Intuit, Inc. (INTU)

Some of the problems Intuit had with Turbotax this season were pretty dire. Yes they have persuaded the IRS not to fine payers who got caught in the ghastly mess they made of the e-file process. But they are charging a LOT of money for something which simply did not work in far too many cases for comfort. Then there was the estimated taxes gambit. They charge about $17 to remind the payer that he/she needs to make a payment. However once the return is complete one finds neatly printed out payment vouchers to be used to cover the payments. They have a 3 month trial for this "service" which I expect 90% of first time estimated taxpayers are going to duck out of. And they don't even include state estimated tax! So what on earth is the point? Intuit had done pretty well with only occasional glitches until 2007. Then all hell broke loose. I sure as blazes will NOT be using them next year. The problems they caused were many. They entirely emptied my bank account because the submitted forms told me I was paying both fed and state by check. I then discovered, once the returns were finally accepted that the bank information WAS embedded as it had been all along so both fed and state double dipped. I had to have several thousand taken from my credit card account to cover this. The interest and loan charges are going to be in the hundreds. After the well publicized problems, would a small claims court look kindly on a request for reimbursement? Am I alone in all this? I have a feeling I am not. I think that once the dust settles and the charges come home to roost, Intuit may be looking down the wrong end of some pretty wide dissatisfaction. Their competitors can now trumpet the trust angle and customers are going to try their product. Some may never return. If anyone were to ask for a recommended tax program for 2008, how many will remember the problems and play safe. Anything BUT Turbotax would be my response.