H & R Block/ Emerald Card Scam, There's no way to withdrawal all your tax refund from their card River Rouge Michigan
Last year(2007) we got a refund anticipation loan from H&R Block, and had it placed on the Emerald card. A prepaid debit card. We had no problems, we were able to go to the bank and withdrawal the entire refund for a $15 fee. This year(2008) we did the same thing, except now we can't withdrawal the money because the card is not "PERSONALIZED", it doesn't have our name embossed on it. They didn't tell us this at the H & R block office, we found out at the bank when they refused to completet the transaction. Block says we can go to an ATM and withdraw the maximum daily limit : $ 300. They charge a fee at th ATM of $1.85 plus the ATM's fee.
Now I already paid H & R Block a boat load of fees when filing the taxes and getting the loan. This year they removed the ability to get your money without paying them even more fees. They tout these RALs as a useful tool for low income people but these are the people least able to afford the fees. I just think it's predatory. And next year I won't be going to Block for anything.
Fred
River Rouge, Michigan
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
theman1989
United States of AmericaEasy Fix
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, February 08, 2012
http://www.hrblock.com/bank/pdfs/emerald_card_transfer_request.pdf
You have to fiil out form but you can get money on. Just not as cut and dry like other cards.
Speakingfromexperience
Central,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Helpful advice from similar experience
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 29, 2008
Just wanted to let you know, we have also experienced a great deal of frustration with the Emerald Card. Ours is more extreme than yours, but I can share some helpful information I gained today on my 2 hour 14 min call to them.
You may only withdraw a max of $500.00 / ATM withdrawal or the max allowed by that particular ATM (H&R allows $500.00/ withdrawal). Yes, they do stick you with a $ 1.85 fee + atm fees; BUT WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU UNLESS YOU ASK is that any emerald card member can make 7 withdrawals of $500.00 /day. You'll still pay the $1.85 to h&r + atm fees, but today, I was able to call around to various banks to obtain their "atm withdrawal limit" and found several that were $500 and was able to do four transactions back to back for $2000.00 to empty out the checking on our emerald card.
You are lucky if you didn't open the emerald savings. Myself and two hundred million others are still waiting for them to fix the "glitch" they claim to be fixing on their system that has prevented any of us from seeing the money the IRS "direct deposited" into these savings accounts over 10 days ago!
The rep I spoke with in "card support services" today said (during the 2 + hour phone call I had today) that they had an unforeseen "glitch" and that the main bank was processing 14,000 customers a minute to attempt to correct it! They could only guarantee that the funds would be available to us by Friday! Fifteen days at that point. Extremely sad that the IRS took half the time of H & R.
We personally think they were trying to save cash on the 4.5% interest they guaranteed all of us. Two hundred million people and 10 + extra days avoiding paying us interest means more money for H & R ...more than a little "convenient unforseen glitch" if you ask me.
We've had it with H & R as well! We feel like we paid $675.00 to file our return for the eighth year in a row.....only to get the crapiest service BIG money can buy!
Good luck to you!
Melissa
Latrobe,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Good Idea
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, January 26, 2008
It is SO easy to file taxes yourself! You really should try it next year!
I used to work at H&R Block, and it amazed me how many people paid through the nose to have someone do this straightforward and easy paperwork. Especially people who took the RAL's.
Even if you have to wait the 8-15 days to get your refund direct deposited after you efile, you save a TON of cash doing it yourself.
You can even file for FREE if you qualify for the IRS Freefile program.