H&R Block Fumbles on Its Own Tax Return

[banana republican]

www.nytimes.com/2006/02/25/business/25place.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


Would you trust someone to do your taxes who can't even do his own?

That in a nutshell, is the marketing problem that H & R Block now faces. Its shares fell $2.18, to $23.01, yesterday after it reported disappointing quarterly earnings and a slow start to this year's tax filing season.

<snip>

"From the looks of it, H & R Block has crossed over into the Bizarro universe, where up is down, back is forward, and black is white," said Jack Ciesielski of Analysts Accounting Observer. "As even a fourth-grade comics reader knows, Block is in the business of helping people with their taxes, yet in the Bizarro universe, they can't get their own taxes right."


ROTFLMAO

I'm a CPA & I only do taxes. I learned a longtime ago that H&R was my best friend. I'm thinking about opening an office next to one of theirs......

[unblock]

1. i've always thought that when lawyers, doctors, and accountants advertise,

it's because they can't get by on word of mouth.

just a thought from the son of a lawyer who doesn't advertise.

[NanceGreggs]

2. Good one!

A friend of mine worked for H & R one spring, when he was putting himself through law school. At the end of the season, his supervisor begged him to stay, or at least commit to coming back next year. My friend asked why he was so anxious for him to come back. "Because YOU can actually add, subtract and divide. We don't get many like you."

[Richard Steele]

3. Competence, schmompetence....

SNIP
"He said Block still planned to raise tax preparation fees by 5 percent to 7 percent this year."
ENDSNIP

[hermetic]

4. Have you seen their TV ads this year?

I'm not much of an ad watcher but it seems they are saying they can somehow double your return. Saw that today and said, huh?. Thinking it must be some sort of incentive, contest. So, if I use screwy math this year, think it will pass? :evilgrin:

[Nomen Tuum]

5. Their software was useless too.

Right after New Years, they sent me a "free" copy of their Tax Cut software. "Free" for Filing with the IRS, but a $24.95 charge to file my state taxes.

They sent me a PC version, which was useless on my Mac. They can't get that right either!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

6. Used 'em once, never again

I stick with an accountant who understands my industry. He costs more but what he can do with deductions makes up for it.

One year I was between accountants so I went to Block. Their accountant wouldn't let me claim stuff I'd been claiming for years, just like everyone in my line of work. Got a crappy refund.

I don't eat at McD's and I don't file through H&R. Same service, same quality.