Monkeyman

Hi, Kerry! Thanx for stopping by. How's your family? When you have time, please post a current picture of your little girl.

Hi Rita!

My family ig great and I have TWO little girls now. I don't have any pictures on this machine but will post some later.

Kerry

Howdy Kerry....You really don't miss ATX?

Do you hear anything about William?....I miss all you old dudes.

Hi Elrod,

I never said i didn't miss ATX, I do. That was a great job with great people.

I also miss working with people like you as customers. Others...well, not so much sometimes lol.

William is still here in Caribou working at the Chamber of Commerce.

I saw him just yesterday at the grocery store with a cake but didn't get a chance to talk to him.

I am glad to see all of you are doing well and still welcoming an ol' salesman!

Kerry

Hi Guys and Gals,

It's been over 5 years since I got laid off from ATX in Caribou, but the local "rumor mill" composed of my former co-workers made me want to visit this community again.

WOW. I considered a lot of you as friends and feel really bad for all of the trouble you are having. You are just trying to make a living. I wince when I read about the crashes, support issues and hold times.

I was a Sales rep and Customer Service Manager for ATX back in the day...can't say as I would want that job this year.

Anyway, I just wanted to say a quick hello and wish everyone well

Kerry

I still like Kerry, but he is not part of ATX anymore

Awww shucks. Thanks, Tom.

I still like all of you, and miss working with such great customers

Kerry

$3.939 in Caribou, Maine.

I drive a 1998 Dodge truck with a 5.9L V8. Yeah, I know.

I have a very short commute and I never go over 30mph.

Sweet Bippie? You don't look old enough to know that phrase. Did you watch the recent program with highlights from Laugh-in? I missed it, will try to find it online.

lol Margaret.

I am a fan of old Bugs Bunny cartoons. That's where I think I heard that.

Monkeyman

Get the feeling someone's watching? Nahhhh...

You bet your sweet bippie they are. They have learned their lesson from the past.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease

Monkeyman

Thanks, Everyone. I haven't been on here in a while and I appreciate the wishes.

I had an excellent birthday. My family and I went to a local farm for some home-made ice cream, and I got a jar of strawberry-rhubarb jam.

Thanks again, and I hope everyone is having a great summer.

Kerry

But I do agree that bitching out an employee for following company rules is harsh and undeserved. Bitch out the company if need be, but not the employee.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you, Catherine. I didn't mean to paint everybody with a broad brush and I apologize. I was really peeved at the person who hung up on the rep.

I have dealt with the public for nearly 20 years, and can tell the difference between the person strolling in off the cruise ship, and the family that saved pennies for their vacation. I just wanted to give the "cruise ship" folks on here some perspective. Not that they will listen...

Those of you who know me know I am normally not like that. The elitist tone of the post rubbed me the wrong way.

BTW, I had BBQ Chicken for supper tonight with a green salad. For dessert we had home-made banana bread.

Sorry for any ruffled feathers.

Kerry

They also told me that Troy is no longer with the company. They said they can only do the 10% off so I thanked them and hung up.

Hello Everyone,

I haven't visited this site in a while and am ashamed and a little angry to read this thread; also to hear that someone "just hung up" on someone trying their best to help and doing what they were told. You know, there was an actual person on the other end of that line. A person who is just doing their job. A person who listens to crap that they have no control over ALL DAY. That was just plain rude. Period. You should call back and apologize.

I worked with many of you for nearly 6 years. Why do you think Troy "is longer with the company"? It's probably because you bombarded him with pricing complaints and posted them here. Do you not think CCH SFS monitors this board and their employees? You shoved him into a corner for $20 a month. He tried to pacify your crabbing with an honest explanation and you respond by broadcasting his contact information and open conversation? Did you even consider anyone else's situation when thinking about an extra $20 a month added to your expenses?

What do you think Troy had for supper last night? What do you think he drives for a car? What do you think I drove (drive) and ate (eat) in my tenure at ATX? What did YOU have for supper last night? How big is your house? What do YOU drive for a car? What do YOU make in a year? Do you know what it is like to field complaints about $200-$400 a year from people who make literally 10 times your salary? I know, and it stinks.

Get some perspective, respect, and consideration. Think before acting like a jerk.

Respectfully,

Kerry Crandall

Thanks, Everyone.

I am a very lucky man, my girls are great.

I hope it doesn't go by too fast; they are so much fun.

I also hope all of your tax seasons are going smoothly. Mine are MUCH less hectic now

Kerry

Hey, Kerry!! Wondered why we had not heard from you all season. How are you and your family?

Hi KC,

I have been really busy with work and the girls. Being a Dad is like the Peace Corp, "The Toughest Job You Will Ever Love"

I thought you folks may have found this news interesting. I am sure the quality of the software will not be compromised and I expect many of the higher level folks to relocate. I understand the climate in Georgia is much more hospitable.

My family is excellent, we are all very happy and healthy. I have attached a picture of the girls and I right before the Daddy-Daughter dance.

Hope everyone is well!

Kerry

Hello Everyone,

Here is the link to the story.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cch-small-firm-services-announces-new-headquarters-centralized-operations-85239517.html

The story was also on our local news.

Kerry

Hey, Kyle, or any of our friendly VMS folks:

Have one computer and back-ups with you but having trouble with my second computer. Your sales office is closed on Saturdays. Can I add another computer on the fly? You'll run my same credit card. You know I'm good for it; you know where to find me!

