Bluebird Accountancy gone out of business?

[Flashback]

I moved across to them around 5 years ago, through recommendation of an Accountant friend who was using them. They were reasonable enough.

Fast forward to the past year, where prices have gone up and service levels have gone down - I'm now stuck in a situation where they've been paid the full set of fees (12 monthly payments) to cover the end of year accounts, but they won't complete them and won't respond to any attempt to contact via phone, e-mail or live chat on their website. Indeed, via live chat they took a message and promised to call me back. They never did.

I see that their Director on their Companies House listing is the same as Churchill Knight, but can't find any details on how to reach out to him specifically. Reaching out to Churchill Knight via their 'agency' e-mail also has elicited no response.

[cojak]

I would hope for the best and plan for the worst. You’ve got 8 weeks to sort out a new accountant, you can only hope your money hasn’t disappeared into the blue yonder.

[Flashback]

I would hope for the best and plan for the worst. You’ve got 8 weeks to sort out a new accountant, you can only hope your money hasn’t disappeared into the blue yonder.

Absolutely! I got burnt with SJD (although all things considered, managed to scrape through without too much more than extreme stress), so when I started seeing similar signs this time round it was time to pull the trigger on it.

[ladymuck]

It's of no help to the OP but this is why I don't pay monthly for accounts. I pay annually, on receipt of the year end accounts and only once I've checked them and corrected any errors. They don't submit them to CoHo and HMRC until I pay up. Unless they're doing something for you every month, there is no reason to pay monthly.

[Flashback]

It's of no help to the OP but this is why I don't pay monthly for accounts. I pay annually, on receipt of the year end accounts and only once I've checked them and corrected any errors. They don't submit them to CoHo and HMRC until I pay up. Unless they're doing something for you every month, there is no reason to pay monthly.

This is exactly why I had been considering gong to DIY (using FreeAgent). To be honest, even the annual accounts can also be done by yourself using FreeAgent, you just need to ensure the relevant submissions are being made to CH and HMRC. If you're already comfortable with doing your own VAT, PAYE/RTI etc., then usually you'd be pretty well set for managing everything.

Then you just need to add the cost (22+VAT/year) for a registered office address and any costs for one-off accounting advice as well.