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Mike of Goodyear AZ (07/02/08)
I contacted JK Harris in November of 2007 due to contact I'd been having with the IRS for approximately 5 months. I knew I owed a big delinquent tax bill. I was desperate for relief and decided to contact JK Harris. Their contact told me they could help me. They gave me paperwork to fill out and send to their offices in South Carolina.
It took me longer than I thought it would to round up all the information they requested. My wife and I are estranged, were at the time, and she possessed all the documentation they wanted. Although I told JK Harris I would take on our tax liability on my own, they required an information submission from my wife. I couldn't get mine together till my wife gave me hers due to the fact I needed some of the information she would be supplying. They also told me they needed me to submit both packets of information at the same time.
The information was submitted to JK Harris in February '08. I called in April '08 to find out what the status was of my application for a payment plan. They asked me if I'd submitted my delinquent state tax returns yet. I was appalled at this question as I was never informed that these delinquent returns needed to be posted before JK Harris could prepare my application for a payment plan. I got the state returns filed.
I then called in June '08 to see what the status was. I was told my case worker would need to check on some information and that she would call me back. She never did. In the past couple of days I received a notice of intent to levy from the IRS. I also received a notice from my employer that the IRS would be garnishing my wages commencing July 18, 2008.
I called JK Harris to see what the status was of my application for a payment plan, and I was put on hold while the person on the phone (not my case worker) looked up some information. I was then told my case worker would need to look up some things and that she'd call me in two days. It's two days later, and the call hasn't come. She has one hour left in South Carolina to call me, and I'm not expecting any miracles.
By the way, I have never been able to speak with my case worker. It's always some underling who has no idea of what's going on. I doubt my case worker does either. I decided to take matters into my own hands. I called the IRS today, July 2, 2008. I was on hold for about 15 minutes. I was greeted by a woman who was friendlier than others I'd spoken to at the IRS in the past. Maybe it was just my lucky day. She told me I could work out a payment plan on my own. I knew this all along, but JK Harris kept telling me to stick with them because they could get me a lower payment than I could negotiate on my own. The IRS lady took my information, asked me what I could pay, and I gave her a figure that I'd hoped JK Harris would be able to secure for me with their magical negotiating powers. The IRS lady told me my plan would most likely be approved and that the levy and garnishment would be lifted within about 10 days. This process took less than 40 minutes.
I have suffered the loss of over $3000 I paid to JK Harris to submit my payment plan application. I have spent many hours filling out paperwork for JK Harris. I have lost sleep and have been stressed out over the fact I owe money to the IRS and no word on if or when an installment plan would be submitted or approved.
There is one thing I can give JK Harris credit for. They do tell the truth when they say IRS problems won't just go away. They should heed their own words and do some of the work they say they're going to do. I will say that I paid for some tax services, and the man who has done the work for me, Tom, has been responsive and prompt in getting things done. Perhaps I have overpaid for this service, but Mr. has been the one ray of light that has shone through.
The stuff JK Harris says they can do better for you is completely doable by an individual, at least in my case. I got my problem taken care of in 40 minutes. It took me hours to fill out paperwork for JK Harris, all with more stress than was necessary and to no avail. Live and learn.
Floyd of West Carrollton OH (06/28/08)
In 2006 we contacted jk harris about tax problems because I was layed off and could not afford to back taxes. We submitted the paperwork they asked for, and after a few months they told us that our case worker had changed and we must resubmit the papers. We did, and after another period of no action, we were told the same thing again, and again. We finally contacted the IRS ourselves and found out that only the IRS can help us, and they did. We have set up a monthly payment.
We were recently sent a letter form jk harris, telling us how great a job they did. We paid them $3000 and they did nothing but give us a runaround. They want us to tell our friends about them, so I am. I'm telling them if they are having problems with the IRS, call the IRS, NOT jk harris.
We borrowed $3000 to apy them and are still paying the loan, for nothing
Denise of Horsham PA (06/24/08)
I contracted with this tax resolution company back on January 23, 2008 and agreement was to put me in a Non Collectible Status with IRS for back payroll taxes - 940's & 941's that were not paid as a result of my husband's neglect as the accountant of my business. I did not know how long they had gone unpaid until I had to file for bankruptcy in middle of 2006 and again in early 2007.
To make it worse, there were quarters not even filed. My husband ran off with another woman in 2005 and left me accountable for his mistakes. Since I am the owner of the business that he did not pay the taxes on, I hold the responsiblity for paying them. He was keeping money from my company to fund his affair and neglecting his financial duties as CFO of my company.
Getting back to JK Harris, it is policy of the IRS to not put me in a Non-Collectible status unless the business was officially closed and paperwork filled out, which it was not and JK Harris should have done their homework and known that rule before promising a Non-Collectibe Status. They have been absolutely no help in contacting or compromising with the IRS and I have been assigned numerous case specialists since going on board with them and then they tell me they can't do anything until some missing filings are taken care of.
Again I struggled to get these taken care of right away and it has been 3 weeks and they still have not followed up with the IRS to see that they have received them. They should have also known that some of these filings were not done when they requested my master file from the IRS several months ago. Everytime I called them, they would take days to get back to me and were also asking for more paperwork.
Today was the final straw with them because my bank accounts have been frozen and I am literally without cash in my pocket because they have not been doing what they say they will do. I called my case specialist 5 times or more in the last week and finally today she says she will call the IRS office about the levy.
Well so much for that, because I called them myself and have a meeting Wednesday morning to work this out myself. JK Harris promised me a call back today and I never received it. I have had it with that scamming outfit and want something done about it and all my money refunded which was an inital $250 deposit and $118 taken every month from my bank account starting 3/15/08 thru 6/15/08. They charged me $1,400 ($250 was up front) and the remaining $1,150 is taken out in $118 installments every month until it is paid off. So far I am out $722 which I want a total refund on. PLEASE HELP!!!!!
The economic damage is the further damage to my already poor credit. Now I have had my bank accounts, including my 18 year old sons account because my name is on it and he is an innocent party to this whole mess. The mental strain alone over the last several years and months is more than I can handle.
Robin of Montrose CA (06/21/08)
I made the unfortunate decision in 2006 to use JK Harris to resolve my tax problems. I met with a representitive, gave a down payment of $500.00 and had JK Harris's finance department automactically withdraw the rest of the $2500 plus interest ($331.00 per month) for a year. In this year I was assigned to 4 different case workers, all just as clueless as to my case as the last. The IRS started garnishing my wages and it took JK Harris's attorneys 2 pay periods (one month) to file the Power of Attorney to stop the garnishments.
So, not only was I paying JK Harris every month, but the month of May 2006, I had ZERO money for my bills, as the IRS took half of my pay, JK Harris another portion and the rest to bills. I have tried to contact by phone and postal mail in regards to the standing on my OIC - and have yet to receive any type of response.
Today, June 20, 2008, I received a letter in the mail from the IRS that JK Harris has revoked their Power of Attorney and are no longer representing me, no notification from JK Harris first, just a scary letter from the IRS. What now? Do I get a refund of the money I paid them to do NOTHING for me? Can the IRS attack my bank account now? JK Harris has only taken from me - now what do I do?
Corey of La Mesa CA (06/19/08)
JK Harris was the biggest rip-off I've ever experienced. I paid $1300.00 for NOTHING! Let me correct myself; Worse than NOTHING! Had I gone with JK Harris' documents, I would have paid the IRS $12,000 I sisn't owe!
At the initial consultation, I asked why the price was so high, and Scott assured me it was because they were The Best in America. It took nine months of badgering to get our documents, only to realize that they were completely wrong! They said I owed the IRS $12,000! When I took the papers to a to a small local tax office for corrections, they noted numerous errors (glaring, obvious errors) the IRS owed me $600.00. I contacted JK Harris, and asked that they refund our fee, but The best in America refused to answer. Completely unprofessional. I wish I had given the money to a reputable charity.
Almost paid $12,000 to IRS which we didn't owe. Lost $1,300 to JK Harris for worthless work. Had to pay $700.00 to another tax consultant to straighten it out.
Crystal of Jamaica NY (06/16/08)
In September, 2006 I went to JK Harris & Company to resolve my tax issues. I owed over $9,000.00. I started with Regional Manager in NY David W. Reynolds who told me I qualified for an Offer in Compromise. On 9/19/06 I gave him a deposit of $350.00 and gave him a post dated check for the balance of $2,500.00 which was cleared on 10/16/06. $2,850 later I never had resolution. I was bounced around from David W. Reynolds to consultant Anthony Catropa to case Specialist who was assigned to me on 10/4/06, Felicia Dailey who I never heard from then Danielle Bowman who replaced Felicia Dailey who I was also not able to get in contact with, to her supervisor Pecolia Mathis who never returned my calls, then months later Nicole Jenkins who told me she was working on my problems but then never followed up.
My offer in compromise wasn't given to the IRS until March 2008! By this time the IRS kept my returns for years 2006 and 2007 in addition to my rebate check of $600.00 in 2008 so the offer in compromise was denied because I know only owe $732.39. I reached out to John K Harris via e-mail and left him several voice mail messages and have not received a response. What I did receive was a letter from Finacial services advising me that they would not be giving me a refund. I'm asking for help in getting my money back as I feel I have been scammed out of $2,850.00.
The IRS kept my refunds of 2006, 2007 and my 2008 tax rebate. I had to withdrwaw money out of my 401k to pay back the $2,850 that I borrowed that resulted in penalties. This situation stressed me out so much that I started to suffer from migraines and back pains.
Melody of Cincinnati OH (06/12/08)
I started with JK Harris in November-2007, they started woking on my case, and every time I turned around I had a new Rep.who had the sliightest clue of what was going on in my case, and so far my husband wages are being garnish, and they are still taking are money until I canceled the payments. I would like to know how I can get my money back, and should I hire an attorney.
I can,t sleep worrying about what can be done to a company that can get away with something like this and a lost of money in this result.
Angela of Houston, TX (06/09/08)
I thought I was pretty savvy when it came to companies who have questionable practices, for lack of better words. So imagine how embarrass I was to find out that after feeling uneasy about this guys office, and how overly friendly he was, my husband and I gave JK Harris the benefit of the doubt.
After waiting five months and $1042 later, something doesnt pan out with this company. So I check around, and sure enough, JK Harris has complaint one after another over and over again.
Awilda of Orlando FL (06/07/08)
on 4/26/07 i went to see mr.perdomo regarding tax issues, after he explained to me the process i said i would think about hiring their services, of course they don't let you walk out he conviced me into hiring them that i would be worried free in no time and all tax issues would be resolved, big mistake
as of taday they have collected $2,000 dollars and meanwhile my husband had his wages garnished,levy sent to bank and we are on a monthly payment of $250.00 and now they are going after me they have threaten to levy me now had no other choice but to contact irs and make arrangements for a monthly payment of $50.00
meanwhile jk harris and company has not done a thing about all this that's going on, i have sent several emails to my so called case specialist and as always i'm being told this takes a while to be resolved, yeap after irs feels they collected enough from us it will definitive get resolved, thank you
Suzanne of Lagrange GA (05/13/08)
We did a bankruptcy for past taxes and other items we needed to be relieved of and were granted relief by a Federal Bankruptcy Judge in 2003. A few years later the IRS comes back and says no, you owe those past taxes and pay up now. Out BC attorney tried for 3 years to resolve this with no luck. After getting countless levy notices we decided to contact JK Harris & Assoc. after seeing one of thier ads on TV. Went to the initial appointment in Columbus GA in October 2007. First clue should have been the rep's, Stephen King, closet of an office in a high rise downtown. We let him know I am a Broker for a large real estate franchise and am pretty good at negotiating deals and such.
