Does your accountant charge you for general advice?

[Cowboy Bob]

Nope. Mine only ever charges for face to face meetings. Phones calls and general advice are free (provided he has the time to answer questions).

[wantacontract]

Paying for a service is fair enough, but I don't like the fact they never told you/ If initially, they said it would be an additional £150 per year for general advice, and you were aware and accepted, then great, but the way this bill just materialises would make me unhappy.

I would definitely raise it with them before paying the bill.

[Lewis]

Paying for a service is fair enough, but I don't like the fact they never told you/ If initially, they said it would be an additional £150 per year for general advice, and you were aware and accepted, then great, but the way this bill just materialises would make me unhappy.

I would definitely raise it with them before paying the bill.

Agreed

[fzbucks]

I've been with my accountant for 2 years now and have just received a bill for over £300 for general advice, phone calls, emails etc. It seems that whenever I ask them a question, they charge me anything up to £90ph worked out on a pro-rata basis. Is this normal or should I look to chanhe accountant?

My accountant charges me £420 per year to do my annual return and sort out my personal tax and NI and for any ad-hoc advice I require.

[eddiegee]

iam quite shocked they billed you for general advice!!!. with the accountant i am at, iam paying £55 per month and i ring up all the time for advice with no extra charge etc, i guess that comes with the service i am paying for!! maybe you should look around for a different accountant!

[Hiram King Of Tyre]

Thanks guys.

Changing accountant is an option of course. My accounts are due end Sep so I wouldn't change before then.

What I didn't say before is that the reason that I chose this company is because a friend of mine is the CEO. That's no reason to stick with them though if they're not right for me. After all, my bookkeeping is pretty straight forward and I don't really need a £90ph accountant to advise how and when to pay a dividend do I (especially if the advise changes depending on who you speak to).

I must admit though that I did feel safer under an accountant who doesn't specialise in IT contractors believing it would keep me further away from any IR35 radars.

[zathras]

I've been with my accountant for 2 years now and have just received a bill for over £300 for general advice, phone calls, emails etc. It seems that whenever I ask them a question, they charge me anything up to £90ph worked out on a pro-rata basis. Is this normal or should I look to chanhe accountant?

Depends on the contract with your accountant. My original accountant was the same as yours. Fired him when he charged me when confirming something I told him (he said we could not claim travel expenses when at a client for less than 2 years - I told him not, he charged me to write a letter to the taxman).

On the other hand my current accountant charges a monthly fee.

Trouble is often I know about things before him

Current accountant is also under strict instructions not to discuss IR35 with the Infernal Robbin you. I have insurances to deal with that kind of thing.

[Hiram King Of Tyre]

Well I got a reply basically just reminding me that they work on an hourly rate for all work. I guess the only answer is to pay up and re-evaluate my choice of accountant. I'm not expecting anything for nothing but I do object to paying £90+vat for incomplete and conflicting advice.

[The Lone Gunman]

Take it on the chin. Pay his bill and sack him. Explain why you are removing your business.

Name and Shame here.

[Hiram King Of Tyre]

I wouldn't name & shame for 2 reasons:

Firstly they are only acting witin their T&Cs (albeit it would seem seeking every opportunity to charge). I do object though that they let it run up for 2 years without billing me...

Secondly the CEO is a personal friend of mine

I will subtract one thing though as I was shown a hair brain method (scam??) of avoiding (evading?) tax. I called my friend and offered to run it past him so he was aware of it. He invited me up to the office and invited one of his accountants in. She charged me for that......

My company end of year is September so I'll probably let them finalise my accounts etc for this year and then make the severence...