being only half of what H&R Block charged us for 1 year of tax preperation. When I called the office I was of course livid to say the least, but they got mad and had an attitude with me.
You would think for the money they charge for preperation they would have the guts to back up their work. We will never go to H&R Block again and will forever make sure people are well informed of the mistakes they made on our taxes for 2 years out of the 3 we went there.
Victoria of Brooklyn NY (12/13/05)
In 2002 I withdrew money from a 401K plan and needed to ensure that I had my taxes filed correctly because I believed if anything I would have to pay a penalty. I brought all my papers and when the work was done, I was advised that I would receive a refund of 1093. I repeated 3 times that I thought this to be incorrect but the preparer said the computer took and that my age (not at the time of withdrawal evidently) said I had no penalty or fees to be paid.
I just received an audit report which now states that I owe $1054. I advised H&R Block and they in turn advised me that because I had not purchased a Peace of Mind contract they were not accountable for the error. I paid them to do my taxes and feel I should not have to pay more for Peace of Mind when the error was their's. In addition, under that standard contract they need 4-6 weeks to determine if they are even accountable for the interest that is/has accured/ing. I don't get it. Because I need to protect my own credit standing
I cannot let this go without making some effort to pay the monies owing but hopefully others will benefit from my experience and find some reputable person to do their returns without having a letter show up just before Christmas from IRS. I do not know what stand I can take other than to inform others of their money grabbing system and unprofessionalism in dealing with other people's money.
Mary of Farmville VA (10/06/05)
My 2003 taxes were calculated incorrectly apparently by H&R BLOCK here in Farmville, VA since I have just received a letter from IRS stating that I owe them $537. plus tax interest of $46. making my Total Amt Due IRS: $583.00. H&RBlock has done my taxes for many years always in MD until I retired and moved to VA. where the 2003 tax return was done.
After I sent in an my 03 Taxes, I received a statement of more taxable money and I had an Amendment done by H&R Block here and returned my tax refund. Do your records show I DO OWE this additional amt. in taxes for 2003 of $537. + $46. Interest? Total Amt due is $583. due by Nov 2, 2005
Anne of El Cajon CA (07/29/05)
I paid H&R block to file my return electronically in 2000 and arrange a payment plan because I owed taxes. They never did. I didn't discover this until almost a year after the fact.
Cybill of San Antonio TX (07/10/05)
I filed my VA state taxes in this office. Unfortunately, the appropriate forms were not completed, so I received a document request form. A Form Copy of State of Residence Return was not included. I have since been contacting the office to get this situation rectified, and have not received a return call. Please let me know who I can fax my paperwork to to complete my state taxes, and refile for my refund.
Nancy of Muscatine IA (05/10/05)
We received a notice from the IRS stating that we owed $967 ($49 is interest) on our 2003 taxes. It appears that my husband's retirement 1099 was not included. I made an appointment (had to wait a week to get in). Took the 2003 folder & found that I did not have a copy of the state taxes they had prepared for us. The deadline for payment is May 11, 2005 so I mailed a check today.
After many calls I was told by the Davenport office that the person in charge of the Muscatine office had been given my message and it was up to her to call me. They were supposed to get me a copy of the Iowa State Tax & double check the calculations on the Fed Tax return. I have yet to hear from them.
Shon of Port Huron MI (11/1/04):
I filed my 2003 taxes at H&R Block Sears office in February of 2004. I received part of my refund but not my earned income credit due to Bruce not filing a 8862 as was promised. Here it is November and I received a bill from the IRS for over $3,000 dollars due to H&R Block not filing the form.
I contacted the IRS myself several times in the past 9 mos to find out what else was needed to get my return. It was not till October 29th 2003 that I found out that my file was being held open due to waiting for form 8862 that H&R Block has still not filled out.
I work hard all year round and hope for a nice tax return. Now thanks to H&R Block I have been charged over $100 in penalties and interest. Still do not have my 2004 complete tax return.