King then baffeled us with paper work, assuring us the whole time we were going to be helped with an Offer and Compromise with the IRS with JK Harris representing us. He in reality signed us up for financial planning (what a joke that was) and yearly tax prep only. He fooled us by not checking that Offer and Compromise box on the contract. After doing so many finacial monthly reports and such we faxed and emailed them to thier rep in NC. They then mailed us a note book binder of save 10% of your income for investments and asked us how much we could realistically pay the IRS every month. We kept getting nasty grams from the IRS and finally called JK Harris in NC and asked what they were doing about this situation they were hired for. Their rep, forget her name now, told us we only signed up for finacial and tax planning services.
Needless to say I freaked out and canceled the monthly service fee auto withdrwal from my checking account and wrote a letter to them cancelling thier service and requesting a refund. It was denied due to the contract they had with us. After much complaining to them they sent me a form releasing me from their contract and offering me a partial refund of $150. This is after I paid them approximatley $7000. I did not return this form because I just know better. I will never release them from this contract but they are also not getting any more of my money either. I hope they sue me! JK Harris has underhanded business practices and they take advantage of people on a daily basis and need to be stopped. No ethics or morals at this company in my opinion.
lost $7000 and the IRS added more interest and penalites since. I recommend contacting the IRS directly and asking them for help. It's free and at least I know who I am talking to and am getting some results now!
Sharon of New York NY (05/13/08)
Hired J.K. Harris to do an Offer In Compromise for back taxes owed. We paid them $4,000 (currently still paying off in installments) and they have done nothing. They have been unresponsive, have lost the same information 3 or 4 times, and do not respond to the IRS' requests.
I cannot describe the level of anxiety I feel. I can't sleep, I am angry and frustrated and this has greatly affected my relationship due to the stress. Also, not only are the penalities and interest still accumulating I am out $4,000, for paying them to do nothing but make a bad situation worse.
Mehtab of Hawthorne CA (05/13/08)
I was scammed by JK Harris in Sept 2004 after watching a tv commerical on how I can reduce my tax debt pennies on the dollar. The ad is very misleading as are the sales consultant you meet in one of their 425 offices nationwide. You can either call the 888 number or go their online webpage to request help. JK Harris will schedule an appointment at a local office in your city or a nearby city. This is not a real office. JK Harris rents out an office space one day a week and their reps are not there everyday. THe day that JK Harris rents out this office space is the day that they will schedule you an appointment. The representative that calls you will ask you a few qualifying questions and schedule you an appointment with a JK Harris tax professional in your area. This person that you meet is a sales professional and by no means a tax guru. THis sales professional will use all sorts of scare tactics like if you do not use their services, the IRS will garnish your wages and put liens on your property.
After meeting with a sales rep from JK Harris in Sept 2004, I put down a $500 down payment and was set up on a monthly payment plan of $219 a month with 18.9% interest rate for the remaining $2000. The IRS notified my employer in Oct 2004 that they were going to garnish my wages. I contacted a JK Harris rep that was working on my case. This rep told me that I needed to pay the whole balance before JK Harris could do anything for me. I felt screwed as the IRS was attempting to garnish my wages and JK Harris doing nothing. I went to the local IRS office on my own and got them to stop the garnishment. At this point my debt to the IRS was $23,000. I finally pay off this $2000 debt to JK Harris in Sept 2005 and now my debt is over $24,000.
At this point, JK Harris has a new rep working on my case and she did not have the slightest clue to whats going on in my case. I told her that there were erroneous errors in my tax liability in the years 2000 and 2001. They did not offer to help me correct these errors and told me that I only paid them to file a tax return for one year and for anaylsis and an OIC. I felt ripped off as I paid JK Harris over $3000 to help me in my tax problems. Its January 2006, and I decided to resolve my issues with the IRS on my own and with my old employer to correct some of those mistakes. In March 2006, with the help of an local IRS office, I file ammended returns for 2000 and 2001. Its Sept 2006, and the IRS contacts me to let me know that my tax liability now is $12,000.
I contacted JK Harris in OCt 2006 and let them know that thru corrections my tax liability is $12,000. JK Harris has assigned my case to a 3rd case specialist and she was more lost than the first two case specialists. This rep asks me for more bills, receipts and bank statements. In January 2007, JK Harris finally sends me a completed OIC with a $150 cashier check for the OIC fee. This OIC had numerous errors as they put in paystubs, bills, receipts and bank statements that were over 2 years old. The rep tells me that I need only to send in copies of these documents. I was looking at the requirements of the IRS and they wanted documents from the previous six months. My OIC was slowed down because of JK Harris giving me wrong advice. I was contacted by an examinar of the IRS OIC from Memphis TN in March 2007. This IRS rep was the most helpful with my OIC and asked me to send in current information that was less than 6 months old. I grew weary with JK Harris as the 3rd rep became pregnant. The fourth rep never returned my calls and I received a letter from JK Harris about a class action lawsuit in April 2007. At this point I had given up on JK Harris.
Finally in July 2007, almost 3 years after going to JK Harris, my OIC was accepted. The IRS offer examinar wanted $6000 at first. I negotiated with the IRS on my own and got this down $3000 in JUly 2007. I really did this on my own and JK Harris & Co. was not helpful at all. They were slow in everything they did. I wasted 3 years and learned that I could have done this on my own in less than one year. I learned how to properly do a OIC on my own as a result of JK Harris & Co failing to do it. JK Harris & Co charges you an arm and leg to do an analysis and determine which method is best for you.
THe money you pay JK Harris can be better spent on an OIC that you prepare yourself. JK Harris is only filing tax returns and OICS and nothing else. They run ads that they have over 500 years experience in dealing with the IRS with their EA's and attorneys. The truth is that JK Harris does nothing for you except file erroneous OICs that contain out of date information. JK Harris continues today to run the same deceptive ads on tv and the internet. JK Harris is not the only tax resolution company out there, as many others have joined to rip off americans with such scams. I compare this scam to the credit repairing scams. JK Harris also does credit reparing, another scam.
After JK Harris & Co stopped working on my case because of class action lawsuits, I negotiated with the IRS on my own thru the OIC. JK Harris called quits working on my case after a class action lawsuit. I was better paying off the paying the IRS $12,000, my tax liability than listening to scam to get over on the IRS. Just because a company like JK Harris prepares an OIC, its no guarantee that the IRS is going to accept it. In rare occasions, where your living expenses are more or equal to your revenues, the IRS does accept OICs. JK Harris will not tell you that and instead try scare tactics to defraud you. JK Harris runs ads such as IRS problems do not go away on their own. This is a scare tactic that they are the only ones that can help you. Today the IRS is very reasonable and will work with you.
Betty of Durham NC (05/13/08)
On Nov 23, 2004, my husband and I contracted JK Harris to handle our tax matters with the IRS. JK Harris required that we make a down payment of $1,000 and the remaining balance was made on a monthly basis through an automatic draft from our checking account until the total contract fee of $5,150 was paid in full. Initially, JK completed a portion of the tax years for us but then later informed us that in order to complete the remaining tax years (2004 2005), they would require an additional fee. Our representative sent the following statement: The re-contract fees for us to complete you 2004-2005 federal and state returns (4 returns in total), is $500.00. I have sent this contract along with Tax Organizer for completion, for your review and signature. Please be aware that the fees of $500.00 will need to be paid in full with the new contract.
Like lots of Americans, my husband and I have struggled financially, so at the time we did not have the $500 to have the 2004-2005 returns completed. Recently, after hard work and much sacrifice, we were able to come up with the necessary funds. We assumed that since JK quoted $500 for the tax years of 2004-2005 that an additional $500 would be required for the 2006-2007 tax years. Needless to say that was not the response we received from JK Harris. Our representative informed us that in order to complete our case, we would have to recontract with them and pay IRS- $200, Master file from IRS- $200,Federal Tax Return Preparation 2004-2007- $1,000, State Tax Returns $300, $3,800. Contract would have to be paid in full.
When we inquired as to why we would have to pay this large amount, the response was as follows: Unfortunately you were involved in a Class Action Settlement to which cancels your contract with us, therefore requiring a new contract should you decide you would like additional assistance from us. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call. After numerous phone calls and searching the internet, we were informed that a mailer had been sent out by JK Harris to clients that had contracted with them informing them of the Class Action Suit. The flyer was inadvertently overlooked by me and my husband. We had no idea that information pertaining to a class action lawsuit would come from the defendant and not from the law office that was handling the case. Also, we are aware of only this one flyer that was sent out, we never saw or heard anything about the class action suit, especially since we continued to see television advertisements for JK Harris.
Now we are being told from JK Harris and from the Law Office of Motley-Rice that since we did nothing, we are to be left out in the cold. We are looking for someone to give us some guidance / recourse as to what we can do. We do not have another $5000 to give to JK and at this point would not trust them to accurately handle our case with the IRS. Now we are also concerned about the accuracy of the previous returns completed by JK. We have a minimal amount of money and have no idea the cost for hiring a lawyer to handle our case. Please give us some guidance. We thought that by hiring JK Harris, we could put this tax matter behind us and move on with our lives. Our major disappointment is that in our great country, a company such as JK Harris is allowed to operate and pray on people who are trying to resolve tax matters. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Eric of Jacksonville FL (05/11/08)
I have never filed for any type of lawsuite,however I truely think that my case has merit. I became disabled in 2004 and withdrew funds out of my 401K plan under bad advice not to withold any early withdrawal penalties as I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.It took awhile however I am currently on disability,the funds were taken out for living expenses untill my Disability went through.
I hired Jk Harris and paid them $2,500 to relieve me of my tax burden for early withdrawal of my 401K funds. Jk Harris promied me that they would take my case to conclusion,and that I would be relieved of my tax burden,however after having six different anynalists,and having to send them the same information with each new anylist nothing was getting accomplished except my IRS penalties and interest continued to stack up from $45,000 to $90,000.
I recently hired Omni Financial with whom I have a team of three people woking on my case and I feel as if we are making positive results. While at JK Harris & Company nothing positive was accomplished and I had so many different contacts I could not get a clear veiw of the status of my case or who was working on my Tax Resolution,if anyone.I have been waiting for six months for them to send me my case documentation. am still waiting.
Due to the lack of performance on the part of JKHarris and the empty promises they made just to get my money.They have put myself and Family of five under extreme stress.We have all had to seek counseling as we watched our life savings,chidrens college funds and retirement savings being destroyed.
Also I feel as if I paid JKHarris $2,500 for nothing as they did not provide the services that were promised by thier sales associate who quit the company two weeks after recieving my payment.JKHarris also let the IRS to contiue to penalize me for over $40,000 Dollars.The IRS now has a Lien on my house,and they are garnishing my Disability check all due to JKHarris not performing what they promised. Please help
Marion of Oviedo FL (05/09/08)
We misplaced a decimal on our NC taxes. We rec'd a bill for $14,500. Since we were right in the middle of moving to FL, we tried to 'fix' it here, and went to JKHarris when we saw their ad on TV. We were assured it was minor and would be fixed quickly and requested $2000. One month later we were contacted by NC telling us we'd been put in the hands of collections. Three wks late we were notified of a 20% penalty.
We then went to H&R Block for information as to what we should do, and lo and behold they fixed it right then and there for $40. This problem is nation wide, and with all the complaints I do not know why the Justice system does not kick in.
As far as we are concerned Harris stole our $2000
Eric of Peoria AZ (05/09/08)
In 2003 my wife and I contacted the IRS about what we could do about our tax debt, which at that time was about $18,000. The representative I spoke with told me that we could file what is called an Offers in compromise. We did this, but was denied our request.
Then we heard about JK Harris. We met with a representative from them and were told they could negotiate our tax debt down to somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000. Sounded pretty good to us, so we agreed to pay them $3,500 to do this. Ha! They would request information on income and expenses and then fill out the forms with incorrect info, so that it skewed what we made and what we could pay.
Long story short after 3 years they did absolutly nothing for us. We ended up paying the IRS $22,000 after we re-financed our house. WE WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND J.K. HARRIS. They screwed us. Never filed a complaint with them or the BBB because we saw how many complaints they had against them and a lot were unresloved and figured we would never get a refund anyway.
Annie of Tinley Park IL (04/30/08)
DO NOT USE J K HARRIS TAX RESOLUTION COMPANY.....THEY ARE A RIP OFF! We hired J K HARRIS in Sept 2006. We did not hear from them for a while so I thought they were working on the problem...I call my salesman at J K HARRIS. LUIS ESCOBAR and of course I get his voice mail. I then called J K HARRIS office and they could not find much information. It turns out LUIS ESCOBAR misplaced the file for 6 months, now its 6 months later which is March 2007. Luis apologizes for misplacing the file and says that we need to sign some papers immediately but the office closest to my house he does not have a key for on Saturday. We drive to his office on Saturday March 17th and you will not believe this but he could not get in that office so here we are sitting in the lobby of his building signing all of these papers. What a joke.. I should have known something was up at that time but they lie to you and all you want is some help.
Now we have 6 months more of penalties and interest thanks to J K HARRIS. Next we get a bunch of paper work that needs to be filled out for the Offer in Compromise-by the way you can do and OIC with the IRS directly and it only costs 150.00 not the 5000.00 JK HARRIS was charging in addition to the 18% loan shark interest rates they were charging. I fill out the paper work as best as I can since it was very confusing and send it back at the end of April 2007. I never hear back from them so you assume they are working on this.
I called JK HARRIS in August 2007 because we were trying to refinance our home and there was a federal tax lien on the credit report and was told by a rep that the paper work was filled out incorrectly and nothing has been done. I asked her why they never advised us for 3 months that the paper work was incorrect and all she said was you should have been. Great customer service---NOT.. We decided to cancel our contract after they received 3495.00 out of the 5000.00 they wanted.
I sent a letter requesting a refund 10/5/07 and did not hear back from them until 11/26/07 saying they will only give me 1086.00. I questioned that amount since they only did 5 years of tax returns and nothing else. I never heard back from them about the refund amount so I reluctantly signed the form and faxed it on 1/15/08. I called to see if they got the fax and they said they did and was advised at that time that the check would be delayed due to a class action lawsuit filed by former clients that got ripped off just like everyone else has.
On 3/11/08 I talked to the most useless supervisor ever named Chris Debeaux to see where my refund was and he advised me the check will be sent on 4/25/08. Well it is 4/30/08 and I just checked the mail and no check yet. I called immediately and have been on hold with the refund department for 1 hour and 40 minutes. I think the office is closed but I still keep hearing the same old message saying that JK HARRIS can help with your tax problem.... THEY CAN NOT AND WILL NOT. My mortgage is due and I want my refund plus interest.
Cynthia of Phoenix AZ (04/27/08)
In May of 2007 I had contacted JK Harris because I was having major Tax issues and desperately needed help. I spoke with the consultant and she assured me they could help me reduce and resolve my stressful situation with my taxes. Over the last 11 months it has been a nightmare. Not knowing what is happening and me filling out all the paperwork with no help from JK Harris to see if I completed the documents right. The only person I was allowed to talk to was the service rep. and when I asked to talk to the tax specialist I was refused on several occasions. I even emailed my request and did not get a reply.
I sent JK Harris emails regarding the disturbing information I was getting about their company and they assured me that was just disgruntled clients that did not do what they were required to do to qualify. Now I have been denied my state OIC and I am paying $300.00 a month and 4/25/08 I received a letter from IRS telling me that my OIC was not approved and I have to make installment payments of $3448.00 a month. I might as well curl up my toes and die because I only bring home $3770.00 a month. How does anyone expect someone to live on $22.00 a month for five years?
Guess I need to find a cardboard box and find the nearest shelter to get food from because $22.00 will not even pay for my gas to go to work. Then the tax specialist that they tell you, you have to have does not have your best interest at heart. I had to hire a CPA to go over my faxes and fill out the paperwork just so I could send it to JK Harris to type up and I have to pay $480.00 a year for 3 years for this service? I keep calling them and they are rude and provide me with no information. It took me 10 months just to get the information I am required to make quarterly tax payments and that is only because they sent me a letter telling me I had 4 days to send the money or the offer would be dropped. I had to get an auto title loan at 219% interest just to pay the quarterly taxes and a loan for $5000.00 from a friend to pay my 2007 taxes. JK Harris has stressed me out over my tax situation I am getting panic attacks and I hardly leave my house except to go to work.
Now I have been denied my state OIC and I am paying $300.00 a month and 4/25/08 I received a letter from IRS telling me that my OIC was not approved and I have to make installment payments of $3448.00 a month. I might as well curl up my toes and die because I only bring home $3770.00 a month. How does anyone expect someone to live on $22.00 a month for five years? It took me 10 months just to get the information I am required to make quarterly tax payments and that is only because they sent me a letter telling me I had 4 days to send the money or the offer would be dropped. I had to get an auto title loan at 21.9% interest just to pay the quarterly taxes and a loan for $5000.00 from a friend to pay my 2007 taxes.
Tara of Greensboro NC (04/26/08)
On 3/1/06 my husband and I started a claim with JK Harris - everyone was friendly and seemed to be helpful at the time. Of course we had to setup up payment with JK which they automatically deducted money from our checking account each month until the fee was paid on time. During the first month we were asked to send in paperwork, we sent in so much paperwork we could have made a tree. Second month, no contact, so we called, third month no contract, we called and then was asked to send in more paperwork, each month their after my husband and I were forwarded to voicemail. I went to the office on numerous occassions and were told no one was in.
After a year, IRS sent me a letter stating they were going to garnish my wages and checking account. I told the Agent at IRS that I was working with JK Harris, she stated nothing was on file. I called JK Harris on numerous times their after received no help. A month later I got a letter from JK Harris in Charleston asking if I wanted them to clear my back taxes. I stated I thought that's what we paid for over a year ago. The agent was nasty. I asked for a refund, the gentlemen stated I had to send in a formal letter which I did (have copy), he also stated I should get a refund in 7 business days, I called back got this rude agent she stated it takes 90 to 120 days, this was in August of 2007. I called back asked to speak to the MGR he stated the same thing. I stated I looked over the agreement that my husband and I initially signed and it's not on there, he stated he knew they left it off. It's up to the consumer to ask.
Who would think a company taking over $4,000 out of your checking would not deliver - here it is April 2008 and I have still not received my refund. My husband and I call on a regular basis. I was told numerous dates that I would receive my refund. The last date was April 22, 2008 and now it's put off to May 22. I believe JK Harris is not going to settle with any of us. I taped each phone call from the conversations the director got mad and hung up the phone after I told him I was recording all calls that I make to them. I know it's not permissible in court, but if more people know just how this company works maybe they will think differently. All I want is my full refund. I do not think they should give us a portion after all they did not do anything but take the application. I am willing to give the application fee.
John of Raleigh NC (03/26/08)
I went to JK Harris for help with my tax returns as IRS had a levy on my pay. The individual that I met with said they could reduce my debt, set up a payment plan and will probably do a settlement. I wound up paying them $3600 and I still owe what I originally owed plus interest and penalties. They did not do any negotiating. They initiated a 3 way call and I spoke with IRS on my behalf. I am angry that I paid JK Harris money that I could have used to help pay off my debt with IRS.
Other than being under a financial strain, there was plenty of anxiety and worry.
Rodney of Everett WA (03/16/08)
I was assured that this company could reduce my taxes owed by quite a bit. I paid them $3000 to do this. After 5 months I was sent a letter stating they could do nothing except set me up on a payment plan. I could have done that. They took a lot of personal information, asking me to send it, which I did numerous times at my expense-- only to be told they couldn't help me. I accumulated interest as the months went on with the taxes I owed.
They took the $3000 and did absolutely NOTHING! I could have used that money ($3000) to pay off some of the taxes owed. This company lures you in knowing you are desperate to get your taxes resolved and convinces you they can do this. I feel very ripped off and have asked for my money back--but have not heard from them. This is not a company anyone should use---they take your money and run with it, without ANY resolutions to your problems.
Ron of St Clairsville OH (03/14/08)
We too had a disgraceful experience with JK Harris, numerous case workers,stretching over 3 years. Why, oh why does anyone continue to do business with this company who have no morals. They took our money, in total 5,000 and like everone else would not offer a refund after letting us down. We ended up owing over twice our original debt and will never get back that 5,000. We are the people who can least afford to lose this kind of money, that's why we go to them to begin with
B of Columbus OH (03/09/08)
They lead me on for almost a year and $3000.00. When the IRS compromise was denied, they claimed they couldn't appeal. I requested a supervisor call back but I hadn't heard anything from them until I got an ad to file my taxes with them. Please let us all continue to call Chrisie Roby a rep at JK harris and request our refund. I think JK Harris is a professional rip off company. We should contact the SC chamber of commerce.
My penalties have increased and I owe more now.
Barbara of Myrtle Beach SC (03/06/08)
We hired them to help us with our tax situation back in 2005. They were paid and never did anything to help. We had tax liens put on us, etc. We asked for our money back and were told we would get it back in Dec. 2007 because of the backup they had. We have since been faxing the letter they sent us back to them, and to this date have not received our money. Because of their mess up, we were forced to file bankruptcy. We NEED our money! Please help us!
