rfassett Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Several year PITA client emailed me back in January to get a quote on doing his S-Corp return. (When I say PITA, I mean that. As an example, we had to buy security envelopes just for him. But that is a very small tip of the ice berg with this clown. He is a true PITA.) He claimed it had minimal activity in the corp - as if that has anything to do with the amount of work I have to do on the return. I quoted him a price via email and he responded he needed to shop it around. I said that was fine and to let me know one way or the other. I finally heard from him yesterday via email. He says" Just was curious what the charge would be to prepare my personal taxes? The only activity is a small K-1 for the corp [apparently he found someone else to do that], and sale of the FL condo (which I renovated so I want to deduct as many of those expenses as I can); no stock trading last year. I'm not sure but depending on all the renovation deductions I can use, I might slide under the ACA radar." Editorial note - the FL condo was his primary residence for under two years and was never used for any other purpose. So my proposed response is: "Generally I would charge $200 for a return like that and add a $300 PITA surcharge, but for you, your fee is a FLAT-OUT $1,000." Do you think he will get the point? How would you handle this? Really, my true sense is to just ignore him. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Several year PITA client emailed me back in January to get a quote on doing his S-Corp return. (When I say PITA, I mean that. As an example, we had to buy security envelopes just for him. But that is a very small tip of the ice berg with this clown. He is a true PITA.) He claimed it had minimal activity in the corp - as if that has anything to do with the amount of work I have to do on the return. I quoted him a price via email and he responded he needed to shop it around. I said that was fine and to let me know one way or the other. I finally heard from him yesterday via email. He says" Just was curious what the charge would be to prepare my personal taxes? The only activity is a small K-1 for the corp [apparently he found someone else to do that], and sale of the FL condo (which I renovated so I want to deduct as many of those expenses as I can); no stock trading last year. I'm not sure but depending on all the renovation deductions I can use, I might slide under the ACA radar." Editorial note - the FL condo was his primary residence for under two years and was never used for any other purpose. So my proposed response is: "Generally I would charge $200 for a return like that and add a $300 PITA surcharge, but for you, your fee is a FLAT-OUT $1,000." Do you think he will get the point? How would you handle this? Really, my true sense is to just ignore him. Tell him your schedule is full till June 12. $1,000 retainer up front as well. Non-refundable retainer. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) Based on what you posted, I'd tell him I can't work him in and he needs to look somewhere else. There's a certain subset of clients out there who will take ignoring them as a sign that you're eventually going to get around to them. They think you work all the time, love to do last-minute stuff, and you thrive on pressure & stress. Then they will try to blame you for stringing them along. None of that is legitimate of course, but it won't stop them from pestering you. So the best thing to do is give them a final "no" in order to give them time to find someone else and to keep them out of your hair so you can focus on your good clients. Edited March 5, 2015 by JohnH 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Either Jack's or John's responses are entirely appropriate and warranted. IF you decide to let this twerp in the door, get the money UP FRONT and make sure the check cashes before you do so much as open the folder. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 So my proposed response is: "Generally I would charge $200 for a return like that and add a $300 PITA surcharge, but for you, your fee is a FLAT-OUT $1,000." I have handled it exactly this way, and although it was tempting, I've never actually explained to them that they're a pain in the ass. I just doubled my estimates for work, which started out quite high to begin with. After every job, I'd up the price even more. Eventually I quoted them $4000 for a project I'd normally only bid $1200 for. To my relief, I wasn't asked to do the work. They fished for quotes a couple times after that, and then I never heard from them again. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Several year PITA client emailed me back in January to get a quote on doing his S-Corp return. (When I say PITA, I mean that. As an example, we had to buy security envelopes just for him. But that is a very small tip of the ice berg with this clown. He is a true PITA.) You are the most patient person this side of Neptune. If you say somebody is a PITA, I'm sure I would have killed him three times by now. Bahahaha! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Are guns and ammo a deduction for Rita if she has to use them on PITA clients? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmars Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 WHY BE like that? just tell them you don't wish to handle their work. why give outrageous quotes that they might pass around to others that might be thinking of using you. Simply say your schedule is full at this time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmars Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Are guns and ammo a deduction for Rita if she has to use them on PITA clients? big deal, if she shoots like Catherine, it will only be 1 round. Only a poor shot would get a large enough deduction from this 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Are guns and ammo a deduction for Rita if she has to use them on PITA clients? Yes. Yes, they are. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 big deal, if she shoots like Catherine, it will only be 1 round. Only a poor shot would get a large enough deduction from this Yeah, but there are so many on the receiving end of this deduction. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schirallicpa Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 wow - we're going to be like those people on the news using their snowblowers to blow snow on each other while they fought over driveway or sidewalk space. I had the exact same situation. Shopping around. When he called back, i suggested that he continue to shop around that I was not interested in playing pricing games. It is what it is. Does he drive back and forth between McDs and BK to see who has the cheapest burger? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcjenkins Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Ditto to Cat's answer. But Micheal is really right, not as much fun, but clearly this one is a PITA SQUARED. No price is enough to make you like seeing him coming in. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFA Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 We all have come across the penny pincher power trippers. They are hard to please unless everything is perfect, cheap and fast. You never feel good before, during and after their project. Take the satisfaction from them and turn their work down. Let them know that you have taken on new clients and your dance card is full. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 When I get price shoppers I just *love* it when they ask if my fees are negotiable. I tell them, "Yes, they are - UPWARDS only." They RUN. Tee hee. (There is an old Rita Rudner comic routine where she talks about getting rid of boyfriends you can't stand and who won't commit. She said to tell them "I love you, I never want to be apart from you, I want to have your babies." then she said, "Sometimes they leave skid marks." I want those price shopping PITA folks to leave skid marks.) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Yeah, but there are so many on the receiving end of this deduction. Honey, just line 'em up and use a high-powered round. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 A few years back, at an IRS conference, the speaker said to drop the 20 per cent "bottom feeders" so you can concentrate on the other 80 per cent. I had to drop someone yesterday...basically I gave her options for getting the paperwork to me. But, nothing other than sitting with me in my apt, was acceptable to her....and that's entirely unacceptable to me.. I probably came across as rude....and I felt a little guilty....but then I remembered the 20 per cent bottom feeder rule. Moral of the story....cut them loose. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) Yes, absolutely the best decision. I do everything I can to keep my clients out of my office so I can get some work done. That's especially true with the bottom feeders. Edited March 6, 2015 by JohnH 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richcpaman Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Ron: Rita is right, if they are a PITA client, then they are probably terrible clients. I would quote a price, and a price on the high side, and ask for it up front. Mike Mars has a point about them sharing that with someone else, but how likely is that? Most likely, even if they went on a rant about your "high" rates with someone, they probably already know your PITA Client is crackers... They shoot horses, don't they? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 They shoot horses, don't they? Nah, not usually. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 WHY BE like that? just tell them you don't wish to handle their work. why give outrageous quotes that they might pass around to others that might be thinking of using you. Simply say your schedule is full at this time. Sometimes you feel like the money will be worth the headache. In my experience though, it hasn't been. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby Normal Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Life is too short for PITA clients. I would not quote a price. I would tell them they are not a good fit for my business and they should find another preparer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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