TeamTurboTax Enters the Twitterverse to Assist Taxpaying Twitterers
February 1, 2010 – In a blog post published this afternoon, the software manufacturer, TurboTax, announced it would be providing an additional measure of support to users of its popular tax preparation software through the use of the social networking tool, Twitter. Scott Gulbransen, Senior Manager of Public Relations/Social Media, wrote that the company will utilize some of its experts to maintain a Twitter account, under the user name @TeamTurboTax. Personnel assigned to the Twitter account will receive and answer tweets regarding the use of its product and tax filing questions, as well to assist in the resolution of customer service issues, relating to the product. All of this will be provided free of charge. Previously, TurboTax offered support exclusively via telephone and the company’s website. The company estimates that, via its site-based Live Community, approximately 10 million customers are assisted on an annual basis.
The decision is an admirable one, in the sense that customers now have more options to solicit assistance. On the other hand, one has to wonder how many people really want to send their questions, for the entire Twitterverse to see. The only other obvious issue that jumps to mind is whether or not, if audited or requested by the Internal Revenue Service to provide verifying documentation, a person’s screenshot of a Twitter published answer will be enough to get them off the hook. For this reason, TurboTax’s Twitter account may be a quick and effective option for answering technical software questions and assisting with customer support, but actual questions relating to filing requirements, eligibility for credits, or other areas that can get taxpayers into trouble should be addressed directly to the IRS or state-level equivalent.
Regardless of the postives or negatives of the forum, TurboTax should be at least be applauded for its willingness to embrace popular social networking avenues to provide an enhanced customer service experience. So, even if you aren’t a TurboTax customer but do use Twitter, drop them an @ Reply with congratulatory kudos. Hopefully, other companies will take notice and be brave enough to throw themselves out there, too. The TurboTax tweets can be followed at manufacturer, @TeamTurboTax.
Geek Shui Living’s Latest MWD Contribution – Is Google’s Change in Browser Support the Equivalent of a Virtual Hit on Internet Explorer 6?
Following is an extract of Geek Shui Living’s most recent contribution to the technology news website, MWD:
February 1, 2010 – On an official Google Enterprise Blog post, published January 29, 2010, Rajen Sheth, Google Apps Senior Product Manager, announced the company will cease to support Microsoft’s nine-year old Internet Explorer 6 browser in the delivery of Google web-based services beginning March 1, 2010. Specifically, certain embedded features of Google Docs will no longer function as designed….
Read the rest of this post by clicking on the Unwelcome Mat below:
