So, I've gotten a few pm's looking for more info on LiveOps....instead of replying three separate times, I'll do it here.
You do need a separate phone line with no features (no caller ID, voice mail, etc.) I write off the cost of this on our tax returns. You get paid by 1099, so you do have to pay your own taxes. Now, for me that was not too much of an issue because my husband has extra taken out of his checks and we usually get a refund. With my income, that refund has just been less. I know some people do calculate and pay taxes quarterly. You get paid biweekly and I just keep track in a notebook. I do our taxes and did not find the schedule C to be difficult to do....the tax programs walk you through it.
When I applied, I did pay a $35 fee for a background check. I easily made that money back when I was doing my test calls. I remember doing a test and also a voice recording.
When I started it was on a line where you received calls for pretty much anything you see on tv to order or customer service calls. Some of the calls do have upsells like magazines and clubs. I did not really like that at first, but you get used to it. I know they have other lines - I'm not familiar with them all because I don't do them all. But things like food services (taking orders), and other services.
You will find that there is a wide variety of agents whose education/training/prior careers have nothing to do with this field. But, it really is a great way to make some extra cash, especially if you are a SAHM.
As far as the pay, you do get paid by the minute and some of the products do have additional incentives. Forgive me, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to state what it is. In the beginning, I made at least $10 per hour. Now, I average $14-$20 per hour usually on the higher end. I mostly work late night hours, like 10pm-2am. I find that that is when call volume is highest. I wish I could do longer, but it's hard to function on that little sleep.
The schedule comes out once a week, but people are always dropping shifts, so if you watch you can pick up more as needed.
I did also work for West at the same time I started LiveOps. I'm not sure how it's changed now that they pay as employees, but back then I dropped West because they did not have a set time the schedule for the week came out so you were constantly stalking for hours. You also needed to drop a shift at least 24 or 48 hours prior to (I can't remember). With three small children, I need the flexibility to be able to drop a shift with as little notice as possible!
I hope this helps!