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Carolyn Bodley - Legal Verbatim Transcriptionist of Audio, Video & Digital Files
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Services and BLOG
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blog
entries are strictly the opinion of Carolyn Bodley and may not reflect the opinion of others
(to see archived blog
entries, click on the links to the right of the top blog)
Some photos are compressed or removed in archived blog postings,
leaving only a description of the photo. The blog postings remain complete and unchanged.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
BLOG - Johnny on the spot - NOT!
"  If you fit the description of a self-employed person and performed services for another
business, and that business paid you at least $600 during the year, the other business is required to send you a Form 1099-MISC
by January 31 of the following year. The January 31, 2009 due date happens to fall on a Saturday, so the deadline for issuing
2008 1099's is automatically extended to the next business day of Monday, February 2, 2009."
I just received
a 1099-MISC in today's mail. I could say that the client (20 miles away) will blame the U.S. Postal Service
because of the time difference between February 2 and February 26, however, the postmark is dated yesterday.
I
know that some self-employed people actually depend on the 1099's because they have absolutely no idea how much money
they earned the previous year -- which is stupid because a person should know at any given time and moment the money earned,
the money put out and whether they are operating in the red or black.
I personally know for a fact that this client
knew well in advance of the February 2nd deadline the amount of each 1099 -- as I do his books and put all the figures in
an Excel spreadsheet for his accountant.
So who dropped the ball on this one?
[end of blog]
BLOG - Cash doesn't require identification
 With more and more people tightening their belts, cutting up, locking away or even
canceling their credit cards, I was surprised to read that United Airlines and Frontier will no longer accept cash.
First they do away with food and now even the peanuts -- charging for EVERYTHING that a flyer comes in contact with
during their flight -- and now accepting only debit or credit cards for in-flight purchases, with more airlines sure to follow.
What will be next?
[end of blog]
Friday, February 20, 2009
BLOG - You're Fired
 There comes a time when we must move forward and step outside the box. This
year I have fired my CPA -- although she doesn't actually know it yet. If she doesn't contact me before April
15, I will let her know the reasons after the tax filing deadline.
When it comes to taxes, I've always done
all the foot work on my own and put all the figures needed into a spreadsheet. All she's had to do was plug my figures
into the tax program. Initially, I was given quite a price break over the people that brought all their receipts, slips of
paper and yellow stickies to her in a shoebox -- without doing any pre-planning or calculations on their part. However,
over the years, my price break has become smaller and smaller until finally I wasn't getting any price break at all
-- and paying the same thing as the procrastinators and "lack of planners." Additionally, my return would be placed
aside and eventually get buried under the "squeaky wheels" bringing their returns much later, but for whatever reason,
would get their returns bumped to the top of the pile. I would have to call and get my information moved to the top of the
pile once again. In essence, the people that plan and get her their information to her way ahead of schedule, are
the ones that get penalized for their efforts.
At the beginning of the year, she sends out a newsletter highlighting
new tax changes/laws. The straw that broke the camel's back this year, and the reason for my decision, is that she
has a "tax preparation fee" -- in addition and over the top of this fee is an "e-file" fee, and if you
want to mail your return, you will be charged an additional $25 per return -- so is that $25 for Federal and $25 for
State? -- regardless, the paper fee is ridiculous, and for $25 at least four reams (2,000 pages) of paper can be purchased
-- and toner costs for each return, doesn't even come close to $25.
My clients can be assured that they are
NEVER ever charged for printing/paper or toner charges -- it's part of my services and part of the VALUE they receive.
[end of blog]
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
BLOG - Yoo-hoo San Diego
 Attention: San Diego IP address 208.80.19*.***
I suppose I should be flattered that
you spend hours on my site -- and also that all of your visits keep bumping my search engine ratings higher and higher.
However, you aren't hiding. I know who you are and you know who you are. There is absolutely nothing on my site
that warrants your repeat visits -- sometimes three, four and five times a day.
If you've bookmarked my site,
great. Come back once a week, once a month, twice a year -- believe me, my site information doesn't change numerous times
during the day -- or even weekly for that matter.
If you're beginning your own transcription business and/or
building your own site, come up with your own information and quit stealing it from mine and other sites! If I've
got it all wrong and you have bookmarked my site because of the links, I apologize -- just let me know the links that are
most helpful.
[end of blog]
Friday, February 13, 2009
BLOG - A thorn in my side
 Okay, it's a petty complaint -- but it is one that irritates me to no end. You
have your choice of any transcriptionist -- heck, I say that right on my home page.
However, if you choose for
whatever reason -- I'm assuming financial, to use a cheaper source than me, I don't have a problem with that -- although
I also don't have a problem telling you when you come back that "you got what you paid for."
The
complaint I have is when you dictate an entire tape, while the whole time giving instructions to the new-named person
that is "supposed" to transcribe the tape. Well, guess what?--new-named person didn't, couldn't, wouldn't
(I don't know why) transcribe the tape -- so it becomes an emergency rush, and now guess who gets called because
you know I'll pull you through?
It doesn't bother me that instructions are addressed to new-named
person on eight or nine different occasions in 30 minutes. What DOES bother me is the fact that when you realize that new-named
person isn't going to transcribe, stick the tape back into the recorder and make some comment to me at the end using MY
name -- or would that clearly show me that you are using someone else -- something you don't want me to know?
