Charged me for three hours of work ($750) for an 8 sentence email answer to a single basic tax question. Gave no warning that my question would cost a ton of money. Also did not warn that they would charge for the under an hour meeting where I was supposed to decide if I wanted to hire them to do my taxes ($250). Huge bill for no work, and when I asked for more information, the boss accidentally emailed me to tell his underling "give her a stern response" rather than "explain the charges". Apparently their plan is to bully customers into paying inflated bills? Very questionable / purposeful scammers?

Stevens and Ciccone Associates have been my personal accountants, since the ‘70’s when a trusted business colleague referred me to them, and my business accountants since 1996 when I started my own consultancy. I have worked with many other accountants and accounting firms in the course of my own business and Stevens and Ciccone have continued to earn my confidence and loyalty, year after year of our long and productive association. They also served my mother well, after I introduced her to them. I have found in particular that they provide astute, timely business advice, honest and straightforward personal financial counsel, and excellent customer service from all members of the firm. They deserve my unqualified recommendation.

Mark Ciccone is highly responsive, very knowledgable and has been an excellent resource for tax related matters!

Oh where to start. Reached out to this firm based on a recommendation. All correspondence was via e-mail. Determined that the price for a return was reasonable (estimated around 450-550) plus whatever extra complications.Sent the partner my previous turbo tax file (per request) and then asked two questions regarding my tax situation. This turned into a bit of an exchange over email, even had to send some additional papers. Mind you, this is all going on way before the actual tax return. One question answered, another not, but it did not matter because I figured once the actual tax prep began I can get all the information.Get a bill a few weeks later for $400 for "emails". Yeah, brutal. Turns out that answering two questions and going over some papers will run you four hundred bucks. Naturally, I resisted as that is crazy. So he offered a discount to $300, but that was still too much. I am being charged for emails, what people pay for basic tax returns?Few months later collector comes knocking, I explain the situation and seemingly everything is quiet.Nope, they sue me in small claims.I figured why not, there is no way this is reasonable. Feels like a giant firm fleecing the small guy. Court will surely rule in my favor.Nope, clerk magistrate barely cares about my story and rules against me. Best part? The lawyers (yes, two ) had two cases that day. Apparently I am not the only one who finds the practices of this firm shady, underhanded and sneaky. However they still got their money from me one way or another, too bad it was via the courts and not actual services.Stay the hell away folks.

Horrible never go here.