No, not the partner -- my ex-client !!! What an idiot !!!
The atty from PrePaid Legal called me back and we had a good laugh over it.
He basically advised that I go with the flow ... my ex-client's atty will
probably figure out at the deposition that I am a less than friendly
witness, and not call me for trial.
The ex-client honestly does not believe that he has done anything wrong,
which is probably why he doesn't figure I might mind helping him out. When
I told him that paying relative "A" and issuing the W-2 to relative "B" in
order for relative "A" to avoid paying income taxes was illegal, he said he
saw nothing wrong with it and fully intended to continue doing so. (It was
at this point that I decided to get rid of him after I finished the
bookkeeping project, and I also refused to prepare his corporate taxes.) As
it turned out, he stiffed me for a few hundred $ when I did his personal T/R
and that precipitated ending our business relationship even before the
bookkeeping project was done.
Cheers,
JoJo
............................................................................
............................................................................
......
Music: http://www.myspace.com/jojozjojo *
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/JoJo-Zawawi/16883556821
Blog: http://www.mysteriousperson.com/MYSTERIOUSPERSON/thezblog/
-----Original Message-----
From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf
Of Clarisse
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 5:34 PM
To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [taxchat] Re: Bad Client Question
Wow JoJo,
Who sent the subponea - the partner? I would think that the ex-client
would be smart enough to stay away from you! Oh, silly me, stupid is
as stupid does.
Well, get your notes and files in order and watch the show!
Good luck with everything, I am sure that you do not have anything to
worry about that is why we hire lawyers.
--- In taxchat@yahoogroups.com, "Kate M Coyne" <KateMc@...> wrote:
>
> Pretty unbelievable!! Maybe he won't want anything to do with you
in court if he knows you are not going to be favorable to him.
>
> Kate
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: JoJo Zawawi
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 7:47 PM
> Subject: RE: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
> Well check this out. I responded to this guy's e-mail, telling
him I wasn't taking on new clients etc. So he called me on the phone
yesterday, telling me that what he wanted was for me to write up some
sort of affidavit/declaration on his behalf -- he had fired his
partner, and his partner is suing him. He wanted me to testify that
the books were messed up when I took them over (they were) and that
it was his partner's fault. Now, I cannot testify that it was his
partner's fault, because I never observed his partner (or anybody
else) doing the books. I only have my ex-client's word that it was
his partner's fault. So I told him this, and declined.
>
> What happens today ? Somebody showed up at my door with a
subpoena ! (I wasn't home.) The process server then left me a
voicemail telling me that he has a subpoena, and to please call him.
>
> I would just love to get up on that stand and tell them how my ex-
client was the unethical one, paying the wrong person in order to
unlawfully avoid income taxes, and so on....
>
> Actually, I don't want to have anything to do with them. I've
just called an attorney (I finally get to use PrePaid Legal !) to get
his advice first.
>
> Can you believe this **** ?
>
> Cheers,
> JoJo
> ..................................................................
......................................................................
......................
> Music: http://www.myspace.com/jojozjojo *
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/JoJo-Zawawi/16883556821
> Blog: http://www.mysteriousperson.com/MYSTERIOUSPERSON/thezblog/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of JoJo Zawawi
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 2:46 PM
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
> That sounds perfect. I wanted the least troublesome route. I'm
not interested in having further friction or whatever.
>
> As a note to Arnie, I DO agree that people can (and do) change
for the better. I just don't think that this guy did, and so I feel
he is dangerous at best.
>
> Cheers,
> JoJo
> ..................................................................
......................................................................
......................
> Music: http://www.myspace.com/jojozjojo *
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/JoJo-Zawawi/16883556821
> Blog: http://www.mysteriousperson.com/MYSTERIOUSPERSON/thezblog/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Jenkins LawFirm
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 12:00 PM
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
> Then just respond briefly, a polite 'thanks but no thanks', I
would only say, I'm not able to take on any work from you due to my
current workload.
>
> KC Jenkins
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 12:29 PM, JoJo Zawawi <kuchekesha@...>
wrote:
>
>
> I definitely won't have him back again -- I'm not talking about
just not reporting some income or something. A couple of examples:
>
> 1. He ruined something in a truck (something to do with the
engine, and which would cost a LOT to fix) and figured out a way to
mickey-mouse it so it would look and act perfect temporarily, and
then traded it in for a new car, never mentioning the problem.
