If your asked to write an article for a report is it normal to pay?

If your asked to write an article for a report...

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Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone out there has any experience with writing articles for a report and whether it would be normal to pay to have your article included?

I've just had a call from someone offering me what was described as an amazing opportunity.  A report is being compiled on something to do with accountancy.  The impression I came away with was that it's being complied by parliament or is in some way connected to parliament/the government but despite just getting off the phone I really can't remember the details except that a copy would be sent to the Queen (not sure she's in need of my services!).  I was being asked to write a 500 word article for the report on anything accounts wise that I wanted.  It would be widely distributed and basically to cut a long story short was going to do amazing things for my career and reputation (appearing on question time was mentioned!).

I was rather taken back having never written articles before and explained that I have no experience but it sounded very interesting.  The chap then explained that I would have to pay them (almost £1k) if I wanted to take part and I could have 10-12 weeks to write it. 

Having never done this before and having no experience of how these things work I would have liked to have some time to think about it and to look into it but as I had to give an answer there and then I said it would have to be no. 

In general I don't pay for advertising as I don't find I need to.  I'm a small practice and my clients either find me on the web or come via referrals so the promise of lots of additional work wasn't actually much of an incentive but the idea of having an article I've written in a prestigeous (I remember that description at least) report does spark the ego a little.  Having said that, this is already over 300 words so I'm not sure how much of a rant I could get into 500 words.  Maybe I just want all his speel about me being personally chosen and getting my name from a client who was so impressed with my work to be true! 

Anyway, I just wondered if this was normal and I've passed up a great opportunity or if I've just managed to avoid spending a load of money on advertising that I don't need (and that probably wouldn't work).

Thanks in advance

BG

Replies (15)

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By Chris Smail
22nd Aug 2012 10:45

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck

it is probably a duck

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By holywood
22nd Aug 2012 10:52

Hmmm...

You can write an article for me if you'd like? I'll only charge £750.

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Replying to raybackler:
By Craigie_Bhoy
22nd Aug 2012 14:53

@ Holywood

holywood wrote:

You can write an article for me if you'd like? I'll only charge £750.

Brilliant, ,just spat my tea on my desk - i liked that one :)

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By ShirleyM
22nd Aug 2012 10:59

I'll only charge £500

... but I promise I will send a copy to the Queen :)

Joking apart, I think you already suspect/know it is a scam.

Try getting more information and then do a Google search. Many scams can be identified this way.

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By lesley.barnes
22nd Aug 2012 11:17

Its a scam - save your money

The same people rang me last week but told me that my report would be circulated in Parliament. Lots of flattery about my customers recommending me, coming to the notice of the Parliamentary Information Office (- there isn't such a place) etc. MP's names thrown in the mix Mark Prisk, Kenneth Clarke supporting them blah, blah, blah.

Lots of info on the web about them, they've been at it for years.

http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/2432/companyname/Parliamentary-Yearbook.html

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/02089564000

I kept them talking on the phone whilst I checked them out so I knew what I was dealing with. They dropped the price from £2750 to £950 during the conversation not that I would have taken up their offer if it was free!

Did "Robin Taylor" ask you about what type of pen you used during his sales pitch, fountain pen or biro? I'm still trying to work that one out, I did wonder if they were going to try to forge a signature on a sales document. 

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By The Innkeeper
22nd Aug 2012 11:28

Next time they

or someone like them calls ask for details of where you can send a fee note for your lost chargeable time ( at premium rates of course !!)

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
22nd Aug 2012 15:25

.

How it *normally* works for legit articles as opposed to clear scams is you do it for free and get a byline.

In terms of getting a return for this, it depends what it is. Generally it a waste of time unless you are very very bored.

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By petersaxton
22nd Aug 2012 19:09

Some reputable magazines

do charge but they would be well known to you already.

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By Batty Girl
22nd Aug 2012 20:00

Thanks all

Thanks to all,

Even those offering to let me write them articles :-).

All the answers and the info on how fees etc for writing articles normally work are much appreciated.

ShirleyM, you're right, everything was telling me it was a scam, but as the world of writing articles/having them published is something I know absolutely zilch about there was just a tiny bit of me left wondering which I'm pleased to say has now been put to rest.  I think it was just my ego really wanting to think that someone might really want me to write an article for them - but if they did I imagine they wouldn't want to chanrge me for it!

lesley.barnes, interesting to hear someone else had a very similar call.  He didn't ask me about the pen but he did definately throw in a few MP's names.  Now I'm intrigued as to what the pen thing is about!  He asked me if I did many TV/radio shows because I would be in very high demand for such things after the report came out.

BG

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By petersaxton
22nd Aug 2012 20:20

Now we know why 419 scammers are still trying it on.

Flattery and greed have a lot to answer for.

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By nikkirobinson
28th Aug 2012 10:33

I'm a marketeer and get called by this kind of scam quite frequently.  Don't touch it with a barge pole.

Alison

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Me!
By nigelburge
28th Aug 2012 10:51

If this doesn't tell you it's a scam.......

"I've just had a call from someone offering me what was described as an amazing opportunity."

Nothing will!!

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By petersaxton
28th Aug 2012 10:57

Inundated

I expected the OP will be getting inundated with "amazing opportunities"!

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By mydoghasfleas
28th Aug 2012 11:22

"If your" or "if you're"

I'll only charge £250 to edit, no byline necessary. 

You would need to pay in cash as my MP's read what David Gauke said and now insists on using Paypal.

Alternatively, write the article, put it into an envelope and address it as follows

Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

The Queen will know it's for her because her picture is on the stamp (use first class post, it will fail to arrive much quicker than second class post).  You can do this for 60p and save £999.40.  Now I've told you that please send full name, address and date of birth, passport and utility bill because such valuable advice needs to be paid for and I will need to money launder you.

As I read your request there was a brief downpour, you're pulling my leg if you think I came down in that last shower of rain.

 

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By Brian Jackson
28th Aug 2012 17:05

Vanity publishing

There used to be a thing called "vanity publishing" (probabaly still is).  For example, the publishers collected poems from would-be poets and put them all in a nicely bound book once or twice a year.  The "poet" was not asked  to pay except a reasonable sum for a copy of the book.  The publishers made a good profit because they only had to print as many books as there were poems (no remainders).

 

I am not sure that should really be called a scam because the "poet" had the pleasure of seeing his "work" printed in a book he could show to his friends.  A TV programme (might have been Bernard Braden for those of you that can remember that far back) submitted a number of "poems" made up of disconnected lines.  Each of them received the comment "Shows merit".

 

I think what Batty Girl is describing is certainly an appeal to vanity (makes a change from greed) but the required payment of nearly £1,000 certainly puts it into the categary of a scam.

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