Linda of Naples FL (03/06/08)
I hired this company to represent me for my tax liability, to help me set up a payment plan, and to review my '06 tax return to make sure everything was accurate. They did absolutely nothing and missed my opportunity for my hearing. The IRS levied my bank accounts and now are ready to put a lien on my property. I send JK Harris e-mails, and I call; but no one returns my call. They charged me for the service of helping me and charged my credit card in full the day after I signed the contract; and now 6 weeks later nothing...and my account is levied.
I am waiting to see when they will lien my home. JK Harris completely defrauded me regarding their services, and completely took advantage of me and my situation. The IRS levied my bank account almost $8500.00, and JK Harris charged me $8500.00 for doing nothing.
Cherie of Attleboro MA (03/03/08)
They never send me paperwork on what I need to send them. They pass me from person to person. They do not communicate in their own office with each other. I pay them $289 a month for no services. I started in April 2006.
This has caused me severe depression and thoughts of suicide.
Phillip of Lawrence KS (03/02/08)
I got involved with JK Harris in 2004, with my mother and sister's encouragement. My family and I saw an ad on TV and decided to go with them. We met and paid out over $3000 to them. I was told that JK Harris would handle all the taxes and make a settlement with the IRS and State. Then one day I received a letter telling me that there was a class action suit against them. I tried to call to see if they were going to handle my taxes, and they were rude to me. I did not respond to the suit, yet I am in it regardless. Now I do not know what to do. My taxes are up in the air, and I worry everyday what will happen.
I keep getting letters for demand of payment from the IRS. I worry about my wages being garnished by the IRS. I worry if IRS will show up at my doorstep. It has effected my marriage; since I did not check the Better Business Bureau, my wife is really upset. We were separated at the time and did this without talking to her.
Harry of Charlottesville VA (02/18/08)
I met with a representative of J K Harris on September 11, 2007 in Charlottesville, VA. We spoke in great lengths regarding my federal income tax concerns. The representative explained to me how J K Harris could assist me and resolve my IRS concerns. Also, he quoted a fee for the services and stated once I made the initial down payment, the services would start immediately. I made an initial deposit of $500.00 and J K Harris has debited my checking account in the amount of $388.00 per month for the last four months. My total payments to this company equal $2,052.00. I received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated February 8, 2008 stating J K Harris & Company was no longer acting as my attorney and they requested I set up a payment arrangement. I was shocked because I had not received any literature from J K Harris regarding this matter and they continued to debit my checking account monthly for their fees.
My daughter and I contacted J K Harris by phone on February 12, 2008 requesting an explanation for the letter I received from the IRS. A representative stated the Power of Attorney was not valid and they were going to get a new Power of Attorney. Also, she stated J K Harris didn't have all of the information they needed from me. I informed the rep I have supplied all of the information requested and if I had not; why didn't someone contact me? It has been six months since I accepted the services of J K Harris and I have made monthly payments accordingly. It has become clear they have not provided the services promised. Equally important the representative I spoke with at J K Harris on 2/12/08 was unprofessional and insensitive to my concerns.
Due to the level of service I have received, I searched the internet to take a closer look at J K Harris. During my initial search, I've found dozens of complaints made against J K Harris from consumers like myself. I feel I have been taken advantage of (scammed) by J K Harris. I am requesting a full refund of all of the funds they have collected from me totaling $2,052.00. J K Harris has taken money from me and they have not provided the services promised. Therefore, I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and seeking contact with the Attorney General.
I am a senior citizen. I receive social security and work part-time. I've paid money to J K Harris I didn't have to spare. This has created a financial hardship for me monthly. It is almost impossible for me to meet my monthly living expenses.
Dennis of Burleson TX (02/18/08)
I hire these people paid them over 3K and now they say they have canceled my contract because I did not opt out of a class action suit I knew nothing about.
Credit reporting, career crippled, let alone the emotion distress on the family.
Philip of Henderson NV (02/14/08)
I retained JK Harris for my tax issues. My tax problem began in 2005. I retained JK Harris manager D. Bush requested $3,500 when I sat down for the consultation in the Las Vegas Office On Tropican Ave on May 29th 2007. Within two months I paid the full amount thinking I was on my way to resolve this issue. I had given all necessary copies of tax and receipts. I did my part I started to call in October because I have not received any letter, phone call, nothing. After several attempts I was finally speaking with a live person who told me that my original case worker was replaced, meaning nothing was done from May- October, the next call was from the new case worker Damita Simmons. I was never updated on my case status unless I picked up the phone and when I did call she was always busy on another line. I soon learned I had to tell them (I just spoke with her and returning her phone call). I just received in the mail a letter stating they could not help me after all these months and while the penalty fees and interest fees have gone up I owe more now for no reason only because JK HARRIS failed to keep me informed on my case status. I called Damita Simmons asking her why and she had told me that I needed to show more money going out and less coming in. I had given her My medical bills form my cancer treatment and my spouses change of income status in December now she is telling me I have to send it again mean while months will go by and my owe to the IRS will go up. I WAS A VICTIM OF A CRIME OF THIS SERVICE AND THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.
I am working two part time jobs now even while going though chemo and radiation. I am far from 100%. I understand I was at fault for not reporting all my income but that was due to being out of the country and only receiving some of my statements. I acted as soon I was notified of the audit and by that time I was going for my treatments. I did not ignore filing my taxes. I have always filed, but my health was a big set back. So now I have no other choice but to answer to the IRS directly and the $3,500 I will never see again.
Dewanna of Baldwyn MS (02/08/08)
We contacted J.K. Harris to help us with out tax debt and agreed to pay $250.00 a month. After paying $500.00 my husband lost his job. I called them and requested a break in contract and request for refund. They told me to fax them a statement, and it would take 30 days to refund. After 30 days I called them and asked the status on the refund. I was transfered to someone who put me on hold for 1 hour and 33 minutes, and I finally hung up and called back and got a recording that I had called after hours. I was outraged, and I emailed the corp. office and told them that this was not fair trade practices. My next call is to the Federal Trade Commission. From reading all the other complaints, I am the lucky one that stopped them before they did anything, anyway.
My husband is now employed and making less money, but IRS did reduce our payment. The IRS told me if we submitted an offer of Compromise, they would levy our property and house anyway.
Kevin of Canton KS (02/07/08)
In approximately August 0f 2006 I hired JK Harris to assist me to expunge my tax debt through offer and compromise. I met with a lady in Topeka KS who seemed to know what she was talking about and submitted my initial paperwork as well as a series of checks, to get the process rolling on my tax debt that is way out of control. I felt good leaving the consultation feeling as though I would get resolution to the problem for which I sought relief. Over the next 30 days the initial contact had left the company, and I was assigned to another person who was to pick up the ball and get the relief I was seeking. Over the next 90 days or so, I was handed off to three more people each one promising to be the last person to handle my case. After nearly 12 months,and about 30 phone calls later, I thought we had come to an end of my nightmare. Finally an offer in Compromise to send to the IRS! Oh happy day I thought; but $6,598.20 to JK Harris later, and $11,680.00 to the IRS--MAYBE I will finally have this nightmare behind me and can get on with life.
About 90 days went by, and I got a response from a representative of the IRS who told me my offer had been rejected and that the money I had paid would be forfeited. The same story from JK Harris. I am devastated by this because it has been over 18 months since I hired J K Harris to bring resolution to this tax indebtedness for me as they advertise. Now I am out another 18 months and $18,000.00--still with no finality to this situation. Prior to this JK Harris I hired another that did the same thing: took my money and told me there was no way after taking over $2500.00 from me, that this could be resolved. This is why I went to J K Harris--they were to be THE BEST at resolving tax issues. I now know better and still do not know where to go to get resolution. I am told by J K Harris that I cannot get my money back nor will I get credit from the IRS for the monies I have paid. I do not know where to turn next. Please send me suggestions; I am about as desperate as I can get to resolve this issue.
This IRS indebtedness has grown and has ruined my credibility financially. I am on the breakpoint of losing my business, and I cannot afford to hire another firm to handle this situation because I trusted that JK Harris was dealing effectively with the IRS on my behalf. I cannot get married, I cannot get financial assistance to maintain my business any more,and am on the verge of complete failure physically and mentally. I do not own a vehicle nor a home anymore. I have only a small living space where my work is. I want this nightmare behind me. I want to have a life again. My health is going down the tube from the stress of this whole tax issue I believed was getting tended.
David of Ankeny IA (01/25/08)
These people use deceptive sales tactics. I fully explained my tax situation to their adviser in West Des Moines, who in turn took a post dated check from me, along with an agreement to pay them $3,000 over 12 months for services. Two months later, I was informed that NO WORK had been performed on my case and that I would need to pay an additional $1,200 in CASH before any services would be rendered. The sales person lied to me. I paid them $600 for nothing and the refuse to refund me. They know exactly how to swindle people who are in crisis.
I'm out $600 in payments, plus penalties and interest to the IRS accrued for the two and a half months they did nothing for me.
Ronald of Palmyra IN (01/22/08)
I connected JK Harris in early 2007 about back taxes for 2005 & 2006. After paying them $1200.00, all they did was push me around from one person to another. After my wages were garnished, I contacted the IRS myself. After that I connected JK Harris about a refund. I was told all I could except was $700.00. I have signed two release forms and still don't have my refund. And no one will return my calls.
As a result of no help with my taxes, I ended up behind in my bills, plus I now owe more to the IRS then when this all started. I am paying a monthly amount to the IRS which just keeps growing every day. At this rate I will never get my taxes paid off. Thank you for any thing you can do to help in the matter.
Rinc of Winter Springs FL (01/17/08)
After over 2 years on working on my account and as we were getting to a payment plan, they allowed the IRS to garnish 3 of my pay checks which has put me and my family into a terrible financial bind. As of this complaint it is still not resolved, and my next pay check is in threat of being garnished.
Rod of Lakewood WA (12/20/07)
I contracted the services of the JK Harris company in 2006. At the time of our contract I had a written estimate from JK Harris that stated my tax debt to the IRS would be settled for somewhere between $400 and $1500. I paid JK Harris $930.00 as down payment and then $182.00 monthly for 12 months. At the end of the 12 months I was told by JK Harris that I owed the IRS $5000.00 more than I had owed them when we started, and that the IRS would only agree to put my account on hold. With-in two weeks of being told that by JK Harris, I received letters from the IRS instructing me to call them, which I did. They told me that they had never received any of my documentation from JK Harris, and they in fact only had one documented phone call from them during the entire year.
Interestingly enough,during that particular conversation with the IRS employee, we came upon a solution that would allow me to pay my debt to them at a later date when we assume my financial situation will probably improve. JK Harris did absolutely nothing to improve or even change my situation with the IRS. They lied and cheated me at every step of the way.
I lost the $3114.00 that was paid to JK Harris; plus additional interest and fines were assessed to my tax debt to the IRS.
