Depo Transcript Fees

When preparing a 5-day expedite transcript for my agency, I was surprised to find out, I, as the reporter, wasn't allowed to charge an expedited rate.  The agency itself charges the attorney expedited rates, but will only pay the reporters expedited rates on 3-day expedites.  In other words, I prepared a 5-day expedite while getting paid for 10-day turning around.  I'm a new reporter and they told me that no agency gives their reporters expedited rates.  I'm wondering if this is true for most agencies, or just mine.  Seems to me the agency I was interning with paid reporters expedited fees on 5 days.  Hope it doesnt' sound petty on my end, but being a new reporter, it does take a long time to prepare transcripts.  I guess I learned my lesson that in the future, unless I'm actually getting paid for an expedite, there will be no late nights to complete that particular job. 

I think that's BS.  You're the one doing the majority of the work and if you get it done expedited, then you should be able to charge an expedite rate.

All firms I work with pay me an expedited rate whether it's one day or five days.  I would definitely say something again to them.  I guess my question would be why would they charge if they're not going to pay you.

My first reaction after reading that was exactly the same as spdefngrs'....that's BS!  This should be your first indication that the firm is one that you don't want to work with.  No telling what other little "suprises" they're going to have for you.  I would run far away from that firm. 

I think they're taking advantage of you because you're new.  I know a lot of reporters who start working for an agency and stay with that agency for years.  Then when they freelance or take a job for another agency, they find out oh, my goodness I've been vastly underpaid or not paid for things that other agencies pay for regularly.

If your agency is always looking for new (just graduated) reporters or if your agency doesn't have a lot of reporters who have been with a long time, the turnover rate is high, it's bec. reporters are learning that they aren't getting what they should be getting.

Even as a new reporter, you should know what the standards are in your area.  If you want to be with one agency, great!!  But take a few jobs for a couple of different agencies to see what their procedures are.  Some of these agencies are vastly different.

It's complete BS.  But unless you have credentials as in RPR, RMR, RDR, and/or CRR and CSR, you have no choice but to accept their lies if you want to work.  

Agencies charge 10% more per business day, starting at 100% more for next business day (daily), 90% for 2nd business day, down to no surcharge for 10th business day, which is the day the client has the transcript in his/her hand for no extra charge.  

I've done my fair share of work for liars and rip-off artists.  It's depressing and disgusting.

That is sketch, yo.  I mean, I guess it could get fuzzy when you're talking about an 8- or 9-day expedite (which I have yet to run across). 

But a 5-day rush is a definite expedite, and you definitely get paid for that.  You're not petty; you're right.  And if you are already on top of it now, you're going to be just fine.

"Questions are never indiscreet; answers sometimes are" - Oscar Wilde

I'd have to find another job if the firm I worked for thought printing of the deposition within a five-day time period was worthy of more money in their pocket but not the reporter's.