Discussion:Unfair competition!!!..take a break
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Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Unfair competition!!!..take a break
| 1 March 2007 | |
| I have to share this. A client came today asking (sounded like complaining) if i'm using the correct filing status for him and wife. A water and power company's worker, while checking his home's meter, advise him to file as a head of a household and claim the wife as a dependent and not to do the "longest form" because I will charge him more.
How can you compete with that!! | |
| March 1, 2007 | |
| Well...I hear that the Water & Power Companies are branching out! I think they are training their employees to do taxes :) | |
Rgtaxservice (talk|edits) said: | 1 March 2007 |
| Show that client the door!!!
Tell them that you feel the water/power meter reader has proven himself as knowledgable <sp> in the art of tax craft and adaquately skilled enough to prepare such a complex return as theirs. Then hand them their tax docs and shred your work product right before their beady eyes. Sorry if I'm in a foul mood today...but stupid clients <mine> have really pissed me on today. | |
| March 1, 2007 | |
| Did you 'splain to them how to better run electric and water into their house? | |
| 1 March 2007 | |
| RGS, I did shred a tax return on April 15th at 5 PM in front of a client because she was giving me so much grief. She broke down in tears and said it was all because her husband had been such a bas**** to her about it. I felt sorry for her, went to my copy and made another set.
You know, I never heard from her again. | |
Rgtaxservice (talk|edits) said: | 1 March 2007 |
| Kev - that's why I try not to take any sh*t from clients. Especially new ones. As far as I'm concerned, my return is already prepared (although this year it's not - hello extension) and theirs is not. HRB/JH will gladly put with their grief.
I charge a fair fee and provide quality service. I'm not a return factory and I genuinely <sp> care about my clients tax situations. I'm not a "here's your return, where's my check, there's the door" type of guy. But some clients push my buttons...and it's always the *ss wipes. Fair or not, there is now an aggravation fee. So it written, so it shall be done. One that really sticks out is the woman that insisted I hand-write her return a few years back. Despite my assurance that computer generated returns are better looking. Naturally it was a 1040 with Sch B and Sch D, and the state versions too. Turns out that handwriting did meet her approval. She mentioned to me that she "could do a better job. I should have done them myself. I'm not going to pay for these". Without a word I disassembled her return, handed her her documents and proceeded to shred the return. Once finished, I walked to the door and politely opened it her. All in silence. I'm sure I'll answer for that on judgement day but until then.... | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 2 March 2007 |
| Rude/demanding clients is why I look at my client list every November/December. This year I only "fired" one (he almost cried). Other year's I've fired as many as five. Life's too short and there are too many good clients to deal with the pains. | |
| March 2, 2007 | |
| I was going to start a new thread, but this is a good place to hitch onto. The first reaction of someone from IRS who might be monitoring this board is that it's a place full of shortcuts and practicalities that fall short of technically correct work. To the contrary, this morning I just redid a return thanks to some of the comments from yesterday. This board really makes me want to be a better accountant, not a worse one. It makes me research and ask questions, and indeed, act more professionally that I would otherwise. The case in question is a client who is very dominant, tho' friendly...who has always taken travel expenses for both he and his wife. Well, that ended back in about 1986! and these are new clients to me...I'd mentioned in the fall that they couldn't be doing this. She's the owner and sole employee, he doesn't exist in the corp in anyway. So at first, I just did it like it had been done before. Then I realized, no, I can't do that. This isn't right, I know it isn't right, and I have to do this right. So 1/2 those travel costs, which are extensive, just fell off the page. Thanks to all of you for subtly reminding us that we are able to do things well, and still make people as happy as can be. | |
| 2 March 2007 | |
| JR, this board doesn't put up with shortcuts! We demand excellence! And we don't mind telling people when they are wrong! | |
| 2 March 2007 | |
| Speaking of travel expenses, anyone have clients come in that are involved in this "be your own travel agent" multi level marketing? Part of the multi level marketing lure/scheme/scam is that you join the group as an agent, and then writeoff all your own travels as research to do your travel agent duties and research. Seems half my town thinks they are in business as their own travel agent. | |
| March 2, 2007 | |
| Oooh! Send them to me, I'd sign up for that! But who uses a travel agent anymore, and how are you going to get commissions when they book thru Expedia or Travelocity anyway? | |
| 2 March 2007 | |
| JR,
I agree with your former comment. I find that the more I practice representation and preperation, the less I know, and I too have changed a couple returns based on info from this forum. I call my fellow colleages (I won't mention what group they are in) and usually get incorrect info, then come here and get accurate leads to the correct answer, if not the correct answer to begin with. I am grateful for this forum. OK don't make my cry now...LOL ;) | |
