Evaluating Court Reporter Costs: 3 Tips To Keep Costs Reasonable & Vendors Honest

Is the best court reporting company one that keeps costs low? Yes – and no. Comparing companies isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Attorneys looking for the most bang for their buck should be aware of these 3 simple tips to keep costs reasonable and vendors honest. Always remember, there is a big difference between “perceived value” of the page rates that court reporting companies post and the “actual value” of the same page rate.

It’s important to know that some states regulate the court reporting industry and identify certain formatting requirements; California, for example, requires that transcripts contain 56 characters per line and 25 lines per page. In other jurisdictions, transcripts may contain 22 characters per line. But in states without regulations, unscrupulous vendors can set the margins as wide as they want. A wider margin means fewer characters per line, which in turn means more pages – and more cost for you and your client.

Even in states with strict standards, some court reporting companies may try to pad their pricing. Be sure to scrutinize witness introductions, exhibit marking, and other blurbs or parentheticals. Most court reporting companies have their own style, but some add an unnecessary amount of words to increase their page count. Other places ripe for padding are the title and appearance pages of transcripts where double spacing can increase the page count quickly!

Many court reporter agencies also claim to offer “free” services, but actually make up the charges in other ways. Conference rooms, expedited transcripts, and a host of other “freebies” can actually end up costing you – and your client – a lot more than you might think.

Trying to find the best court reporting company can be tough, especially when you have to compare costs that are not often easily identified. Keep these 3 tips in mind when considering a court reporting company:

1) Determine the number of characters per line and lines per page. The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and Chicago are among the areas that don’t regulate transcript formatting, so it’s especially important to be thorough when you’re looking for the best court reporting company. If a vendor is not transparent about its characters per line and lines per page, be wary.

2) Be mindful of format padding. Speaker changes, exhibit marking, and indentations are all ways that vendors with high perceived value can lead you astray. Make sure to examine title and appearance pages for extra spacing or unnecessary speakers being listed.

3) Understand and evaluate the services provided. Service plays an important role in trying to find the best court reporting company, but keep an eye out for misleading charges. And remember, late court reporters, late transcripts, and poor quality transcripts are a waste of time and resources.

Attorneys should evaluate vendor charges as part of providing the best possible service to their clients. Finding the best court reporting services for your client may seem daunting at times, but just remember that the work you put in now will save you and your client time and money down the road.