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JK Harris Complaint - Service Scam
Complaint
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- My mother was facing a large tax burden and we needed legal advice and tax preparation. The IRS wanted a tax return and payment within two weeks, so we contacted JK Harris (after watching a TV commercial). We were set up with an appointment in their Richmond office (700 E Main, Suite 1633) with an attorney named Bill Iobst in August 2004.
He indicated that the fee for their services was $750.00 for the legal advice and $250.00 for the tax preparation and imprinted my debit card on a carbon form by running a pen across it. He said an attorney would be assigned and he gave us some papers to review that evening, and promised that the card would not be processed until I called him back to indicate my approval.
When I got home and reviewed the papers, they were for financial planning services when what we needed was legal advice and tax preparation.
I called him back and he told me they did not provide the services I need (although their TV ads indicate that that is exactly what they do) and that it would take quite some time to get the taxes done (way beyond the IRS deadline). He gave me a number to call for a refund. They requested that I fax a statement indicating that I did not require the financial and tax services, which I did.
The next day, I contacted a real attorney; got the advice I needed, and got the taxes done two days later by an accounting firm.
In October, two months after our original contact, a woman from JK Harris called saying she was ready to do my mother's taxes. I let her know that they had already been done by a different firm, and that I was supposed to get a refund. She said that she checked the record, and that I was correct about the refund and that it would be taken care of.
In November, three months after I was supposed to receive my refund, I began my calling marathon starting with their 800 number and lasting several hours.
In total, I talked to twelve different people on nine different phone numbers without ever getting through to anyone that could help. Five additional numbers I was given were invalid. The only suggestion one of them had was to refax my request for a refund, which I did.
I then called Mr. Iobst back (the one who took my money in the first place), and he promised to contact the home office that afternoon to check on the refund. I heard nothing, so I called the corporate office again in December but only got a voice machine. I left my number but never got a call back.
I then called Bill Iobst again and he promised to contact the main office and have them call me. I have not heard from anyone and it is now January and I cannot make my house payment. I did a web search and found a huge number of problems and complaints indicating that the company appears to be a complete fraud; a scam.
He indicated that the fee for their services was $750.00 for the legal advice and $250.00 for the tax preparation and imprinted my debit card on a carbon form by running a pen across it. He said an attorney would be assigned and he gave us some papers to review that evening, and promised that the card would not be processed until I called him back to indicate my approval.
When I got home and reviewed the papers, they were for financial planning services when what we needed was legal advice and tax preparation.
I called him back and he told me they did not provide the services I need (although their TV ads indicate that that is exactly what they do) and that it would take quite some time to get the taxes done (way beyond the IRS deadline). He gave me a number to call for a refund. They requested that I fax a statement indicating that I did not require the financial and tax services, which I did.
The next day, I contacted a real attorney; got the advice I needed, and got the taxes done two days later by an accounting firm.
In October, two months after our original contact, a woman from JK Harris called saying she was ready to do my mother's taxes. I let her know that they had already been done by a different firm, and that I was supposed to get a refund. She said that she checked the record, and that I was correct about the refund and that it would be taken care of.
In November, three months after I was supposed to receive my refund, I began my calling marathon starting with their 800 number and lasting several hours.
In total, I talked to twelve different people on nine different phone numbers without ever getting through to anyone that could help. Five additional numbers I was given were invalid. The only suggestion one of them had was to refax my request for a refund, which I did.
I then called Mr. Iobst back (the one who took my money in the first place), and he promised to contact the home office that afternoon to check on the refund. I heard nothing, so I called the corporate office again in December but only got a voice machine. I left my number but never got a call back.
I then called Bill Iobst again and he promised to contact the main office and have them call me. I have not heard from anyone and it is now January and I cannot make my house payment. I did a web search and found a huge number of problems and complaints indicating that the company appears to be a complete fraud; a scam.
Comments:
Posted by TXRoadTrip on 2005-01-07:
Great you where trying to help out your mom! Contact your Attorney General for your State and file a complaint. Also with the FTC.gov and file a complaint. If this person is a licensed lawyer - file a complaint against your States bar association for lawyers. Accounting - who was the firm to do your taxes? Also file complaints with the FCC.gov for false advertising. You paid by Credit Card = dispute the charges with your credit card company = no services rendered. Any calls you make always take notes, times, names and the number you called. Hope this helps and good luck. Have a better New Year.
Posted by Babazeba on 2005-01-26:
I too have had very negative experiences with JK Harris. I believe they commit outright fraud and actually do very little for the majority of their clients. They dont answer phone calls and faxes and will not do as they say. Learn from others & don't make the same mistake. Avoid them like the plague.
See you in court JK ....class action lawsuit filed 1/26/05 in SC!
See you in court JK ....class action lawsuit filed 1/26/05 in SC!
Posted by dandbsanders on 2010-07-29:
I had a very similar issue. And i feel like a complete idiot for trusting them in the first place. Especially being dumb enough to give them money up front!! i lost $5,800, months of my time and they didn't even stop the garnishment i had.After extensive research i found that most of these companies are all the same. saying they can help you and telling you exactly what they will be able to do after one phone conversation. How is that possible when they haven't even contacted the IRS to find out my tax Liability?? i hadn't filled for several years so how could they possibly know? ahhh! such a SCAM!!!! ... JK Harris says that i am not even entitled to a refund because they did work for me. What work did they do?!?! AHHHH. JK HARRIS CAN SHOVE IT!! WE NEED TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT!!!
(just venting :/)
anyway i found settlewiththeirs.info as it turns out not everyone in tax debt is eligible for help. and especially not for an Offer In Compromise. The OIC is the biggest load of BS that these tax companies pitch to you. But Settlewiththeirs.info did a tax investigation for me with no charge! so that got me interested... said i was not qualified for an OIC, but they did reduce my Tax liability quit substantially. Only a few more months until i'm debt free. I lost $5,800 to JK Harris i hope that anyone who reads this will not repeat my mistake! But if you are still dealing with tax debt check out settlewiththeirs.info. i don't remember the name of the actually company it's not the same as the web address, but their number is 877-517-0067. These guys are full of helpful information. I wish anyone who reads this all the best of luck in the world.
p.s. Don't put your tax issue on the back burner. trust me, the longer you wait to do somethig the WORSE IT GETS!!!
(just venting :/)
anyway i found settlewiththeirs.info as it turns out not everyone in tax debt is eligible for help. and especially not for an Offer In Compromise. The OIC is the biggest load of BS that these tax companies pitch to you. But Settlewiththeirs.info did a tax investigation for me with no charge! so that got me interested... said i was not qualified for an OIC, but they did reduce my Tax liability quit substantially. Only a few more months until i'm debt free. I lost $5,800 to JK Harris i hope that anyone who reads this will not repeat my mistake! But if you are still dealing with tax debt check out settlewiththeirs.info. i don't remember the name of the actually company it's not the same as the web address, but their number is 877-517-0067. These guys are full of helpful information. I wish anyone who reads this all the best of luck in the world.
p.s. Don't put your tax issue on the back burner. trust me, the longer you wait to do somethig the WORSE IT GETS!!!
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