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H&R Block - Refund Anticipation Loans

H&R Block • Charges • Electronic Filing • Errors • "Free" Filing • Online • Refund Anticipation Loans • Taxcut • Option One Mortgage Corp. -- News • American Home Mortgage Servicing Agrees To 8200 Modifications • Massachusetts Court Stops H&R Block, Option One Foreclosures • Massachusetts Blocks H&R Block, Option One Foreclosures • New York Stops H&R Block's Deceptive Sweepstakes Ads • California Sues H&R Block • H&R Block Sells Subprime Mortgage Unit • H&R Block Launching Its Bank • H&R Block Threatened Employees, Spitzer Charges • H&R Block Settles Tax Refund Loan Suit • H&R Block Readies New Bank as Business Soars • NY Accuses H&R Block of IRA Marketing Fraud • H&R Block Goofs on Its Own Taxes • Children's Defense Fund: Tax Refund Loans "Indefensible" • California Sues H&R Block Over Its "Instant Refund" Loans • H&R Block Doesn't Block Identity Theft • H&R Block Will Settle More Payday Loan Suits • Option One Agrees to Clean Up Its Lending Practices in PA • H&R Blocked: Consumer Groups Oppose Tax Giant's Proposed Bank • Tentative Settlement in Tax Loan Class Action • Class Action Challenges Electronic Filing Fee • Supreme Court Rejects Block Appeal in Class Action • Judge Upholds Racketeering Complaints Against H&R Block, Household • Court Clears Class-Action Suit • Tax Loans Victimize Consumers --- • All About HSBC

Christopher of Seattle, WA April 25, 2007

I decided to use H&R block again this year to file my taxes at the beginning of this year. I brought my info in to the local office and opted for the Refund Anticpation Loan. As we are going through the process of filling, I was asked if I owed and taxes. I told the rep not to my knowledge. I filed last year and had no problem. she told me that they were checking with the IRS electronically to see if I owed any money. The result came back letting us know that no money was owed and I could get the RAL. I received my check and went home.

About 5 days later I get a call from H&R Block telling me that I do owe for taxes and that I need to pay back my loan. I asked the guy about the check they did to see if I owed anything and he said something to the effect of it's not our fault and promptly hung up. So not only do I have to pay pack the 455.00 for them. Find out that I owe about 1200.00 in taxes.

Richie of Nitro, WV March 10, 2007

I went to H&R Block to file my taxes was briefly offered different options. I was told that instant refund was denied from HSBC, but that I could still apply for the ral and that it was approved and to check back. After the two days I was given a number to call and the automated call service informed me it would be 8 to 15 days before my tax refund will be due. yeah right. H&R Block knew my application for instant refund had been denied within seconds and assured me that ral method would be no longer than two days but after two days their expertise and assurances are all gone.

Rachelle of Goshen, IN March 3, 2007

Rachelle of Goshen IN (03/03/07)

My husband and I filed our taxes on the H&R Block website and we also got the ral loan, and was supposed to get it back within 2-3 days and now it's going on 5 days and we still don't have it. It was supposed to be deposited into our bank account, and it's not yet. I've called H&R Block and they can't tell me anything because they don't know anything. I also called the main IRS number and all they tell me is it's being processed and it could take up to 3 weeks to get it. I am very upset and I think it's false advertisement.

Lambert of Portsmohth, VA February 20, 2007

I went to HR Block on 2/1/07 to get my taxes prepared.  I was approved for a RAL loan.  I decided to get the Emerald card so I could get my money the same day or at least some of it.  I paid 385 for the service and was not satisfied at all.  It took me three weeks to get my money on the card and they did not refund any of the fees.

Patara of Indinapolis, IN January 31, 2007

On January 30, 2007 I went in the h&r block to have my taxes prepared. Upfront I asked how long would it take for me to get my refund, because I had in apointment at the IRS and could have gotten an electronic refund in two weeks for free because I am low income. I was told that there were different options that would be told to me after I my tax information was put in the system but I could get it in 1-2 days. After all my information was put in the system I was told I was approved for a ral loan and that I could either recieve 500 today minus 300 and change for fees and get the remaining in 1-2 days or wait 1-2 days and receive the full amount.

I was given an emerald debit card and told the funds would be available in 1-2 days. The next day I get a call from H&R block saying the bank denied my loan and it would be available in 8-14 days. I asked if the same fees were gonna be charged, since I was being charges over 300 in all. The lady was very sharp with me and not helpful. I feel like I have been totally scammed especially now after reading all the other testimonies of other H&R block customers. This is a total bait and switch situation.

I am a single mother of two. Recently unemployed and on welfare. All my bills are behind. I was counting on the immediate money before my car is repossessed and other bills are put in collection. I cannot afford to give away 300 for nothing.

M. of Olean, NY January 30, 2007

I went to file my taxes on 1/27/07. Because I'm a single mom with four kids and a single job, I'm always in dire straits financially, and opted for the most money I could get the quickest I could get it. I did not qualify for the Instant Cash option, but did qualify (I thought) for the RAL product. They gave me instant cash that started out being 500, but after all their fees and the bank's, the amount that was actually deposited onto the prepaid debit card was 226.26. They told me the rest would be deposited on the card in 1 to 2 days.

