Taxback - 13 months after filing for return!

DirkVoodoo

Not sure where to post this, but here goes...

In the summer of 2005, I spent a J1 summer in America, as many students do. I was in a good job, paying a total of nearly $1000 in tax by the end of my stay.

In January 2006 I got my W-2 and sent it on to taxback.com, along with the other documents they required. At the beginning of february I was told "thanks very much, we'll begin processing but it may take 4 months depending on work load"

13 months, many emails and a lot of frustration later, I am told that my refund is ready to be sent to me, minus taxback's commission. After asking them repeatedly "show me the money" over the past year, I was sent various emails with vague information, simply stating there was "a delay" and it would take another 4-6 weeks (9 months in the end) for my refund to come through.

Now, I wouldn't call myself a sceptical person, but I wouldn't be surprised if this money has been doing the rounds for some time. Anyway, that's mindless conjecture and beside the point, which is this:

As with any customer delay, even one due to "circumstances beyond our control", should I now bend over and let taxback take their 15% without saying "hey, shouldn't you be taking less for leaving me hanging for so long?"

Thanks

eth0_

I'd write it off as stupid tax for using a taxback service in the first place!