Michael G Hines CPA

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Michael Hines in NOT honest. Each year he increases his rates substantially even though my tax forms and job situation remained the same. This year, I'm unemployed and called ahead of time to ask what his rate would be - as my financial situation had changed a lot and was concerned about the price he would charge. He then quoted between $400 - $500. I sent in my packet - with no in-person meeting to save money as I had also done the previous year. A week before the April 15th deadline, someone from his office called to ask when they'd be receiving his fee. This had never happened in all the years I'd been there and I knew that he'd billed fraudulently. They were rude and cryptic, it was pretty obvious. This led me to check the bill - which has a 60 day payment due anyway - and I had only had the bill for 2 weeks. And, yes he billed $849! Then discounted the inflated fee 25%. When I called to discuss this - he said he was too busy to call clients for a $200 increase in their rates. (Last year I paid $445 for virtually the same type of earnings/return) This is an accounting firm - the rate was increased nearly 50% at the discounted price and increased nearly 100% for the inflated price of $849 - yet he doesn't have time to call the client for approval. He refused to alter the rate at all. I wouldn't recommend him to anyone. This is quite simply: robbery.