Many customers are in shock this Holiday and upcoming tax season because they planned on getting an Emerald  Advance ™ from HR Block this year.  Most customer do not know that the past few years of getting a Refund Anticipation Loan using your last check stub of the year is a thing of the past.

In anticipation of this, HR Block offered a line of credit which includes a higher standard of credit authorization then with getting your income taxes done and then applying for a RAL.

“LAURA from Allentown, PA 12/20 said“,  I got the refund anticipation loan from HR Block in previous years with no problem, and I was willing to pay the higher fees to get this loan in time for the Holidays so I can buy presents for under the tree.  I really planned on this money every year and never gave it a thought.  This year, I went and I was DENIED, Flat out turned down for this new Emerald Line of Credit.  My Christmas was ruined.  Not only that, I was told now that I had to come back to them with my w-2 to complete the tax return and that the IRS would not accept my application until January 16th.  They are holding my stuff hostage and I still have to pay the higher fees then the other tax offices in my area.  I will fight this and go to another tax service.

“JAKE of Easton PA 01/06 said“,  I was one of the lucky ones to get the line of Credit this year with HR Block after a preliminary check on my credit, my work and my last pay check of the year.  They (HR) had me put the money on one of the credit cards they issue which I had not done before and wanted to save time so I could go right to the mall to buy christmas presents.  I was shocked at the register of the store I was at when they told me,  Your card is on Hold.  I immediately called and they said they would lift the hold, but it would take until today to get it done.  They gave me  a loan, charged me high fees and kept the money on hold in their account.  My girlfriend got a small present instead of the engagement ring I was planning to give her on New Year’s eve.  They really recked an important moment in my life.  I  don’t know what to do,  If the money is in fact available to me  and I know use it I am committed to HR Block doing my taxes and they are saying that I can not get the rest until next week??????   All I wanted was to get some of my income tax money fast and I was willing to wait for the rest.  I think HR Block is in sock land.

“TRACEY of Bethlehem PA 01/07 said“,  HOW DO I PAY MY BILLS WITH MY INCOME TAX CHECK if I can’t get the money as promised like in previous years.  I counted on H and R Block to come through but they required a lot more checking this year and with the economy the way that it is and with many kids and a single parent, I count on my refund anticipation loan each year to get me through January and to catch up on bills.  I was surprised that I was DENIED for the early pay stub loan I get every year.  I only needed a $1,000 from my income tax refund.  I had my pay stub that showed what I made and the income taxes I paid.  I worked hard this year and made a little more then last year.  Last year I qualifed to get my money fast.  Why now on this emerald loan do I have to have my credit checked by Experian and go through additional hoops.  I have a refund anticipation loan every year.  It is time to change to another tax preparer.  I checked online and I found a random chart that showed that CHASE BANK is offering the best rates on the Income tax loans versus the big income tax preparers.

[ TRACEY -  we believe Chase bank does have very low fees for the Refund anticipation loan]  we know there are other tax preparers in the area but we found that PA Tax Service is using chase which means you would save a lot of money for this type of loan]