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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

Heather of Lewiston ME (02/20/09)
I like many others went and applied for the ral in December knowing I would get my w-2 in January and be back on track well I did my taxes on the 15th and asked the quickest way which Esther the H & R Block agent stated the Emerald Card and withing 1-2 days I would have my federal available of course I paid a lot of money for this service and after 1,2 and 3 days went by I called the emerald card number (back of card) and WOW! talk about horrible customer service not only did the customer service reps. I spoke with provide me with false information I was hung up on several times including by a Supervisor.

I was given the number to HSBC bank and of course not in service. I called the H & R Block number (800-hr-block) and when I got off the phone with them I was even more confused. I then called the location at which my taxes were filed and spoke to the Manager there named Brenda who stated that I owed 154. for State so the IRS would detach my refund. I explained to Brenda that Esther the agent that prepared my taxed had already given me a form to submit my state and I have already sent that in. Brenda didn't really know what to say except the IRS.gov website which indicated they hadn't received my refund yet and not to try back for at least a week. Talk about frustrated at this point I not only told Brenda the Manager that Esther the agent needed better training and to stop giving clients misinformation that I would be in to see her myself as at this point I want my fees for 1-2 refunded to me as well.

The following day I received a call from Brenda who stated if I owe the state 154. for this year the IRS would not of taken the refund and she didn't know what to do except apologize and of course still no idea where my money is and the emerald card HSBC still has an outstanding balance as my RAL hasn't been paid yet. I have been going to H & R Block for 9 years and will NEVER do business with them again and will do my best to make sure other clients of H & R Block realize what;s going on and will probably be reporting to the Better Business Bureau as this is just not right.

Regardless of the refund amount (which mines not great this year) it's the principle of being provided with not only misinformation but being provided with complete lines of [lies] as that's what all these agents try to do is tell you what you want to hear to get you off their phone, well that's if they didn't hang up on you first.

Michael of Saint Petersburg, FL February 20, 2009

Michael of Saint Petersburg FL (02/20/09)
Went for 48 hour loan and never receive it. Office refuse to let me know about my 48 hour loan and charge me 165.00 to do my taxes. They avoided me all week I have to wait 8-15 days when I could of done this free. I will not throw my money away like this, I want a full refund I would of never agreed to wait 8-15 days when I could file for free and receive my money back in the same time. My tax guy knew I owed the IRS 60.00 and never told me that this will delay my refund. That is the part I am steamed at. Plus he put fake birthday on my paper work cause my licence was expired.

I am paying late fees and car company wants there car back. Also I have a expired licence till I receive my money I cant drive I am upset, This company lied.

Owen of Denver, CO February 20, 2009

Owen of Denver CO (02/20/09)
My wife and I had our taxes prepared through H&R Block to use their Rapid Refund program. We were not told the price until they were finished and then we did not get our Rapid Refund. We were told that it was due to not being able to confirm our identity. We then had our identity cofirmed through their process then was told that we still will not get it. We were told that they had recieved our refund from the IRS at that time. When asking why they then said they could not talk to us due to some confientiality law. We contacted many different people and finally worked our way up to the district manager of H&R Block. His name is D. Armijo.

Our first contact with him has been over two weeks ago. We have been promised calls and updates since. He finally called yesterday morning stating that he contacted their bank for the Rapid Refund and was told that our refund was sent back to the IRS. I asked him why and what do I do to fix this. He called later yesterday afternoon and stated that we might get it this friday or we might not. I asked how we fix this and he stated he will find out and call my the lateset this morning with or without info. He still has not called. This is a big issue with me. It has takin over 2 weeks just to get the call yesterday.

We have gotten nothing but the run around with H&R Block and we have not been able to get a straight answer from them. I called to H&R Block this afternoon to see if I can reach him and was told that he's been working on our issue since last week, which is not true because he stated that he just called them yesterday! Then we were told that we just have to buck up and deal with this! We were told that we will get our refund when we get it! We are upset due to paying a fee of almost 300.00 for their service then being treated this way. We have been more than polite and patient but that has finally ran out. We are hoping that we can get some direction or help with this matter.

