Tax Ready rip-off ..guaranteed bunch of bull *UPDATE ..thank you Rip-offReport.com, full refund on it's way!
I joined National Audit Defense Network (NADN) about November, 1999, and have been pretty satisfied with them. A year later, a telemarketer from their sister company, "Tax Coach dba Tax Ready", called me.
I bought a package (via American Express) from Tax Ready: for $495, they would prepare my year 2000 return and give me "aggressive" tax planning that would save me $5000 in tax deductions. The salesman actually said he "guaranteed" it.
In February and March, I tried, unsuccessfully, to contact my tax preparer by e-mail and phone, to ask questions and give her my information.
In March, I used home computer software to figure out my tax return. Then I started asking for a refund since Tax Ready people don't return my phone calls and I didn't believe Tax Ready could save me enough money to be worthwhile. Their customer service people also didn't reply to many of my messages.
On Monday, 04/02/2001, I spoke to a new tax preparer, Sabrina, who said she was starting to work on my return that day and could have it done by Thursday. But since I was asking for a refund, her boss told her not to do it.
A Tax Ready compliance officer, Jeff, called and I summarized my complaints. He made an offer: if they could not find enough additional tax deductions to save my cost of $495, he would return my money, and do my 2001 tax return for free. I accepted his offer.
On Thursday, 04/05, she told me my final total tax payment - $42 more than I figured myself. The next day, Jeff and Sabrina called me and after some discussion he said to expect my refund in three to five business days. They said they would NOT give me my tax return in this case. I printed my own copy and rushed to send it to the IRS myself.
On 04/19, there was still no change to my Amex bill. I submitted a dispute with the American Express website, last week they decided against me. I am waiting for a letter of explanation.
I've also sent a complaint to the Southern Nevada BBB, which Tax Ready answered with about 4 sentences.
On Thursday 05/03, I reached another customer service rep. He told me that management had decided NOT to refund my money because they have done so much work for me.
So they have used a Catch-22 on me - first, I would get my refund if I let them do the work; now, I won't get my refund because they did do the work.
To keep this brief, I left out the immense frustration I've gotten from all the times I called and someone said they would call back, and never did.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
...you stepped in and they agreed to a full refund the next business day".
#40
Tue, June 26, 2001
Ed,
It worked - I got a call from Joe Graziano in Client Services. His boss told him to give back $495, by check if I prefer, sent Priority mail.
Meanwhile, I'll be referring people to you as much as possible -I have "spent many hours over a two-month period, got no satisfaction from the BBB or the credit-card company, you stepped in and they agreed to a full refund the next business day".
Jim
TaxReadySucks@aol.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 16:14:31 EDT
*UPDATE ..Summary of time and ALL expenses:
#40
Fri, June 22, 2001
Summary of time and ALL expenses:
Emails to Mary Orie (never answered) in February and March
question on vehicle depreciation, download, edit and email tax forms and worksheets that I filled out in Kiplinger Taxcut
......1.5 hours
Phone calls to Mary Orie, Jeff Eberhardt, Christine Morano
John Iverson (approx 1 out of 3 calls returned)
......0.5 hours
Follow-up calls to Sabrina, Scott Cook
......0.5 hours
Fax tax return to Sabrina (filled in entire return myself)
download and edit forms and worksheets from Kiplinger Taxcut to reduce number of pages first send by email, follow-up call,
then send by fax long-distance
......1.0 hours
S. Nevada BBB form Download and fill out form, write initial letter about my complaint write 2-page reply to Tax Ready's response
......1.0 hours
File a dispute with American Express Co. edit my complaint to fit in billing website follow-up visits to website and phone calls to customer service
......1.0 hours
Letter to Congressman Holt initial call to Congressman's office
edit and rewrite my complaint, mail follow-up phone calls to Congressman's assistant
......1.0 hours
Consult with lawyer Richard Simon call Lawplan for authorization number initial phone call to Simon's office
......0.5 hours
Email complaints to NADN customer service
......0.5 hours
Post complaints on various websites read through each website, edit complaints for each
......1.5 hours
Phone consultation with Rip-offRevenge.com, organize and write bill
......0.5 hours
Voluntary donation to badbusinessbureau.com for help
......$50.00
::::::::::::::::::::::
Total time: 9,5 hours
@ $45/hour: $427.50
Donation ...$ 50.00
Postage and long-distance phone charges
....approx. $5.00
Tax Ready
......Package $495
......TOTAL REFUND DUE $977.00
NOTICE:
Every day that goes by, there will be additional costs incurred.
**Work done by Tax Ready No coaching session Prior years tax returns reviewed, no changes were recommended, (duplicating work already done by NADN) Tax return possibly done by copying my numbers, and disallowing $150 in deductions, claiming I would
**No tax return sent to me or the IRS Possibly did my 2000 tax return by copying my numbers, then disallowed some deductions to increase tax that I owe.
**No explanation for changes to 2000 tax return.
**Sent me filing extension forms since they were so late in doing my 2000 tax return.
BBB Response to my complaint .. My Respomse
#40
Fri, June 22, 2001
Dear EDitor@badbusinessbureau.com,
Here is the letter I sent the BBB after they sent me Tax Ready's response.
John Iverson's response to the BBB said "we were surprised about the complaint... Mr. Ranish has been a very difficult customer... We have done everything we could to make him happy, including assigning one of our best tax preparers, Mary Orie, to do his return... We have done a lot of work for him and won't refund his money"
Seems like the BBB just takes in the information and keeps it to themselves. They can do nothing to help.
My answer to the BBB below may give you some further insight.
Thanks,
Jim
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
05-14-2001
Ms. Nancy Reading, Complaint Specialist
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
5595 Spring Mountain Road
Las Vegas, NV 89146-8810
Re: Complaint #116834
Dear Ms. Reading,
Before I respond to Mr. Iverson's letter, I must point out that it did not address my #1 concern:
Before Friday, 04/06, I did NOT want Sabrina to work on my year 2000 tax return, and Christine Morano told her not to, since I was asking for a refund. However, compliance officer Jeff Eberhardt made me an OFFER: if Sabrina worked on it, and could not save me at least my cost of $495, he would refund my money, and do my 2001 tax return for free. I ACCEPTED his offer. Where I come from, Offer + Acceptance = Contract! There was NO mention of the cost of any other services that Tax Ready provides.
Now they will not refund my money because they did some work, but failed to live up to the deal. That is what I call a Catch-22 situation, and they should not get away with it .
As for Mr. Iverson's letter:
Perhaps he perceives me as "a very difficult customer" because after two months of discourteous and unprofessional treatment by them (e.g. unanswered e-mails and unreturned telephone messages ), I grew extremely frustrated and stressed as the April 15 deadline approached. This situation has also put a strain on my marriage. I have been unemployed since February, and cannot afford to waste $495. Or perhaps I am a "difficult customer" because I expect companies to give me what they promise for my money.
I joined Tax Ready because their salesman GUARANTEED that they would find additional tax deductions of at least $5000. Now it turns out they could not save me any money on four tax returns. Why in the world would I want to spend $495 for a service that does no more for me than a $50 software package?
Moreover, to be specific, I did my "2001 tax preparation", not Tax Ready. I produced the forms and worksheets with my home computer software, and I faxed the completed tax forms and worksheets to Sabrina . She reviewed it and made changes that left me owing $42 more to the IRS. (I still do not know what those changes were. I am curious about them, but doubt that they will make any difference to me).
Sincerely,
James Ranish