For the last two years, I'd gone to the location on Central Ave. But, after booking an appointment online though as I usually do, I went back and forth with the receptionist there for over a week because of a mess up on their end.
So, I decided to go to this location which was closer to me any way. HUGE mistake!
My appointment was for 6 p.m. with Rama Mistra. There was no one at the front desk and I met two others in the lobby when I arrived; one lady who also said she was waiting for Rama because he told her yesterday to come back today. Rama never looked out or even acknowledged either of us despite the fact I had an appointment.
About 15 minutes into my appointment time, another tax guy (Simon Popovic) came out to ask both of us if we needed to be seen. Since I clearly wasn't going to get through with Rama, I agreed to work with him instead.
As an older gentleman, Simon was obviously slower, appeared to be a little hard of hearing and didn't seem very well acquainted with the software -- even having to stop to ask another tax preparer how to move my appointment to his folio. But this wasn't what put me off to him.
What bothered me most (other than the fact he took personal calls during our meeting) was that he seemed so annoyed by my income. He made comments throughout my session with him about how much I was making, how long I was with the company, if I "had enough time to spend all this money" and also went so far as to ask why I'd sold stocks last year.
I've never owed this IRS, but based on his preparation I do; and quite a large sum at that. He did not explain why and brushed it off when I asked.
At the end, when it came time to check out, he said that he needed to put money in his meter. When I told him that I was also past due to pay he suggested we both go out at the same time. I told him that it didn't make sense for me to walk all the way to the lot to pay for 15 more minutes when all I needed to do was pay and leave. He left anyhow and I was stuck there waiting for him to come back just to cash me out, praying all the while that I didn't have a ticket on my dash since it took so long!
This entire time (an hour after my appointment time and past their closing time), Rama was still meeting with the same person who'd been in since I'd arrived and the lady in the lobby was still waiting for him.
This was the worst tax preparation experience I've had. read more