KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Money Co. USA Closes

Their refund checks are late so anxiety and impatience is growing for a group of Little Rock taxpayers.

Making matters worse..the business that filed their tax returns locked its doors this week.

The sign on the door at Money Co. USA's office on Asher avenue says "Office closed until further notice."

The number it suggests customers call doesn't work.

"I have a list of all their offices from Memphis…Mississippi," says Amanda Boyd.  "They have some in Alabama.  I've called like eight different numbers.  I have a whole list.  And I've done called eight…and every time I call a number I cannot get through."

Boyd and other customers owed refunds are concerned.

"How much was that refund?"

"$3,800," says Boyd.

"Where is that money?"

"I don't know," replies Boyd.

"They done took our money and ran with it," worries Dorothy Morris.

A business card is as close to her refund as Dorothy Morris has gotten.

It shows she was to get over $5,100 by January 28th.

"Have they given you a reason for the delay?"

"No they haven't," says Morris.

"And now the office is closed. How much does that concern you?"

"It concerns me a lot," says Morris.  "Because I work hard for my money."

Local franchise owner Mitch Freeman claims in a statement that his office closed because of "…numerous death threats from customers that hadn't received their refund checks yet."

Freeman says there are about "…67 refund checks" being processed and that the "…office will reopen soon."

His statement finishes by saying "We will ensure that everyone that is entitled to a refund check will receive it."

If Freeman or any of his employees received death threats, Little Rock Police hasn't been informed.

Air date:  February 16^th, 2012

ENTIRE MONEY CO. USA STATEMENT EMAILED TO KATV BY LOCAL FRANCHISE OWNER MITCH FREEMAN:

Response to News 7 on your side about Moneycousa being closed.

             The MoneycoUsa office has been closed since Monday, Feb 13, 2012 due to numerous death threats from customers that hadn't received their refund checks yet.  Over half of our customers have received there refund checks from our office directly this 2011 tax season.  We have around 67 refund checks that the processor is processing the deposits and they will be mailing them directly to the customers due to issues beyond our control.  We have contacted all the customers that are waiting and explained to them the issues that we are encountering.  We have never experience any issues like these with all our years of experience.  The office will reopen soon once the refund checks that we have left are issued out.  We will fulfill all obligations that we have with our customers the way that we have always done in the past.  Our customers are like family to us and we would never abandon them due to any circumstances.  And that we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused our customers but these are issues that are out of our hands.  I am in constant contact with the corporate office to give the customers updates once I receive them.  We will ensure that everyone that is entitled to a refund check will receive it.