Thanx,

Lion

Hi Lion,

Sorry for the delay. Kyle no longer works with us, and I rarely check the board.

I have forwarded your request to our new Sales Director. Kris Polson.

He just needs to register on here really quick and will be contacting you soon.

Thanks!

Kerry

Thanks Everyone!

I am having a great day even though I am at work, but I do get to leave early.

My "baby" will be 2 years old on the 24th. She was my 30th birthday present

Thanks again,

Kerry

They passed a marijuana stamp tax in Texas several years ago. I think they sold some as "collectors items" rather than to pot dealers. A client who worked for the State Comptroller showed me one he had bought.

taxxcpa,

This is actually a subject that I am fairly well versed in.

If I am not mistaken, this was Marihuana (spelled with an H) Tax Act of 1937.

It was basically an act passed to prohibit the growth of industrial and recreation strains of hemp.

Industrial hemp has been used for thousands of years for clothing, seed, food, and paper.

It was used in the US for hundreds of years, until blatant corporate espionage brought about this act.

The February 1937 issue of Popular Science touted hemp as the nest "billion dollar crop" because of it's usefulness.

The emerging petro-chemical and logging industries launched a campaign to link industrial hemp with it's wacky weed cousin, so hemp would not interfere with their business.

The result was this tax act, and scare tactics like the film "Reefer Madness".

-Industrial hemp provides 4 times as much pulp per acre as trees, and 10 times as much fiber as cotton per acre.

-Hemp requires no pesticides or herbicides. It chokes out it's own weeds and the bugs aren't interested.

-Hemp is virtually drug free, you would literally need to smoke a telephone pole-sized cigarette to have any effect.

-Hemp seeds are second only in protein content to the soybean.

-Hemp's cellulose content is much higher than corn, making it ideal for ethanol production.

-When George Bush Sr. jumped out of airplanes during WWII, his boots, backpack, and parachute were made from hemp.

For the record, I do not participate in or advocate the use of the recreational strain of marijuana.

It's medicinal properties, however, are another issue.

*kerry stepping down from his environmentalist soap box*

Kerry

I am a liberal centrist and think this is great.

Thanks, KC!

Kerry

Thanks, Kerry. Next year, all dark chocolate, please!

Consider it done, KC!

Kerry

Don't you just hate it when clients are waiting at the door? I come in the back for that reason mainly. I hate to not have a minute to put down my things, get something to drink, etc.

Don't feel bad about being a bit put out by him, or for being short with him. That present was a 'guilt easer' for him. He KNEW he was in the wrong, that's why he brought it. OK, it was nice, but still, this is the 13th, after all.

I wasn't late (well, a little) and I gave my Tax Preparer a present this year

Of course, her rates cannot be beat and she is one of the smartest people I know.

Kerry

Yesterday was beautiful: I was BBQing in a T-shirt.

Typical of Maine, things can change very quickly:

Northern Maine gets snow from early spring storm

By The Associated Press

CARIBOU, Maine - An early spring storm is bringing snow to far northern Maine.

The National Weather Service said snow was falling in northern areas Monday morning, while the rest of the state was reporting cloudy conditions or light rain.

The weather service said 3 to 5 inches of snow was expected to fall over parts of northern Maine, with up to 6 inches in higher elevations.

At daybreak Monday, 4 inches had been reported in Fort Kent, 3 inches in Allagash and 2 inches in Madawaska.

Kerry

It is a little cold out here too. Breezy and about 65 today. Lots of pollen in the air from all the trees blooming. Just terrible.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Tom

Lodi, CA

Very funny, Tom. Hardy har har.

Kerry

From the Bangor Daily News:

Wind chill falls to minus 15 in northern Maine

By The Associated Press

CARIBOU, Maine — The calendar says it's late March, but it felt more like January when Mainers awoke for the start of the new work week.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in northern Maine fell to the low single digits Monday morning, while the combination of cold temperatures and wind drove the wind chill index to as low as minus 15 in Frenchville. Caribou's wind chill dipped to 12 below zero, and Greenville recorded minus 11.

Wind chills dipped into the single digits across the entire state, with Bangor hitting a low of 3 and Lewiston getting down to 2.

Forecasters say warmer weather will come later this week, with temperatures reaching into the 50s in southern and central Maine on Friday.

Anyone need a customer service professional in a warmer climate?

Kerry

P.S. - I hope nobody minds me posting so many NT's at your busy time of year.

Hello Everyone,

This picture always brightens my day, hopefully it will brighten some of yours.

Kerry

He got stuck sitting near me, a couple years in a row

I wouldn't call it "stuck", I would call it a fortunate arrangement.

You were always there with that big brain of yours to help the customers that were screaming at me

That is one thing I do not miss.

Kerry

Just wanted to pop in and say I hope everyone's tax season is going well! I have certainly felt vacant not answering customer support calls from you all this tax season.

I've been busy running around chasing my now 14 month old. (Good lord it's been that long already!)

Good to see this board still very active And to any former ATXers, or VMSUSers, I miss ya'll!

Danielle

Former ATX Rep

Hey Danielle!

How is the smartest person (after KC) that I know?

I hope you and your little guy are doing well, I can't believe he is 14 months old!!!

Kerry