Homeworking. Is it a con?

[Nelli]

I was thinking that maybe 'homeworking' might be a good idea. But I know that there are many companies out there offering this type of work, but it ends up being a con! Where can I find out about the legitmate companies? I was thinking of getting info from this company that make china models of houses, and send them to homeworkers for painting (I am an artist by trade so it shouldn't be to hard), has anyone else ever worked for this or a similar company, and is it 'kosher'? ;-)

[Nelli]

BTW, I am considering homework for extra income, i have a day job, but an expensive lifestyle . ;-)

[answerbok]

mostly, [always?] it's a scam. They want you to buy their art kit; brushes paint etc. the workload is just an excuse, your work will be quality control rejected in all cases, no matter how much perfection you persist with. [unless anyone knows differently...?] Lots of heartbreak stories about 'homeworking' Don't Go There.

[Nelli]

Yes I've heard similar things about jewellery homework, that they find any excuse to reject your craftsmenship! I think I even saw a Watchdog, where they got a jeweller to make the items and they STILL got rejected. But I do know of some Greeting Card companies that ship out homework, where you put cards and envelopes in those plastic slips you buy them in. I was hoping someone somewhere might know some legitimate companies.

[darth vader]

My neighbour works from home on greeting cards (has done for over a year now), also a colleague at work used to do it. It's long repetitive work, and the pay is not brilliant (usually around the minimum wage) but at least you work from home! - As has been mentioned there are various scams to be wary of, these are the ones that require you to pay out money up front - the real work from home schemes do not charge at all (which is quite right - if you start work at a company they don't require a deposit before you can start working do they?) and simply turn up with all the materials you need to work from home (cards glue etc).

[Nelli]

Thanks Darth, I have to send an SAE for further details, but I have noticed on other adverts (for the same company) that they ask for a small initial payment. So perhaps I should simply look at other options! Thanks guys!

[Miss Zippy]

If you have a computer at home and are pretty speedy on the keyboards, scour your local paper for people who often want people to do ad-hoc typing for them, usually small one-man businesses who need the odd report typing up. A friend of mine types up medico-legal reports for a consultant on a private basis, the reports are usually only 5 pages long, take her max of one hour to produce and she is paid �50 per report. Nice work if you can get it. Get in touch with your local private hospital, speak with a consultant (not their secretary, they won't want their work being poached!) and see if they need anyone to type up the odd report etc.

[darth vader]

My wife gets me to type up reports for her as she is a computer-phobic teacher and i'm a computer programmer - you can get paid for this? I'm switching jobs... (50 quid an hour sounds like good money)

[Miss Zippy]

I know Darth, equates to around �91k per annum by my rough calculation!! It's obviously v irregular work, but that's ok if you're not depending on it as your main source of income.

[darth vader]

hey i'd do it for 50 quid a day if it meant i worked from home.....

[Nelli]

Thanks Miss Zippy, I'm a typesetter/graphic designer so me typing skills are 1st class, will definately look into this one!