Already venting.

[JG EA]

I had the worst experience with a client in all my years of doing taxes. I ended up giving her her check back and Fed/State copies of W-2. She already had my folder with Client Copies and the rest of her originals. I forgot to ask for it back.

Is it horrible to have that out there? Should I ask for it back. I don't want to. I did not efile for her. I would just as soon never ever talk to her again. If I saw her coming again I'd lock the office so am inclined just to forget about it.

You can see how sucessful I am in forgeting about it.

[Gretel]

JG, I hope you can calm down enough to get a good night's rest!

Are you saying she has your client folder? I guess as long as nothing secretive was in there it doesn't matter since you don't want to see her again anyway. And if it was it's too late now.

If she could use what she has to file the tax return I would write a letter to the IRS to have your name as paid preparer removed.

[S T]

Sorry you had a Bad Day

JG,

OMG, what happened that was so bad?
Does she have your client copy of the actual return, and also an "original" return to file, or just the client copy and her original documents such as W-2 forms, etc?

Did your client copy have the "watermark" "client copy do not file"?

It's been a little stressful the last two days, but not what I am picturing the last day or two you have had!

Sandy

[rgtaxservice]

...

I had a client like that once. She complained about everything. It got so bad that I politely disassembled her completed return, gave her back her w2s/1099s and proceeded to shove her return into the shreader as she watched in horror.

I've had to do that twice over the years. Shreading the return really gets the point across.

[JohnH]

You're right about the shredder getting their attention.

I've never shredded a return, but lots of times I'll start shoving empty envelopes and boilerplate stuff from brokerage statements into the shredder while the client is sitting there. It's sometimes amusing to watch the expression on their face as I'm doing that.

JG: Shake it off. The client isn't worth investing another minute of your intellectual energy. When I get into this type of situation I try to step back and remind myself of something I learned in Sandler Sales Training - I'm in business to earn a profit, not to get my emotional needs met. Sometimes it takes a while, but logic always wins out if you let it.

Even better, re-read your own excellent response to this post by Bob back in July. Maybe the answer is already in your head - you just need to find where you stored it. http://www.thetaxbook.com/forums/sho...63294#poststop

[JG EA]

Thanks I feel better already. (G &ST she just had her copy with "Client's Copy" on the pages.) I just imagine her using the info to file for free on line.

I won't go into details - too soon, but basically when she came to sign, she walked into my office while I was by the door and started accusing me of things. Like working for the IRS because I reported her hobby income. (She was the one that brought it up and even said "I guess that is taxable isn't it") that all of her friends said that was ridiculous no one reports hobby income. How I didn't even ask her about the usual deductions that every other preparer asked for and on and on.

And see what I mean about details - getting warm again.

I should have known. Next time someone brings unruly kids, does not watch them while they empty the water cooler on the floor, make me get up to tell them no --I will from now on -- say I'm sorry I don't do well doing tax returns unless the children are sitting down, so I'll have to cancel our appointment. Or something. Well, I was feeling better.

I had a client like that once. She complained about everything. It got so bad that I politely disassembled her completed return, gave her back her w2s/1099s and proceeded to shove her return into the shreader as she watched in horror.

I've had to do that twice over the years. Shreading the return really gets the point across

I love it thanks rgtaxservice.

Shake it off. The client isn't worth investing another minute of your intellectual energy. When I get into this type of situation I try to step back and remind myself of something I learned in Sandler Sales Training - I'm in business to earn a profit, not to get my emotional needs met. Sometimes it takes a while, but logic always wins out if you let it.

Thanks John I'll try. The trouble is I let her see me upset - a defeat!

[S T]

You are Okay

JG,

Okay, so she has your Client Copy marked all over it! If she wants to try Turbo Tax or some other online, let her go ahead and try, she obviously didn't like your end result on the Tax return anyway! Be thankful you didn't sign your name or efile the return!

Take a deep breath, count to 10, and Wednesday will be a better day! Better yet, go put your feet up and have a Glass of Wine and Relax for the evening!

I like the other post about Shredding everything right in front of them. I haven't tried that one either, but I will remember!

Take Care,

Sandy

[erchess]

I agree with Sandy

The main risk that I was worried about for you would be her taking what she had and filing it with you as paid preparer. In the likely event you didn't sign, then you would I believe be exposed to a $50 penalty. In the much less likely event that the return (probably through her fault not yours) is sufficiently bad, you could be exposed to untold preparer penalties. However I believe that the labeling of what she has as a copy will prevent that. She can still use what she has as the guide to a self preparation effort if she wants but she probably won't since she thinks you did it wrong and even if she does your wallet won't be on the line. Since she has behaved this rudely dismiss her from your life. Move on. You are better than she is.

