Cell Phone/Tax Interview

[zeros]

Is anybody having the same problem as I? Seems lately, every client that comes in receives a couple of cell phone calls during the interview. Would it be appropiate to tell them to turn it off during the interview. Offensive?

[JohnH]

No need to tell them to turn it off

If they take a call during the interview, just pick up your phone and make a call to someone while they are talking to their caller. Make sure your call lasts longer than theirs.

If time for the appointment runs out, send them on their way & tell them you'll call them if you have any more questions.

[veritas]

Or get up and

leave the room.

Take a nice break.

Come back refreshed and ready for more stupidity.

[ecb34691]

I had one a couple of weeks ago that after the 3rd call, I informed her - the "clock is running and I'm getting tired of your calls and they kept coming". At the end, I said - "$25 cell time added" and it didn't even phase her. I don't know why they just can't mute them when they are at the "tax desk". We have even tried having a small sign attached to the monitor - says "Please turn off cell phone" Nothing seems to work!.

[Jesse]

It must be the world today - I was just discussing the same issue and wondered if it would be rude to put a big sign display that say "Please turn off all cellphones". I think it is very offensive!!

[JohnH]

Depends on the circumstances

If one of my accounting clients is in the office and his cell phone rings, I tell them to take the call. My thinking is that those calls are the ones helping pay my fees, and I always have email to check or something sitting on my desk to do while they take care of business. Beside, if they want to pay me for my time while they talk on the phone to someone else, who am I to object?

[veritas]

JohnH

You could take a nap.

Your not getting much sleep at night.

[Jesse]

If one of my accounting clients is in the office and his cell phone rings, I tell them to take the call. My thinking is that those calls are the ones helping pay my fees, and I always have email to check or something sitting on my desk to do while they take care of business.

But it's not business they see to be taking care of, it's more like "Hi, I'm at the accountants now.......oh yeah, I was just wondering if you wanted to go for a fishfry.......okay you pick up Katie and I'll have my mom drop off Johny......oh no I forgot to pick up milk.........okay we'll maybe you can get some bread too.........no I got off early so I went home and let the dog out.........okay I'll meet you at the restaurant........love ya by"

I think it's downright rude and disrespectful. If it were important or business they were taking care it would be different.

[Gene V]

Most of my returns are done while the client is in the office, if they get a cell call while I’m interviewing, I just turn around to my computer and start entering data or start scanning or making copies of things I want to save, by the time there done with there
Call, I’m mostly done with there tax return.

[JohnH]

You could take a nap.

Your not getting much sleep at night.

Actually, you're more on target than you realize. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago and began treating it, I would nap at inappropriate times. A couple of times I dozed off while studying paperwork with the client sitting right in front of me. Doesn't happen now, but it was unsettling at the time.

Thanks for reminding me of the time. Good night.

[Snaggletooth]

Charge by the Hour

...that's what I do anyway for appointment time. Then there are add-ons.

Before cell phones, I went to a guy's house to do a Schedule C and 1040. Phone rang off the hook and I just sat there.

While he was on the phone for the 4th time, his wife said, "I hope you don't mind. He's on the phone 24 hours a day." I replied, "Trust me, I'm fine with it. I'm charging by the hour."

Wife promptly got up, got him off the phone, and unhooked the cord from the jack. Never had a problem with this out of that guy anymore.

As a matter of practice, ol' Snag uses his cell phone as a car phone only. When I go to work (I'm a consultant) you would be surprised at the positive fallout. Many people lose an average of 1-2 hours per day because of family and friends calling. "I know you're busy, but...." I am usually the most productive person in the building. Also customers and superiors know they can't jerk my schedule around because they can't reach me. When they ask me to be at such a place at 10:00 A.M. they can't change their mind 5 times and those who are scheduled to work with me are not tampered with either. Forces good planning and good execution -- what a novel idea!

What about the sudden emergency? Snag, shouldn't you allow for that? Sometimes it bites me, but I really don't. Next time you are in an office, just look around and see how many people are on their cells with "emergencies." Plan well, and emergencies will be rare indeed. Real emergencies may happen 1-2 times per year, and I'm not willing to sacrifice the productivity and execution for this.

[taxxcpa]

No cell phone

I see signs in doctors' offices telling you to keep your cell phone turned off. I've never seen anyone talking on a cell phone in a doctor's office. Also I've never seen anyone who is not in a doctor's office who was NOT talking on a cell phone.

People sitting in the same room, probably talk to each other on a cell phone.

[joanmcq]

Most of my clients that have had cell phones ring while in the interview are embarassed and look at the number and shut off the ringer. Once I had one that said oh, I'm sorry but I have to take this call (business) but made it short. I've had more problems with my own phone ringing off the hook during an interview (I don't have an extension in my 'client room', a small room where I pretty much just have for meeting clients so that they can't see the major mess that my 'real' office is!). I've since shut off the ringer to my main phone (if not clients, most of the calls on my main number are politcal or charities), but a lot of people will call the cell. In fact most of my friends, family, and old clients know to call the cell. And its the only way to get me when I'm at my day job.

[Valarie]

This one beats all-

A divorcing couple came in to file their last joint return recently. Wife got there first with their 8 yr old daughter, walked in the door talking on her phone. They sat down at the desk, in the two primary chairs, and moments later husband walks in, pulls up a folding chair and we try to start the interview... she's still talking on the phone... to her boyfriend!!

We get through the return, with her half paying attention and laughing it up on the phone, they both sign the E-file forms, and head out - she's still on the phone...

Calls this week, cause she didn't get the refund in her checking account, like she always had for the years that they had been coming here...

Funny thing... husband gave me HIS account number for the Direct Deposit, and she never paid attention, signed the forms, and went her merry way...

Oh well...

Valarie

[SueBaby]

A divorcing couple came in to file their last joint return recently. Wife got there first with their 8 yr old daughter, walked in the door talking on her phone. They sat down at the desk, in the two primary chairs, and moments later husband walks in, pulls up a folding chair and we try to start the interview... she's still talking on the phone... to her boyfriend!!

We get through the return, with her half paying attention and laughing it up on the phone, they both sign the E-file forms, and head out - she's still on the phone...

Calls this week, cause she didn't get the refund in her checking account, like she always had for the years that they had been coming here...

Funny thing... husband gave me HIS account number for the Direct Deposit, and she never paid attention, signed the forms, and went her merry way...

Oh well...

Valarie

That is toooo funny!! I have to the same problem: I do paperwork, data, answer phone and still they are just "a" talking. It is annoying when I need them and they are STILL on that phone.