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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

Angel of Clarksville, IN January 20, 2010

I filed my taxes on 1/19/2010 the same way I do every year. I have filed at H&R for about 10 years. This year I even took out a 1000 Christmas advance. I didn't think any thing about it, because I did the same thing last year. When I did my taxes I did the RAL 1-2 days and was approved for my Christmas Advance loan in Dec., so I see no problem. The next day I called to see if the money was on my card, No I was denied!! Ok, I'm not mad yet! I called HSBC ( the lender )!

I was transferred to the collection Dept. The lady pulled up my account and said I owe H&R Block 429 from "2004". Now I'm a little upset, so I asked "Why did you wait almost 7 years to tell me?" I heard 100 excuses and not one made since to me. She told me I would have to call H&R Block and find out. I told her I have done my taxes with H&R Block for almost 10 years and not once have I been denied anything nor was I told I owed them any money. I asked her why don't you just take the 429 out of my loan this year and HSBC said the IRS won't let them.

I called H&R Block and was told I didn't owe them nothing and they would further investigate the problem.I went into the office to cancel my loan and first was told I couldn't it was to late. Then showed them the letter I signed that stated I could and was explained to I have five days. I was then told that I can only cancel the loan, but the IRS won't let them cancel after they accepted the taxes. No one knew what they were doing and ended up having to talk to three different people and still nothing was done. It is the second day of the five days this letter says I have to cancel and I have to wait for a manager to come in and do the process.

When I asked for a copy of the letter I turned in " Notice of Cancellation" the lady said I don't know if my copier works! I told her I wanted a copy or I would go get a copy and come back. Well apparently her copier worked Because she came back with one.Now she is wanting to try to talk me out of canceling and tells me they are going to use a different lender next year and my answer Is I still want to turn it in, I want to cancel! The lady at H&R Block then says well it is only going to hold up your check for five or six months. I asked."Why!" When the IRS send HSBC your check they will have to send it back and the IRS will have to print you out a new check. Ok, Now I'm MAD!"

I have been sent on a run around for the last 4 hours and nothing can be done. I told the lady at H&R Block I was going to call the IRS and I don't care how long it will take me to get my check if I cancel!! I want to cancel and HSBC wasn't getting another penny from me and they lost a customer! Now I have to wait for a manager to call me and I only have five days to cancel! It is day three today and I will be sending a certified letter to cancel to H&R Block and HSBC!

My last day of work is 1/29/2009 and I will have no job! I needed that money for Bills and to help support my kids. Not to mention the 16 it will cost for the certified letter or the gas for the run around they keep sending me on. The hours on the phone and being put on hold. I never expected this, every other year only took about an hour and I was done!!! These companies are misleading and dishonest. I think they have made a mistake some where and I'm paying the price!

D of Dunwoody, GA January 20, 2010

Just like quite a few people on here, I as well went into an office to see about getting my refund a little faster than usual. When I was denied for the instant RAL, I knew that my chances were slim that I would qualify for the Classic. At this point I wanted to cancel the whole thing. However, I was assured that I would be approved for the classic by both the preparer and office manager. Well I was not!

Not only that but, gave me information that was incorrect, such as calling the Emerald card customer service number to see why I was denied. Emerald card is a HR Bank product not an HSBC product. I am just as upset as any other person who has experienced the same thing. I am in the process of attempting to get my fees refunded to me (almost 300.00). This refund could have been done online for free! My refund is now 300 less than it should be.

Andrew of York, NE January 18, 2010

I'd heard about the H&R Block Emerald Card the year prior, and this year was going to a family reunion and needed my money a little faster than the standard two-week waiting period for e-filing. I went in to my local H&R Block office, and went though the relatively painless filing process. I had gone in because of a couple of changes to our financial situation, and had a difficult time finding the answers to my questions online. My preparer was pleasant and helpful, and answered the questions I had about these changes. I told him I wanted to get the 2-day Emerald Card RAL, and we went through the standard paperwork.

My problem lies in the lack of explanation about the approval process for this loan though their individual bank, HSBC. It was not made clear that I was approving a credit check while I had papers pushed in front of me at a fast enough pace that I was not able to read all the fine print, and when I was told I had not been approved for the loan when I called, I was admittedly upset.

I called my local H&R Block office, and the receptionist explained very pleasantly and understandingly that I would now have to wait the normal two weeks, but that the money for the 2-day RAL would be credited when I received my money, which was a small consolation. It still means that I paid roughly 150 for a process I could have done personally for closer to 35 (the amount for the 2-day RAL), and could have simply called down with my questions. If you have any doubts about your credit in any way, shape, or form, let it be known that you will most likely NOT be approved for the RAL, so you should save yourself the money of applying with H&R Block if you have a fairly simple return.

