CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORIES

All of the following excerpts represent real
customer stories

Buying a Home
Husband, Father, and Firefighter
A local firefighter and his family, like many other Americans, live paycheck to paycheck. The firefighter was even more mindful of the family’s budget as they saved money to buy their first home. He knew his IRS refund would provide significant help in paying for their new house, but he was nervous after bad experiences from prior years. For example, their refund check had once been stolen from their mailbox. Another year, the family waited almost three months for the refund, only to find out that it had been held up due to an “administrative error.” Taking the guesswork out of the process, the firefighter went to his local tax preparer to obtain a refund anticipation loan (RAL). The RAL enabled him to access money in February instead of May, and he didn’t have to worry about problems with the delivery of his IRS refund.

Paying for School
Wife, Mother, Employee, and Student
As a full-time student and part-time employee, one mother of two spends most of her days in the classroom studying to become a registered nurse, and most of her nights as a waitress helping to support herself, her husband, and their children. In order for her to continue her studies for the following semester, she had to pay a significant enrollment fee. With the enrollment deadline rapidly approaching, she and her husband decided it was important to pay the fee and not take any chances waiting around for their tax refunds. They obtained a RAL, and with that money, she was able to continue attending college without placing additional financial stress on the family.

Staying Current on Bills
Father and Highway Traffic Control Officer
As a seasonal highway traffic control officer, a local father both enjoys and fears the winter months when he’s not working. While he can spend extra time with his three children, reduced work brings a tighter budget. During the winter season, he ran into a difficult financial situation. Not wanting to fall behind and face late fees and finance charges, he decided the best option was to access funds more quickly by obtaining a RAL. He used his RAL to pay down a significant portion of his bills — something he would not have been able to do on time had he waited for his refund to come from the IRS.

Making Ends Meet
Grandfather and Single Guardian
Another man is the sole provider for a special family of two: himself and his 4-year-old granddaughter. Like many Americans, he felt the impact of a tough economy when his local factory job was eliminated as part of a downsizing process. Losing his job made it challenging for him to make ends meet for himself and his young granddaughter. After considering all of the short-term financial options available to him, he opted to take out a RAL to tide the family over until he could find a new job. With the funds from the RAL, he paid his rent, utilities, and the remaining amount owed on his car, placing himself and his granddaughter in a more secure financial position.

Providing Temporary Relief
Father
While losing a job is traumatic, losing a job during the holiday season is worse. This happened to a local father, who lost his job in December. With a stack of bills and holiday gifts to pay for, he immediately began searching for a new job. In the meantime, he turned to credit cards for short-term financial support. With more and more post-holiday bills rolling in, though, the father needed another short-term financial solution. He quickly realized that his options were very limited. After doing some research, he decided to ask his tax preparer about a RAL. He says the RAL helped him pay off his bills, avoid late fees, and protect his credit.