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H&R Block Online

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Ricky of Opelika, AL February 9, 2008

I prepared my 2007 Taxes online with HR Block and can't seem to get any help from anyone with my problem. I had a refund that was supposed to be direct deposit onto an Emerald Card on Feb. 01,2008, and until this day my money has not been deposited on the card. I have notified the IRS, and they tell me that they sent the money to HR BLOCK BANK to be put on my card. Of course, not one single soul (after 15 different phone numbers) can help. They tell me they show no direct deposit, but they can verify the emerald card number. I even called HR BLOCK Regional office, and were they dumb founded. Again no help. I'm on my own to track down this money. I used to be a tax preparer for Block...but for this reason, I don't work there anymore. I also took out an Emerald Advance back in December, and they want their money; but I don't have mine.

Stress of not being able to pay some of my bills that this money was going toward.

Mona of Farmingville, NY February 8, 2008

I used H&R Block to do my taxes this year (with Simple Pay). My returns were accepted on 1/15 by the IRS and were deposited to HR Block's bank on 1/21. It is now 2/8, and I was just told they had to mail me a check because my bank rejected the deposit. I have spoken with HR block over and over again for the past 2 weeks. Every answer was different; they of course blamed the IRS. I called IRS to confirm deposit, and it was deposited.

One of the smarter of reps from HR block (and there were not too many) told me to call HR BLOCK BANK. The number is listed on their website, but be prepared to wait at least 45 min for someone to answer. I will never use HR Block again. This has been the worst tax experience I have ever had. It all has to so with their simple pay option.

Kevin of Manteca, CA February 4, 2008

On January 13th, I filed my federal income tax using the online Taxcut program from H&R Block. I selected the simple pay (yea right) option which allows H&R to take the fees from my refund. This was a mistake for me. This choice has the IRS direct deposit my refund into H&R Block's bank. They in turn take out their fees and are supposed to deposit the difference into my account. I should have chosen to pay the fees with a credit card which then the IRS would have direct deposited into my account. Well it has been 11 days since the IRS deposited into H&R Block's bank account and no sign of my money. I have called the Taxcut representatives, and they indicate they have no visability to mine or their bank account information. They directed me to the H&R bank phone number.

I spent 48 minutes on hold before someone helped me. Of course, it wasn't the correct department. The representative told me that they are so busy with calls (complaints I'm sure) that they are having other departments answer the phones, but they can't help you. They said I would have to keep trying over and over until I got through to the actual bank. All I wanted to do is find out if the bank information is correct or did they even receive it, and what would be taking so long? I think they are collecting interest on everyone's money. Does anyone know of a phone number where I could actually get some help? NEVER AGAIN WILL I USE H&R BLOCK.

Oona of Miami, FL February 1, 2008

I filed my 2007 tax return with H&R Block on Jan 4th; it was accepted on Jan 15th. On Jan 25th the IRS released my refund for 6,109.00. It is Feb 1st, and I have still to get any word about my return from H&R Block. I also used Simple Pay, which is a funny name for such a horrible service. The IRS says that the company is holding it in order to get the 30 fee, but that it should not be for more than 3 days. I tried to contact H&R Block about the simple pay restrictions, because they don't disclose anything about this service. I actually was told by a terrible customer service rep, Michael T, that I would have to wait another 16 days for my return because I chose simple pay. Why call it Simple Pay? All it does is delay your return.

The web-site gives no real answers, and the online support is awful. I was actually cut off without an answer and told to deal with it. I am outraged and appalled that this company can play with other people's money. For a 30 fee, they are holding my return for days after it was released by the IRS, and this is just wrong. What is the point of e-file if it takes longer that via regular mail? I am asking for my fee back once I get my return. I refuse to pay for a false claim made by H&R Block. I will never use this company again, and it is very sad to see that I am not alone in this awful scam.

This affects all families because you expect to use the money for home repairs, bill, vacations, and things of that nature. In our case our kids are without medical care, and we use this money for them and to get yearly check ups and to keep up with vaccines and things like that. We are a low-income family, and we are greatly affected by needless delays such as this. Our kids health should not come second to a fee for an already free service. It's just crazy.

Alena of Surprise, AZ February 1, 2008

I decided this year I would use H R Block's Simple Pay (which has turned out to be not so simple). According to the IRS, my check was deposited on 1/25/08 (to HR Block bank). Now according to the tax cut representatives, the check should be deposited into my account within 2 days. Today is Feb.1, and I still haven't received my refund, although HR Block has received the simple pay fee. Now as I sit here on hold trying to get a corporate number, no one has a corporate number available. I have been given the run around all week, and I still don't have any answers; so basically HR Block is telling me it doesn't matter, and I just have to wait until they get to it, because they are backed up on the deposits.