It's unfortunate that I notice the same problem quite frequently from other people, and H&R Block does not have the foresight to train their tax preparers to inform you of a very important bit of information, that could easily change your decision to file with them. I understand they are a business and this is one way they make money, but it is still dishonest and callous, especially in these difficult economic times.

Heather of Rolla, MO January 18, 2010

I have been a loyal Jackson Hewitt coustomer for about seven years. But for some reason they were not able to do the RAL loan this tax year. So I decided to try H&R Block. When in on Saturday the 16th sat down with Barbara to do my taxes. It didn't take anytime at all she told me my refund amount and I told her I wanted to do the RAL she said okay and started the process. She told me that she had to do the instant RAL and then if I wasn't approved we could do the Classic RAL. I told her I was never approved for the instant because my credit [is bad]. She said no problem it should be approved your refund is big enough.

I thought oh okay maybe it is different here. Nope I was not approved, Iknew that I wouldn't be so I asked her so not being approved for the instant won't affect my classic will it. She said no not at all you should recieve your check no later than Tuesday.(the 19th) I said cool I joked with her that at Jackson Hewitt I always got my check on the Martin Luther King Holiday and I never could get it cashed until Tuesaday anyway so no problem.

The office owner/manager Chris came over and said Hi and welcomed me from Jackson Hewitt. She said Jackson Hewitt can't do the RAL this year I said no they can't and she said well I am glad that you chose us to get you your money faster. I said she should be getting alot of people from my work because we always use Jackson Hewitt but now that we can't get our money fast we would chose them because they are the only one in our area that does the RAL. She said good, glad to hear it. I signed my forms and off I went to work.

Well, I called Monday to check the status of my refund only to discover that the bank denied me because of my guess what poor credit score. I was furious. I called the local H&R block office and the office manager told me that I should be grateful that they saved me money. That going to Jackson Hewitt was expensive and they saved me from their fees. I was even more furious, I told her I don't give a damn about fees I wanted my refund fast. Which is what you guaranteed. I told her that I was told that my refund would be here by the 19th and now it won't be. She said well we have some inexpierenced tax preparers I will talk to her about that. I said what they don't have experience with dealing with customers but they can do my taxes.

I called the customer hotline only to be told well you need to call the bank. I called the bank all to no help. They said well your were denied a loan I said I know but I don't understand I have recieved my refund for over 7 years with Jackson Hewitt with no problems. She said well they don't use the same bank we do. Well Duh....I knew that she said that she was sorry for the inconvience but they was nothing she could do.

So here I am now paying expensive tax preparing fees that I could of done myself on line at the irs website and with the same results It think the hsbc bank and H&R Block are scamming their customers. I have to pay over 180. for preparer fees when I could of done this myself. I went there with the confidence that I could get my money fast. The only thing H&R Block is good at is getting YOUR hard earn money fast for them.

mary of greensboro , NC January 16, 2010

I went to H & R Block after they sent me an invitation to receive an emerald advance. I received 900 dollars, as usual, cool. When I went to file my W-2 I was very specific at the fact that I only wanted to file my return electronically because they stated they could get me more money. I did not want to participate in anything, JUST GIVE ME MY MONEY!

This incompetent filer, who also is a teacher that runs his mouth excessively, charged me twice for my emerald advance, did not give me a card, did not sign the tax preparer slot, did not discuss my return, didnt do squat like my previous experiences. Personally I think he is scamming somehow, havent figured it out yet, but I will. Called customer service and got dissed by a bunch of mexican or indians, gor dissed by the office, stating they could not pull it out and he was the only one that could. Abd he was off all weekend?

I am powerless because of the retarded mistake, or scam he committed, and I HATE H & R BLOCK SO BAD, IT IS MY LIFE MISSION TO DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY ARE THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL OVERPRICED PREDATORY LENDING ESTABLISHMENT EVER!

Phillip of Oneonta, NY December 23, 2009

I had went to my local H&R Block Office like I did last year to see if I could get the LOC loan. Last year I got the full amount 1000 and paid it back in full when I did my taxes. This year I want back to do it again so I could have extra money for christmas and bills and they denied me for some reason and didn't tell me why.

I tried calling H&R Blocks main office to find out what was going on and got no response. They lost my bussiness and I have been with them for over 16 years now. My kids couldn't have the christmas that I wanted for them and my electric, cable & phone which is one bundle was turned off because of it.

Allen of Dunseith, ND December 18, 2009

I went to my local H&R block office in Bottineau ND. I went to apply for one of the LOC loans. I waited in line for my turn a guy was ahead of me and he claimed he filed single and then claimed his kids and he got the loan. It was my turn to go in and I went gave the guy my information and then he told me my application was denied I was mad. He could tell and I grabbed the paperwork and walked off. An and attempt to get me to come back he quote me as "most single people get denied this loan". I walked off even madder than before I was like what the did you just discramated against single people. While I got a hold of the H&R block company and I filed a complaint and told them off told them if they liked discramated against people filing single on there tax return that they do not need my business that manager was trying to come up with excuses but I did not buy it.

