ClearSky, liabilities shock and poor advice.

[Lance]

I feel like the fee I paid over the past year should be refunded or partially refunded and I will use this to cover these costs.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

[pr1]

lots of stuff

I honestly think you'll struggle to get any money back off them, but you should definitely look to move to a freeagent based accountant. Have a chat to the ones who have replied on here as a starting point

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Probably a perception issue. The thing is, these big sausage factories generally do not provide the advice piece - they're more interested in the compliance which can be easily commoditised and automated. Advice is much more nuanced. Had a look at the packages on their website and it does say that for level 2 and 3 you get "quarterly tax advice" but it doesn't say what that is.

From what I can glean from your OP and your subsequent replies, you need to speak to a smaller firm who is more interested in the relationship than the fee. There are plenty around - many of them have posted in this thread. You'll also save a few quid and you won't be paying for BS add-ons like Optionis rewards and a premium for getting your accounts in 3 months. Most Freeagent accountants would consider 3 months slow.

[DSF70]

I'm only 5 months into contracting, but one of my old colleagues (permie to contractor and back to permie again) recommended Danbro Accountants.

In a separate conversation with another contractor friend he mentioned FreeAgent.

Danbro give you FreeAgent as part of their service fee.

I've gone belt and braces a a start-up and am on their level 3 service, which is £125+vat, plus plenty of additional services. Would like to do my own book-keeping in future, but the extra monthly amount offsets what a mess I could name of it.

FreeAgent is ace. Still get 'excited' (ok, I'm stretching the point) when Danbro allocate my bank transactions and my dashboard updates.

Their direct service offering is great. I email them, I get an email back within 24 hours, usually 2-3.

I'm su others have recommendations too.

[northernladuk]

FreeAgent is ace. Still get 'excited' (ok, I'm stretching the point) when Danbro allocate my bank transactions and my dashboard updates.

They do what??

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

They do what??

Explain and reconcile maybe?

[northernladuk]

Explain and reconcile maybe?

Sounds more like explain transactions to me which is a few clicks and am not sure what update dashboard means.

[ASB]

They do what??

Sounds to me like they do a bank reconciliation. Wouldn't really expect anything less from whoever i had contracted my accounting services to.

(And then the msc legislation may rear its ugly head).

[DSF70]

Explain and reconcile maybe?

Yep.

[northernladuk]

But this is a piece of piss with free agent? It even attempts to guess what the transaction is with a pretty good success rate? Why do you need someone else to do that for you?