Taxgirl
Dayton,#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 21, 2009
I'm an employee at ITS and I was sorry to hear about your bad experience at the Heath, OH office. First, I think it's important to remember that you were offered two different products. We offered a holiday loan product, called the Instant Cash Loan, from December 29th to January 15th. After January 16th, after you get your W-2, we offer ARALs and RALs, which are advances on your tax refund. These are different products. It's not ITS who makes the decision about the holiday loan (or the RAL) - it's the bank or lender's decision. If there were high denial rates, it was because bank approval rates have tightened. I do know that there were many people approved for the Instant Cash Loan, though, so it wasn't just a marketing thing. It's true that if you claimed a credit that you weren't due, it will delay your RAL. Most ITS locations are franchise owned, though, and the owners are really happy to work with customers. Explain the situation to the owner and see if they're willing to work with you. If the return was delayed due to an error they made (instead of one you made), you can probably get your fees refunded.
Mike
Olney,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, January 20, 2009
Don't buy into this crap. Do your own taxes. Instead of calling these morons, use the IRS site. http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html?portlet=4
Steve
Anytown,#4Author of original report
Mon, January 19, 2009
Today I call Instant Tax Service (hereafter called ITS) to check on the status of my refund, since their "automated" system had no information. The manager I spoke to seemed suprised that the store was not open on Sunday but later found out the owner decided not to open due to weather, I am thinking what was the issue, it was cold, literally we had a few snow flurries and that was IT. Anyways, she told me my return had been rejected by the IRS due to one of my children being claimed for Child Tax Credit. So I go in and we have to refile removing the child in question. I am now told I have to wait yet ANOTEHR 24-48 hours before I know if I will be getting a RAL, but regardless I will have to pay the fees, even though I may not get it. This company advertises fast cash, but while there, the manager stated she had about 6 unhappy clients she had to deal with today, and from the way they talked, nobody gets approved for the instant tax loan, and not many get the RAL. So, basically the company is advertising a product they are not really offering or standing behind.