Rebecka, you write such excellent posts! I enjoy reading them.
I have found that the IRS Form W-9 is so confusing for some contractors that I designed a Letter "in lieu" of form W-9. This is permissible if you capture all of the requested info from the IRS form.
I have found that people fill these in more accurately than the actual form W-9.
I have a sample on my website. Clients can also add their logo at the top, which looks really nice.
http://tools.asbinc.net/v/instructio...orm Letter.doc
Another A/P trick when collecting W-9s is to write 'Holding Check # 123 for $$$" at the top and unless they want 28% withheld, they will get fill out the W9!