Anyone use Brooksons Accountants?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I know that I would personally prefer to speak to someone qualified...rather than someone from a call centre.

There you are then.

What you might prefer is a smaller, specialist accountant. There are many of us around. Or, indeed, as was mentioned in another thread recently, you might like the look of one of the bigger boys who can provide the personal service via an account manager or the like.

[arby]

I'm with Brookson and find the service poor. They have raised 5 incorrect invoices, their response time to emails can be up to 2 weeks (!!) and when you call on the phone you generally get a call centre sort of person whose knowledge is limited. When they call you up to talk about something specific it seems like that person's knowledge is compartmentalised - i.e. someone calls you up to talk about director's fees for the year and when you mention that you have some rental income and how they recommend taking that into account they fall off their script.

I have spoken with at least 11 different people at Brookson - how that lack of continuity is supposed to be of any benefit to the clients is beyond me.

They're also not cheap - £150/month for mediocre service.

Once things settle down and my VAT is up to date I'm going to vote with my feet and move.

[TheFaQQer]

They have raised 5 incorrect invoices

If you are relying on your accountant to raise invoices on your behalf, then you might want to have a look at the MSC legislation.

[arby]

If you are relying on your accountant to raise invoices on your behalf, then you might want to have a look at the MSC legislation.

OK, will do. They're raising the invoices because there is an electronic link between the agency's timesheet system and Brookson.

[Waldorf]

If you are relying on your accountant to raise invoices on your behalf, then you might want to have a look at the MSC legislation.

Brooks were a large MSC before it was outlawed in 2007, and they then did not answer the phone/emails for months whilst they tried to convert their clients to limited companies.

Brookson has recently been sold off so things may change but I have never heard anything good about them.

[Weegee]

This is very interesting to read. I spoke to a friend who was a client of Brooksons and he has left after 4 months of shockingly bad service. You really have to look at
this and wonder why they are offering joining gifts like IPad Minis and Mountain Bikes!

I'm with Brookson and find the service poor. They have raised 5 incorrect invoices, their response time to emails can be up to 2 weeks (!!) and when you call on the phone you generally get a call centre sort of person whose knowledge is limited. When they call you up to talk about something specific it seems like that person's knowledge is compartmentalised - i.e. someone calls you up to talk about director's fees for the year and when you mention that you have some rental income and how they recommend taking that into account they fall off their script.

I have spoken with at least 11 different people at Brookson - how that lack of continuity is supposed to be of any benefit to the clients is beyond me.

They're also not cheap - £150/month for mediocre service.

Once things settle down and my VAT is up to date I'm going to vote with my feet and move.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Once things settle down and my VAT is up to date I'm going to vote with my feet and move.

Don't wait. Move now. Your new accountant will be able to work round your VAT issue.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Anyone use Brooksons Accountants?

Brookson has recently been sold off so things may change but I have never heard anything good about them.

Unlikely. From what I understand they are broadening their "offering" by introducing a range of new contractor-focussed services. Think mortgages, insurance, contract review etc etc. one of things that appealed to the VC was this untapped source.

[northernladuk]

mmm I wonder how many actual accountants they have and how able the call handlers are , to answer specific questions. I know that I would personally prefer to
speak to someone qualified...rather than someone from a call centre.

True, although getting to speak to Alan @ Broome might not be straightforward if he's buggering about on web forums or on the coffee/butty run again.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

.. buggering about on web forums or on the coffee/butty run again.

Market research and intelligence, along with team moral building is an important part of my job