H&R Block takes online system down after glitch

02/16/00

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb 16 (Reuters) - Tax preparation and financial services company H&R Block Inc. said Wednesday that its online tax program has been temporarily shut down after some customers' data wound up in other customers' files.

The problem with the online program affected less than 10 of H&R Block's 300,000 online customers, the company said.

The program was taken offline Monday after the problem was discovered, H&R Block said in a news release. All client data has been securely saved and will be available when the online service is brought back by the weekend, H&R Block said.

"None of the returns which our online clients have filed with the IRS contain incorrect data," Mark Ernst,

H&R Block's president and chief operating officer, said in a news release. "We stand by our guarantee that all returns will be accurate."

H&R Block shares were up 1/8 at 43-1/2 Wednesday

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-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 16, 2000