If possible, I would post "minus stars" for this firm. Unfortunately, my work schedule prevented me from posting this review. I regret ever having learned of this firm. In my ignorance, I went to this firm thinking that I would receive a reasonable price for basic personal tax preparation services. I timely submitted my W-2 and other information on February 04, 2014 to a particular employee of the firm (who I will not name) only to be charged $699.00 (the original bill for services was for $700.00) after the firm took its sweet time to prepare my individual (not business) income tax return on April 09, 2013 - just days before the deadline and even after I spotted a gross error on their part (the exclusion of my second W-2 form's information).
If this firm would mishandle the income tax return of an individual who earns less than $76,000.00 a year, expect to be robbed by this firm if you are a business. I recommend either Angolano & Company (Shelburne, VT) or Heritage Business Services, Inc. (Burlington, VT) for all of your tax preparation and other business needs. Again, I strongly advise for businesses and for individuals - please do NOT patronize this firm because you will regret it.
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Co-owner John Scheer's response on 12/21/2017 (below):
I am one of the owner's of the firm that was referenced with the bad review. I have a problem with the review as I am not sure that this is a real situation. I never heard of her or the problem she had. She said that we charged her $699 but we never charge odd amounts as a professional firm. We typically would charge a whole dollar fee. Also the review was written over 4 years after the incident. Why would that be? Who writes a review 4 years later after thinking they got overcharged. Many people come to us not realizing how complex their situation is and sometimes they do feel they are overcharged. That is human nature. As a professional that tries hard to be fair to both the client and their firm, sometimes client's feel our fee is high. From my experience we have had very little issues with client's feeling they are overcharged. I wish the client had talked to us instead of waiting 4 years to complain on the internet.
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My response to Mr. Scheer via email on 12/22/2017 (below):
Dear Mr. Scheer:
This message is in response to your Yelp post dated 12/21/2017. You are correct to state that I should have requested to speak to either you or to Mr. Hickey about this matter when I received the bill in April 2014. I did not speak up about this matter at the time because I was anxious to have my taxes filed timely. I felt powerless to speak up about the fee of services because of the looming deadline.
I first visited your firm in the fall of 2013 and consulted with a male employee whose name escapes me now (he mentioned that he had an autistic son). The male employee was always polite toward me.
I had the free consultation in 2013 for basic tax preparation services. After the consultation, this male colleague and I met twice for lunch in 2013 (his invitation). I then organized my paperwork accordingly and submitted it in February 2014.
After placing a call in March to check the status of my tax return, I was not given a definite date to expect my tax return - I was informed that it would be completed before the April 2014 deadline. Before I was to retrieve my 2013 tax return, the male employee informed me that my combined Federal and State tax bills would be over either $3,000.00 or $4,000.00.
When I revisited your office to retrieve my 2013 tax return in April 2014, I noticed that my W-2 for my Vermont (second) employer in 2013 was not included in the calculations. I actually sat at a computer and assisted with having my second W-2 included in the 2013 calculations. The figures were recalculated, thus lowering my Federal and State tax bills. The revised tax returns were printed while I waited in office.
Attached are documents to prove that I paid $699.00 for services rendered at your firm. I was charged $700.00; however, I was allowed to pay $699.00 because my credit card would not clear the charge for $700.00.
If you wish to direct a member of your staff to contact me, my home telephone is (802) 652-9604. I thank you for posting a response in Yelp and in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
E Sarge
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Mr. Scheer's response to my email on 12/22/2017 (below):
I noticed you had a multi state return that year and caused the fee to be higher and is not a simple return because of this.
Sent from my iPhone
John Scheer CPA
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To refute Mr. Scheer's one-sentence response to me, my individual tax return was simple enough for me to notice a critical error before his firm filed it. After having restated the facts directly to him about my experience, I stand by my original post. read more