I have no idea if I'm typing the correct side of the tape when I hear new-named person, new-named person and new-named
person and not one time do I hear anything that clues me in that I'm not wasting me time on a wrong side of a tape because
we all know that "Side A" doesn't necessarily get dictated first and that it is not your practice for
me or new-named person to erase the tape once transcribed -- and just for the record so you know, if there is "something"
on the other side, you are paying for me to listen and/or type that side, too -- because you chose to go with new-named person
who didn't come through for you.
[end of blog]
Thursday, February 12, 2009
BLOG - 2009 System Scan
While the rest of us are struggling to make ends meet, it appears that the new "in"
thing to do is simply have 14 kids and let the system -- i.e., the taxpayers, pick up the bill. Is this an "only happens
in California" thing?
And if that's not enough, the next "cool" thing to do is put up a web
site of the newest little darlings with a link asking for donations and support.
Just where in the heck is Child
Services and why haven't they ripped the entire mother lode of 14 kids from this woman's bosom and placed them in
loving, caring and most importantly homes where the A-D-U-L-T parents *can* support the child(ren) themselves?
Oh,
and just in case anyone is interested, I'm always open for donations if anyone is interested -- will you be giving by
cash, check or credit cards?
[end of blog]
8:53 am mst
Monday, February 9, 2009
BLOG - Marketing 101 during 2009
 Marketing a business during the 2009 recession is shaky at best -- at least in my
opinion. Mailing is expensive and there is no way to be certain it is not going to end up in the circular file -- sometimes
unopened. Visiting in person can run into a No Solicitors roadblock, or still not knowing if your information is going
to end up in the circular file once you turn your back to leave. Is there ever a good time to call on the telephone? Emails
arrive in the spam or junk folder -- often not even seen or opened. Your Internet carrier could classify you
as a spammer if you send out an excessive number of emails -- cutting off your service, or limiting the number of
email transmissions. And depending on which Google search you read, as long as you have an "opt out" for the recipient
to be removed from future faxes you might be okay -- other searches say no unsolicited fax is allowed under any circumstance.
And if I don't get an "opt out" returned, does that mean it is okay to send faxes and/or emails?
Since
opening in 1992, I admit I have tried each form of marketing listed above and even more ways. The results of my
marketing campaigns are really strange. Some responses are "don't you ever contact me again, and it is a federal
offense to be doing what you're doing" -- some responses are very polite pointing out that I might want to double
check what I'm doing. Some are very appreciative for contacting them, as they would never have known about me. My timing
for a few is right on as co-incidentally they need my services, but didn't know where to look. Some tell me they will
keep my information on file and be sure to contact me if they have the need. Some are polite but tell me they will never need
my services.
I always send marketing faxes and email marketing outside of business hours so I don't disrupt
the business routine. I can't call off hours, so I always make it a point to ask if they have a few minutes or if there
would be a better time to call -- or give them my number so they can call me when it is convenient for THEM.
So
with all that said, I'm sorry if I can't please everyone. Please be advised that I remove your information from
my database if you request verbally, by fax or by email to never contact you again. On the other hand, thank you to all the
people who do show an interest and are helpful and cordial in my marketing efforts and especially to those people pointing
out the little things that may get me in trouble.
[end of blog]
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
BLOG-I don't think this was the intent of the bailout money ...
 I shouldn't read the news articles that filter into my email inbox because they usually make my blood boil.
The photo to the right is the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel (on the right) and its sister hotel, Encore Las Vegas Hotel (on the left).
Wells Fargo Bank that received $25 B-I-L-L-I-O-N in taxpayer bailout money is planning a series of corporate junkets to Las
Vegas this month. Wells Fargo, once among the nation's top writers of subprime mortgages. has booked TWELVE nights at
the Wynn and Encore Hotels beginning Friday, February 6, 2009. The hotels will host the annual conference for the company's
top mortgage officers.
The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years junkets have included all-expense-paid
helicopter rides, wine tasting, hoseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more
than 1,000 employees and guests.
The nation's recession has led other banks, such as Bank of America, to cancel
employee recognition outings. WELLS FARGO HAS NOT!
"Recognition events are still part of our culture"
... "it's really important that our team members are still valued and recognized" said a spokeswoman.
Both my personal and business accounts are at Wells Fargo -- I would really like to be valued and
recognized, as well!
Corporate retreats have attracted criticism since the bank bailouts last fall.
Congress scolded AIG for spending $440,000 on spa treatments for executives just days after the company took $85 billion from
taxpayers.
Rooms at the Wynn and Encore are consistently among the most expensive in Las Vegas. The $2.3 billion
Encore opened in December. Its decor includes a 27-foot Asian dragon made from 90,000 Swarovski crystals and artwork. One
of the restaurants features Frank Sinatra's 1953 Oscar.
In addition to the Wynn and Encore Las Vegas Hotels
junkets, beginning February 25, the Wells Fargo Insurance Division is hosting a 40-person team meeting at the Mandalay Bay
Hotel Las Vegas.
Wells Fargo has announced it will pay a quarterly dividend of $371 million to the Treasury Department
as part of the bailout (a far cry from the $25 billion) -- Just think how much bailout money could be paid back if the "recognition
events" were put on hold and team members were recognized as valuable with a hearty handshake and a vocal THANK YOU and
a pat-on-the-back!
[end of blog}
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