What's On Your Mind? JK Harris, Kirby Vacuum Cleaners, State Farm

J.K. Harris

With tax season in full swing, some taxpayers are not only dealing with their 2011 returns, but trying to resolve tax issues from past years. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently made it easier to deal directly with the tax agency when you have a tax problem. Des, of Charlotte, N.C., says she wishes she had known that before contacting JK Harris.

“I joined with them in Jan 2011 thinking I was going to get help with my IRS debt, but when in fact, like everyone else, all JK Harris did was make my situation worse,” Des said. “Now I have the IRS about to garnish my wages and I'm a single mother of two and JK Harris stole about $4,000 from me and my children. Thanks JK Harris for nothing.”

Earlier this month JK Harris & Co. suspended operations, sent its employees home and is reported to be preparing to liquidate its assets. The firm, the subject of hundreds of complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com over the years, has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since October but has reportedly been unable to raise enough funding to continue operations.

Not really a gift, was it?

Kirby Vacuum Cleaner salesmen are known for being pushy and persistent when they come knocking on your door. But Sandra, of Dayton, Va., says one Kirby representative came to her door bearing a gift.

“He gave me a candle for letting him come inside,” Sandra told ConsumerAffairs.com. “I told him that I already owned a Kirby but he insisted that he show me this model. I told him I was not interested, so he showed me anyway. When he was done he called his boss to pick him up. Before leaving the boss told him to come back to the door and ask for the candle back. What kind of leadership is this?”

Yes, but at least Sandra wasn't pressured into making a purchase. That's worth losing a candle any day.

See you in court

Laura, of Bakersfield, Calif., said she was rear-ended while stopped at a traffic signal. The driver, she says, is insured by State Farm.

“I am still under treatment for my neck injuries but have already been told by the State Farm adjuster that they will not be considering the injuries to my hip when they do try to settle with me because I had a bone spur on my hip that I was not even aware of,” Laura said. “They are trying to get out of paying me for all my out of pocket expenses and my lost wages The person that hit me was 100% responsible no question on that but they still are trying to get out of paying me and I am a State Farm customer too - have been since 1994."

If Laura is not satisfied with the company's settlement offer, she can decline to sign any papers and retain legal counsel. There are a lot of personal injury attorneys advertising these days. They aren't hard to find.