Joshua of Los Angeles (9/30/04):
When I filed my 2003 tax return I was advised to file "Head of Household" and I did so since I was unsure about the definition of the status I paid for the "Piece of Mind" protection. When I received an Audit Questionaire from the IRS 7 months later it became clear that I didn't qualify and that I now owed over $3,000 in state and federal taxes and fees!
When I went to H&R Block's district office and re-filed and asked to excercise my "Piece of Mind" insurance I was told by the district manager that their advisors would never have misinformed me, implying that I had lied to the advisors. She said in her 29 years with H&R Block they had never lied or filled in mis-information on a clients behalf. The district manager regulating decisions regarding the honesty and accuracy of her subordinates seems like "the fox guarding the hen house."
Christina of Cape May Court House NJ (4/8/04):
I filed for an electronic refund on my 2003 taxes. The perparer prepared my file, signed them and continued on with the process. The following day I received a call that my ex husband, yet again, for a second time used my son's social and claimed this, although against our divorce agreement. As a result, I had to file by mail, so I mailed the papers with my signature and never got my return or any corrospondence as to why.
On April 5, 2004, I finally received a letter stating that my return will be shorted the sum of $400. The result, a mistake made on H&R Block's side? Or a mistake on the side of the IRS? The IRS is stating I had an advance on my return and H&R Block never picked up on it. If this is the result, H&R Block should stand by their policy of issuing every client a correct tax return, or they will be responsible for the monies, and issue the fee for completing the return back to the client.
Crystal of Lawrence KS (3/22/04):
I filed my taxes with H&R Block in 2002. On March 15, 2004 I received a letter from the IRS saying that I owed money in the amount of $623.00. I agree that I owe all but $138.00. I had some credit cards that were written off. As far as the $138.00 goes I had given the 1099 to H&R Block and they stappled it in with my papers that they gave me but did not put it in on the tax return.
Now after wating for three days to get back with me Elgin tells me that he knows how to file taxes and accuses me of putting in the 1099 in my tax return now when he was the one who stapled to my return in 2002. I am now having to pay an extra $138.00 to the IRS for something that would have been taken care of in 2002.
Maritza of Miami (3/16/04):
I have been filing my taxes with H&R Block for 20 years and this is the last year I will ever file with them! I filed my taxes with them on 2/23/04 and as of 3/15/04, I still hadn't received my refund, so I called the H&R office and was told by the office manager (Ana) that the IRS had returned my filing because I had forgotten to list the child income credit. Ana explained to me that the tax preparer had not contacted me and apologized. I asked her when they had received word from the IRS and unbelievably, it was on 2/24/04, exactly 1 day after I filed my taxes with them. Thus, my tax return sat at H&R Block office for 20 days without them doing a thing about it and not even picking up the phone to notify me. I hate to think of how long it would have been for me to find out if I hadn't called them myself.
Ana's attempt at fixing the problem for me was to offer for me to apply for a RAL, for which I needed to go through a credit process as if I'm applying for a mortgage, and that if approved, I would pay for the $300 or so it costs for the RAL and that H&R Block would reimburse me later. I told her that was totally unacceptable in light of the 20 day delay I had already experienced as a result of THEIR lapse in notifying me, but she told me that was the "offer" she was making.
I filed a formal complaint with the corporate office and was told it would take 48 hours to receive a response. How efficient in this day and age with technology as advanced as it is, that it would take H&R Block corporate office 2 full days to even acknowledge a long-term client! I am still waiting to hear back from "corporate" but am not expecting much from that either.
John of Coal Hill AR (1/24/04):
In 1991 H&R BLock filed my taxes and made a mistake that cost me $1500 + penalties and interest. I have been trying for 12 years to get it straightened out -- now the IRS wants to levy against me. It was Block's fault and I can prove it, what can I do? This mistake could cost me my house or a portion of my Social Security disability payments. I can't tell about other economic damage it has caused because of the penalties and interest charged by the IRS.
John needs a lawyer. If he is disabled and living on Social Security payments, he may qualify for low-cost or free services through his local Legal Aid office.
