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How to Sue H&R Block

Looking to sue H&R Block? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…

So you’re looking to sue H&R Block?

At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like H&R Block. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers

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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from H&R Block? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?

You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the H&R Block customer service options, but still feel unheard.

There are different ways to file a complaint against H&R Block, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.

So, if you’re thinking of suing H&R Block, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.

What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like H&R Block to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.

But here’s the thing: your H&R Block contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.

Here’s what you can do…


Two options to Sue H&R Block:


  • Consumer Arbitration: This involves accessing an official and independent dispute resolution process that is not a court. It provides an opportunity to seek compensation for your complaint without the need to appear in person. For many, this can be a preferable option.To find out if you can take H&R Block to arbitration, you can check your contract or user agreement with them. Many companies’ standard contract are available on their websites. You can do a search for “arbitration” arbitration within the contract text — it is usually mentioned near the very top of a contract.

    Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.

  • Small Claims Court: If you prefer to avoid the arbitration system, you can opt for Small Claims Court. You should know that the procedures for Small Claims Court may vary depending on your jurisdiction.Taking H&R Block to Small Claims Court will typically involve appearing in person and completing necessary forms.

If you’re ready to sue H&R Block in Small Claims Court, read on below:


Taking H&R Block to Small Claims Court Step-by-Step


1

Do you have a qualifying claim for small claims court?

Ready to sue H&R Block in small claims court? Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, so your first step is to make sure your claim can be filed. There are two things you need to pay attention to:

  1. The amount of money: Small claims courts have set amounts for how much money you can ask for from the other party, in this case, H&R Block. Most have a maximum dollar size for the claim you can bring. In most states it’s $5000 or $10,000, but some can be as low as $2,500. You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
  2. The type of relief: There are two types of awards you can ask for. The award is what the other party gives if you win. When you sue H&R Block in small claims court, you can only ask for one of those two: monetary (a dollar value payment).

If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.

2

Send H&R Block your demand letter.

Before you can sue H&R Block, most small claims courts require that you ask the person you’re suing (the “defendant”) to fix your problem voluntarily before you file your claim. So if you want to sue H&R Block in small claims court, you need to send them a demand letter first.

This letter is a simple thing, stating the basics like who you are, what your issue is with the company, and what you want them to do to fix it. The whole letter can be a few sentences – remember that you are just checking a box before you file your actual claim.

When you’re done writing, you need to mail a hard copy of the letter, preferably as certified mail or some other service that allows you to confirm delivery, to their legal address.

If your claim is about online tax preparation services, you should mail your claim to HRB Digital LLC. They are headquartered in Delaware and according to our latest research they receive mail here:

HRB Digital LLC
C/O THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY
CORPORATION TRUST CENTER
1209 ORANGE ST
WILMINGTON, DE 19801

If your claim relates to in-person tax preparation services, you should mail claims to HRB Tax Group, Inc. According to our latest research, they are headquartered in Missouri and receive mail here:

HRB Tax Group, Inc
C/O C T CORPORATION SYSTEM
120 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE
CLAYTON, MO 63105

If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.

3

Fill out court forms.

In order to sue H&R Block in small claims court, you’re going to need to fill out some paper work.

Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes counties will provide additional forms. The correct forms for your location will be available for free on your state court’s website.

Make sure you fill out enough forms because most states require you to file 3 or 4 copies of the forms by mail or in-person. Not enough copies? No claim accepted today.

4

File your claim with the court officially.

With filled out forms in hand, now you have to go to the court and undergo the “filing” process, which can be a bit complicated.

Many courts will require you to physically come to the courthouse during specific hours and days to hand-deliver the forms to the court’s clerk. But if you are lucky, your court might allow you to file by mail, fax or (for a few courts) online.

All courts will require you to pay a filing fee before they allow your to sue H&R Block in small claims. The amount will also be published on your court’s website, and in some cases, can be waved if you are a low income plaintiff.

When you file your forms, the court clerk will provide you with a stamped copy of the forms and a court date. Keep it safe and bring it with you on the day of your hearing.

5

“Serve” your forms to H&R Block.

Suing H&R Block in small claims is a long and tough process, but it is only just beginning.

After you’ve filled out, filed, and paid, you have to officially tell H&R Block that it’s been sued. This is a called “serving” H&R Block. To do this, you need to deliver a copy of your filed papers to H&R Block.

Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to properly deliver your forms to H&R Block, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts have many strange rules about how to serve a defendant, and your claim will be dropped if you do not follow them perfectly. So be careful!

6

Show up for your court date.

At the time of filing, you will receive a court date and location. Go to the right room, at the right time, with the copies of your filed forms, and any other evidence that backs up your case against H&R Block.

Sometimes, H&R Block will not show up to oppose you. If that happens, take advantage of the situation to focus on your side of the story.

Ready to sue H&R Block in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…








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