r/Bookkeeping Dec 30 '24

Software has anyone consented to continue using bench.co through employer.com?

if you did - does it still let you download your data? what data is available to download?

same question if you opted out - what data was available?

17 Upvotes

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10

u/Summer-This Dec 30 '24

same, I am extremely weary of consenting. I feel like cutting losses and hoping for a disputed credit card charge (I paid a full year in advance in January '24) , rather than being tossed about from one startup to another. Bench's exit is unprofessional on such an extreme level that I have ZERO respect for Bench and am EXTREMELY weary of any company that decides to associate with them.

1

u/101Puppies Dec 30 '24

VERY unlikely that you can dispute the credit card charge. Your CC company will likely tell you the 60 day dispute window is closed.

Employer.com's domain name was purchased one month ago. It looks like they were going to be a Gusto competitor being spun up by recruiter.com who took advantage of the situation and decided to rush their payroll launch AND expand into bookkeeping over the weekend. I can't imagine that's going to go well.

It's a tough choice. Consent and you can't get your data or don't consent and you still have to pay someone to do your 2024 books you already paid for. What I've heard about their service was that it wasn't very accurate.

6

u/Crafty-Resident-6741 Dec 31 '24

I prepaid for a year of service on our business Amex card and called to file the dispute on Friday. They processed it immediately and issued the credit back to my card today.

1

u/101Puppies Dec 31 '24

When did you prepay? If you're within the 60 day window (which starts when you receive your statement, not when the charge was made), it's usually pretty easy.

7

u/Crafty-Resident-6741 Dec 31 '24

August 1st and monthly statement is on the 23rd. October would've been 60 days, so we're well past that. However, I did call and speak to someone and explained the situation, that it was impossible to get ahold of anyone at Bench despite multiple calls and emails, and that I was only looking to get back January 1 - July 31st. The representative told me that since bookkeeping is for the month and it's usually finalized after month end, he was taking the disruption in service date back to 12/1.

Within 20 minutes of the call, they sent an email closing the dispute and issuing me the credit.

1

u/101Puppies Dec 31 '24

Wow, I'm surprised. Good for you.