WARNING…Jackson Hewitt

[Chrissi]

Just want to share my story about the nightmare at my local Jackson Hewitt. I filed early like 1/5, I knew about the PATH ACT so I was not expecting my return for a long time. The office called me on 1/15 saying they had received a message saying my tax return was rejected by the IRS, that my social security number had already filed. I was so upset, she told me it was identity fraud and I would need to come to the office with my ID. I went by twice but the lines were insane. I was in Walmart and stopped at the office there, I gave the girl my Driver’s license and she pulled up my account and called someone. She then told me she was unable to fix it, but the manager at the other office would take care of it. I said okay and thought nothing more of it. On 2/17 (over a month later)the lady who originally did my taxes calls me and asks me what I decided to do about filing. I was so caught off guard, I said WHAT?!? You mean you guys didn’t take care of it? She was BEYOND rude and nasty to me. It was unbelievable and very surprising. It also struck me as strange. Very unprofessional. I ended up speaking with the manager who told me it was a “misunderstanding” that I needed to come in and sign the return and mail it myself. I had to deal with this identity theft issue and asked if I should call the IRS. She told me not to call. To wait 6 weeks. I cried. I was expecting to be getting my refund soon and I wouldn’t be. I spoke to my boss about it and she advised me to call the IRS and try to find out about identity theft. On the 22nd I called the IRS, strange…she said there was no return filed for me for 2016. No identity theft. No rejection. I call JH back lady was so so rude and defensive, puts manager on the phone. I asked for proof the return was rejected so I could show the IRS. Says she can’t do that..I tell her what they said and said I can still efile and don’t have to wait 6 weeks. She said once I am rejected it is impossible for her to efile it again. Her system won’t allow it. Says she will call me back. When she does 10 min later, she tells me she submitted it again and it was rejected says my SS# already filed. Says she can’t help me. Says she will give me a number to pay back my advance…..what?!?! Strange. So I went to liberty tax today. Explained to him what had happened. He did my taxes for me and efiled them. Said he would call me and let me know if they rejected it. 6 hours later he calls, return accepted by the IRS. GREAT NEWS!! But now I am very suspicious of what the F Jackson Hewitt was really doing?? Seems like a total scam.

[Chrissi]

@Louisiana Girl

I live in Ormond Beach Florida. Now, I wasn’t saying all Jackson Hewitt employees are bad because I know they are not. Just shouting out about my personal experience and a group of employees who obviously have something funny going on.
Don’t listen to Er No, he/she doesn’t know much. It’s nobody’s business what we do or why we do it. Just a troll on a LONG ASS RANT!! LOL
Good luck to you girl!

[LouisianaCajunGirl]

@er no

I got to share this
I worked for Jackson Hewitt
for many years.
I am in no way taking up for their dumb ass mistakes..
I did quit because I didn’t care for the way some employee treated customers..

As far as you pretty much calling jackson hewitt employees “COMPUTER PROMPT PUSHERS” is going a lil to far.

I did go to school for them but in no way was I taught to be a ” computer prompt pusher ”
I had three books of five hundred pages to learn an then when the health care took effect had to learn it too. Every year you have to take training through IRS website to be able to renew ur PTIN.. I did not learn how to work the computer program till a week or two before tax season started…

Im not saying everyone took this training before being employed by jackson hewitt..
I can agree some people shouldn’t even be a tax preparer..
I can say this much ..I worked may ass off to get what i got now…
So I felt i needed to share this.
Cause you cant underline all jackson hewitt past or present employees all “Computer Prompt Pushers”..
Best of Luck

[LouisianaCajunGirl]

Chrissi
May i ask what jackson Hewitt store you went to an state..
Sounds like the lady who works at jackson Hewitt in Galliano , Louisiana
I worked for Jackson Hewitt for several years
I quit because of employees being so unprofessional and rude ..
I believe that ur clients come first an to make sure they get the best service and further more make it as less stressful as possible for u..
I no longer work there an work for myself… Jackson Hewitt can really piss alot of people off..Good Luck

[Loren]

They tried to get me to pay and extra $66 to get direct deposit through their bank. I had a credit from them last year (bc they screwed up) that covered this year’s taxes. I probably should have learned my lesson but my refund was only like $500 this year so might as well do it free They still tried to have it deposited into their bank….total bs.

[Dna]

That is awful. I really hope you reported that to the district office.

