April 2019 by Janis Myers
I started using this firm when it was Niswander and associates and dealt with Gene Niswander, who has since retired. He sat down with me, took my documents for my tax return, told me someone would call me when the return was ready. After about a week a got a call, set a time and had each item on the return explained, signed an authorization for them to e-file, paid and was on my way. That is the treatment I would like and expect, but that level of courtesy is no longer to be found now that the firm is called "Comer and Company". The second year,when I learned Mr Niswander had retired, I got the name of a woman "Claudia" and made an appointment with her. ( I later learned that she is not actually a CPA.) When I arrived to have my taxes done I was told, "Claudia says she does not have TIME to do your tax return." I was turned over to a newbie.. probably an intern. I have no idea what his qualifications were, but I had to correct him repeatedly. Fortunately, Mr. Clarence Comer was working at his desk at the other end of his office and intervened. I have elected to have him do my taxes since that time. Last year, I took in my 2017 documents assuming that Clarence Comer would do my taxes. When I went to pick up the return at the appointed time, I was ushered to the office of none other than "Claudia". I gritted my teeth, and said nothing. She did an adequate job of explaining how she had completed the return and I paid and did not complain. This year before I had even received my 2018 tax information, (around the end of January), I called and spoke with Clarence Comer. I made it clear that if he did not want to do my taxes, I would have no problem finding another CPA. He laughed it off explaining that he was busier now and usually just did returns for businesses. He then assured me that he would be glad to do my tax return. Around the first week in March, I left my documents with the front desk and waited to hear when my return was ready. Today I got the call from someone named "Pat" saying that my return was complete. I asked her when Clarence would be available to go over the return with me. She asked me derisively if I "really" needed Clarence to go over my return. I let her bully me into saying I could probably just look at it and see if I had questions. The way this works now is that you go in, sign a form giving Comer authorization to file your return, pay and THEN you get to see the return. While I was receiving this slap in the face, another client who came in after me breezed by to see Clarence. I was told that SHE had an appointment. I told the receptionist that I had asked for one, but had been bullied by Pat. I paid, got the return, and before signing the form, I opened the return in the reception area with another client seated next to me. I paged through it to see if it resembled the previous years return, checked a few details while trying to keep the papers together on my lap, signed the form and left.. The receptionist offered to let me wait until the other client was finished, but I had not allowed time ...had other errands. I only hope my return was actually done by a real CPA and hope it is correct. I will be looking for someone else to do my taxes next year.
