TurboTax Gift Card bonus program

[emeleel]

If you're getting back a refund this year, and you would like to turn some of it into gift cards with bonus money on them, try out Turbo Tax's new program:

http://www.turbotax.com/tax_tips_and...urce=ttcommain

It costs $29.95, so you wouldn't want to use it for just a small amount. The bonus amount ranges from 10% to 100%.

I wonder if there are any gas card available. Even at $29.95, a bonus amount gas card might be worth it.

[Joubert[$]]

If you're interested more in the details of the how and why rather than the "Oh, cool, a gift card", check out Intuit's investor site and read the transcript from their last call with WS analysts. They finally got out of the let's throw rebates against the wall game, but this is an interesting partnership idea. Kind of like those "early tax refund loans", but this time (it appears) paid for by the vendor who wants the incremental sale.

[emeleel]

You probably know this already - did y'all hear about the lawsuit against H&R Block about those refund anticipation loans?

With refund anticipation loans, customers due a tax refund could receive most of the money in two or three business days by paying a fee to file the return electronically, plus a loan-processing fee.
Critics claim such loans prey upon low-income households, immigrants and financially unsophisticated taxpayers who weren’t adequately informed about the interest rates.
H&R Block last week agreed to pay $62.5 million to settle four similar class-action suits filed in West Virginia, Ohio, Alabama and Maryland, as well as to resolve claims pending in 22 other states and the District of Columbia.
H&R Block said the settlement would cover more than 8 million customers who obtained such loans between 1989 and 2005.
The Illinois case, which plaintiffs’ attorneys estimate covers 3.5 million customers, charges the company with federal racketeering violations related to the loans.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13519693.htm

(Actually, the linked story is more about new stuff, but tells what the loan lawsuit is about.)

[nc10]

emeleel said

It costs $29.95, so you wouldn't want to use it for just a small amount. The bonus amount ranges from 10% to 100%.

I wonder if there are any gas card available. Even at $29.95, a bonus amount gas card might be worth it.

Is there a list of participating stores and discount somewhere?

On a vaguely related note, again where the stores are paying for incremtental business, I noticed that the coin counting machines that are located in grocery stores here also allow you to exchange change for gift certificates. They wave the fee (7-9%) they usually charge when you feed in change in exchange for paper money. I traded in 16$ worth of pennies for an amazon gift certificate a couple weeks ago.
http://www.coinstar.com/us/WebDocs/A1-0-3-1
Good way to move all those pennies you have.

[nc10]

Joubert said

They finally got out of the let's throw rebates against the wall game,

Sounds good, but you couldn't tell it from the Turbotax offers in the office depot, compusa, best buy Sunday circulars today. A while back Best Buy said they were going to get away from rebates also, but I've not seen any evidence of it.

[emeleel]

Yeah, I'd been meaning to post about that CoinStar/GC deal for a week or so now, and I keep forgetting. Maybe if I think of it, I'll make a separate post.

[Joubert[$]]

The gang at Amazon can just flat-out market. Was a brilliant move.

[pippadaisy[$]]

You know, I wouldn't have touched Coin Star with a 10-foot pole before that.

However, a) I need the cash we are getting back (adding in the unexpected child is leaving us with a refund) and b) um, yeah, I need the cash.

I also HATE HATE HATE TurboTax. With a passion.

[emeleel]

Really? Why? I personally love it - it's all I've used for years now.

[mtomm[$]]

Me, too! I don't think I would do too many gift cards, I want the cash from my refund. In fact, I've already spent it.

[pippadaisy[$]]

Two years ago, I went to eFile our taxes, only to discover that someone using TurboTax had submitted a tax return under G's SSN. Turbo Tax flagged US, and no amount of proof could get around it. It was a NIGHTMARE getting it all straightened out, and while we had gotten it okay with the govt, Inuit wouldn't change it to us. I'm still not sure we wouldn't pop us as flagged if we tried to file using their software again. Not to mention the spyware it installs on your machine... Grrrr.

[mtomm[$]]

I can imagine it was a nightmare. Amazing you could settle it with the IRS before TurboTax!

[drmomentum[$]]

They got rid of the malware last year (supposedly).

The point is moot, since you can use them without installing anything anymore if you don't want to. And I don't want to (install, that is).

[emeleel]

Here is the list:

FTD: Double your money

Expedia.com: Get $50 for every $250

Blockbuster
Timberland
Linens N Things
Sharper Image
Spa Finder: Get $15 for every $85

Lowe's
JCPenney
Starbucks
Bed, Bath & Beyond
AMC Theaters
Olive Garden
Red Lobster
Borders
Waldenbooks
Foot Locker
Champs
Applebees: Get $10 for every $90

Amex shopping card: Get $20 for every $180

[jlmenrbjdj]

Beware!!!

I used over $300 of my refund towards the gift cards. It was supposed to be over $350 worth of food and gas gift cards. It is now 9 months later,,, no cards.
I was going to use them for my familys summer vacation, but they never arrived.
I called the number on Turbo taxes website, and they had no record of me purchasing them.

On the receipt of my tax forms though, it shows that I was charged the $300 for the cards and the $29 processing fee.

I talked to turbo tax 3 more times and never was able to find my cards. So I am just out $329!!

I wont do it again, nor will I use Turbo tax again.

[emeleel]

Yikes!

Let me refer you:

COMPLAINT LETTER SERVICE from CONSUMER HELP WEB

Tell them that EA sent you - they used to be active members here and have gotten refunds for many of the members of this board.

[mtomm[$]]

Good call, Melanie.

[pippadaisy[$]]

Having dealt with Turbo Tax before... ugh.

[emeleel]

I TurboTax - but I've never bothered with the gift card program.