NT / Funny Calls

[RitaB]

Checked my machine:

Caller 1: "Hey, Rita, this is Joe Taxpayer. Please give me a call at blah, blah, blah." The number he gave is MY number. Guess he is coming over after I leave to clear off my desk, and I'll call him from home.

Caller 2: "Hey, Rita. My daughter got her taxes done today at Joe Competitor's. They said if you draw disability, you can file and get $200 back. Do you know anything about that?"

OK, that second one was more irritating than funny.

[thomtax]

Just out of curiousity - Did you call the second one back? :-)

LT

[Lion]

Caller #2

Call #2 back to say YES and then hang up.

[RitaB]

Yeah

Just out of curiousity - Did you call the second one back? :-)

LT

Yes, I called her back. The caller is retired and not required to file, but I used to prepare her returns. I told her "The other preparer may have been thinking about the $250 check you received in the summer, and your daughter misunderstood. You did get that check, right?"

She said she did, and if I heard of anything she could get back, give her or her daughter (who can't wait two weeks for her refund so she goes elsewhere) a call.

[Gretel]

My daughter got her taxes done today at Joe Competitor's. They said if you draw disability, you can file and get $200 back. Do you know anything about that?"

Are you talking about the Economic Stimulus payment? Why is it $200? I guess I missed some education.

[RitaB]

Lol

Call #2 back to say YES and then hang up.

We were posting at the same time, and I just saw this.

I did get a little attitude one time last year when I had about had it with, "How much do you charge?" calls.

I told one guy, "So far, between $45 and $600."

Silence.

"OK, thanks. Bye."

[RitaB]

You didn't miss anything

Are you talking about the Economic Stimulus payment? Why is it $200? I guess I missed some education.

I am assuming the daughter or the mother misunderstood what they heard. Don't know - I may get to repair daughter's return...

[erchess]

I am listed in the yellow pages under a couple headings, one of which is "Tax Services" so naturally I got one caller who was looking for a ride to the airport.

[JohnH]

Rita:

Have you had this call yet?

Client: Hi Rita, are you still doing taxes this year?
You : Yes, didn't you get the organizer I mailed out last week?
Client: Yeah, but I just wanted to check anyhow.
You : Well, do you want to make an appointment?
Client: No, I just wanted to let you know I'm getting my stuff together. I'll call for an appointment later.

[ChEAr$]

Sometimes I'll get a call from out of the blue asking if I can do an estimate.

Sure I can, and then ask if the person has already made the first three payments for the year. That perplexes the hell out of them!

But yes, I have seen ads advertising "free estimates" in the newspaper.

[Bonnie]

A few years back when I was with another company, a customer came in and asked if we were the Taxidermy service????

[gboykin]

Me: Hello

Caller: Hi, my name is Mike (Heavy Indian Accent - why are they all Mike?), and I'm calling from the local yellow pages.

Me: And where are you calling from?

Caller: Well, I'm in India

Me: So your not really local, are you?

Caller: Excuse Me?

It all went downhill from there for Mike.

[ChEAr$]

A few years back when I was with another company, a customer came in and asked if we were the Taxidermy service????

And have ye noticed "Tax preparation" is right next to "Taxis" in the yellow pages?
Have ye ever gotten a call for a ride, Bonnie lass?

[taxxcpa]

We were posting at the same time, and I just saw this.

I did get a little attitude one time last year when I had about had it with, "How much do you charge?" calls.

I told one guy, "So far, between $45 and $600."

Silence.

"OK, thanks. Bye."

I tell them most returns are $100 to $500. I used to do some as low as $ 25, but they just aren't worth it. I don't have any that are under $ 100 unless it is for a client's child for which I charge between zero and $ 50--unless the child is a full-time employee and not a student.