Complaint Review: H&R Block Emerald Card

My husband went in to have our taxes done, as per usual, while I stayed home to bathe our toddler and put her to bed. He called to tell me I'd have to come in and sign, and when I got there, they'd told me our taxes were ready, and we'd be receiving our refund on an Emerald Card. I asked why, since in the past we'd always had our money deposited directly into our account, and the woman preparing our taxes told us that it was easier this way; we'd get our money faster, and we could start using our temporary card right away.

I still didn't like the idea, and when she sensed that I wasn't happy with this option, she told me quite sternly that my husband had already agreed to it, and "otherwise we'll have to start this all over again." Since my toddler was already cranky and exhausted, I felt like I really didn't have much choice. I asked her if there were any tricks or hidden fees associated with this card, and she looked me right in the eye and said, "No."

She lied to my face.

There are lots of hidden fees. Lots of tricks. On top of the $200 we already paid H&R Block just to have our taxes done, we've lost probably $20 just in trying to use this card. I'm so angry about it that I've considered reporting them to the BBB for this obviously predatory behavior. I was coerced and lied to, forced to get a card I neither wanted nor needed. When I went to my bank with this card, they told me there was a $25 cash advance fee, there are ATM fees, the card isn't useable at all locations... I'm so frustrated with the thing that even though there's still money on it, I can't be bothered to try and use it. This is a scam, and the woman who cheated us out of our money ought to be prosecuted for her actions. I will never go back to H&R Block, and I'll be telling everyone I know to avoid them, too.