PITA Rate

[bookcrazychick]

Any other preparers here who charge a PITA rate? Every time I start complaining about a PITA client, hubby says for me to charge them the PITA rate. I don't 'cause I'm just too nice but I really would like to.

Specifically the ones who bring their stuff and call me - LITERALLY - the next day to see if they are ready. Um, sure..........I had nothing else to do and was just waiting on you to bring your stuff in so I could get started immediately on them.

And the ONE client we have who is the first to send her stuff to us, usually by mid January. It's so early because she hasn't even received all her info yet. Then we get constant phone calls every time she gets something else so she can let us know she is sending it to us.

[activeonlooker]

Ahhhh, love those clients - ughhhh! I only charge PITA rates in my dreams....would be awkward trying to explain that line item on the invoice - LOL.

[TheOtherMe]

I've worked for three preparers, two of whom were CPAs. All three had a special PITA rate. For the person who gets the information to you piece meal, either sit on the return or they get charged for the time and every time you touch a return he had a minimum of 15 minutes. We could only charge in .25 increments.

For those who call the day after bringing in info, explain nicely that it goes in to the queue and when it is ready, they will be notified.

We had a client who moved to the US from India and wanted to deal on the bill, so the bill was always set high so there was room for "negotiation". She thought she got a deal.

One guy, my boss decided he didn't want at all, so he made the bill so high, the client said he'd never be back. So boss got what he wanted.

[ilea]

It's been known to happen. Lawyers charge for phone calls, etc. Why shouldn't we? Our time is especially valuable this time of year.

[TheOtherMe]

The guy I worked for who wasn't a CPA had a higher hourly rate for tax season for those long-winded people who just wanted advice. When he told them that, they'd usually wait until after tax season.

[mwcpa]

if someone is a PITA I also "bump" the fee.... I try to weed these people out in the interview process, if they are new... I'd rather waste 1/2 hour figuring out someone is a PITA than accept them as a client and have hours of unproductive time.... it's funny how some like to minimize the value of what we do and what we know.... once some who I did not take on as a client who balked at a fee quote said "it's only your time"... my reply was and what is your time worth... once someone actually told me that all we do is charge a lot of money for information that is readily available, a year later they found themselves in a pickle and came to me for help... you can guess where I told them to go....

[Clever Username]

I don't do taxes, but when I set fees (flat fee set at the first consult) I'm trying to guestimate three things:
1. How much work is there?
2. How complex is the work?
3. How much can they pay?
We all laugh at the standout examples of failure to set fees correctly. Glad there aren't many.