Christi of Mart TX (12/06/07)
I retained the services of JK Harris to help me resolve tax issues for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006. They gladly accepted my payment of $2400. It is now December, 2007, and I have a levy on my accounts and a tax burden of $140,000 due to back taxes, interest, and penalties. Every time I called I was given the run around...my case had been changed to another agent, they were working on it, etc. When I came home on Oct.1, 2007 to find an IRS agents card on my doorstep, I called JK Harris and demanded to speak to a supervisor...no one called me back. I called the next day...no one called me back. On October 31st, when I had a certified letter with notification of intent to levy, I called again. Stephanie informed me Allen Dikerson was now on my case and would get everything taken care of. I have yet to hear from Allen! I explained I had filed 2004 and 2006...but was still waiting on my 2005 tax report from them to be filed. I then got a run around from them that they were only supposed to do 2004 and 2006! Why in the world would I have hired them for 2004 and 2006...but not 2005?
On November 24 I received a letter from the IRS that my wages and accounts were being levied! I have been trying for over a year to resolve this issue. I was referred to a local CPA to whom I have now paid $500. In less than a week they have prepared and filed my 2005 taxes. I had a phone conversation with the IRS agent that left his card on my door; the CPA found glaring errors in the JK Harris prepared returns for 2004 and 2006 that are going to cost me an additional $15,000 in penalties and interest. JK Harris needs to be stopped! I am going to have to pay a $2500 per month payment for the next 5 years to pay off this debt! They prey on fear and lack of knowledge regarding tax law and the IRS! I am not sure how they sleep at night knowing what they are doing to people's lives!
I now have a tax debt of $140,000! My accounts have been levied, I will not get a paycheck for the month of December, and I am not sure how I will pay my mortgage, fuel to get to work, groceries, etc. My CPA has informed me I can expect a payment plan of $2500 for the next 5 years once we do get the payment plan set up; this is over 1/2 of my pay! I have no idea yet what the extent of my financial damage will be. I am sure this will affect my credit report, etc.
Lewis of Corona CA (12/03/07)
I went to JK Harris for help with an IRS issue. After I paid $1000 and signed papers did I find out they are not attorneys and are a paper filing company. I received forms including power of attorney that I signed and sent back, without any additional communication for almost a year. Then IRS contacted my employer to garnish 75% of my wages, at which point I paid them from my savings.
I contacted the J.K. Harris rep and sent an online request and also through the USPS for a refund. I was sent forms again saying that I was to receive a $750 refund if I promised to not say anything adverse about the JK Harris Company. The promise was that I would get my refund in two to four months. I signed those documents, and a year later I have not received my refund. I have been stalled by this company and ripped off.
Judy of Lincoln Park NJ (11/28/07)
I was behind and owed the IRS. My husband was dying from cancer. We went to JK Harris for help. The immediately took cash and let us sign a contract. this was in April, and in July I was levied and my husband's diagnosis was changed to terminal (months). JK Harris would not return my calls and insulted me when I spoke to them. They informed me I would have to pay them, including all penalties, etc. I stopped payments to them and handled it on my own. I have a payment plan with the IRS and had the levy lifted. My husband died on Jan 9, 2007 and now they have sent a collection agency after me. I need help and fast.
I nearly lost my mind and now have to deal with the collection people. It's my first holiday season alone and the emotional stress is overwhelming. Please help me. I already paid them nearly $2k and they want $3k more and are ruining my credit. They cannot be allowed to get away with this. To my knowledge they only ever made one call to the IRS on my behalf, but the IRS said I would have to get a lawyer and supeona the records. I cannot afford this.
Robin of Blue Springs MO (11/19/07)
In August 2006 we were told by JKHarris we certainly qualified for an offer in compromise and should need to pay 1/2 of what we owed at the most. Eight months later they finally submitted paperwork for the OIC. They had 1 Individual that worked with us. Once our payment plan was over that was it--absolutely no contact no matter how often I called. Now (November 2007), of course, the IRS has denied our OIC and I have no where to go.
We have tied up 15 months in paperwork with JK Harris, and $3500 went to the company; and I could have sent that to the IRS! May the lord have mercy on their souls. I thought I had spent that time and money moving forward and not falling behind.
Jacqulyn of Marlton NJ (11/03/07)
I gave JK Harris $10,000 for a tax problem that I had with my business. They never returned my calls, nor sent forms that I needed to fill out; and when I did fill out some forms, I never heard back from them. I got a letter from them saying that they were no longer representing me. I sent them a letter back saying I still wanted them to. The next letter I got was from the IRS saying JK Harris withdrew their representation letter for me. They have done nothing for me except take my $10,000. I don't know where to go from here.
I have tax liens against my home and personal liens against me for over $190,000. I can never sell my house or get credit. The IRS levies my checking accounts, and the state has a garnishment against my wages.
Michelle of San Antonio TX (10/16/07)
I was in a panic about my tax situation and terrified of dealing with the IRS on my own as so many are. I met with one of J.K. Harris' reps and was told that for about $5000, they could take care of my situation. Well, if I had $5000, then I would just hand it to the IRS and wouldn't be in the situation I'm in. He pretty much tried to scare me in telling me that dealing with the IRS on my own was up to me but that it was a big risk and that they'd probably freeze my accounts and that I could even go to jail.
Something didn't seem right, so I called the IRS myself after that and encountered the nicest person who not only sympathized with my situation but stayed on the phone and provided me with the exact info I needed to work out my IRS problem. In 2 days I called back ready to fax the paperwork they wanted to help me and got an even nicer person to help me and ended up resolving my tax issues on my own in 2 phone calls and a fax to the IRS for $5000 cheaper than J.K. Harris wanted to charge me.
Donna of Denver CO (10/14/07)
I had $39,000.00 debt with the IRS. They were threathing to take action,. I saw the ad on the tv and visited my local JK Harris Office who stated not to worry any more and that I would not have to pay the IRS but $2,900.00. Well i continued to receive letters from the IRS. I contacted the IRS, and they stated that they had not heard one word form JK Harris. They placed a lien on all my assets. My credit went down. I lost everything financially and have not been able to re-coop my losses. I think JK Harris should have to pay my entire tax bill plus pain and suffering, and they should be shut dow. They are still advertising on tv.
They foreclosed on my house. My bills were not paid; my credit cards are defaulted. I am unable to purchase anything because my credit score is low.
Judith of Seffnr FL (10/14/07)
I retained JK Harris company in Oct. 2006. I borrowed money to pay the $2,300 fee. I was told there is a one-time forgiveness clause for individuals in my circumstances. However, IRS never heard of that. Several IRS agents that I talked to said they never heard of JK Harris.
I kept getting IRS Notices of Intend to Levy. JK Harris filed a Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement. Shortly thereafter, I received a Final Notice to Levy. At that point, I set up a payment plan with IRS. If I hadn't, I was told that my bank accounts would be frozen and a tax lien would appear on my credit report. After doing that, I wrote JK Harris to cancel the contract and requested a refund. They wrote me back saying the contract is completed.
Juanita of Hampstead NC (10/10/07)
I entered into agreement with JK Harris to resolve a state tax issue.Was assured by the initial represenative that this matter would be no problem for the company. I made a down payment of $350.00 and several monthly payments of $200.00.Case specialist assigned requested ceartain documents be submitted and these were. Requests by me for status updates were ignored. J K Harris was informed that due to their non-response in this matter, I would make no future payments and requested a refund of monies paid and return of personal documents that were mailed to them. These requests have been ignored and no contact has been made by J K Harris in this matter.
Due to a lack of J K Harris doing anything the state involved obtained a judgment against me for a significant sum of money. I would not recommend the use of this company by anyone. Their only care seems to be in receiving payments for work not performed.
Jill of Mahopac NY (09/25/07)
Its funny
Same complaints as everyone else
They took 18 months to submit an OFC and requested the same information five or six times over and over. They did not submit the state and fed at the same time even though they needed the exact same info. The power of attorney kept changing, the only forced me to incure an increase in the intreset, penalties, and compound interest to an unreasonable level. THey are slow and require a baby sitting service for their consultants.
Marcia of Capitol Heights MD (09/17/07)
At the time my problem was a simple one, I had made a mistake on my 2005 tax form and IRS wanted blood to prove it was a mistake. Out of frustration I turned to J.K. Harris after seeing their ad on TV promising to end my nightmare. Within months of paying them over $1,500.00 my social security check was garnished, my part-time wages on my job were garnished and my checking account was frozen. In a panic I contacted their office and was told someone would contact me immediately. In the meantime, IRS was wiping me out. I couldn't wait, I had to deal with IRS myself. In the meantimne, they had my money and I ended up doing all the work which took me over a year to straighten out. My credit is ruined and I am just beginning to deal with that. Instead of them relieving me of my tax nightmares they changed the nightmare to JK Harris nightmares. Something has to be done. I am on a fixed income and this just isn't fair. I can't believe they have been allowed to get away with this for so long.
Rick of Mckinney TX (08/09/07)
I hired JK Harris to file our 2006 taxes and work on our behalf with the IRS. We paid roughly about $800 and received nothing but very poor service. They couldn't get our 2006 taxes correct and even sent us another person's w2 with his social security number on it. When we ask for a refund they stop communicating all expect their credit arm which keeps calling asking when will we pay.
Gloria of Akron OH (06/10/07)
i contacted them concerning my irs billing/ faxed all necessary infor including the pending lien action. i still expereinced the humiltation of a lien/ and had to negotiate an agreement wth the irs for my self they did not assist me in any way.
Barbara of Skiatook OK (05/07/07)
I signed a contract with J K Harris on 11/15/06. I called and cancelled before the 30 days were up, by phone and letter. I called JKH on 2/16/07. They did not return my call. I received a release from my contract on 2/20/07, which i mailed back to JKH on 2/21/07. I called again on 3/26/07. They did not return my call. The recording said call would be returned in 24 to 48 hours. They intend to keep $745.00 for work they say they have done, but i have not seen any paper work. I paid them $2,700 and they say they owe me 1,955.00 which i have yet to see.
Christine of Westminster CA (05/03/07)
We paid $4,525 in 2004 and have received absolutely no services. When we mentioned this concerned to JK Harris, they responded that they had already begun working on our case. We contacted representatives from the IRS to verify this claim and confirmed that they had NEVER contacted the IRS.
We have been simply asking for a refund of our original payment and have received minimal response and ultimately an offer to refund about two thirds of our original $4,525. Until this day, we have received no refund and no service. Our penalties continue to rise and accrue.
Stephen of Gresham OR (04/19/07)
I went to JK Harris for help with my tax problem- I paid them about $3500.00. They have done absolutely nothing for me. I stopped making the $568.00 monthly payments and now I have them trying to collect the balance on the proposal amount that it would have cost me to get them to help me. I have bill collectors trying to collect money for services THEY NEVER PERFORMED! NOW I owe the IRS plus my master JK Harris.
Deborah of Vancouver WA (04/14/07)
I have escalated my issues to a supervisor on my specialist, and I all It has been almost 2 months and that's on top of the $370.00 I pay automatically to JK Harris.
