Mainetaxman

I called this week and I was told the books will be coming out "later this month", but I couldn't get a straight answer. I've notice that my All States TaxExpert CDs which come with TTO have been coming out late too. Maybe they're "relocating" them from Caribou to TaxWise for shipment. I've notice during the past few months that my CDs have not been shipping on time.

Based on what I'm reading below, it doesn't appear that a lot of ATX workers "relocated" to TaxWise. So here we are struggling to use our ATX program, and at least 50 experienced ATX workers are standing in the unemployment line when they could be helping us. During the Depression, they use to say "Brother, can you spare a dime?" Well my question is "Brother, can you spare an experienced ATX tech support person?" Caribou: Labor team sets ATX sessions for Friday 1/3/2008 Source: Bangor Daily News By Jen Lynds CARIBOU, Maine, Jan. 3, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Members of the Maine Department of Labor's Rapid Response team will be in Presque Isle on Friday to assist the approximately 50 ATX workers affected by the recently announced layoffs at the Caribou tax software firm. Sessions also will be held to assist the estimated 30 temporary workers who also were affected by the cutbacks. Adam Fisher, spokesman for the Department of Labor, said the first Rapid Response session will be held at the Presque Isle CareerCenter at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, for Kelly Services (NASDAQ:KELYA) temporary workers who were employed at ATX. Another session for ATX employees will be held at 2 p.m. at the CareerCenter. Employees at ATX, which is located on Sweden Street in Caribou, learned last week that they were being laid off. A former employee at the facility said the unexpected news was delivered during a meeting last Thursday afternoon and came as a "total shock" to those who were affected. The layoffs took effect immediately. Fisher said the Labor Department had planned to contact each of the affected workers to provide additional details about the sessions this week, but the department has been unable to get contact information for the workers from the company. ATX set up shop in Caribou in 1992. Its parent company, CCH Small Firm Services based in Rome, Ga., acquired ATX in September 2006. In 2003, ATX had more than 150 employees at its Caribou facility, up from roughly 50 employees in 2000. Company officials have not returned phone calls seeking comment about the situation. This week's Rapid Response sessions will provide workers with information about resources available to those who have lost their jobs, including CareerCenter employment services, unemployment benefits, health care, and other state and federal services. Workers do not need to RSVP to attend these meetings. Individuals who can't attend a session may contact the Presque Isle CareerCenter, 66 Spruce St., at 800-635-0357 or TTY 888-697-2877.

voiced some concerns to William last Saturday...his response... "I understand and do not know how to respond. All I am trying to do down here is help with the transition, which is a temporary arrangement. I have lost my team and my experts and am doing my best to help the people down here." The above words are from William Tasker from ATX. The real question is why did you lose his team and experts BEFORE tax season. I mean, OK, I understand that lay-offs happen. We're all big boys and girls here. We know how the real world works. But who's stupid idea was it to just lay off experience support and technical people, and then have us have to spend our time on hold forever just to get some freaking tech help. Is this anyway to run a company?

Ron, actually the number was around 80 people (based I what I've read). I just wished the lay-offs were done better, because I spent days trying to call ATX and I kept getting cut off or I was on hold for too hold. I finally got through to someone who said he works for TaxWise. Very confusing.

Evan, It appears that about 50 to 80 ATX sales and support people were laid off in late December. I already posted information about this on my post called "ATX layoffs!". I also attached an article about the layoffs. I think they are transferring all the calls from ATX Maine to a company called "TaxWise" (never heard of them). I don't know if these TaxWise people know about ATX products or not, but one of their tech guys seemed helpful to me. I just hope that they don't change MAX. I like MAX and I just hope they don't mess it up.

Bad News everyone! I found out this week that most of the ATX sales and tech reps have been laid off! Now I know why I've been having so much trouble trying to reach someone at ATX. I've been calling off and on for a few days, but I either get cut-off or I'm on hold for a long time. I finally spoke to a rep who said he actually works at "TaxWise". I asked him why it's taking so long to get through, and he told me that the ATX people in Maine were "let go" in late December. I Goggled "ATX, layoffs" and came across an article in the Bangor Daily News (bangornews.com) on December 31st giving more details about the layoffs. It seems that TaxWise is now taking control of ATX and all the calls are going there. I just hope they don't mess up the service. I've been using MAX for several years and I hate to see anything happen to that product. Check out the article ---- Caribou ATX layoffs a 'shock' to workers By Jen Lynds Monday, December 31, 2007 - Bangor Daily News CARIBOU, Maine — Representatives of the Maine Department of Labor will be in Caribou to meet with workers who learned last week they were being laid off by ATX, a tax software firm. It was not clear over the weekend how many workers are affected by the layoffs. State Rep. Peter Edgecomb of Caribou said Sunday that he learned of the layoffs from city officials late last week and had received e-mails from several former ATX employees. "I think that, at this point, there are more questions than answers about what has happened," Edgecomb said. "I have been told that these employees went to a meeting thinking they were going to strategize about the upcoming tax season and then were told they were being laid off. ... This certainly was a shock to them, and it is a shock to the city." State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said Friday that members of the department’s Rapid Response team would be in the city on Thursday, Jan. 3, and Friday, Jan. 4, to assist the displaced workers. Times and locations for the sessions have yet to be determined, but the department will contact each of the affected workers to provide additional details this week. Edgecomb acknowledged there have been a lot of rumors about the layoffs and the number of employees who lost jobs. He said he had not heard solid information about the number of displaced workers. Company officials were not available for comment over the weekend. Caribou City Manager Steven Buck also could not be reached for comment over the weekend. Located on Sweden Street, ATX is a tax software firm that set up shop in Caribou in 1992. Its parent company, CCH Small Firm Services based in Rome, Ga., acquired ATX in September 2006. According to a former employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the firm announced the layoff to the affected employees Thursday afternoon, and the cuts took effect immediately.