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Accountant Problems

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    Accountant Problems

    My first year the account controller from a well known firm (who does the monthly accounts) missed the payments made from the company account marked Dividends. At the end of the year when I got a horrid tax bill (personal) because she had misadvised me all year - only then I was told that I had to send a separate email from my monthly accounts and that was why they missed the dividend payments. Now my argument is that if she spotted other payments that I'd missed receipts she had obviously read the bank statement - but never once questioned or advised that a separate email had to be sent when she saw huge withdrawals marked clearly as DIVIDENDS. Cost me approx £3000.

    This year after many problems as I was in India working (try getting receipts) I got my final accounts through. Why would my corporation tax suddenly be £1500 more than in August's profit and loss I wonder?

    I am really worried as I'm not the best at paperwork - hence why I have an accountant - but terrified that there are more costs I haven't found and something serious is cocking up.

    What to do? I'm treated like an idiot when I dare to complain.

    #2
    Put your complaint to the accountant's boss in writing. Send a letter by fax or special delivery.

    Keep your letter concise and any questions you ask straight to the point.

    If you are still unhappy after that complain to the accountants professional body.

    Also move accountants. I would go with one recommended on this board and who also writes on the board for example the one mentioned in the flashing purple and yellow advert at the top.

    BTW firms make you feel stupid when you complain because they can't admit they have done things wrong as it's admitting negligence. Grow a harder skin.
    "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

    Comment


      #3
      as sue ellen says.

      change and use one of the accountants who post on here. it will probably save you money.

      sounds like you need a book keeper as well though!

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by prozak View Post
        as sue ellen says.

        change and use one of the accountants who post on here. it will probably save you money.

        sounds like you need a book keeper as well though!

        is your accountant Brooksons by any chance? if so you will never ever get a chance to speak to a real accountant just some dolly who has been trained to answer the phone and email. Send any complaints to the MD (not the complaints manager) which is in line with the Institute guideline. If its Brookson send this correspondence via post and email to the attention of the MD .

        Comment


          #5
          Advising someone to switch accounts because one person missed one thing is a bit extreme. How they react is more important... for instance if they told you in advance you needed to provide information and you didn't, it's your fault. If they are not doing what they said, their fault.

          Why did this cost you £3000 anyway?
          Originally posted by MaryPoppins
          I'd still not breastfeed a nazi
          Originally posted by vetran
          Urine is quite nourishing

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by d000hg View Post
            Why did this cost you £3000 anyway?
            I wondered that as well, tbh. Does seem on the face of it quite a convoluted was of doing things but without further information, I'd agree, its a bit extreme to say "jump ship" straight away.

            Comment


              #7
              It's got worse

              Although I didn't mention who my accountant is I was contacted by their owner who apparently trawls these boards and recognised my name. Have to say I was creeped out by the uninvited approach which claimed I had not made a complaint, you can see the response below

              And now this month, 6 days after submitting my paperwork I still have no idea of what to pay myself and quite frankly feel they are playing funny buggers. First they couldn't read some richtext documents, so I resent in pdf format, only to be told they were too busy to get back to me - even after I explained that I really really needed to pay myself with Christmas coming up etc. After resending in pdf format and waiting two days they claimed they still couldn't read them and could I send pdf's ????

              BIG FAIL NIXON WILLIAMS.

              Have asked what I need to do to escape from their clutches. No tax advice ever from them, don't do monthly accounts, just estimates, according to them and now just being difficult. They work for me but it appears they think I have loadsa time to work for them.

              Anyone got recommendation on an accountant who can calc my pay in a day or two and provides the quality I would expect on a monthly basis from a professional accountant ? Money no object.

              See response below

              "Alan uses the Contractor UK forum to give advice to contractors on there where necessary and recognised your name as a client.

              The monthly accounts that we prepare are not ordinarily reconciled to the money going in to and out of your company bank account as these are intended to be estimates, ultimately the reliability of the figures contained within these are dependent upon the information that we are provided by our clients – a balance sheet is only prepared at the company’s year end and so these discrepancies would not usually be discovered until that point. The errors have been picked up in your year-end accounts before they have been submitted to HMRC or Companies House.

              The main checks that we do on clients files are at the company’s financial year end when statutory accounts are prepared and every transaction is reconciled to the bank – even these accounts though are dependent upon us being supplied with the correct information.
              "

              Comment


                #8
                If I was running an accounting practice I would make sure the accounts and financial statements were up to date every month. Not only would it be clear for my valued customer but it would mean less to do at year end.

                But that is just me.

                ps. Look out for prozak accountancy coming soon

                Comment


                  #9
                  We have a 3rd degree connection on LinkedIn!! Bearing in mind we are all connected by 7 degrees I guess that isn't as good as it sounds?
                  'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by juliehendry View Post
                    Although I didn't mention who my accountant is I was contacted by their owner who apparently trawls these boards and recognised my name. Have to say I was creeped out by the uninvited approach
                    You're complaining because they took the time to contact you direct? That sounds like good service to me.
                    Originally posted by MaryPoppins
                    I'd still not breastfeed a nazi
                    Originally posted by vetran
                    Urine is quite nourishing

                    Comment

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