SJD price increases

[Sarah@PaperRocket]

Perhaps, but a staff member from the firm in question will most likely have taken a copy of that database of clients when they left SJD. There is no public list of which business is with what accountant.

I never approached any clients of firms I used to work for. Not due to any contractual clauses (which I gather don't tend to hold up well in court anyway) but because it would be biting the hand that had fed me for a few years.

Ethics are a personal thing I guess, each to their own. I don't claim to be perfect, far from it, but I found this in poor taste. Certainly I'd be very upset if a few years down the line an ex Maslins employee did it to us.

Agreed, generic marketing to potential clients is one thing but specifically targeting a particular accounting practices clients through direct mail (SJD's in this case) is an ethical step too far in my view

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Perhaps, but a staff member from the firm in question will most likely have taken a copy of that database of clients when they left SJD. There is no public list of which business is with what accountant.

That's different, then. Certainly that's not ethical.

It's easy enough to find out some, if not all, contractors with SJD. It's not very sophisticated but if you know the postcode of SJD office you can do a registered office search and then from that get the personal addresses of the directors. Time consuming and definitely unethical, but possible.

[pr1]

That's different, then. Certainly that's not ethical.

It's easy enough to find out some, if not all, contractors with SJD. It's not very sophisticated but if you know the postcode of SJD office you can do a registered office search and then from that get the personal addresses of the directors. Time consuming and definitely unethical, but possible.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Not at all. Thought about it. Looked into it. Decided it wasn't for me.

[Dan@OrangeGenie]

That's different, then. Certainly that's not ethical.

It's easy enough to find out some, if not all, contractors with SJD. It's not very sophisticated but if you know the postcode of SJD office you can do a registered office search and then from that get the personal addresses of the directors. Time consuming and definitely unethical, but possible.

Agreed, if you trawled Companies House you could send to anyone registered at SJD offices. However, how has the letter ended up at other accountants registered offices, especially as the client has been there for over 2 years ??? Had to be a database.

Its disappointing as this competitor, in my eyes, was starting to build a good reputation for themselves.

[oracleslave]

Happens with recruiting firms all the time, they always take a copy of contacts / database.

Yes, but we're discussing ethics here

[ContrataxLtd]

Agreed, if you trawled Companies House you could send to anyone registered at SJD offices. However, how has the letter ended up at other accountants registered offices, especially as the client has been there for over 2 years ??? Had to be a database.

Its disappointing as this competitor, in my eyes, was starting to build a good reputation for themselves.

Are you implying the person/company use to work at SJD and that is where they've got the mailing list from? That would be very unethical indeed and could end up in fight between them and SJD

[MrMarkyMark]

Are you implying the person/company use to work at SJD and that is where they've got the mailing list from? That would be very unethical indeed and could end up in fight between them and SJD

As I said earlier, happens all the time, in all industries.
In addition, you would have to be able to prove it.

Is it ethical? No.
Is it business (for some)? Yes.

[ContrataxLtd]

As I said earlier, happens all the time, in all industries.
In addition, you would have to be able to prove it.

Is it ethical? No.
Is it business (for some)? Yes.

Appreciate it happens all the time in all industries but if you were the new owners of SJD and got wind of this (assuming something untoward has gone on, it may well have not) surely you'd want to mount a fight? Again, I appreciate it has to be proved but I'm guessing SJD can throw more money at this than most if they want to...

[MrMarkyMark]

Appreciate it happens all the time in all industries but if you were the new owners of SJD and got wind of this (assuming something untoward has gone on, it may well have not) surely you'd want to mount a fight? Again, I appreciate it has to be proved but I'm guessing SJD can throw more money at this than most if they want to...

I think they would have a hard job proving it, that's my point.