ComplaintsforHigh Country Finance

• Initial Complaint

  05/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I paid $5,997.00 and signed an agreement in October 2023 with Wealthability for tax strategy, preparation, and filing. Tax filing for my first year, 2023 taxes, was included in that price. As part of that agreement, I was referred to one of their vendors, High Country. No other agreement was signed. I started to work with Brady S****, then passed to Hailey F*****, then to Sophie A****, then Amanda L*****, and then Tyler R*******. High Country proceeded to miscommunicate, misfile, and delay my taxes. Sophie prepared them and stated I wouldn't owe more than $2,000.00, then Tyler stated Sophie had miscategorized items, and I actually owed $20,000.00. Adjustments were made, and that number has become $15,000.00. High Country filed the taxes under the wrong FEIN, and amendments had to be made. High Country sent me an invoice for $650.00 even though taxes were included for the first year. High Country thinks I'm upset about the amount owed, but I am upset about the miscommunication, delays, **** of urgency, and **** of attention to detail in someone's taxes and finances. As of today, May 17, 2024, I don't know if the amended taxes have been filed as High Country won't confirm, and I have not been sent documents to sign. I requested to be transferred to another one of Wealthability's vendors. Brad D****, with Wealthability, called me today, May 17, 2024, and stated I signed an agreement with High Country, which is not the case. He said he would send the deal; I am still waiting to receive it. He did not comment about the issues with High Country and proceeded to call me disrespectful and rude and specifically said "I would go out of my way for someone nice, but I won't do anything for you". He said another firm would charge me to review the existing taxes because High Country won't confirm if they're completed. He said I could not speak to anyone else and that nothing could be done about High Country or Wealthability.

  Business response

  05/29/2024

  High Country Finance (HCF) was a service provider for WealthAbility. Client (LE) was referred to HCF by WealthAbility to provide tax advisory and filing services. LE and HCF signed a “Tax Consulting Engagement Letter” listing HCF as the service provider on October 27, 2023. The service provider engagement is common practice with WealthAbility.HCF sent LE an organizer in January to complete, as well as email reminders/requests to upload and provide all tax information pertinent to filing an accurate and timely return. All communication from LE was responded to within 48-business hours by staff of HCF. LE did not provide all of the requested information by April 1st, which is the deadline to guarantee a timely tax filing (this deadline was communicated to LE in advance). HCF proceeded to file an extension, and work on the tax return. Incorrect information, such as business name and EIN, or profession (which was not inaccurate, but preferential and certainly did not affect the tax return) was inputted into the return based on what information LE provided to HCF. LE was provided the opportunity to review the tax return before filing, and provided approval and necessary signatures to file. Once approval and signatures were received by HCF, HCF proceeded to file the tax return. LE was issued an invoice, as is standard procedure for all clients, but said invoice was revoked and not charged because of her WealthAbility service engagement.Only after approving and filing the tax return did LE bring to our attention the errors, which were promptly corrected and provided to LE to review to amend. All of this happened within the dates of May 5, 2024 through May 7, 2024. LE received email notification that the amended return was available to review and approve with the requested changes.Comments made by LE are categorically incorrect and do not accurately represent the nature of the engagement or communication that took place (or, **** thereof as stated by LE).
  
  
  

  Customer response

  05/30/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: there is nothing to respond to. There is no response from the business here nor is there a response in their "client portal". The last item in the portal is amended returns from 7 May 2024 and issues were arising before and after that. The complaint was entered after the 7th as well. 

  The idea that the company won't respond here and wants to keep communications outside of BBB is also raising red flags. 

  Sincerely,
  
  ******* ******

  Customer response

  05/31/2024

  I never signed an engagement letter with High Country and that document is forged. 

  The documentation for the K1 was received after April 1st and the delay in that was due to the company and not me and communication with High Country about this matter happened throughout. 

  The conversations with Brady at the beginning of the relationship regarding the dissolution of Fly Fearless and re-establishment of Fly Fearless Unlimited was discussed and High Country decided to only look at the 2022 return and not speak with me about clarifying any of the business details. 

  High Country passed off my returns to multiple people and Sophie first did them and wrote in an email that I would not pay more than $2,000 in taxes due. My taxes were then passed off to Tyler who stated in email that Sophie has miscategorized items and I actually owed $20,000. The error for the miscategorization was never acknowledged or apologized for and instead, I was blamed and told it was my fault and what I owe is what I owe which is not what I was upset about. I was upset that vital information was potentially filed incorrectly which further amplified when the business information was wrong and High Country again blamed me rather than taking accountability over the fact that they never verified with me that the information on the 2022 returns was the same and should be transferred over. I have never had to go through my returns with a fine tooth comb before because I was able to trust the invdividuals preparing them, but the **** of communication and accountability and constant blame from High Country destroyed any level of confidence with the company. High Country should not be used by anyone to prepare their taxes until they address those internal issues. 

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