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I went to H&R Block this year to file my taxes because I really needed the money! I wanted the 1 to 2 day refund, i asked if you had to be approved and the lady doing my taxes, told me NO.
So i went ahead well when i called the 800 number to check my status of my refund, guess what, i was not approved (when i was told you didn't have to be to begin with) so i called and complained to the workers and they told me they could not help me so they gave me the number to the district manager, he also could not help me. I was so mad, i paid almost $4oo to have my taxes filed and to get them back within 2 days and it was all for nothing. I could have done them myself and gotten it back quicker for a lot less.
I chose to get my refund on the emerald card, it took the full 15 days to get my refund(federal, still waiting on my state) Mind you, my fiance used taxslayer and within 5 days he had both his federal and state for the cost of $10. Which is what I will be using next year!
Anyhow, With the emerald card i went to purchase something online and the order was not processed completely because of billing and shipping addresses being different, however the money was taken off my card already, so when the order could not be processed we canceled the order. So i waited a week and my money was not back on my card yet so i called the company i had tried to make the purchase from and they told me they did there part and to call my credit card company to find out what was going on.
So i did, after waiting on the phone for about 3o minutes he told me my money wouldn't be on my card until March 3rd. He said to get it back as soon as possible to call the company i made the order with and get them to fax over a 'release of hold for funds' so I did and they faxed it over. This was on the 12th! So saturday the 14th i called back to see where my money was, and the guy told me that the money should be back up there Tuesday the 17th, today, so i called and checked, and of course it was not.
So i spent the whole day trying to find out where my money was. Talked to 3 people and was on hold for half the day with waiting to talk to someone. they all just kept passing me off to another department, another number, just so they didn't have to deal with it. Finally, the last person i talked to told me that no one had created a case number for me...so she did, and told me that she would pass my case to the right department and it should be resolved by the end of the week! We'll see what happens.
My overall experience with this company has been horrible, i will never use them again nor will i recommend them to anyone! Not to mention all the fees that come along with the emerald card, cost $1.95 to get money out of atm plus the fee the atm charges you, and cost freaking $2.00 just to talk to someone that doesn't even know what they are talking about! I'm a single mom that really needs all the money I can get and this company is not very low income friendly! PLEASE TAKE IN THIS INFORMATION BEFORE CHOOSING YOUR TAX PREPARATION SERVICE! Go online, it walks you through everything and cost way less!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
![Santa Barbara Tax Products Group [SBTPG] Reviews](/images/business/48-48/122854/santa-barbara-tax-products-group-sbtpg.png)
![Internal Revenue Service [IRS] reviews, listed as H&R Block / HRB Digital](/images/business/48-48/119357/irs.jpg){kind=small}
H&R Block promises a direct deposit on your tax return within 8-15 days both online and in store, however, once your return is filed they say approximately 8-15. It had 17 days and expected return date by IRS is now March 3rd. Also, I was charged $258.00 for filing a simple return and $29.99 for account fees for a RAL I never received.
This is a little late to help you but I will go ahead a say it for you benefit and anyone else that reads these complaints. When a company offers you a consumer loan, you have to be approved by the lender. Period! In your case HSBC was the lender and they didn't approve your loan.
You say you could have done your return yourself and that your fiance got his refund in 5 days. If this is true, I can't imagine why you would pay the tax preparation fee and the bank's fee to get your refund 3 days quicker. That is absurd.
You say your using Taxslayer next year. Ok that's fine. I think everyone should learn how to do their own taxes. The key word in that sentence being LEARN.
Last question: Why did you take the Emerald card? Was it because you don't have a checking account? Did you think there would be no fees at all for using the debit card? You do understand they are in business to make money, hence the Master Card logo on the face of the card? Amazing!
Also, regardless who's debit card you are using, you will continue to have problems if your shipping address is different from you billing address.
