Hello
I wanted to warn anyone using Instant Tax Services or similar branches this year when filling your taxes.
I am a single parent on a very limited budget this year and need my refund fast. I went to ITS (Instant Tax Service) because all there advertising peek my intrest, plus with one in almost every shopping plaza I mean come on, why would I think they are a joke right? WRONG!!!
I filed my taxes off my W-2 on Jan. 7th. I went right when they first opened so I didn't have any lines, coffee was hot and fresh, and the employees were seemingly nice and knowlegable (HaHaHA - what joke). There were three options available when I filed my taxes. I chose the route that gave me 2 refunds checks. The first one I would receive on the 18th and the second about a week later (once they have received my funds from the IRS off my e-file return). I was okay with that. Kevin Bates was extremly helpful and answered all of my questions fully. I thought man this is great. The first step was for the IRS to "Accept" my refund. The second step is the bank will have to approve the loan. He asked me if I had used a RAL (refund Anticpated Loan) before and I told him once last year because I needed a car. He then asked if I had any problems with recieving my RAL. I told him no and he said there shouldn't be any problem, and as soon as the IRS opens on the 15th they will submit my taxes via e-file. Okay, great that was simple, no problems there.
Well, then came Sunday night (the 17th), I got a call from Kevin that said Hey great news, your refund was accepted by the IRS. My response is Great does that mean I will be able to pick up my first check on Monday? He says well, thats the problem; you were rejected by our Bank. That kinda took me for suprise so I asked why I was rejected. He told me he didn't know. There was no error code on my return. So what does that mean? He again says I don't know. I asked to speak to a manager and he was out. Okay, fine I will call back tomorrow and find out why.
So tomorrow comes, I speak to Lance Dohm. Man talk about a duh, duh, duh man. That was him. I swear every other sentence had a duh in it at least once. He didn't know why I was rejected and couldn't direct me on where to go. All I wanted to know was why. I mean come on is there any one I could contact to tell me why. He kept telling me no, there was nothing I could do. I can expect my return on the 29th. 29th? THe guy last night told me the 28th? I asked who was his boss, wouldn't tell me. Well who can I call, wouldn't tell me.
Finially I called their Middletown Office and talked to the Manager Christy. She didn't know why I wasn't approved since my file is not at her office. So she gave me the number to corporate. Corporate tells me the Owner is Kyle Wade and I needed to have my Store Manager contact him. So I go up to ITS and ask for Lance. He tells me he has no direct contact with Kyle. I said well could you try? Finially to get me off his back and goes in his office and calls Corporate comes back and tells me I had to leave a message for him because he was gone for the day. He works a Corporate huh? Okay I will leave you alone (for now). I get in my car and I call Corporate back, this time asking to speak with Kyle Wade and I too got put into his voicemail. Okay, I got his voicemail and I decided to leave a message. To my suprise Kyle called me back about an hour later. Man was I shocked I told him man I thought you were gone for the day. He says nope I'm calling you aren't I.
So, I asked Kyle why I wasn't approved, he said he would check into it and call me back in 15 minutes. He did call me back (about another hour later - but hey beggers can't be choosers) and the verdict came back. I am consider High Risk because my refund is to "large". Yep that's it, I am getting to much money.
With all the bail outs this year Bank's are on loan freezes (well some). And places like this do not have the proper funding behind them. Just ask Kyle he told me I was "preaching to the choir" on that one. He has seen more rejections this year than any other year. With all the tax incentives out there, our refunds are simply to large to be finianced under a RAL.
So please be aware before you file your taxes, if you need it fast companies like Instant Tax Services is NOT what you are looking for. Don't screw yourself with your bills like I did. I will keep you updated on my status as I go. I contacted our local John Matarese with Channel 9's Don't waste your money and he has emailed me back asking for an interview. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I will do the same for all of you. Sorry I don't feel they should advertise RAL when in fact they can't supply, but man can they charge. I want to warn everyone out there to be careful. You can be rejected but that doesn't change your refund amount. Before you put yourself in a pinch "BUYER BEWARE" (& Thanks John)
Oh and I side note I just realized ITS doesn't insure my refund for accurancy. So, any problems fall on me!!! Great, lets just keep adding to my list.
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