Comments on: No, We Can’t Help You

By: Danielle Keister

Danielle Keister — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:03 +0000

Hi, Arlene. I’m so glad you find some support from my posts. Was this a temp agency you were working for or a Virtual Assistant staffing agency? When you use the term “invoice,” was that like a time sheet that you had to turn into the agency?

Sorry to hear about the troubles. Kind of goes along with working for someone else and not being in the position of calling your own shots about how things work.

By: Arlene de Waal

Arlene de Waal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:47:47 +0000

Speaking of professionalism and integrity, agencies that farm out workers should pay those workers on time and regardless of whether clients have paid yet or not.

To elaborate on this and my last vent, I wanted you to know that I have just sent a termination of contract to my agency who farmed me out to a company who didn’t respect my skills and take the time to sign my October invoice that I could have gotten paid and then for the past 2 weeks have been struggling with them to sign my 2 November invoices so in total it is 3 invoices that is awaiting signature that I may get paid and in the meantime I have to max out my credit cards and who is paying that interest.

I thank God for people like you coming into my life everyday Danielle and it informs me that the same S..H..I..T happens across the world and you are not alone in your struggles.

Well, to H..E..L..L with them. If they cannot respect my skills and even me as a human being then let them find some other skivvy to dangle a carrot in front of. I have a business to build and success to achieve.

Keep well and keep us informed. You rock.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:10 +0000

OMG Danielle, I almost spewed coffee out my nose reading the client’s request. Seriously!? That is hysterical. I just have no other word for it so leave it to you to put them in their place as you do such a great job of it! Vent on!

By: Arlene de Waal

Arlene de Waal — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:58:25 +0000

Right on Danielle. I took an onsite assignment and the asshole even though he was onsite didn’t sign my invoice on time so no pay from the agency so I agree with you. It is now 3 invoices later and if he doesn’t sign THEN……………………. I’m not there to do him a favour even though his head is so high up his a…………… he wouldn’t know if it is raining or sun shining!!!! Okay, now I’m venting because I didn’t get paid for the month of October and have to max out my credit card to survive the month of November. He’s not doing me a favour the a…………… I provide a professional high-level project support service and expect fair compensation in return. Cheers

Ps.: I really don’t know if you are psychic as you seem to cover topics on what I am exactly going through. So no pay no work!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Danielle Keister

Danielle Keister — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:49:14 +0000

Speaking of professionalism and integrity, agencies that farm out workers should pay those workers on time and regardless of whether clients have paid yet or not.

By: Arlene de Waal

Arlene de Waal — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:14:57 +0000

Hi Danielle. There will unfortunately always be assholes out there who think we are STUPID, PRETTY AIRHEADS who want to be paid too much for silly admin tasks then WHY THE HELL DO THEY SUCK @ IT WHILST WE EXCEL @ IT. It is good to vent as we all need to do it sometimes. You go girl and keep on educating us on the assholes out there. The traditional agencies best watch out because there are a DETERMINED BUNCH OF VA’s who are going to take over the ADMINISTRATIVE WORLD BY STORM. Have a great day further. I’m off to dance club to vent all my frustrations out there whilst oogling the male instructor, hee, hee

By: JJ Hall

JJ Hall — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:58:53 +0000

Danielle,

Right on, my sistah! Your message is sooooo on point. I am amazed and saddened by the job posts that come across my desk; the fees or income potential are embarrassing. I also get ticked off by the undercutting of income on the bidding sites. As Virtual Assistants we need to join together as a group and build up recognition NOT make our income potential worse than sweat shops. We are offering professional services. Just my two cents.

By: Heather Villa

Heather Villa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:12:33 +0000

Being treated as professionals is probably the biggest obstacle we face as virtual assistants. The fact that we are virtual makes it harder for clients to trust. The right clients will come when we maintaining our professionalism and integrity.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:05 +0000

I have a client now who owes me money. I made a mistake and gave him a cut rate, 1/4 of my normal fees to build him a website. He paid half, but not the other half. Keeps saying he will pay it and of course stupid me keeps giving him chances.

It’s not like I am desperate for work either, I just was being nice as he was a friend of a friend. (probably my first mistake)

Thanks for this article you’re so right! I am contacted all the time from people just like this.

But to those who are reading, don’t do it, there is work, good paying work. Stick to your guns and charge what you’re worth.

By: Danielle Keister

Danielle Keister — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:50:12 +0000

I hear ya, Lorian. And I tell ya, personally, I basically don’t pay any attention to online business owners just because of this. I work strictly with real-world businesses as they tend to be run more like true businesses. They get it more often. They know that expertise costs something, but what they expend–or invest, rather–returns to them multi-fold when they are working with a skilled, competent expert.

There’s just a kind of mindset that seems to be cultivated in Internetland, as I like to call it. It’s definitely not one of mutually beneficial business. They don’t get it and many (most?) seem to always want something for nothing. The Internet is sort of a double-edged sword… on the one hand it’s a great tool for being able to connect and work with more people and extends your reach beyond geographic boundaries. But it’s definitely a separate world; my preference is still the real world and real world people and businesses.