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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
11/30/2021
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I'm filing a complaint regarding business ethics. I secured Michael Fitzsimmons as my CPA for the tax year 2020. He was all too eager to take a retainer from me in May, but we just couldn't get him to do my taxes. I had to call from a number he did not know just to trick him into answering, as he wouldn't answer calls from known numbers. He also would not reply to our many emails. Ultimately, we got him to file around noon on the last day of the extension. And we had to, unannounced, show up at his office just to get him to talk....He only did part of my taxes, but said he would also do my Trust return afterwards as well, and get late fees waived due to the confusion. He once again isn't answering any calls or emails. His secretary screens my calls, and when she finds out its me, he's magically not in the office. I have around $100,000 that I overpaid. And have lost out on probably $20,000 in interest i could have earned. And I still don't know what he's going to even charge me. The stress and frustration has become unbearable. I'm absolutely amazed a professional would act like this. I just don't know what to do anymore. I need that money to pay my taxes in JANUARY. It's been a whole year. And he refuses to communicate with either myself or others that I've asked to try to call on my behalf, thinking they might sneak in past the secretary.Please help. Others need to know about this as well so they don't fall victim to this kind of fraud either. Thank you,*****Business response
08/25/2022
Mr. ****** hired me to prepare his 2020 personal income tax returns. After those were done and the deadline passed, he advised me that no income tax returns had been prepared for some trusts of which he is a beneficiary, but NOT trustee. Normally it is the trustee that hires a tax preparer for a trust, not a beneficiary.
In November/December 2021 we discussed having my firm prepare the trust income returns and we sent for his signature an engagement letter and request for retainer (up-front payment). He never paid the retainer in spite of multiple requests, so we did not move forward with the work. It is that simple.
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Contact Information
928 Hornblend St Ste 8
San Diego, CA 92109-4062
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1 total complaints in the last 3 years.
0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.