Sylvia of Hollywood CA (04/06/07)
I went to JK Harris back in Sept. 2006 in hopes to settle my debt w/the IRS. They were so nice and helpful w/their promising words that they will help me remove my large debt w/the IRS. So... thinking this was actually the right thing to do, I put my down payment of about $850 which my daughter was kind enough to lend. After that, I set up an automatic debit of $218 to be taken off my account. Until this day they are still taking money, which is fine if they actually DO THEIR JOB!
I have had nothing but stress and frustration caused by my case specialist. She is careless, lack of follow up, no customer service, & above all, doesn't have a clue what she is doing. I have escalated my issues to a supervisor, and I all I get is them buying time. It has been almost 2 months and the IRS has but a levy and both my husband and my checks are being garnished for about $1000 a month. That's on top of the $218 I pay automatically to JK Harris. It is by far the worst I've had to deal with and so what do they do.
Kristen of Madison CT (04/03/07)
The IRS put a lien on my military pension in 1999. As soon as the lien was lifted (I owed about $3000), J.K. Harris' cooperation vanished. They asked for the same, identioal information and I spent hundreds of dollars, faxing what each representative asked for, again and again, above and beyond the over $1800, with interest, I had initially paid.
Connie of San Juan Capistrano CA (03/21/07)
Company is very responsive on the front end, untill they get you to sign the contract. In other words, high pressure sales. Once the contract is signed, they are harder to get hold of then IRS itself. For a 2000 and some dollar fee I have an expectation of a LOT more responsive customer service. Also, I would expect an itemized list of services performed. I thought I hired a firm to assist me in communicating and working out things with the IRS, instead I feel like I ran into a place that took my last $2000 and rendered no services, at least not to my knowledge. As a client of a firm that was given a power of attoerney top represent me with IRS, I believe I should be able to find out what services have been rendered, or actions taken in my name.
Now I'm left without resources for accounting or legal representation to resolve my case with IRS.
Mark of Shoreline, WA (01/31/07)
I contacted JK Harris when I got a notice from the IRS saying I owed around $40,000 from 2001. It should have been simple to fix as they put all my business income, without deductions, as personal income instead of a partnership, LLP.
Many calls and no call backs and when I would get hold of someone they would tell me my case was handed over to someone else. Finally I got a letter from the IRS that JK Harris was no longer representing me, by then my IRS bill was $50,000.
I contacted my accountant and he met with the IRS and they said they won't add any more penalties or interest for 3 months so I will have time to fix the problem. So far it has cost me about $10,000 in fees from IRS.
Ann of Long Beach CA (11/07/06)
I contacted them for IRS levies and they never provided the services they assured me that they would. I made several attempts to contact them via email and phone and my inquiries went unanswered until I emailed the president. I received a call from Ms. Garrett informing me that my representative had taken ill and that is why my account had not received processing. I asked for a refund back in August 2006. I received a general release letter, granting me a partial refund and I'm still waiting for the refund. I have yet to receive the payment or, an answer in regard to my refund.
As a result, I was losing over $1,000 per month which has resulted in me losing my apartment. I'm still paying the taxes that they were supposed to prepare the offer and compromise for. Once I receive the refund, I will get another company to clean up the mess, JK Harris failed to clean up.
John of Des Moines WA (10/24/06)
I received a CP-2000 for an enormous amount and freaked out over what the IRS was asking for. I called JK Harris, met a representative who really was just a glorified salesman. He maintained that he knew some of the tax code, but when I went in depth to the issues, and explained that the CP-2000 might be an IRS error, he laughed and said the IRS will come after me and if you simply put down $1500 now, we can make this go away. So I did.
I was then making monthly payments to JK Harris and in total spent $3000.00. On the side, I was working with an IRS Taxpayer Advocate and eventually, all but a few thousand dollars were stricken from the CP-2000. I surely feel that JK Harris should have been able to do this. When I called them and said I know longer needed their services (because they had up to then done nothing whatsoever except request documents of me), I was told I would get a refund. It has now been a year and dozens of phone calls and yet, no refund.
Getting a CP-2000 does not feel good, and it is easy to feel a lot of fear. I think the JK Harris salesman capitalized on this, sold me the package and that was it. I tried leaving him messages on his phone, to ask for help, and never got a return call back. I would say, attempt to file the OIC on your own. I see no value in what JK Harris has to offer, and their customer service and response time is abysmal.
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Kelly of Denver, CO (09/06/06)
We met with a JK Harris consultant in Denver and explained our tax situation. We told the consultant that time was of the essence because both my husband and I had received recent Notice of Intent to Levy's. The consultant assured me that JK Harris deals with this all the time. He asked for $500 and said they would get started immediately. I wrote a check for $500 that day.
The only other contact I have had with JKH was when I call to find out the status. Each time, they give a different excuse. A form needs to be re-faxed because they can't locate the one we gave the consultant on the 21st; it's no longer that person's department handling our case; and on and on.
In the meantime (months later), the IRS has now filed a Lien on me and a Wage Levy on my husband.
Ken of Oakbrook Terrace IL (09/02/06)
Sums up like this. I had an issue in 2001 for taxes owed. I went to see JK Harris and disclosed all of my financial information. They determined that they would be able to take my case to OIC with the IRS. $3000 they took and now 4 years later the IRS levied all of my assets today without warning. I never got any calls from this firm unless I called numerous times only to get no information. They did nothing, gave me forms directly from the IRS after 4 years as if I couldn't do that myelf. They never provided me with any work they had done on my behalf. And now i called and wrote the begging for help and they still wont return my plea.
Richard of Hilton NY (05/21/06)
We had tried to work with the IRS our self. But they wouldn't take our offer in compromise and the payment they wanted would have left us about $500.00 a month to live on. So we went to see Mr. Fenski who was working for J.K. Harris. We told him our story. He said that the IRS couldn't take our property, which is where we were living. He was sure that they could work something out with the IRS. He had worked for the IRS and knew they couldn't do this. So over about the next 10 months we paid them almost $1000.
When we got the notice that the IRS was auctioning our property in about a month, we called J.K.Harris as we were told to do if we got anything from them. After a week we called them again, and again. After two weeks they told my husband that there was nothing that they could do! Mind you that we were told my this man that they didn't take cases unless they were sure they could win. Well, May 4, 2006 they auctioned our property, with us setting there watching them. Not only were we horribly lied to, but were left open for the IRS to take the only place we have to live. And paid Harris for this.
Joe of Arlington, TX (04/11/06)
I received a Notice of Intent to Levy on back taxes. I went to JK Harris in an effort to get this resolved. I paid $500 up front and was pitched a credit repair deal for an additional $750, for a total contract of $3250.
JK Harris debited my bank account for a total of $1290 over 3 months. When I received the 2nd Notice of Intent to Levy I attempted to contact my account rep with no results. I finally contacted the IRS and was told that no one from JK Harris had made any attempt to contact them on my behalf.
Fortunately I was able to resolve my issues with the IRS myself. I emailed JK Harris and told them that I had spoken with the IRS, the following day a very nice IRS agent contaced me to let me know that someone representing JK Harris was requesting information on my account and did I want to go ahead and release the information. I declined and then requested a full refund from JK Harris. 2 weeks later I received a letter that said the request would be considered and that I would receive the answer in 30 -45 days. It has been over 60 and no check and no letter of decline.
From my experience this appears to be a serious case of conspiracy to commit fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud all perpetrated by personnel at JK Harris company.
Donna of Carrollton TX (03/25/06)
Paid JK Harris 2100.00 for nothing!! but fustration. Lost my paper work several times, no return calls, no urgency. Received lien on wages and property two years after hiring JK who did nothing. I ended up resolving my own offer in compromise since his office screwed the form up three times. I ended up settling for less than JK Harris said was a "very Good deal".
Catherine of El Dorado Hills CA (02/25/06)
On December 22, 2005, my paycheck was garnished, I got $347. Desperate for some assistance I found an ad indicating that JK Harris & Company was "the best", according to the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Pelle indicated that he would fax my Power of Attorney, to South Carolina, that night, so that it would be there in the morning, so they could get this levy released immediately.
After this JK Harris would help me repair my credit, help set a budget, etc. I sent in my budget, on January 6th, as requested, with a note that I could probably make it through the month. One of the "welcoming" clerks from the company had told me that the IRS had 30 days to respond to the request to release a levy, and would drag their feet until the 29th day. In the meantime, Mr. Pelle had set up debit withdrawal for payment, for February 1st. I told him that if JK Harris did not get the levy lifted before payday that there would be no money.
On February 1st, my account was hit for $176, and a second debit withdrawal of $123, both to an account that had $3.73 in it. On January 31st, I received a package, from my Tax Specialist (which she mailed on the 19th), indicating that I had not turned in all my budget information, which should have included three months proof of all my expenses. I called Mr. Pelle, wanting to know why this tax specialist had not even checked my file until almost 30 days after the power of attorney was sent? It was pointed out that this was my responsiblity, and that there was nothing she could do without this information. (As it turns out, the IRS didn't need this information, because my tax returns are current)
I have made phone calls to my tax specialist, sent emails, cc'ing Mr. Pelle, and no one has ever returned the calls or emails. Sixty days from my initial contact with the company, and afraid that I would have another garnished paycheck, I went down to the IRS myself. Within less than an hour my levy was released, and I had set up a very reasonable payment plan. The IRS was actually a delight to work with. The IRS problem is resolved, and their records show that in 60 days, JK Harris & Company had never talked with anyone regarding my account.
Norn of Nyc NY (02/24/06)
I received a notice of Intent To Levy from the IRS October 2005. I freaked out, and didn’t know what to do. I'd heard ads from JK HARRIS and they sounded as if they could help. I made an appointment for the very next day with JK HARRIS, to meet a representative named Ryan Goolcharan. Mr. Goolcharan looked over the Intent To Levy letter and went through a checklist of my financial information. Mr. Goolcharan told me that by signing Power Of Attorney over to JK HARRIS, I could prevent the levy and that the IRS would not be allowed to contact me or my employer.
Mr. Goolcharan also told me that, for a fee of $2100, he would be able to settle my tax debt for less than half of what I owed. I happily paid $500 down and signed a contract for an automatic monthly deduction of $180 plus a $10 processing fee (though I didn’t find out about the "processing fee" till later). I relaxed, thinking I had taken a positive step towards resolving my financial problems, and breathed a sigh of relief thinking that I'd stopped the levy.
My first sign that something was amiss was when I tried to contact Mr. Goolcharan for an update on my case was told that my new "caseworker' would be Mr. Huffines. I asked to be connected with him and she connected me to his voicemail. I left a message telling him that I'd just been informed that he was my new caseworker and I was calling for an update on my case. I left my name, ss3 and to phone #s where he could reach me. I didn’t hear back from Mr. Huffines, so a week later I called him again. Mr. Huffines couldn’t really give me any details of my case, telling me that they were just waiting for the IRS to "get back" to them, and that I shouldn’t worry.
