Brookson charge for Company Closure

[Shorty11]

Brookson - Absolute Nightmare!

I have been having an absolute nightmare of a time with Brookson. In fact, this evening I emailed my previous accountant and asked her if she would take over my books again.

My so called 'Personal Manager' has been off sick for at least a month and no one thought to set her 'out of office' response, so we could be notified. After calling up repeatedly, I was finally told that she was off sick and they had no idea when she would be back. My accounts are in a complete mess and there is no one willing to cover for her. A few people offered but I would always get an email back saying they have passed it onto someone else and they would be in touch with me in the next 48 hours, but then I wouldn't hear from them again. No one responds to my emails. I am paying £143.75/monthly fee for the most appalling service I have ever experienced. There seems to be an absence of supervision or management. I too have called up to ask who I need to contact with regards a complaint and got a cagey response.

I asked about the closure fee and they said there was none, but you have to give a months notice.


And as for the company they referred me to, to file my tax return (tenon) - they were even worse; that endeavor resulted in a £100 fine from the tax office for late filing...

[diesel]

I have been having an absolute nightmare of a time with Brookson. In fact, this evening I emailed my previous accountant and asked her if she would take over my books again.

My so called 'Personal Manager' has been off sick for at least a month and no one thought to set her 'out of office' response, so we could be notified. After calling up repeatedly, I was finally told that she was off sick and they had no idea when she would be back. My accounts are in a complete mess and there is no one willing to cover for her. A few people offered but I would always get an email back saying they have passed it onto someone else and they would be in touch with me in the next 48 hours, but then I wouldn't hear from them again. No one responds to my emails. I am paying £143.75/monthly fee for the most appalling service I have ever experienced. There seems to be an absence of supervision or management. I too have called up to ask who I need to contact with regards a complaint and got a cagey response.

I asked about the closure fee and they said there was none, but you have to give a months notice.


And as for the company they referred me to, to file my tax return (tenon) - they were even worse; that endeavor resulted in a £100 fine from the tax office for late filing...

i would suggest you put any complaint in writing with full facts to the MD/senior partner name mentioned in the T&CS. Post this first class recorded to them marked Private & Confidential. Any emailed or faxed info will get "lost" in their system thus "delayed".
Or you can find the apprioate person (senior partner/MD) email if you try asking them on phone or do a google search under CBI!

[Shorty11]

Thanks, I will do that.

I contacted them again four days ago, requesting to close my account and asking for confirmation that they received my email. I also asked them to confirm that the last payment would leave my account in four weeks time (pretty annoyed that I have to pay for their 'services' for this coming month, despite them doing nothing for me; not even replying to my emails!!) - again, heard nothing back.

I am just worried now that they will try to get more money off me for leaving...

Six days ago, I contacted the head of department (whose contact details are further up on this thread) - he too didn't respond... nothing...

Very strange. I just want out....

[diesel]

Thanks, I will do that.

I contacted them again four days ago, requesting to close my account and asking for confirmation that they received my email. I also asked them to confirm that the last payment would leave my account in four weeks time (pretty annoyed that I have to pay for their 'services' for this coming month, despite them doing nothing for me; not even replying to my emails!!) - again, heard nothing back.

I am just worried now that they will try to get more money off me for leaving...

Six days ago, I contacted the head of department (whose contact details are further up on this thread) - he too didn't respond... nothing...

Very strange. I just want out....

Dont waste time get it in writing to the MD (honest i have been down that route with them) Give them 7 working days to reply.
Keep all your records and details of your loss.
If you intend to leave them get that notice into them asap by letter, fax and email- give them no excuse.
I tried PMing you but it wont let me (?).
Lots of other reputable accountants around on this forum you can move onto.

[MarillionFan]

I have moved accountants a couple of times and I have been told (by each accountant) that the accounts/paperwork/working etc are owned by and have already been payed for my clientco. Therefore there should be no cost for the new accountant to write and ask for the dealings of the old accountant.

Of course, if your old accountant is asking for stuff, then to be fair, you're bloody well shot of them.

[Shorty11]

Hi, thanks for your responses.

I was talking to one of the team leaders and I scanned a signed letter to him notifying him of my intent to leave.

I really hope this doesn't turn into a fiasco where they try and wangle more money out of me. I'll take your advice and write a letter to the MD to hopefully get all of the loose ends tied up, this is already costing me a great deal... My personal tax return is incomplete as they are awaiting further info from Brookson, which they are not handing over... the whole thing is a complete mess and I am now paying my previous accountant to clear it up....

I apologise to whoever started this thread; I seem to have hijacked it!!!

As for the PM thing, I shall see if I can sort that out, don't know why it's not working, maybe i have a setting switched off or something..

<admin note>New users do not have access to PM. I have now upgraded your account though so you should be able to use it. If you have any problems let me know.</admin note>

[Waldorf]

Where has the Brookson guy gone who was lurking on here?

Sounds like Brookson is having a repeat of the problems they went through in 2007 when they changed from being a MSC to book-keeping.

[quackhandle]

Sorry in advance for hijacking thread but I am currently transferring (Keeping same company name, etc) from Paystream to NW and today I got a stern worded letter saying you have to pay us £235 in "administration fees" and until I pay they will not release any details to NW.

I currently pay £176 a month for these cowboys (been a nightmare in the last year or so due to their mistakes) surely they can't charge this?

Help and ideas greatly appreciated.

qh

[Clare@InTouch]

Sorry in advance for hijacking thread but I am currently transferring (Keeping same company name, etc) from Paystream to NW and today I got a stern worded letter saying you have to pay us £235 in "administration fees" and until I pay they will not release any details to NW.

I currently pay £176 a month for these cowboys (been a nightmare in the last year or so due to their mistakes) surely they can't charge this?

Help and ideas greatly appreciated.

qh

They can, and they do. Your new accountant may however be able to take over without it - they can get last accounts from Companies House and last tax returns from HMRC. Ask exactly what is included in their fee, and then ask NW if they can get by without it.

[Nixon Williams]

Sadly some accountants do charge when you wish to transfer elsewhere - we do not.

Ideally we like to fully review a client's situation when we take them on from another accountant.

Obtaining accounts from Companies House and tax returns from HMRC is not ideal and will not give a complete picture. It would be like copying the plans of a house from just a photo of the outside!

We have had to do this before due to lack of co-operation from accountants but as I have said, this is not ideal.

The biggest problem we encounter is that some "accountants" simply take figures from spreadsheets and do not check what has been entered, each account should be reconciled at the end of each year - do this and they will not go far wrong.

Have you considered the option of closing the company and starting again? You will need to ask what they charge to close the company, there is no cost from us as we supply new clients with the set-up free of charge.

Alan