H&R Block is so MESSY ! they're also deceptive. I filed my taxes at ten this morning and was told my Emerald Card (mind you) would be activated when the funds were loaded. Every two hours I would check their website to see if the card had been loaded. NO it had not, so about eight-thirty p.m. I decided to dig a little further about my refund. Well, after being online at H and R Blocks' website for about an hour, I finally got a reply regarding my refund. The refund wasn't sent until I made the threat to cancel the tax preparation. Approximately twenty minutes after I sent that scare tactic, I received a message the card was loaded. Being that I have been unemployed for a year, I immediately went to the ATM to get all funds off the card before something else happened with the money. Huh! request was declined stating, UNAUTHORIZED USAGE. What the...
ok, so I jump online again after searching their website I finally found the link to chat. I waited thirty min. for someone to come on the line. Laura T. was her name, I explained my situation and she requested that I give her a moment to research my problem. Here is how it went down...Laura T.: Hello Clarence, welcome to H&R Block's At Home Live Chat Support! Please hold a moment while I review the information you've submitted to us.
Clarence Piggie: hello
Clarence Piggie: hello
Laura T.: May I have a moment to research some information for you so we can solve this issue today?
Laura T.: You will need to call the number on the back of your emerald card Sir.
Clarence Piggie: i dont have a phone to call on
Clarence Piggie: that is why im online
Laura T.: Unfortunately, that is the only way of accessing your ermald card. You can call 1-800hrblock for more information. I apologize that I cannot help in regards to the emerald cards.
Clarence Piggie: you had me wait for 30 mins then you tell me to call a number
Clarence Piggie: and tell me that you cant help me
Clarence Piggie: ok so call the # on the back of the card for what ?
Laura T.: To Activate the card
Clarence Piggie: like I said initially, YOUR EMPLOYERs' website states the card is automatically activated once funds are loaded. Is this not true ?
Laura T.: Yes, you have to activate it yourself by calling that number on the back.
Clarence Piggie: Please forward the number to your corporate office. Thank you
Laura T.: Sir what number would that be that you want sent to my corporate office?
Clarence Piggie: The division/department that makes all decisions.
Laura T.: Sir, I realize where you want it sent, I'm asking what number are you requesting that I send for you to them?
Clarence Piggie: Complaints department
Laura T.: Is there anything else we are able to assist you with today?
Clarence Piggie: R U refusing to forward the information I have requested Ma'am ?
Clarence Piggie: I'm still waiting on the information
Laura T.: No sir. I apologize for the confusion. I'm asking you which number that you want me to send into the corporate office for you.
Clarence Piggie: Again, the complaints department or the CEO
Laura T.: If you have questions about Emerald Card account, you may contact the Emerald Card department at [protected] (internal transfer #[protected]).
Laura T.: Is there anything else we are able to assist you with today?
Clarence Piggie: Why you're confused I don't understand, I'm sorry you're having a difficult time being of service.
Clarence Piggie: Ok you don't you don't have to give me the information, I'll find it on my own. I'll be sure to contact Human Resources as well. No it appears that you cannot assist me today.
Laura T.: Sir, I'm not confused. I am technical support for H & R Block. Unfortunately we do not handle the emerald cards. You will have to contact them
Laura T.: I'm giving you the information by providing you with a number to contact Them.
Clarence Piggie: Why didn't you reveal that in the beginning of the chat ?
Clarence Piggie: Just one moment;copying conversation...
After all of this, I decided to just forget it! I paid dearly for my refund in 1 to 2 hours and still don't have my money at ten p.m. H&R Block will not prepare my taxes next year. Why ? They are deceptive and are falsely advertising and I will not co-sign such mess ! I say we start a class-action. My email is cpiggierun@yahoo.com if you're for it.
If you got your money back in 8-15 BUSINESS days, then you got the RAC (Refund Anticipation Check). The $29.95 fee was from the bank. That is what HSBC charges you to pay H&R Block your tax prep fees that day.
Also, to be clear, the 8-15 BUSINESS days starts when the IRS accepts your return. That can take up to 3 days. H&R Block has NO control over delays with the IRS.