H&R Block

Rarely do I ever go out of my way to review places where I’ve had a bad experience. Usually, I just never go back. This time, I really needed to get the word out there. If I could give this establishment zero stars, I would. This review is to prevent other people from experiencing what I experienced today.
I came in today with the intention of amending my 2015 taxes. I went there with an appointment and I 100% understood that April was crunch time for everyone and that corporate locations were expected to be packed. I was in no hurry to get my amendment done either. I usually go to a franchise location closer to my house, but when I passed by their parking lot– it was full. So I decided to come to the Gurnee location, because it was the next closest one. Needless to say, I regret that decision. Completely wasted one hour of my time.
One of the «senior tax pros», whom I’ve graciously decided to leave unnamed (you’re welcome, lady… even though you certainly did not have a ladylike demeanor and should be written up/​be counseled by your supervisor), was very unprofessional and very unwelcoming.
Our greeting started off talking about the weather and I said, «It’s nice that the weather is finally warming up.» And in her most annoyed, frustrated tone she replied, «OH I WOULDN’T KNOW… I HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO. UGH.» Like… the absolute worse thing you could do is make your client feel like they’re annoying you and that’s exactly what she did to me. She made me feel like a nuisance when I simply just made an appointment online and the system assigned me to her. Her job was to be helpful & welcoming and she was absolute opposite. I presented her with my paperwork and she didn’t even bother to look at it… she just complained about how I went to a franchise H&R Block when I first filed my 2015 taxes and how everything «was wrong» and she made it seem like amending my taxes was going to be a huge pain in the butt.
While she was furiously typing my information into the system whilst commenting on how «I should be better at communicating with my parents» (because according to her, apparently my «lack of communication skills with my parents» is what caused my need for an amendment, but we’re not going to get into that), I asked my boyfriend who was sitting next to me if he filed yet. He said, «Yeah.» I asked him, «Did you use H&R Block?» He said, «Nah… it’s overpriced.» Which it is overpriced for him since he does a simple filing with no other credits/​exemptions. If you’re a person that has other exemptions/​claims, like the AOC and a 1098-​T, then it’s worth it to pay the money for a tax service.) Mind you, he whispered his opinion to me, the «senior tax pro» had no business commenting on his opinion… BUT SHE DID. She glared at him and said in her meanest voice, «IT’S NOT VERY TACTICAL TO SAY THAT WHILE SOMEONE IS DOING SOMEONE ELSE’S TAXES.» My boyfriend and I looked at each other, discombobulated at her interjection. I thought to myself, I’m sorry… this is an A and B conversation, lady. Why don’t you C your way out?!
The entire time she looked completely annoyed by this transaction and started making random phone calls to different H&R Block locations. I mean… I don’t think phone calls to other H&R Block locations are necessary to complete an amendment, it doesn’t take a «senior tax pro» to know that.
She said, «You went to a franchise location to get your taxes done?» And I said yes. She said, «Oh well. we’re corporate so this is going to be too complicated.» She was almost yelling at me, making it seem like I’m doing something wrong… uh… I just made an appointment, showed up with all the necessary paperwork, & she’s just yelling at me… nonetheless, she continued…
At that point, she made plenty of asinine comments (that I’m too exhausted to mention, because this whole experience was exhausting) about how complicated it would be for her to assist me and I was getting fed up with her BS so I politely said, «Should we go to the franchise location instead?» And she said, «YES, I THINK IT’S BEST YOU DO THAT!» as if we were bothering her. And we left.
I’m glad I didn’t pay her money to do my taxes… she was so rude. I’ve never met anyone so rude in my life. I work retail and she’s meaner than any mean customer I’ve never had.
I went back to the franchise location and, turns out, they weren’t packed at all. I got in right away and I told my usual tax pro (she’s amazing) about my experience at the Gurnee corporate store and she was shocked. She told me she heard nightmares about the Gurnee location.
Anyway, the purpose of this review was to warn other people doing their taxes this week to NEVER come here. H&R Block’s «History of Excellence» states: «Today, we continue to honor our past as we look at your life through tax … and find ways to help.» The Gurnee location does not fulfill this statement and you are better off going to another one in the area.

The service is not that great and the people doing your returns do not have all of the knowledge to do a persons taxes how they should be done. The fees are outrageous and the computer system is always down… Terrible customer service.