David of Spearfish SD writes (6/14/01):
I submitted all my social security information (as I have done with the same office for the previous two years) at the end of 1999 for tax purposes. Last week, I got a notice from the IRS saying that my social security was not claimed on my 1999 taxes and that I owe $925. I called the office in Vermillion and they claim that they are only responsible for submitting an amended return and the interest due.
I paid $142 to H&R to have my taxes done without mistakes. Had I not given them the necessary information, I would say that this was my fault. However, that is not the case. They had all the necessary forms from social security and simply overlooked adding the adjusted income from it. Now, they want me to send them my social security forms. I am afraid to because then they can say that they were never sent in to start with.
Right now, my social security and my step-children's social security forms are all stapled together with my wife's W-2's and such right in the folder from H&R Block the way they gave it to us in 1999. I feel they ought to pay for a mistake of this magnitude due to obvious incompetency of their staff who prepared our taxes. I don't have an extra thousand dollars sitting around. I'm totally disabled and my wife works barely above minimum wage!
Economically, this would be devastating at this time. We just moved home to Spearfish using up our life savings to do so. I have been experiencing tremendous stress with extremely severe headaches for a week now because of this matter. I have been vomiting and my blood pressure has been high also. We have just moved back home to be close to our grandchildren and now we are afraid to even spend a dime on them for fear of not being able to ever get out of the hole from this debt for a long, long time.
Lisa of Philadelphia (4/10/01):
My husband and I went to H&R Block the past two years to get our taxes done. We just received a letter from the IRS saying that our 1999 taxes were not done correctly and that we owe them $1600. Vivan P was the one who prepared our taxes that year, she no longer works there. We met with Cheryl M who is the manager of that H&R Block on Monday, April 9, 2001.
She looked over our taxes and found an error on Vivan’s part. That year we received a refund of $1500. If the taxes were done correctly we would of not received a refund and owed maybe at the most $100. But now two years later we owe $1600 because of an error that H&R Block did. Because we did not sign a piece of mind agreement, H&R Block is not responsible for that mistake, we have to suffer now for their mistake.
I know $1600 may not be a lot to some people but to us it is, we are just making ends meet and now we have to somehow come up with more money to pay back the IRS. I’m writing you because I feel that we should not have to pay $20 for piece of mind agreement, I think the hundred and some dollars that we paid to get our taxes done should be our piece of mind. I do not know anything about taxes so I put my taxes in the hands of H&R Block so that I do not have to worry about the IRS coming after me, all that combined should be my piece of mind.
Even when you buy a TV you get a free 90 day guarantee, I think it is ridiculous that you have to pay someone for a service then have to pay them again to make sure that the service provided is guaranteed. I believe that the payment for a piece of mind should be abolished and that in the future everyone who uses H&R Block should get that automatically.
Sonya of Lansdale PA writes (12/3/01):
H&R Block has prepared my tax returns for at least 10 years. They have a written guarantee which states they will pay any interest or penalties due to their own error. I have received a penalty assessment on my 1999 Pennsylvania Tax Return because, although I paid in full and on time, I did not pay Estimated Taxes in advance. Apparently, this law was on the books in Pennsylvania in 1999, but is only now being enforced retroactively.
H&R Block adjusted my Federal Tax Return for 1999 to charge me for not paying Estimated Taxes, and I paid the higher amount to the Federal government. However, H&R Block led me to believe that I would not have to pay any penalty to Pennsylvania State for not paying Estimated Taxes. Now, H&R Block is refusing to pay the penalty for my Pennsylvania taxes in 1999. This seems to me to be in violation of their written guarantee, since they knew the law was in effect for Pennsylvania in 1999.
Since H&R Block failed to calculate the additional taxes on my 1999 Pennsylvania Tax Return, I am being assessed the interest for the entire time period back to 1999. I pay my taxes every year, in full and on time, and was rudely treated by Mr. Carmen A at H&R Block, who told me that this penalty was my "own fault".
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July 5 2008
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