ComplaintsforLisa A. Babineau CPA, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife and I met with this accountant on 3/11/22 to file our taxes, due 4/19/22. At that time, she advised us that she would be filing our taxes with an extension, however we would not be charged for the extension, and it was something she did on a regular basis with clients. I advised that we'd be making payments to the *** for the balance we owed (around $8-9k), and she advised that we would be required to pay interest on the balance we'd be paying (I did make a "good faith" payment to the *** of a combined amount of $2700). I received a ****/notice from the *** that included a penalty of a combined amount of $315.54 (see attachment). When I emailed the **** to Ms. *********************** asking her to resolve this fee or else pay it since she failed to advise me of that charge, she asked me to call her to discuss the fee. I called her on 6/21, and she advised that she told me there would be a monthly fee for not paying more than 90% of the balance owed. In fact, she did not share that with my wife and I when filing our taxes; if I'd known that, I would have taken my business to an accounting service that files on the spot (e.g., H&R Block). Subsequently, I am left with what will be a recurring monthly fee of hundreds of dollars, effectively requiring me to pay an extra few thousand dollars on top of the monthly $500 payment I'm already making. Her recommendation for resolving this was to use a zero-interest credit card to pay it off, and then make affordable monthly payments on the credit card. I will likely do that, but her business practices are extremely questionable, and I certainly would not have chosen her services had I known this was going to pan out this way.

  

  Business response

  06/22/2022

  When I initial met with *************** I did explain what was involved with the extension.  At that time we did not know if they would owe or receive a refund.  As the filing date drew ****** our calculation revealed that money was due with the return.  *************** could not afford to make the payment by the due date but did make a good faith payment with the extension.  He asked for information about the balance due and setting up a payment plan with the ***.  It is standard practice for me to explain that penalty and interest accrue when the full payment is not made which I did at that time.  This information is also available on the *** website when setting up a payment plan which *************** did on his own.

  Customer response

  06/22/2022

  Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered. 

  I was not informed about additional interest-accruing late fees for the <90%-of-balance-paid monthly fine, incurred as a result of the accountant filing late, after assuring me that there would not be additional fees for filing late (which goes against her response 100%). The solution I was offered was to use a balance transfer credit card to pay the full amount and then make payments on the credit card. As far as I'm concerned, this is not a good option. Had I known that there would be additional interest and fines for filing late, I absolutely would have taken my business to an organization that provides on-the-spot processing; had I been informed by the accountant of these fees, there is no way I would have proceeded. Despite what she is saying, I trusted her that I would only be paying a small interest amount on the full balance owed, not any fees or monthly fine for paying <90% of the balance; that information was provided to me after I got the letter from the *** and spoke with the accountant. Considering that she did not provide this information, I think it fair that she pay the first month's late-filing fees. 

   
  Businesses and Customers should be civil, courteous and polite in their responses to complaints. It is important to remain professional and productive when participating in the BBB complaint process.
  
  FAQ
  
  Regards,

  ******

   

   

  

  Business response

  06/23/2022

  Since we disagree on what was actually said, I will return your tax preparation fee.

  Customer response

  06/28/2022

  Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered. 

  The website does not give me the option to simply remark versus accept or reject. I accept and appreciate your offer to reimburse me for the cost of getting our taxes done. However, I've not yet seen that reimbursement on my credit card statement. When are you planning to make the reimbursement?

  Businesses and Customers should be civil, courteous and polite in their responses to complaints. It is important to remain professional and productive when participating in the BBB complaint process.
  
  FAQ
  
  Regards,

  ******

   

   

  

  Business response

  06/30/2022

  A check was mailed to your Ashland address on Monday 6/27/2022 for full reimbursement of tax preparation.

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