Accountant issues

**Jessica@WhiteFieldTax** · 6 May 2016, 20:29

Originally posted by simplethings View Post

Should I pay, have I any "rights"?

The answer lies in the engagement letter and/or other contractual documents with your accountant. That explains the basis of fees.

If its well written, it should be clear as to basic fees, and any circumstances leading to additional charges and whether they need to pre pre-approved by you, etc.

Put simply its a contractual issue, to check your contract with them.

Originally posted by simplethings View Post

Is it my fault they didn't get everything from previous company, not sure they even tried chasing. Previous accountants are a well known company (and listed on contractoruk)...so unlikely they didn't provide everything.

Ask current accountant for a copy of what was sent to them and/or ask previous accountant. Most of its content would be your company's property rather than the accountants.

**simplethings** · 8 May 2016, 19:35

Thanks for your response.

I've never signed any contract with them. However they did send me a contract to sign when they sent me the 2015 tax return accountancy fees.

Also, I was thinking of doing exactly what you said in asking old and current accountants in what was provided and when to see if current accountants are fibbing in getting more money from me.

Thank you once Again.

**VillageContractor** · 9 May 2016, 09:04

You should also think about changing your accountant

**northernladuk** · 9 May 2016, 09:53

Can we ask if your new accountant is a contractor specialist? If not how did you find them and what diligence did you do with them?

If you've not picked a contractor specialist using freeagent or the like I'd say you've still not solved your problem.

**VillageContractor** · 9 May 2016, 10:40

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Can we ask if your new accountant is a contractor specialist? If not how did you find them and what diligence did you do with them?

If you've not picked a contractor specialist using freeagent or the like I'd say you've still not solved your problem.

I don't think the use of freeagent makes the accountant any good. A good accountant will be just that, with or without freeagent.

**northernladuk** · 9 May 2016, 10:42

Originally posted by VillageContractor View Post

I don't think the use of freeagent makes the accountant any good. A good accountant will be just that, with or without freeagent.

No but it's a bloody good tool to complement. If he had gone down a portal/Freeagent route to start with he wouldn't have these problems with handovers and he it's unlikely he would have been fined for submissions. He has much more control over his finances so wouldn't be relying solely on his accountant.

**missinggreenfields** · 9 May 2016, 10:50

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

If he had gone down a portal/Freeagent route to start with he wouldn't have these problems with handovers

The same would be true of the SJD spreadsheet, or a box of paper, or any reasonable filing system. If you know the information and know what's been done, then it matters not how one records the details.

**northernladuk** · 9 May 2016, 10:53

Originally posted by missinggreenfields View Post

The same would be true of the SJD spreadsheet, or a box of paper, or any reasonable filing system. If you know the information and know what's been done, then it matters not how one records the details.

I'm not quite in agreement. There are good ways and bad ways. The comparison between a box of paper and freeagent is a bit poor TBH. We have new tools that are a vast improvment for very good reasons. Why not use them? The whole underlying theme in these types of posts is that people don't know what is happening due to poor recording or arms length services from accounts. Makes sense to take control with the best tools available surely?

**missinggreenfields** · 9 May 2016, 12:22

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I'm not quite in agreement. There are good ways and bad ways. The comparison between a box of paper and freeagent is a bit poor TBH. We have new tools that are a vast improvment for very good reasons. Why not use them?

Because for some people they add a level of unnecessary cost. Just because it works well for you and you are clearly very much impressed with freeagent, it doesn't mean that using an alternative tool effectively is any better for how other people run their business. Not everyone is required to follow how you run your company.

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

The whole underlying theme in these types of posts is that people don't know what is happening due to poor recording or arms length services from accounts. Makes sense to take control with the best tools available surely?

Define "best". A poor accountant using the "best" tools will not prevent you from getting into a mess. A good accountant will be a good accountant regardeless of the software that they use.

I've had a good accountant who didn't need to use freeagent or any cloud based tool - I did the vat return and they took a box of receipts at the end of the year and did the accounts. I've had a good accountant who didn't need to use freeagent but had their own portal to use instead. I've done the trial version of Crunch but didn't like it.

Makes sense to take control with the most appropriate tool - not one that some random bloke on the internet says that I should use to run my business thanks.

Accountant issues