I have bills that are past due because I recently lost my job. Here I am thinking I would be in the clear by now. I also had rented a car for the weekend because I am currently looking for a new car. I needed transportation to go see the other vehicles. I thought I would turn the car in when I had the money to pay for it, which I still don't. I still can't turn it in because I don't have the 240 to pay for it....so I wonder what the bill will be by the time HR block decides to release my funds? My bank account is currently overdrawn 120 because I assumed HR block was trustworthy.

Heather of Fond Du Lac, WI January 29, 2008

On January 14, 2008 I filed our taxes using the HR Block online program Tax Cut. Everything went fine; I even chose the Simple Pay option like I have for a couple of years now.(simple pay takes the processing fee out of your refund) I even use HR BLocks Emerald savings, which is where my Direct Deposit is going after the 70 in fees for Fed, State, and Simple Pay option. The IRS did their first deposits of the year on Friday, January 25, 2008. Mine was one of these deposited. I called HR Block to see if my money was there on Friday and was told if it wasn't there by noon, it would be there by midnight. On Saturday morning, I was told the same, and then again on Sunday. By Monday, I was furious! I called them again, after being put on hold numerous times, hung up on by people who didn't want to deal with me, or transferred between departments. I was told it would take one to three days for the money to go into my account.

Well, Monday was the 3rd day, so today, which is Tuesday morning, no money once again! They are borrowing almost 6000 of my money, interest free! After having been on the phone this morning for 2 hours and being passed around once again, I'm told that the wait period is one to three business days from when they receive the deposit from the IRS. How convenient for them, that they get interest free loans from consumers! Well, tomorrow is the 30th of January. The IRS website says if I haven't received my deposit by the 30th, to contact them, and they will look into it. I would love to be able to report HR Block for theft and fraud. I'm ashamed of HR Block. I had worked proudly as a receptionist for them for 5 years and brought all of my friends and family to them either online, or in an office.

My car is about to get repoed, and I have other late bills, all of who think I'm lying, and stalling when I told them I would have their money on Friday, oops no, I'll have it Monday, oops no it will be Tuesday, no maybe its' Wednesday instead. Also, I'm using part of my return for a down payment on a mobile home, but now that they think I'm lying about having the money coming in, I'm not sure if I'll get the home or not.

Courtney of Temple Hills, MD January 29, 2008

I submitted my tax return information on-line with H&R Block. The website states that it would take 8-15 days before your refund was posted. After waiting the 15 days, it kept saying that my refund would be posted the next day, the day after that, and the day after that. There is no phone number to cal, so you have to communicate by e-mail. Everyone I contacted gave me a different answer. It just seemed like they pulled whatever out of the air that was convenient to get me off their case.

This is ridiculous. I had a text chat with one agent who couldn't even spell correctly. How am I supposed to trust them with sensitive information? I will make sure to tell everyone the POOR SERVICE I received with H&R Block and how no one should ever file with them again.

Lori of Moreno Valley, CA January 28, 2008

I completed my 2007 taxes using H&R Block online, as I have for the past 6 years. I used the Simple Pay option, that allows me to have my fees withheld from my refund amount (like I have for the last 2 years, and maybe even the last 3 or 4). In the past, my refund was always in my account on the day that the IRS said my funds were deposited. This year, however, my refund was deposited with H&R Block's bank (so they can withhold the fees) on January 25. Today is January 28, and I still do not have my refund in my bank account, nor will H&R Block provide me with a copy of their terms and conditions for Simple Pay when I call them on the phone. They won't fax me a copy; they won't tell me where online I can find a copy. I KNOW I did not read anything about H&R Block withholding my refund when I signed up for Simple Pay. They are telling me I should have my refund within 1-3 business days from the day it was deposited into their holding account, not counting the day they received the funds. That means it may be Wednesday (almost a full week) before I receive MY refund...the refund that I never consented to allowing H&R Block to hold onto for nearly a week extra. I consented only to allow them to take out their fees. I've never had this trouble in the past - why this year? And why not disclose it ahead of time? And for heaven's sake, why won't they provide me a copy of your terms and conditions? Is there something to hide? Like perhaps it isn't in the terms and conditions?

It's very embarrassing to tell someone you'll pay a bill on a specific date and then not have the money. This is MY money, not theirs. If H&R Block has just been honest about the hold time, I wouldn't have used this product. I'm out the extra 30 I had to pay, and I still don't have my refund. The message boards online are flooded with people complaining about this. I'm curious to know how H&R Block can get away with holding people's money.

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