OT: ChaCha

[megthewonderful]

I e-mailed ChaCha about how long it takes for checks to verify. The response I received back is that all checks are verified monthly on the 10th in order to be paid around the 15th. If the message doesn't change by the 12th, then you need to e-mail them and re-fax your check if you want to be paid that month. You should receive an e-mail when your check has been verified.

 

[neatokimmo]

Wooohooo that is great! I don't think I've done more than $25 a day so far, I need a more comfy computer chair, my rear end goes numb lol

I made $50 yesterday! Woo hoo!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Can somebody please tell me how to log in as a guide?

I was a guide(still am I guess, never "quit" or anything, just stopped doing it) but back when I was doing it there was a separate chacha application, it wasn't web based. Now I don't know how to sign in as a guide. Can you point me in the right direction?

I wonder if I'll have to take these tests you guys are talking about, I never had to do anything like that. I'm curious to sign in and see if I can start working or how it goes.

 

[vsimeone]

Can somebody please tell me how to log in as a guide?

I was a guide(still am I guess, never "quit" or anything, just stopped doing it) but back when I was doing it there was a separate chacha application, it wasn't web based. Now I don't know how to sign in as a guide. Can you point me in the right direction?

I wonder if I'll have to take these tests you guys are talking about, I never had to do anything like that. I'm curious to sign in and see if I can start working or how it goes.

You should be able to log in here: https://universe.chacha.com You need to use Firefox though. I started as a guide in August of 2006 and don't get on all that often. I didn't have to take the simulator test when that came out so you probably won't have to either. Best of luck!

 

[cruisnfamily]

You should be able to log in here: https://universe.chacha.com You need to use Firefox though. I started as a guide in August of 2006 and don't get on all that often. I didn't have to take the simulator test when that came out so you probably won't have to either. Best of luck!

Thanks!

It's asking me to install a guide toolbar. I guess that's required huh? Would be good if I knew what it was....I better study all this stuff before I try to play in there.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Ok, I been following this thread and one question has been bothering me (forgive me if it was already answered pages back) - how does Chacha make money to pay the guides? For Chacha usesrs, it's free to ask a question, I believe. There must be some way for Chacha to make money off these questions, and I assume advertising comes into play somewhere, but I am not sure! I tried to google the answer to this, but only got speculation.

Funny thing is, for work, I do something similar as the Chacha guides - I am a librarian who does online reference questions (called Q&A NJ), and I hate doing it! I always get questions that can't be answered, and plenty of pranksters with foul mouths. I rarely get questions that can be answered easily, as most I get are very researchy in nature. I just find it funny that I am forced to do this kind of work as part of my job, and the guides here choose to do it!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Advertising pays for the cha cha guides. Actually, I have been a guide for about 3 weeks and the majority of my questions are really interesting or fairly easy to check on (directions, movie times, forecasts, etc.). I have had a few really tough questions and some that just can't be answered and then a handful of suggestive questions. I don't find it to be bad at all. I don't spend a huge amount of time....enough to make $25 a week. But that will add up to $1200 a month (aprox) for my next Disney vacation.

 

[MushyMushy]

Ok, I been following this thread and one question has been bothering me (forgive me if it was already answered pages back) - how does Chacha make money to pay the guides? For Chacha usesrs, it's free to ask a question, I believe. There must be some way for Chacha to make money off these questions, and I assume advertising comes into play somewhere, but I am not sure! I tried to google the answer to this, but only got speculation.

Funny thing is, for work, I do something similar as the Chacha guides - I am a librarian who does online reference questions (called Q&A NJ), and I hate doing it! I always get questions that can't be answered, and plenty of pranksters with foul mouths. I rarely get questions that can be answered easily, as most I get are very researchy in nature. I just find it funny that I am forced to do this kind of work as part of my job, and the guides here choose to do it!

Like the previous poster said, it's ad supported, but there are also some investors from what I read about. I guess ad support can really bring in some money!

I love this type of work! I'm the type of person who looks up every single curiosity that runs through my mind, so doing it for money is a big bonus! It's not very often that we get questions you can't answer (people searches are the worst, or teenagers wanting to know about their high school sports team when there are millions of them to wade through). I feel like I'm learning new things every day. It's so cool!

 

[ajh88]

I love this type of work! I'm the type of person who looks up every single curiosity that runs through my mind, so doing it for money is a big bonus! It's not very often that we get questions you can't answer (people searches are the worst, or teenagers wanting to know about their high school sports team when there are millions of them to wade through). I feel like I'm learning new things every day. It's so cool!

I have learned a lot too - and I thought I had a pretty good grasp on trivial information before I started this! I found out the name of a song I've been wondering about (from a beer commercial), learned the geography of several cities while searching for directions, and found out that a Dark Crystal sequel will be coming out next year!

It is more fun than work (for now!) - hopefully I can keep it up until our October trip!

