Finding and keeping a good CPA/tax preparer

[Seth James]

Wasn't sure where to post, sorry....     Need advice on dealing with my current/former tax preparer, and what to do in the future.

1. thought I had a great tax acct who got a great refund last year. This year she ghosted me after paying her! Submit doc's 3/14 and pay deposit. 4/5 get email asking to resubmit(she cant find docs) and do same day. 4/9 says she needs to do an extension, charges me $75 extra, and I pay the 2nd half of my bill. Crickets......  I get busy, figure I'll hear back, but finally email her 5/16(yeah, too long, but my area has an IRS disaster relief allow returns delayed till mid June). I call 5/17, and again today. Nothing, so I post on her FB biz page asking if she's just stealing my money. She emails immediately saying she updated by email mutiple times(lie, I asked where) and says she's working on it. When I call BS and ask why no contact, she vaguely threatens that I now owe IRS 9k and I should let her work if I don't want to pay that. I ask for my money back, and she says no refunds.  Obviously I don't want this person filing my return, I'm already in touch with others. Do I just walk away? Report fraud to my credit card co.? Start leaving terrible reviews everywhere I can to get refunded? Anywhere to report her?

2. How do I find someone legit going forward? My last preparer ghosted after 4/5yrs service(apparently screwed a bunch of people). I see people saying I can pick someone remote, but how do I know this wont just happen again? I don't want to go to a company like h&r block, but none of the indie people have reviews or reputations.  What do I do here?