L. of Lindenwold, NJ December 3, 2009

I attempted to apply for H & R Block's Emerald Advance LOC (Line of Credit). Through H & R Block's subliminal advertising methods, they make it seem as though it is a simple process. I visited the office and I did an on the spot appointment to apply for the LOC. I was told by the front desk person that I would have to wait an hour because there were others ahead of me. There was no problem there.

I went back an hour later and I was told to come back in another thirty minutes, as it was not my turn yet. I empathized a little due to their office seeming busy at the time. After thirty minutes had passed, I went back again and I was told that it still was not my turn yet and that I would need to wait a few more minutes. Again, no problem with waiting.

It was finally my turn after two hours of waiting and anxiety. I was waited on by a so-called Tax Professional, who went through H & R Block's computer process to apply for the LOC. She prompted me for my personal information and when she got to certain sections, she went through quick explanations of the process, which I did have to stop her on several occassions and question.

The first instance occurred when she asked for my paystub from my employer. I explained that I had been on Unemployment for the entire year (unfortunately). She then began to populate the required fields on her computer with the corresponding information from my Unemployment paystub. I explained to her (although it may not have even mattered) that I have been an H & R Block Customer for 5+ years and counting. I also explained to her that I had received the Emerald Advance last year, which I did pay off early. I mentioned these things to possibly add to my credibility, which it most likely didn't because she was going through H & R Block's applicant stipulation process.

As the so-called Tax Professional went further into processing my application. I noticed that H & R seemed to be conducting some unethical business practices in their LOC approval process. First, I noticed that the system mentions, through the application process, that H & R Block Bank requires a 10,000 projected income for an applicant for the year of 2010. With this in mind, through the application process, H & R Block Bank also requires the applicant to pay the LOC off by February 15, 2010. This seemed down-right crooked to me.

In addition to the aforementioned stipulations placed against an applicant, H & R Block Bank also does a credit check for the LOC. This seems a little realistic, but still very unethical for the simple fact that many individuals (including myself) have given H & R Block Bank many years of loyal business (which was very expensive for their loan products). In addition, I received and paid off the exact same Emerald Advance LOC the prior year, as I had H & R Block prepare my taxes.

Ultimately, tax clients who have their tax returns prepared by H & R Block, and who are entitled to a tax refund, are prompted by H & R Block to pay off their LOC through the tax preparation process. So, no matter how you look at it, H & R Block Bank will get their money; on top of H & R Block Bank getting their money, they charge very high interest rates on their repayment terms, since the LOC or other loan product will only be short term. How extremely unethical and devastating for they low-income individuals and households that H & R Block targets.

As I sat in the office where I applied for the Emerald Advance LOC, I noticed that the office was filled with minorities and other seemingly low-income individuals. It is just so appalling to me that H & R Block does this to people and are still getting away with it. After my three hour ordeal with the LOC application process, as well as the poor treatment by the Tax Preparer, Office Manager and District Manager, whom I confronted all about the issue, I was finally able to leave with some type of dignity.

Yes, I do understand that I could have avoided even going to H & R Block, but their advertising is so subliminal and they fail to tell its customers/clients up front about the stipulations regarding any of their loan products. The customers/clients usually have to find out the hard way (like I did) and suffer the complete humiliation of even attempting to apply for H & R Block's loan products.

All-in-all, my experiences with H & R Block have been horrible over the last three years, but I continued to be a loyal, yet unappreciated, customer. I will never give H & R Block my business again... even when they eventually get sued out of business and possibly assume another entity that prepares taxes. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this and I hope others who view this learn from my experiences.

I have suffered extreme humiliation from surrounding individuals who overheard my disputed discrepancies with my so-called Tax Professional, the Office Manager and even the District Manager because I exposed the truth about their unethical services and found myself yet another victim of H & R Block's unethical business practices.

Ashley of San Bernardino, CA May 21, 2009

I am shocked to see so many bad experiences with H&R blocks RAL. My husband and i both have very horrible credit, and we have always been told before we leave the office whether we were approved for the ral or not. Well this year our refund was close to 6000.00 and we got the 1-2 day ral. Well our money was on our card sometime during the night, and we filed our taxes around 6 or 7 pm and our money was on our card by 6 am the next day, and we were allowed to pull off as much money from the atm as we wanted.

I am really shocked that so many people have had problems with it. We even get approved every year for the tax loan that they offer at the end of the year. I love H&R block and i wouldnt trust anyone else to prepare my taxes.

Rob of Coral Springs, FL April 18, 2009

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