Two days have gone by...no cash. When I called them, they were downright snotty, telling me that the bank denied the RAL for internal bank reasons that they didn't know about. Now I have to wait for 8-10 days.

Not only did I spend way too much money on the opportunity to get cash quickly, but now I'm not even sure what's wrong or if I can count on getting this money next week. At this point, the bank that handled the RAL decision shouldn't even be involved anymore. They've taken their fees so that money should go from the IRS straight to me; not to them. So what happened? Is it just the whole H&R scam? Is it the credit thing? Or, is it something else?

I'm now sitting on pins and needles waiting to see if something else is wrong. I find it difficult to believe that everyone else who applies for quick money from H&R isn't in the same situation I'm in...perpetually broke and living from payday to payday. Credit shouldn't have anything to do with this RAL. If the IRS accepts the application, that should be good enough for the bank. They're already making money hand-over-fist off people who can't afford to spend that kind of money.

Paul of Cincinnati, OH January 28, 2007

Me and my family came here to file out taxes, like we have done for the last 15 years. This time the person servicing us stated that WE have a new bank product this year. Your ral in 1-2 days guaranteed! we have used there services for years and allways have gotten rapid refund in as little as 3-6 days. We trusted their product and tried it this year. on 1-26-07 the HR branch stated that we didn't qualify for RAL. This is a first in 15 years!!!! We were denied for internal bank reasons! They would give any contact numbers for the bank. And they also couldn't or wouldn't look into a refund of 346.76 in tax and bank fees.

This has cost our family a lot of financial grief this time. This has never happened before and it wont happen again. These services that this company is offering is geared toward people with low income who cannot afford to pay the 100 upfront to get there taxes done and a refund in 10 days.

Helen of Redlands, CA January 27, 2007

I inquired about an Instant Refund Loan as I was desperate for money. I indicated I needed to take money home with me as soon as I filed. I had them do my taxes and they offered me a debit card with a credit of up to 2500.00 until my refund loan could be processed, depending on what their bank decided. I received 500, of which the tax prep, filing fees, and interest would be deducted from. They said the remainder of my refund (over 6,000) would be added within 1-2 days. It was my understanding that I would only get 500 that day, and would have to wait for up to 48 hours for the balance of the refund.

The very next day there was a message on my answering machine to call Tim at H & R Block (their records have my home, cell, and work). The only way I received the message is because my boyfried called me with the message. I was told that the bank had denied my loan, I told him I didn't even know it was a loan, (I thought that's why I didn't get the 2,500) and I would get a refund sent to their office in 8 - 10 days.

I let him know that I had a debit card - he said it would show up in 8 - 10 days. I said, well, I paid 222 for you all to lend me 280, and I could have filed and monitored my own taxes. His response was he was only the messenger. I feel that a plain English (or whatever the native language happens to be) explanation of what to expect from H & R Block, if I had know that I was only going to get 280 for the time frame, I would have went to my local loan shark - it would have been a lot cheaper. I'm angry for two reasons, one they should have made it clearer that this was a two step process, and since I made myself clear about needing the money when I left, they should have checked it out and let me know that day that I would not be getting the money as soon as I expected - NOT leaving me a message on my answering machine, since they had all the numbers needed to contact me personally. And second, for letting myself get in to this situation.

Emid of Canoga Park, CA January 16, 2007

I was misinformed by the Senior Tax Advisor about the Rapid refund options available. They stated that one was based solely on acceptance of my IRS Tax Return, and the other was credit driven. I already know my credit is bad, so obviously I chose the option that left my credit out of the equation. I was told I would receive my check on the 5th or the 8th of January only to find out on the 5th that the IRS wasn't accepting returns until the 12th. I was told my return would come back on the 15th or 16th. No problem I said. I trust it will be there this time.

Now I get a call on the 15th telling me that my RAL was declined due to a tax lien or student loan. It was actually my credit (as stated by HSBC Bank...the lending bank) and not a tax lien (as stated by the Tax Advisor).

Now that the deed is done, I can't go anywhere else because the IRS already has my return, so I'm stuck with H&R Block. I made payment arrangements with gas, phone, car note, and electricity bills. I'm a single father of three, money doesn't come easily around here. If I would have known the truth in the beginning, I would gone about things differently, and definately would not have used their services. I know my credit is bad, so why would approach a bank when I know they base loans on credit or financial statements.

My options now are to take it like a man. Checks are going to bounce, lights will probably get cut off. Once that happens, I'm effectively out of business because I'm an independent insurance broker working from home. I'm resourceful, so I'm sure I'll find a way to take care of things. I'm just shocked at how little H&R Block has done to admit & correct their campaign of misinformation. No sorry for the lies and inconvenience. I pay for the convenience. I could filed for free and gotten my money from the IRS faster than they're giong to do it; and no thank you for the money they ripped off.

Andrea of Snover, MI January 16, 2007

I went into H&r block..and I was given the instant refund...But it wasn't instant it was slit up with three different times..I had to pay 167.00 for 5 day process..they didn't tell me that until we was signing the paper work that we would only be getting 800.00 then 930.00 on day and then the next day...It was a big hassle..it wasn't instant...they should be laws to help us understand these tax people

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