Then I received another INTENT TO LEVY notice! I immediately called Mr. Huffines and said that I'd been told that by granting JK HARRIS POWER OF ATTORNEY, I'd be preventing the levy and that the IRS would have to channel all communications through JK HARRIS. Mr. Huffines assured me that this was the case and seemed genuinely puzzled that the IRS had bypassed JK HARRIS.
Well, as you can imagine, the levy took place, leaving me with only $325 per pay period!!!! I called Mr. Huffines, crying, to tell him that the levy had taken place. Mr. Huffines told me to fax him 3 months worth of bank statements, my most recent pay stub, my tax returns and copies of my rent and utility bills. He said that he would present these to the IRS to show that the levy would cause me hardship and that the IRS would then release the levy. I faxed all the requested information and waited. Then I called Mr. Huffines to get an update. Lo and behold, his phone number no longer connects me to him, but to a Mr. Rhodes voicemail. I explain my situation and leave numbers so that he can reach me. He never returns my calls.
I finally reach him and he tells me that Mr. Huffines is no longer with the firm so I recap the entire JK HARRIS story for Mr. Rhodes and he tells me "oh, we can’t stop a levy!", and he chuckles as if I should have known better! He then tells me that I need to re-do my 2001 taxes (the taxes that have caused all this trouble) and fax the completed returns to him before he can take any action. I do this. I leave more voicemails for him, with no replies. Out of desperation, I call the IRS myself. They tell me that they have no record that they have EVER heard from JK HARRIS on my behalf!!!! "Besides", the IRS rep tells me "You don’t need them you can just settle this yourself. They can’t do anything that you can’t do"
So today, I call Mr. Rhodes again to confirm what I’ve heard from the IRS rep. He asks "Oh is the levy against you already active?" and I THOUGHT MY HEAD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!! This is my caseworker and he sent familiar with the MOST BASIC ASPECT OF MY CASE?!?!?!?!?! "YES!!!!" I scream. "well, fax me that NOTICE OF LEVY, but do it before 4, because I’m leaving early to go to the beach this weekend!" so here I am, on the verge of suicide, on the verge of eviction, the only way I've been able to eat the past week is my coworkers are bring me their leftovers, bless them... and this man from this company that I've already paid $1900 to COULD NOT CARE LESS. JK HARRIS is a huge waste of money. I wish that I had just contacted the IRS right from the beginning...but I was scared and I thought I was doing something smart. I WAS A SUCKER.
Desmond of Alton NH (01/31/06)
I've been working with jk harris for over a year and ahalf to take care of my back taxes and have gotten nowhere except liens against me from the IRS now totaling over $13,000.
Donald of Acworth GA (01/23/06)
Paid almost $3000.00 over a 12-month period and no work was done... Even a simple tax return was not done correctly, but the major thing for an IRS/tax settlment issue was not done.. It took me calling them after 8 months to find out my entire file had been lost.. However the paperwork for auto deductions from my checking account to pay them did not get lost.. What a waste of time and effort on my part.
Cassandra of Fort Worth TX (01/23/06)
Went to JK Harris with intentions of filing bankruptcy to clear up my tax and credit problems. They convinced us that we did not need to file bankruptcy and put us in their credit repair program instead. After paying over 1500 dollars on a 5600 dollar plan, our car was reposessed and we received an eviction noticed. We ended up filing bankruptcy with a different company just in time to keep our car from being sold at the auction. JK Harris our money and left us in a worst position than we were already in. Even though they are included in our bankruptcy, they continue to harass us claiming that we still owe them 4600 dollars.
Nancy of Bronx NY (01/12/06)
On January 11, I discovered a “pre-authorized” debit was deducted from my account for the amount of $200.00. On October 11, 2005 I met with Ryan G regarding issues I have with my Federal and State taxes. After discussing my options, I choose a plan where my federal and state would be combined I would pay a monthly installment of $88.00 which would be deducted out of my account. When I received a “welcome” call, I was told the contract I signed was only for the Federal and the services would not cover the State. Hence a second visit was scheduled and now Ryan G disappeared and I was assigned to see David W. Mr. W not only fabricated dollar amounts for services, but offered me services that I did not need at the time. He offered a contract for Financial Recovery Services that went along with my state package.
Going forward, I signed this contract. I called Mr. W and asked him to void the Financial Recovery Services and re-contract me for the State ONLY. After several attempts, he finally returned my call, assuring me this contract would be VOID and in place a new contract would take its place. ON JANUARY 11, THERE WAS A “PRE-AUTHORIZE” DEBIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $200 FROM JK HARRIS AND FINANCIAL RECOVER SERVICES. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THIS DEBIT. I DID NOT ASK FOR THESE SERVICES AND THIS CONTRACT THAT WAS NULL AND VOID WAS HONORED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION OR AUTHORIZATION.
Yvette of Salt Lake City UT (12/30/05)
I owe the fed. gov. $6000.00 debt. .JK Harris said they could get me out for pennies on the dollar. I gave them $1750.00 +$500.00 that I was to pay the gov. this was 2003 -- now in 2005 my pay checks are being levied. JK Harris did nothing for me, But cost me a lot of money and a lot of headache.
Dionne of Piedmont SC (12/27/05)
I went to the so-called local JK Harris office in Greenville to seek help with tax problems. I gave them a check for $245.00 deposit to start work for me on September 15, 2005. The money was drafted from my account on October 3, 2005. I faxed and mailed a cancellation letter to them on October 6, 2005 because I never heard from a case specialist. After calling several times and never reaching anyone, someone from the review and oversight department told me they received my letter 10/13/05 and I would receive a refund in the mail 45 business days later.
I was patient and waited. On November 21 I was told by Jill T (I saved the message) that I would receive a refund by December 16, 2005. I never received it nor would anyone return my phone calls or messages to give me any information. Finally, after calling everyday and dialing different extentions I was told by someone a refund letter had been sent on 12/21/05. When I got the letter it read I did not require a refund because of a welcome call and credit reports were ordered, none of which I received. I want my entire $245.00 back because their services were never rendered.
Yolanda of Bedford OH (12/19/05)
I spoke with Curtis in regards to refunding my money of $1100. I initially signed up with JK Harris to help prevent a garnishment regarding an eviction. Not only were they not able to stop the eviction but also said they would not be able to be able to repair my credit which they promised in their sales pitch. So not only did I end up paying 25% of my paycheck for entire year but also the $92 a month charge they deducted out of my checking acct. Curtis only agrees to pay around $462 after I sign a form full of legal jargon and mail back to them. Probably to prevent any legal action.
Jamie of Bonney Lake WA (11/15/05)
I received a letter in the mail in August 2004 from JK Harris stating that they could help me with my defaulted student loan. I made an appointment and met with Rick Hane in the Tacoma office on September 28, 2004. At that time I was assured that there should be no problem helping me with this service. Due to my circumstances the loan would probably be dischageable.
At that I time I wrote 2 checks both for $195.00 each. 1 to be paid on 9/28/04 and 1 to be paid on 10/28/04 as part of the intitial fee to start the process. In addition to that I had to set up a direct debit from my checking account for $79.50 each month plus a $3.00 fee for another 10 months. A few days later I got the welcome letter and forms I need to fill out and sign. I returned them and waited.
A while later I called and talked to Paige to see what was going on and was told they needed more information from me. I needed to sent in all my tax return information and all my student loan documentation. I mailed them all that information. About a month went by and I hadn't heard anything so I decided to call again. When I called my case had been transfered to some else. They said they never received the information I mailed so I faxed 70 pages to there office. Finally...after an imediate follow up call they were able to proceed.
They issued a letter for discharge that came back as not applicable to my situation??? I started getting harrassing, mean phone calls at home and at work. So I called again to find out what they were doing about my case and my case again had been transffered to Jessica. I reported all these phone calls and sent the letters I receiving in the mail to Jessica. I was reassured over and over again that this was going to be taken care of, that they could not garnish my wages..etc..
Jessica then filed another discharge letter in 9/05, a year later, that came back denied as well. In the process of that letter I sent her the intent to garnish my wages letter that the collection agency had sent to me. On the letter it gave a date that this needed to be addressed by. The second discharge letter came back denied as well on 10/24/05. On 11/14/05 my employer received a garnishment.
I never received a phone call fron Jessica after receipt of the denied discharge os even a letter. I called Jessica on 11/14/05 and left a voicemail for her about the garnishment. On 11/15/05 I called Jessica again and once again the only thing she could tell me is that my case had been transferred to Gail. When I called and talked to Gail she said there was really nothing they could do now that the garnishment was in place, unless I could pay 3 months up front.
So, now I am having 20% of my monthly income garnished and alls what they can tell me is sorry!!!! I have taken the day off work to try to get to the bottom of this and apparently there are no supervisors or management at JK Harris becuase nobody knows who they are. I am so upset that after paying them about $1200.00 it took them over a year to file 2 discharge letters and get my wages garnished mean while the intrest on my student loan has been accruing. I will NEVER suggest them to anyone I know!!!
Steve of Colorado Springs CO (10/30/05)
I have paid JK Harris close to $1000 and have not had squat done. I've had to send tax papers twice, and nobody will call me back. I've dealt with the IRS and state taxes to try to get levies lifted. I cannot believe I'm paying this out, and doing all this myself....Never again!
Jeffrey of Gaithersburg MD (08/25/05)
I made an agreement for JK Harris to help me overcome an IRS bill that was not legally applied to me on 11-24-04. After I paid them a fee of $1,250 and doing no research, they advised me to let them get a small monthly settlement payment with the IRS. This was not what the salesperson and I spoke about. In any event, JK Harris received a cancellation letter from me on June 22nd, 2005. They have performed zero work for me and I have cancelled the agreement per the conditions of the agreement.
It has now been 65 days since they received my letter and I have proof of delivery from the post office of the delivery. They will not return my phone calls or emails and I want my refund immediately. My Desired Resolution: Because of not performing for me any service whatsoever and obviously "hiding out" from processing the refund in a timely manner, I require a full refund of $1,250 received by Aug 30th, 2005. An additional late fee of $25 on aug 31st and $25 per week thereafter to be added if not paid by that time.
Angelita of Chicago IL (07/27/05)
I enlisted the services of JK Harris to resolve a tax issue I have with the IRS. When I was contacted by them they promised the world, claiming that they can get the back taxes reduced, penalties, fees waived. Everything that people told me was too good to be true. The individual I talked to was a savvy business man on a North Michigan Avenue address and he was going to work the numbers and have all these things resolved.
Well, nothing has been resolved except the fact that they have fraudulently continued to take money out of my checking account with out authorization from me to do so. I am completely disgusted that I fell for this. When I have tried to call individuals, they never or weeks later return my calls. You never get a person on the line only voicemail. I really feel that the Attorney General's Office needs to look into these individuals.
Lori of Casco ME (07/19/05)
My fiance paid $2400 for an Offer in Compromise that he never qualified for. The so-called salesperson should have been able to determine this from the start. But that is not the way JK Harris works. There were many unreturned phone calls, lost paperwork, and a letter received from JK Harris closing my account before the IRS even made a final decision. After requesting a refund from the 'Review and Oversight Dept' and waitng 45 days, they still couldn't bother to respond.