I have a slightly different twist than John. You are indeed in business to make a profit but you also have a right to be treated reasonably by those around you. Fire difficult clients just as you did her.

[fliszt]

JG, there have been

a lot of that's been down your road. And I'll bet all of that have been there would not have that person back no matter what the price. (you know what I mean)
I've said this before on TTB, but I have sent letters to clients that I no long will have back. And now in my twilight years, I only have clients which I really enjoy. It is such a stress relief to prepare returns for "annual friends".
I'm sorry for all that run into those type persons, but they are there and we won't know until we meet them (at least once).
Let it go, breathe deep and slowly.
Warm regards,
Larry

[JohnH]

Yes, by all means fire those who are a PITA (unless they're willing to pay exorbitantly high fees for the privilege of being a prima donna). My point is not to take any of it personally, especially after the fact. Shake them off like a bad case of fleas and move on.

[thomtax]

I had one of these several years ago. The wife brought in all the information - she was real nice. He was a medically retired LA cop. She held a Canadian citizenship. It was a fairly simple return - not a lot of time required. They had recently moved into our general area.

A week later I called and he came in. The first thing that he said as he walked in was "I've never had anyone get the return prepared this quickly". It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get it done. Then he started in.

They received several hundred dollars from a Canadian savings account. It is not right that we should have to pay taxes on money earned elsewhere.

He told me that he needed a prescription refilled so he went to a doctor's office, where he had never been before, and demanded they give him the prescription. The doctor told him that he would need to examine him first. His reply was "I'm not here for you to make money, I want the prescription, not an examination." According to him he got it. Did I mention that he is a bully?

The United States is horrible. If his wife gets sick, she can go back to Canada and they will take care of her. Do you know what will happen to me if I get sick and can't pay. By then, I decided to be blunt. "I guess that you will probably die." Then he told me that he would not come out and say it but what this country needed was a revolution to overthrow the government.

Then he told me that he told his boss that the boss was stupid to spend money stocking up for a possible Y2K crisis. If I need something, I'll just break into your house and take it.

While hearing all this and some other things about how he is not going to pay full price for anything, I looked at the previous year return and could see where the price had been crossed out and he was only charged 1/2 price. That told me that he was used to bullying people into cutting prices. So while he was talking, I started taking things apart and putting his documents into an envelope. Then I took his return and shredded it. I handed him his documents and told him that he needed to go somewhere that he had more confidence in their work. He looked surprised. I don't think anyone had ever been willing to give up the work for no fee, they just took what they could get.

I should have know something was up. They lived 30 miles away, yet used a local P O Box. They had moved from an area that is known to be a haven for people that are less than satisfied with the US government. Fortunately, I never heard from him again.

Sorry for the long post.

LT

[DaveO]

I loved the story Thomtax

I had one a few years ago with a couple of people involved in one of the major tax avoidence schemes. Everything went fine until they wanted that on their return. I refused so they began to try and sell me on the program during which time I seperated their forms from my work and pushed it back across the desk.

I then said we can do your return with the W-2's and 1098 you have or you can go elsewhere.

About 3 months later I saw them again in the paper as a federal indictment for medicare billing fraud was unsealed.

[Jesse]

So while he was talking, I started taking things apart and putting his documents into an envelope. Then I took his return and shredded it. I handed him his documents and told him that he needed to go somewhere that he had more confidence in their work. He looked surprised. I don't think anyone had ever been willing to give up the work for no fee, they just took what they could get.
LT

That's hilarious!

[fliszt]

Hey DaveO,

that's a neat story. Good for you!!!!!!!

[ChEAr$]

returning documents

I had one a few years ago with a couple of people involved in one of the major tax avoidence schemes. Everything went fine until they wanted that on their return. I refused so they began to try and sell me on the program during which time I seperated their forms from my work and pushed it back across the desk.

I then said we can do your return with the W-2's and 1098 you have or you can go elsewhere.

About 3 months later I saw them again in the paper as a federal indictment for medicare billing fraud was unsealed.

When the time comes to tear up the return and return copies of documents to the client,
be sure that all W2's have been already separated (usually at first interview), so that you can
re staple them together neatly with a staple diagonally across upper right hand corner.
All documents with multiple copies, same way.

This indicates that the documents have already been seen by another tax preparer,
useful information to the next preparer she goes to see down the road.
(evil grin)