[Doug]

@Christi
Er No obviously didn’t read your post at all, lol

@ErNo
What do you work for Jackson Hewlett or something? Nice rant. You are trying to make the girl feel like it’s her fault she got scammed?
Not cool.

[Chrissi]

@Er no

My social security number was correct on my return. They never even sent my tax return to the IRS, period. Liberty did my taxes the second time and had no problem getting it accepted. I really think it’s a little more than bad customer service ….and yes, I know that I can do my taxes for free, but I have had some issues in the past and I prefer to pay someone just incase I need backup, that is my choice and it does not make me or anyone else dumb. But thanks for the reply.

[Er No]

Uh, it doesn’t sound like identity theft at all. It sounds to me like the preparer likely mistyped your social security number the first time round, followed by a subsequent failure for anyone – yourself included – to verify that she entered the information correctly, which was then addressed with terrible customer service from under-trained tax professionals and AGAIN a lack of follow-up from you.

Like I tell my son, it’s YOUR money. If anyone should be on top of it, it’s YOU. The FIRST thing you should have done was called the IRS (regardless of what they told you) to hear it from the authority. They can also provide specific advice on how to fix it.

Also, who still uses in person tax preparation anymore? Unless you have a business or extremely complicated personal holdings, it makes ZERO sense to pay anyone to do your taxes – especially if they aren’t CPAs or Tax Accountants.

The people at tax prep kiosks & pop-up tax prep offices take a 4-7 day training on how to follow computer prompts. THAT’S IT. They are in no way, shape, form or fashion (in most cases) more qualified to enter your information into the computer than you are AND they CHARGE YOU for the privilege.

And guess what? You won’t get your real refund any sooner. They’ll give you a “Refund Anticipation Loan” for an even larger fee and then have the portion of your refund to cover their fees & what they lent you redirected to them instead.

You do realize you can do the EXACT SAME THING she did at home for FREE via IRS.Gov Free File right? You go to IRS.gov when Free File opens you click the Free File icon. They list all of the FREE tax software you can use & the qualifications to use it. It’s very simple. Most ask you the SAME QUESTIONS the preparer asks you in the SAME WAY. They only difference is you TYPE your answers. Based on your answers, the system picks which forms you need and fills them out properly for you WHICH IS THE SAME SYSTEM THAT DUMMY FROM JH USED.

Concerned about entering in W2s? W2s on the program are LITERALLY laid out the EXACT SAME WAY as they’re sent to you. Want to use your last check instead? There are MYRIADS of videos that show you how to do that too and some of the programs will walk you through that as well. Others still offer the option to import your W2s with the click of a button (a system which more and more companies are getting on board with).

Need money faster? Some online software offers you the option to request a Refund Anticipation Loan as well as the option to have it direct deposited.

In short JH DID NOTHING for you couldn’t have done EASILY for yourself without the trouble, for FREE, and probably in less time.

Still feeling uncomfortable with doing your taxes by yourself? Most local libraries have clinics and your local IRS field office can help you FOR FREE.

The moral of the story? This is the modern age. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available for FREE online. Even if you don’t have a computer, borrow one or go to the library and use one of theirs FOR FREE.

Was it terrible what you had to deal with? YES. That you paid for the privilege even more so.

[Screw Taxes]

Anyone who sets up their office in Walmart, and resorts to dressing up people as the Statue of Liberty and having them stand on a street corner waving a sign to get business, is no place I would EVER trust with my personal information. I went to their tax school one year. Very unprofessional. It was just a few days long, mostly telling me how to follow prompts on a computer screen. The instructor put a movie on every day, we sat there watching a video while he drank coffee and read a book. Every question we had, his answer was “follow what the computer tells you” After a few days I was a certified tax preparer for Jackson Hewitt. They called me to work one year, I refused.

[Sherri]

Yeah, that is crazy. So they basically told you someone stole your identity but the IRS said no return. There is for sure some fraud going on with those preparers. You NEED to report them. There are new scams everyday. Watch out.

[Rozilyn]

You still should call the IRS and make sure they know that you had identity fraud committed against you and you’re going to have to get a protection pin

[Sharon]

Wow. I wouldn’t let that go. Is there a main office to complain to? I’d go all the way to corporate if I had to. Did you pay Jackson Hewitt? And then have to pay Liberty?

[Author]

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