H&R Block Angers Thousands With Software Issues That Delay Returns

The OCC’s 11th hour timing will make it difficult for us to put alternative products in place at all of our locations in time for the early part of the 2011 tax season, said HRB’s chief executive officer Alan Bennett.

“Millions of taxpayers will be deprived of credit, or they will be forced to use higher-priced alternatives.”

H&R Block said it will continue to provide its refund-anticipation checks (RACs) which don’t require any out-of-pocket costs by taxpayers.

A move that cost H&R Block millions in fees last year, and now H&R block was caught with its shorts down as forms are not ready, programming is in shambles, and wait time to get help from the service department runs in to days as tax payers using the online system are told the taxes have been accepted when filing electronically, then later, they are told the files have not been accepted when the batch is processed, again and again, and again.  While the service department tells users that H&R Block is working on it, re-programming, trying to get forms on line, and then at last giving users a half off refund, meanwhile, those who need the cash can’t get it.

Jan West, “they have my taxes so screwed up, the numbers change on the refund each time i file it, its stuck in the system, and now i’m afraid to just file it on paper, I AM SICK.”

And if you talk to H&R Block, they will tell you it’s all good.

H&R Block analysts suggest the lies mask the fear that the one time tax Giant is losing ground to competitors like Jackson Hewett and  Turbo Tax.

In the mean time Jan west warns, “Go anywhere but H&R Block online.”

Electronic Income Tax Filing has been around longer than the modern Internet, starting in 1987, when about 800 people used the test system, and quickly growing to millions as the old paper and pen accountants adopted the technology. The filing method was created to eliminate the need for workers at the IRS who had to be hired and trained yearly.  If a form is entered to the system by Tuesday , the user will have a check in 10 days, or the following Friday or Saturday, based on if the user gets a check a deposit, or money card.

Consumer advocates however disagree with what are called refund loans, a loan where the money from the government pays off the loan, however the fees to process the loan is around 50.00 or more, which based on the loan amount over a three week period adds up to be more than 1000% interest annualized.

This is why the government has moved to halt the loans, and partly why HSBC stopped lending, under pressure from the government, to spite the fact that money in the economy helps ease the recession woes this time of year.

But for many this year will be a long wait if H&R Block does not soon fix its issues.

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