David of Grapevine, TX (9/7/05):
On June 22, 2005, I received a Notice of Intent to Levy from the IRS and on that same day I made an appointment to meet with Adam at the Fort Worth office of JK Harris. We gave Adam the Notice along with a great deal of other financial information so that JK Harris could file an Offer in Compromise on our behalf and prevent the Levy from taking place.
We signed an agreement for their services at a cost of approximately $3,800.00. Additionally, we contracted with them to provide us with Financial Recovery services at a cost of approximately $900.00. We were told that we needed to provide the necessary documentation for the OIC to their office in 7 days. We gathered the required documentation and delivered it to them on the 7th day (June 30, 2005).
We received a few letters from their office in SC thanking us for our patronage, but no real work from them until August. On August 16, 2005, the IRS followed through on their Intent to Levy by levying all the money in my bank account ($1,460.72). This money was needed to pay bills including electricity and water, but fortunately for JK Harris, they automatically debited their $358.00 payment on the 15th, so they still got paid!
We immediately contacted JK Harris, speaking to Meka, about this situation on August 16th. We were told that they would contact the IRS and would attempt to get the levy waived. After waiting two days for a credit to our account, I contacted the IRS myself. I asked if JK Harris had contacted them to "work this out" and was told that no one from JK Harris had contacted them. After spending the next 2 hours on the phone with a couple of IRS representatives, I was able to get the levy released. I also was able to provide enough information to the IRS to get a reduced payment plan that was less than what I was paying JK Harris.
The following day, we began the process of canceling our services with JK Harris tax recovery and JK Harris FRS. On August 22, 2005, we received an e-mail from Autumn at JK Harris FRS informing us that she had received our cancellation and would process it. However on September 1, 2005, another $135.50 was debited out of our bank account.
We contacted JK Harris on September 7, 2005, about the debit and were told by Kurt that we needed to fill out yet another form before they could credit our account. This would take approximately 7 business days.
At this point, I'm wondering if we're going to have a similar situation with the tax recovery services on the 15th. I am going to have to close my bank account in order to prevent JK Harris from literally driving me into bankruptcy.
I have paid JK Harris tax recovery a total of $658.00 to date and JK Harris FRS has been paid $371.00 to date. I have also racked up $372.00 in NSF fees from my bank. For the $1,401.00 that I paid to JK Harris, I have received no substantive services.
James of Mineral Ridge OH (4/12/04):
My mother paid $4,000 to help resolve my past tax problems. I moved around a lot and never filed a couple of years. They promised to file the years I failed to file and obtain the W2 information needed to do this. My girlfriend ended up filing the paperwork as JK Harris sent in forms only half-filled. They fail to work with any sense of urgency even months after I signed up. They wouldn't reply in a timely manner to my phone messages, letters or emails.
The BBB shows them in good standing but refused to help me get at least half of my mother's money back. You'd do better to invest your $4000 in the Lotto than with J.K. Harris. The $4,000 my mother gave me to resolve my back taxes is gone and I still have years of taxes that J.K. Harris was supposed to file that I am paying penalties on.
Patrick of Winter Park FL (1/28/04):
On approximately 7/31/03 I entered into a contract where they were to represent me with my tax problems with the IRS and with my financial recovery. They had set a fee of $2,250.00 for the tax side and approximately $1,000.00 for the financial recovery. I agreed to pay J.K. Harris $250.00 down, which I did pay, and $200.00 a month for help with the IRS. As for the financial recovery I was to pay $80.00 per month separate from the $200.00 per month. After entering into these two contracts I was to provide J.K. Harris with tax records and all documents pertaining to my indebtness, which I did do.
Shortly afterwards I became ill and had to be hospitalized. I lost time from work with no pay. Since the agreed upon amounts mentioned above were to deducted from my checking each month I contacted the J.K. Harris and explained the funds would not be available and not to deduct them until a few days, later due to me having to have the funds transferred from another account. The Representative, Ms Lee, who was supposed to handle my account did not return any of my messages therefore I had to go to her supervisor. I was advised they could not stop the automatic deduction and that I would have to close my checking account which I did.
I got a bill from J. K. Harris for a $30.00 stop payment and an additional $20.00 from my bank. I tried for several days to have Ms Lee return my call which she never did. When I finally got word to Ms Lee she did not call the numbers I left where she could reach me. She called and left one message on my home number which I told her office I would not be there until after 10:00 P.M. each day. After playing phone tag for two weeks I finally got Ms Lee out of a meeting and she advised me that my best solution would be to file bankruptcy.
J.K. Harris had not even spoken to me regarding my financial issues but insisted I continue to pay my monthly fee for the services I was not afforded. At this point I terminated my agreement regarding financial recovery but continued seeking tax relief from the IRS. I was assigned to a lady named Ruth Jameson who I had left numerous messages with to no avail. I provided all tax information as requested but still no return calls. In the meantime J.K. Harris placed my account over to collections.
I called and explained that they had not lived up to there end of the agreement to represent me and that when I saw that I was going to recieve help I would resume payment. I was getting collection notices from the IRS in the meantime. Finally after approximately two months Ms Jameson called me to tell me she was out sick and had just stopped by to pick her messages up and that she would work on my file the following week. Two weeks went by and I heard nothing. Finally I spoke to Ms Jameson and she told me her grand mother had "passed" and she would be out for a few days. In the meantime IRS was coming down on me hard.
I explained to the IRS agent what I was doing and they told me I had to file certain documents with them so that no further action would be taken until a full review could be made. I called Ms Jameson and she told me the IRS could not contact me that they had advised I.R.S. that J.K. Harris was handling my request for compromise. After calling the IRS they said no such report had been filed by J.K. Harris and I was due to have levies placed against me any day. I called Ms Ruth Jameson back again and left mesasages after messages. Finally Ms Jameson told me she had sent the forms to IRS but since I stopped paying on my account she could not help me.
I sent $848.00 to bring my account up to date. Ms Jameson verified that the money had been received and she would be sending me certain documents for me to review, sign and return. I was told they were going out Fed Ex the next day. The documents dd not come the next day, two days later or even a week later. I called back and left messages after messages regarding the lack of receipt thereof. Ms Jameson told me she had to rework my file and add some more detail and that I would get them in a couple of days. After a week went by and I had not recieved the documents again I called and called but no return calls.
As a result I have been turned over to collections and the IRS is on the dawn of taking all my assets, garnishing my wages and the money I have paid is for nothing. The mental anguish is more than I can bear.
Roberto of Sao Paulo, Brazil (6/10/03):
I sent JK Harris my 2001 tax returns in July. I have not heard anything from them. Up until that time, I was in contact with a Mr. Cliff W. Since I live outside of the US, it is impossible to enter in contact via their 800 number. At the end of May I was in the US can called JK Harris, where I was finally attended by a gentleman by the name of Irwin M. This was on Monday, May 19. I was told that they would have a reply on the status of my taxes by Wednesday 21, or Thursday 22 at the latest. By the end of business Thursday, it was I who had to call them to ask about my taxes. They had no response and asked to call back Friday.
I called back Friday and they had no response and I was told that I would receive a call by the end of business to give me an update. I was also told by Mr. Miller that if I was not called, I would receive an e-mail the following week providing me with the necessary information. Again, no call and to date, no e-mail. Since last week I have been sending e-mails on a daily basis requesting some information. I have received no reply from JK Harris.
Damage Resulting: Fines related to late filing of my taxes, and possible non-recogniiton of my form 2115 (paid foreign taxes).
Robert of St. Charles MO (7/26/01):
I am having a tough time with this tax resolution company (JK Harris) that did not do what their contract said they would (or anything at all for that matter) and caused me to get garnished by the IRS for over $3600, which started a domino effect in my life that has caused me to be evicted and has ruined my credit since I couldn't pay all my bills for quite some time. I had just re-established the credit after a bankruptcy and now it is ruined again.
To cover the $3600 deficit in my income caused by the garnishment that wasn't supposed to happen by signing up with this company, I was floating several payday loans at once and going deeper and deeper in debt. I finally was able to retire those, but I am still behind on everything except utilities because of what they didn't do. They were supposed to act as my POA (Power of Attorney) in negotiations with the IRS to do an 'offer and compromise' for back-taxes I owed. I signed a one year loan agreement with them for $3500 to perform the services, but then immediately took out a 3-yr loan at a finance company so I wouldn't have to pay off the $3500 in one year. I then paid them off in full before I even got the coupon book.
Unfortnately, JK Harris kept sending me notices saying they couldn't work on my account until I had paid my installments due, and if I didn't pay them immediately, I could be garnished since they were not my POA and were not working on my account with the IRS as promised in their contract. I called them and told them I had already paid. They would tell me they would look into it and not to worry if I was correct in what I kept telling them. I even offered to send them the cancelled check.
I wouldn't hear anything from them until a month later asking for another installment when I had already paid the account in full MONTHS prior to the letter. The back and forth with them on this issue became very frustrating! I was finally garnished in August, 5 months after I had paid them to stop that from happening, and after I had called them several times telling them I had already paid them in full so they could start work with the IRS on my account.
When I called them to tell them about the garnishment, they then told me they had figured out the problem and that they had verified I paid in full. However, they then tried to tell me they couldn't work on my account because I had not sent in the paperwork (past tax year information for years IRS was coming after me for), which I had sent in to them when I sent in the check to pay in full. I even have the AIRBORNE receipt showing I sent it and it was received! She then told me they had fired the guy that was working my account for not working his files and not performing the work he was supposed to. She sounded embarrassed when telling me that, but she had the gall to do so! It was one run-around after another! But she said she still needed copies of my records to proceed and asked me to resubmit them.
I told her I needed to talk with the IRS first since they had already garnished me and I cannot afford ANYTHING coming out of my check, let alone $900+ per paycheck (over 75% of net income). I then talked with the IRS and they told me the quickest way to get released was to work with them which is what I did and got it released -- TWO months later!! I then demanded my money back from JK Harris. I told them I felt I could sue them for a lot more for their incompetency and fumbling of my account which caused a horrible domino effect on my life, but I told them if they just refunded my money I would not pursue further legal action against them. The $3500 would almost make up for the $3600 taken and I could get caught up on all my bills and that would satisfy me just to get out of this nightmare they put me in.
I figured if I made that simple request, simple since they never did a MINUTE of work on my account except to harass me for money I ALREADY paid them, I would be more likely to get a refund. I was told via e-mail they were considering my request, then I got a letter in the mail a few days ago telling me my refund has been denied because I did not send them the paperwork that I had ALREADY SENT them once before.
There are MANY people out there in serious financial and emotional trouble because of the IRS, and companies like these are preying on us and trying to take advantage of us in vulnerable situations. I did consider suicide when garnished and had to go on Paxil for severe depression that I am just now starting to come out of. I think if I get my money back from them, it will help even more. I don't want to get a lawyer involved because they will want a third of the money to even take the case without retainer, and I don't have the money to afford to put one on retainer for this.
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