Based upon a blog that has since been deleted, another member and I are continuing our coversation in the back room on expectations of both the firm of a reporter, and the reporter of a firm. I actually think it's a very interesting subject matter and would love to invite all to join in.

What DO you do when one isn't adhering to their obligation to the other? We all have obligations. The agency has an obligation to correctly transmit the info so the reporter can make it to the job and turn it in in the correct format. The reporter then has an obligation to accurately transcribe the proceedings, have it proofread, and then turn it in in a timely manner. The agency then has the obligation to pay the reporter a fair wage... in the same timely manner.

So what do YOU do when the "other" guy is flaking out on their obligation?

Is it fair to take a job from an agency and then COD them because they've been playing games throughout the pendency of the job? If yes, what did the agency do to put themself in that situation?

When the transcript isn't produced in a timely manner by the reporter, what do agencies do to get that transcript in their hot little hands? Do you threaten the reporter? Do you make a formal complaint to your board regarding the reporter? Do you keep your mouth shut and remain polite because you're fearful of the repercussions of an angry/spiteful/fearful reporter?

How long do you wait before you take an agency to small claims court?

When an agency gets a transcript from a reporter and it's replete with errors, do you say, "Good try, do it over"? Do you fix it yourself? Do you charge the reporter proofreading charges if the job is that bad?

When an angry reporter starts badmouthing an agency in a public forum, what do the agencies watching the show do? Make note of the reporter's name and tell yourself "Do not use because this one's a troublemaker"?

When an agency owner start telling stories of "bad" reporters, what do reporters watching the show do? Make the same mental note and say "Do not work for because they can't be pleased"?

I'd love to hear a general topic -- NO specific names, please -- on what you've done, what's worked in the past, what you've encountered, how you've rectified the situation.

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**This is simply my opinion**

I believe agencies MUST pay the reporter the agreed rate no matter how "bad" the agency believes the reporter was.
Agencies should have a quality review process for the reporters they hire to eliminate what they believe to be a "bad" reporter.
It is a very simple formula.

1- Reporter takes a job------> he/she is great----->pay him/her-------> call him/her again and again.
2- Reporter takes a job------> he/she is bad ------>pay him/her-------> place him/her on your black list and never call them again.

this is normal in every other industry because it is so hard to judge what is a "good" job.
also, think about it, I would rather pay the reporter and get him/her off of my back and move on to bigger and better things.

BUT, I dont own an agency so what do I know?

P.S: I did not delete that thread.
I dont own an agency

But you do have your own clients and you do work for others, so you know exactly what I'm talking about.

AFA the other thread, I thought the original poster deleted the thread.

Have you ever had to hire a subcontractor to cover one of your jobs and had trouble getting the tapes from the individual?

Another question. If the reporter/videographer/scopist/proofreader got you the end product soooo late that the case settled and you couldn't bill for the transcript, then what? Does the hiring body just eat it and never use the person again? It just ends up in the "lesson learned" pile?
Now thats a gray area, I used to give out extra work but it stressed me out so much i stopped doing it.
But when contractor gives out work to another contractor... hmmm, it becomes complicated when problems occur.
In 2003, I was a deponent (plaintiff) being deposed at a deposition for a construction breach of contract lawsuit that my then-husband of 20 years and I were involved in in Orange County. Upon learning that I was a court reporter, opposing counsel (the questioning attorney) told a story about an unusual experience that he had with a court reporter one time.

The court reporter would not produce the transcript, and after a few months, he became more and more agitated, and after calling her numerous times, he finally obtained her address, knocked on her door and asked for the transcript, and she opened the door and threw it at him.

True story:)

Now, that's a late transcript! LOL
Anne,

That's horrible. Did you find out if it was an Orange County reporter? I wonder if I know her just based upon locale.
Judy,

I don't know where she was from. The attorney's office is in Santa Monica, which is where my depo took place. The reporters he used for our depos were from the Los Angeles/Glendale area. The case venue was Vista, and our attorney was from Irvine. I would imagine she would be from the L.A. area because we had to drive up to his office since it was within the 50- or 75-mile range.

He said she had had a nervous breakdown - I'm not kidding you - and he didn't think he'd ever get the transcript, so he felt lucky that he got it at all.

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