March 2017 by Mike S.
I scheduled an apt online. I show up and the lady that is assigned to me seems to be missing a lot of knowledge of tax law that I feel a tax professional should have. I've always done my own taxes each year, but this year I moved states, changed jobs, and sold two homes in the prior 24 months, and my taxes are out of my league. The HR Block employee actually didn't know the IRS regulations around selling two homes within a 24 month period, and had to go to someone else to ask, and this was after she stated something that was factually incorrect where I had to correct her for her to get somebody else. Then further into the session, I was referencing final HUD documents from my home sales, and she couldn't tell me which title fees and escrow fees were deductible from the capital gains on the homes I sold. She had to keep referencing some book, perhaps an HR Block help book. And then after 1 hour was up, she told me she had another appointment and I had to come back later. Seriously? I booked an appointment online, with no way to select additional time or even knowing that the appointment time was for 1 hour. We didn't even get into my itemized deductions or my two state returns. I asked if anyone else in the office could take me over so I wouldn't have to come back another day. Nope. No one. Then I stated I'd make an appointment with another HR Block office which was actually closer to my home, and she complained that she wouldn't get credit for my tax preparation if I did that. Sorry lady, you already proved to be incompetent in the first 15 minutes of my return, then you booted me out. Horrible experience. Update: The manager from this office called me back the next day and profusely apologized for my experience. She offered to set me up with her H&R Block office expert whom she believed would have been a right fit for me. I'm changing this review from a 1 star to a 4 star because of the customer service follow up. Customer service goes very far with me, and a business attempting to right a wrong shows character and good business ethics.