JK Harris Refund tipoff Nationwide

My mother contacted JK Harris to help her settle a tax debt after her divorce. She sent them all of the documents they requested and waited for a response. One month later they finally contacted her again and explained that they couldn't help her. She had already paid them the $1000.00 retainer they required.

Four months later they contacted her again and said they wanted to review her case to see if she was entitled to a refund. She again sent them information and waited for a response. They finally sent her a letter explaining that they felt she was owed a refund of $300.00. They explained that if she agreed to this amount she could expect her refund in 90 to 120 days. My mother agreed feeling that she risked getting nothing if she didn't agree. In December 2008 she agreed to their settlement and faxed back her response.

My mother has called this company multiple times for the last 7 months getting no response. She has repeatedly asked for a date that she can expect her refund. They continue to tell her that there is a delay and that refunds are being processed in the order in which they were received.

According to their website rebutting all of these complaints, JK Harris claims that refunds will be processed within 90 days from April 20 2009. That deadline is up in 11 days and my mother still hasn't heard from them.

I feel that this company took advantage of my mother at a time when she was desperate for help. They took $1000.00 from her that could have been used paying off her IRS debt. They then threatened her with long processing times to get her to agree to a refund of one third of her retainer when she should have been entitled to a full refund. Now it's seven months after the refund was offered and still nothing.

I am very concerned that this company is preying on the elderly. Something should be done to prevent these practices.

Gianna
Blue Springs, Missouri
U.S.A.