>
> 2. He was employing one of his relatives, but the paycheck was
going to another one of his relatives who does not work for him (who
had much lower income), to aviod relative # 1 having any tax
liability.
>
> There was more. I really do not trust this guy. He is shady,
shifty and shiftless. Or something like that. I consider him
dangerous, especially these days with extra IRS scrutiny and fines
and so on !
>
> I think I'll go with the "My practice has changed and I'm not
taking on clients right now" approach.
>
> Thanks, all !
>
> Cheers,
> JoJo
>
>
> ................................................................
......................................................................
........................
> Music: http://www.myspace.com/jojozjojo *
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/JoJo-Zawawi/16883556821
> Blog:
http://www.mysteriousperson.com/MYSTERIOUSPERSON/thezblog/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Chuck Warman
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:56 AM
>
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
> I agree with Kate...."illegal" is the operative word here. In
fact, I'd go a little farther, telling him that you're glad that you
can be on friendly terms now, but that it would probably not be in
the best interest of either of you to take on his work again.
>
>
>
> Suppose you hire a babysitter, and her boyfriend comes over and
smacks your kid around. You can forgive her, and ultimately you can
even have a friendly relationship. But are you going to let her
babysit your kid again?
>
>
>
>
>
> Chuck Warman, CPA
> Wichita Falls, TX
> -------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Kate M Coyne
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:45 AM
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
>
> Arnie,
>
> I would normally be with you on this except JoJo's comment "I
started to find out that he was doing this and that illegal stuff".
Get away from this guy. Remember what your Mother said? If you hang
around with the wrong crowd people will think you are doing the same
things they do. I would not put my reputation on the line, it's
worth more than the income.
>
>
>
> Kate
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: Arnold M. Socol
>
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:56 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
>
> I know that most of you will disagree, but hear is my response
>
>
>
> I personally would be more open about it. Maybe the X-Rude
client has seen the light and now respects the quality of work you
have provided. I would give these people the opportunity under "my"
rules and see what happens. Quote him a retainer fee in advance for
the service politely, including the unpaid balance. If questioned
about the advance, the answer is that is my policy whenever there has
been any problem in the past. If he accepts, you have only gained.
If he declines, then no loss. Your loss is not being more open to
the opportunity of new business, especially during what may be an
extended down turn in the economy. Just check today's stock market -
its "limit down" circuit breakers have been triggered. As a
financial advisor I have thoughts on that topic as well.
>
>
>
> Arnie
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: Kate M Coyne
>
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: 10/24/2008 9:38 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
>
> I would respond (my husband wouldn't even respond) and tell
him something to the effect that I am not accepting any additional
clients and I am unable to take on any additional work.
>
>
>
> Good luck,
>
> Kate
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: JoJo Zawawi
>
> To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 11:10 PM
>
> Subject: [taxchat] Bad Client Question
>
>
>
> About 1-1/2 years ago, I had a bookkeeping / tax client
that was a total pain in the behind, and as we got to know each other
better, I started to find out that he was doing this and that illegal
stuff, and I wanted no part of it. It worked out at that time that I
did not have to fire him, because he fired me after I prepared his
tax return and charged him tax prep rates, not bookkeeping rates. He
stiffed me about $ 200 on the bill (paid bookkeeping rates for the
time spent) and was very, very rude, and even threatened me that "his
new bookkeeper will probably find lots of mistakes and he will bill
me for it all", etc. Needless to say, I never heard back from him.
>
>
>
> Today he sent me an e-mail, apologizing and asking me for
advice regarding his business partner. (What advice, I don't know.
And hello, I'm not a lawyer !)
>
>
>
> Of course, I want no part of him.
>
>
> The question: Do I respond politely, telling him I am
busy ? Or do I not even respond ?
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> JoJo
> ..........................................................
......................................................................
..............................
> Music: http://www.myspace.com/jojozjojo *
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/JoJo-Zawawi/16883556821
> Blog:
http://www.mysteriousperson.com/MYSTERIOUSPERSON/thezblog/
>
------------------------------------
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