RitaB Posted January 23, 2018 Report Posted January 23, 2018 I know nobody is busy, but since Form 1040 is still in draft, here's one: Church acquaintance needs 2016 return done and actually says: 1) For some reason, I couldn't get Turbo Tax to work. 2) It should be really simple. 3) The bank needs it for our refinance. 4) It's only illegal if you don't file, right? Not if you file and don't pay. That's ok, right? 5) It should be really simple. 1 7 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 23, 2018 Report Posted January 23, 2018 You know how to attract those "special" kinds of tax clients!! 3 3 Quote
RitaB Posted January 23, 2018 Author Report Posted January 23, 2018 16 minutes ago, Jack from Ohio said: You know how to attract those "special" kinds of tax clients!! I really do. That's what happens when you go to church. The devil sends them. But the draft appears to be ended. See, it all works out. 3 1 Quote
ILLMAS Posted January 23, 2018 Report Posted January 23, 2018 1 hour ago, RitaB said: I know nobody is busy, but since Form 1040 is still in draft, here's one: Church acquaintance needs 2016 return done and actually says: 1) For some reason, I couldn't get Turbo Tax to work. 2) It should be really simple. 3) The bank needs it for our refinance. 4) It's only illegal if you don't file, right? Not if you file and don't pay. That's ok, right? 5) It should be really simple. Is that the hole picture and the hole truth? 1 4 1 Quote
SaraEA Posted January 24, 2018 Report Posted January 24, 2018 Add to the list the dreaded, "I just have a quick question." 5 Quote
Abby Normal Posted January 24, 2018 Report Posted January 24, 2018 13 hours ago, SaraEA said: Add to the list the dreaded, "I just have a quick question." I don't dread the 'quick question' anymore, because one led me to being able to sell my house to their son without a broker, thereby saving a 6% sales commission. 4 Quote
Yardley CPA Posted January 24, 2018 Report Posted January 24, 2018 What a s _ _ _hole question this is. I couldn't resist...sorry. 3 4 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 24, 2018 Report Posted January 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Yardley CPA said: What a s _ _ _hole question this is. I couldn't resist...sorry. Only if it is under the outside toilet facility... 3 Quote
Catherine Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 I don't mind the "quick questions" NEARLY so much as I mind the three-week required answers. Quick question: "How do I do payroll?" Answer: still talking, three weeks later... 1 2 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 30 minutes ago, Catherine said: Quick question: "How do I do payroll? Answer: Pay me monthly. 6 1 Quote
RitaB Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Posted January 25, 2018 Thank God this went to Voicemail: Hey, Rita, this is (cheerful high school guidance counselor) helping a student (who you don't know) fill out his FAFSA... 4 Quote
Medlin Software, Dennis Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 Oh for the voice or writings of one customer who accepts responsibility for their own actions... Yesterday and today have been filled with a customer who has no problem telling me about their background and how they overcame it to become well educated, yet the person is unwilling or unable to follow simple directions (click this, type that) and instead, goes on a rant to blame me for having to become vert direct and blunt to get the click this, type that steps actually done, and to discover the error was because of an action the customer took almost three years ago... then the customer again reminds me of their education, and refers to me in an unflattering way. The interesting part, is their last message clearly is a "vent", and.or some sort of self comforting message, since, after the rant, it has a PS of something along the lines of not telling others how they feel. Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 49 minutes ago, RitaB said: Thank God this went to Voicemail: Hey, Rita, this is (cheerful high school guidance counselor) helping a student (who you don't know) fill out his FAFSA... Answer: Pay me! 1 Quote
RitaB Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Posted January 25, 2018 34 minutes ago, Jack from Ohio said: Answer: Pay me! Better answer: Hello? Hello? I'm sorry we have a bad connec... I don't need money enough to fool with that. It's like landing a plane with directions via walkie talkie. In Swahili. That guidance counselor is about as never mind. 3 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 10 minutes ago, RitaB said: Better answer: Hello? Hello? I'm sorry we have a bad connec... I don't need money enough to fool with that. It's like landing a plane with directions via walkie talkie. In Swahili. That guidance counselor is about as never mind. I charge a premium price to be the nursemaid for those clients. Why isn't the guidance counselor trained and experienced in that area? It is so simple now, hence the reason for my premium price. I currently have 10 repeating clients for the past 5 years. Send them to me!! Quote
Lee B Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 This happened to my wife, when she was Girl Scout Leader, calling mothers for help with the troop. My Wife, " Can you help with . . . . . . . Mother, " Gotta Go, Dog Fight" and she hangs up. 2 3 Quote
RitaB Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Posted January 25, 2018 16 minutes ago, Jack from Ohio said: I charge a premium price to be the nursemaid for those clients. Why isn't the guidance counselor trained and experienced in that area? It is so simple now, hence the reason for my premium price. I currently have 10 repeating clients for the past 5 years. Send them to me!! People like this are not willing to pay either you or me. It was just a quick question yanno. 5 Quote
Medlin Software, Dennis Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 The result is the caller will blame you for whatever the mess is, even if their fault. Just the way it works now-a-days. Kind of like mine who ask for a solution to "cannot" (without saying what they are trying, or what happens when they try (Carnac the Magnificent is not a real person!). 3 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 45 minutes ago, RitaB said: People like this are not willing to pay either you or me. It was just a quick question yanno. Then let them clean up their mess when they create it. No problem here. They will call back asking for help to straighten out their troubles. More premium fees. I do make a fair amount of money putting out fires that taxpayers create. My experience and knowledge did not come to me free, by any measure. 1 Quote
Catherine Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 9 minutes ago, Jack from Ohio said: I do make a fair amount of money putting out fires that taxpayers create. The trick to keep from getting aggravated (at fixing the same bleeping problem time and again) is not to think of them as problem clients, but rather as walking annuities... lol. 4 Quote
Medlin Software, Dennis Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 The second trick is to know when to let them go. For me, it is the first instance of unprofessional behavior (such as a nasty-gram message), threats to leave, threats to sue, etc. As long as the person remains civil, I will not give up. The one I wrote about earlier involved more than 60 messages back and forth, but the last one was not civil, so it will be the last one, other than stock replies or excerpts from the program documentation. 4 Quote
schirallicpa Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 17 hours ago, Catherine said: I don't mind the "quick questions" NEARLY so much as I mind the three-week required answers. Quick question: "How do I do payroll?" Answer: still talking, three weeks later... quick answer: call Paychex. 3 Quote
GLJEANNE Posted February 1, 2018 Report Posted February 1, 2018 Careful recommending Paychex, a client could end up ticked off at you when they screw up. Quote
Catherine Posted February 1, 2018 Report Posted February 1, 2018 3 hours ago, GLJEANNE said: when they screw up I have found this is highly dependent on which office you work with. I have had clients working with three or four locations over the years, and one has consistently done top-notch work with no screw-ups. One of the others seemingly can't do anything right, ever. The others are mostly OK but need an eye kept on them. This is probably the case with any large company. If you have a location with a good manager who demands high-quality work, you're golden. If not, caveat emptor! 2 Quote
JohnH Posted February 1, 2018 Report Posted February 1, 2018 Caller: "I just have a few quick questions." Me: "Oh good, I have a special rate for quick questions. The answer to the first one is free. After that there's a charge." Caller: "How much is the charge?" Me: "$100 each. What's your next question?" 1 10 Quote
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