P.S. DD is with me and wanted to add some smilies.

 

[CharityLynn]

Took the Simulator yesterday, did 19 questions..can't wait to hear if I got accepted!

 

[duckybelle]

I also do ChaCha. The first month I made $300, but this month I am looking to make $500 at least! This is not a scam, and is a great way to make a little extra money for our Disney Funds!

 

[DalGal]

One of my questions last night was "What is Club 33?" Right up my Disney alley! The ones that give me the most trouble are the people who just want to chat. Sometimes I just don't know how to respond.

 

[Miz Diz]

FF3 has been working great, Miz Diz! Did you ever send feedback on it?

Yes, I sent feedback, but never heard back from them. I uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled the 3.0 version. Now I can see the video.

I just did my 15 simulator questions. I totally screwed up on the first question with 10 minutes! I freaked out and couldn't figure out how to add my comments. Then I remembered the toolbar at the top. I did better on the rest, but had several that I was over 3 minutes. I'm not too hopeful on this.

 

[CharityLynn]

We'll keep our fingers crossed for you Miz Diz. I'm waiting to see if passed yet Can't wait to get the email

 

[bigolive9]

Okay, so I was thinking about joining, and have received my initial sign up email, but have not gone in to do any of the registrations stuff yet.

several people have said that you have to claim the income as an independent contractor on your taxes. How much work would this add to my DH when he is doing our taxes next year? He seems to like the idea of me doing this, but we are concerned about how much extra work it would be paying taxes quarterly and whatnot, as well as risking owing at the end.

For those of you who have been doing this a longer time, how much extra hassle is this come January especially for those of us who are using TurboTax because we don't really know what we are doing?

 

[Goshen Girl]

I have been working as a guide for the past 2 weeks. Just to let some know.. I never did get an email telling me I was accepted. Probably because I checked back often the first few days. I just went in and looked to see if I was fully trained and then tried putting my status as: available. Got my first question right away and have been making money since then. So, if you haven't heard back... go log in and see if you are fully trained and ready to go. Good Luck!

 

[momof1princess]

Okay, so I was thinking about joining, and have received my initial sign up email, but have not gone in to do any of the registrations stuff yet.

several people have said that you have to claim the income as an independent contractor on your taxes. How much work would this add to my DH when he is doing our taxes next year? He seems to like the idea of me doing this, but we are concerned about how much extra work it would be paying taxes quarterly and whatnot, as well as risking owing at the end.

For those of you who have been doing this a longer time, how much extra hassle is this come January especially for those of us who are using TurboTax because we don't really know what we are doing?

i'm wondering this as well...i've been a SAHM with no income for 9 years so i do our taxes with turbotax each year and it's pretty simple-how much of a hassle is this going to be come january? we always pay in the max throughout the year and get it back & then some as a refund-will my working independently screw that up? will i need to hold back some money from my chacha earnings to pay federal & state taxes, or will it come from our refund(s)? i've got sooooo many questions!

 

[Jenna45]

Lol, I am a single parent who claims HOH and I make way to much at my real job.
My parents are both self employed and have to pay quarterly taxes, I would be interest to see what people say, I have been making a bit of good extra money, ( I am hoping all the tip and spending for our trip here) and can't decide if I should stop at 600.00... I am more worried about the SS then the taxes, because I am already paying in with my FT job, I am not sure how that works, I actually am going to ask my mom to ask her accountant now they you all have brought it up, if I hear back I will post.. ( They are just getting ready to pay them taxes now)

As for the income, that will be easy to report on your return, when you do your TT or whatever , after you put in your DH income, it should ask if you have any other income to report, and if you are self reporting it will ask for what you made, if you paid any taxes etc..

Don't forget if you have office space to work in and it is a dedicated spot , you can claim it as an home office deduction for the average amount of hours you chacha!

( I work from home FT for my "real" job and that deduction saves me a pretty penny each year) just note, you should alway's take a dated picture of said space a few times of year to have on file ( tax tip) and if you have a tv in the room you can't claim it.. The accountant told me this..

i'm wondering this as well...i've been a SAHM with no income for 9 years so i do our taxes with turbotax each year and it's pretty simple-how much of a hassle is this going to be come january? we always pay in the max throughout the year and get it back & then some as a refund-will my working independently screw that up? will i need to hold back some money from my chacha earnings to pay federal & state taxes, or will it come from our refund(s)? i've got sooooo many questions!

 

[MrsKreamer]

I am aggrivated. I got QCed 3 times today. One of them I was responding as a followup and they marked my response as wrong(when in fact it was a joke that the person wanted, so I gave a joke). How do these negative QCs affect us?

 

[neatokimmo]

I got Qced 10 times my first week. I didn't get any answers wrong, I was just being too short and not "cute" when I had extra space leftover.

I was a top guide in my second week. So I guess I wouldn't worry about it. Plus just getting one wrong? I think that is good!