We needed to get this Rapid Refund to pay rent. We live in a Motel, pay weekly. We were needing this monies immediatly but thnk you to the manager, he is working with us. But as of tomorrow we will be out on the streets due to not getting our refund. Last week we had to goto a pawn shop and pawn our wedding rings to pay rent. If we are evicted tomorrow we will have a slew of trouble. We will probably lose our jobs, then our storage (where all of our belonging are), and our wedding rings. We are also out of the money that we paid to do the Rapid Refund!

Tina of York, PA February 19, 2009

Tina of York PA (02/19/09)
My ex's sister, who is 20 years old with a 2-year-old son and struggling with losing her job, went to H&R Block just because of the advertised RAL on 2/2/09. I had done her previous 2 years of taxes online with TurboTax with no problems and no extra fees. She was told she would get her money in 1-2 days, got this Emerald Card, but she just called me again today (2/19/09) to say that the money still wasn't on her card and that she got a letter in the mail saying that she was denied for the RAL. She told me they charged her over 300 to do her taxes, for a 900 refund, leaving her only around 600! She started school again to try to help her get a degree for a better job and has been in these job search classes, paying for child care while she's there and getting behind on all of her bills, so she really needed that money.

I told her to just bring me all of her paperwork, so I can read this contract over and make some calls, but after reading everything online here, I'm really upset! If California can sue H&R Block, then I think every one here needs to contact their local representatives, the BBB, the Consumer Affairs and their State Attorney General and sue them again! I'm contacting everyone and complaining. The economy is HORRIBLE right now and I think this is just a horrible way to take advantage of people. There is too much fine print, too much false advertising, and they are screwing low-income people over who don't really understand all of this jargon like my ex's sister. People need their money that they worked for! I wish everyone else on here luck with their situations, but hey - we have rights and it might take us some time, but we all work hard to earn our money, EIC or not, we deserve some answers and some justice!

So I beg everyone - don't just give up the fight - even if you get your money - no one should charge hundreds of dollars to prepare a tax form! That is such a rip off! I have a lot of people come to me every year and I do the TurboTax online with them on my computer and do their taxes and don't charge them anything, even though they try to give me money. My local H&R Block for all of Eastern PA isn't even registered with the BBB, but they still take complaints.

Consequences were late on rent, no money for child care, extra fees for making phone calls, inquiries and the cost of filing took 1/3 of the total tax refund!

Brittany of Franklin, PA February 19, 2009

Brittany of Franklin PA (02/19/09)
I opted to receive their emerald card with the 1 to 2 day rapid refund of my income tax return. I received my refund on time however, days after receiving it and after I began using my funds I was doubloe charged on multiple transactions/purchases i made. The money that was taken from me has not been given back to me and the money is still missing. I purchased airline tickets on feb. 5 and two days later H&R block double charged me and placed a hold on the money. It took them 12 days to partially refund my account when their policy states a refund will be honored in 3 to 5 business days. I had to make over 12 hours of phone calls to receive part of this money back.

I have filed a complaint, disputes and contacted at least 6 different people at H&R Block all but one person was rude and unhelpful. All but one denied that any money has been taken from me. I'm waiting to hear from their complaint/dispute dept. and one of their clerks. I had to contact the airline agency to have a release form faxed to h&R Block to have the money taken off hold I still havent received approx. 733.00 dollars of double charges which clearly reflect being taken on the automated assistance of my transactions via the telephone voice response service. The internet accessable statement from my account activity does not show these duplicate charges. According to other complaints listed on the internet I am not the only victim. I want mt money back and be refunded the fees they charged to proccess my taxes!

We have had our utilities turned off and suffered many other damages because of their theft. I've lost time at work because I've had to fight with H & R block during business hours to try and reinstate these funds. We have had to skip a meal a day so that our food would last. As I have a 4 year old child and my fiancee is a disabled vet. We are currently struggling now due to their theft.

Sarah of Harrison, AR February 19, 2009

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