Do you agree with this?

Melanie051907

So I wrote the following e-mail to a client:

Can you please send us copies (via e-mail) of all of the 2008 tax information you have received for yourself C, B, L, A, [names removed to protect the innocent] and all related Trust returns.  We would like to get started on the various returns due April 15th.  Once the information is received, I will send you an open items list detailing the information still needed to complete the return.

 

Please let me know a tentative date I could expect to receive this information.

 

If you have any questions or need additional information, please let me know.

 

Thank you,

 

Melanie

The partner on the account (who I cc'd) sends me the following e-mail back:

Don't be quite so abrasive on the info below, be nice.  I see this stringent sentence in too much of the [insert company name] requests and it seems that everyone automatically puts it in their requests.   Please let me know a tentative date I could expect to receive this information.   Background:  I've dealt with this particular client for nearly 5 years, him 1.  She is known for saying, yeah, yeah, yeah I'll get it to you in a week.  3 weeks pass by and nothing.  I just wanted a tentative date from her so I'm not annoying sending weekly requests.  She is typical Italian Chicago woman, and this e-mail would not come across as abrasive to her. If anything, she'd laugh at my over-the-top professionalism. She's used to people calling her up and going, Hey, where's your stuff?  Go in your drawer and scan everything to me.   I was peeved last night.

french526

I think the partner is being a little harsh.  Honestly, I received an email almost identical to that from my accountant yesterday (he didn't realize I had already given everything to his receptionist though!).  I don't think that asking for a tentative date is abrasive because you only have so many weeks left to get this stuff done and without the information, you can't.  You have other clients so you have to schedule your work to make sure you finish what you are required to do. 

Melanie051907

I showed the e-mail to other people and they just rolled their eyes and said to tell him that I said "please"

The thing is, there are at least 10 returns that I need information for.  Her stuff never goes out by the 15th but we still need to calculate extension and estimate figures for her.

Oh well, it just annoyed me yesterday because I know abrasive and that is far from it.

Mrs.Graves51907

That is no where near abrasive.  You obviously know her better than him and if you don't think she'd mind than I'd send it anyway.

mspaulak01

Okay, I see NOTHING wrong and often send out much more demanding (aka abrasive apparently) emails to detail the situation.  How else does he expect your company to CYAs?

Melanie051907

Thank you.  Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. 

I understand it's the middle of tax season but he needs to relax that ass a bit.

mspaulak01

Melanie051907:

Thank you.  Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. 

I understand it's the middle of tax season but he needs to relax that ass a bit.

He might be afraid to... that giant stick trying to slide out might hurt a bit.

flyer1982

Not abrasive at all!

GreysGirl

I don't see anything abrasive about what you wrote, it's very professional and worded well!

Duffinger

I've seriously considered adding that exact sentence to the sig of my email. my manager didnt like my original idea of "dumbass we can't do your audit without your information. please send it THEN well talk about a completion date."