Upton Accountants - more info

[Bagpuss]

In my case he filed accounts that said I owed £120! I paid the proper amount and he took the overpayment. When I spoke to HMRC in may, they led me to believe I had met my obligations and would be ok ... Did they tell you otherwise?

Not sure I follow you, do you mean he took circa 16k out of the system that you really owed and HMRC dont want the proper return filing?

i.e 16k paid in, 0.120k liability submitted, 15.88k to Darren

HMRC don't want the proper accounts with a 16k liability filing they have just wrote it off? Or they don't know it's owed?

[Waldorf]

I thought that too. 800 clients is generating at least £400k profits I'd have thought. But if £400k is coming in and £401k is going out then you're still skint. Ask Mr Micawber.

He had 800 clients paying £60 per month, so £720 a year.

£720 x 800 = £576K so I cannot see that he would have made £400K profits.

He certainly could have managed the £10K per month that the FSA wanted from him but I think I read he only made a few payments.

I feel sorry for his family, but I assume his wife new that the payments were not being made, wasn't she a director? I seem to recall that she is a director of the phoenix, Freedom Accountancy.

[philip@wellwoodhoyle]

I feel sorry for his family, but I assume his wife new that the payments were not being made, wasn't she a director? I seem to recall that she is a director of the phoenix, Freedom Accountancy.

She was indeed an officer (either director or co sec) of both the Upton Accountant companies, and also 1st Accountancy before that, and many other companies (over 40 in total). If she really didn't know what was going on, then at the very least she breached her duties as a director and could/should be prosecuted under Company Law. I just don't buy this "innocent wife" impression.

[richy]

Ok, now can we slag him off?

OK. what a con man. I am glad I ditched his firm. He lied to me for months, and I had to switch at last minute to file return with another firm.

[NotAllThere]

Please note that posts of a more general nature have been moved here: http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...n-6-years.html

[backagain]

Freedom Accountancy?

Has anyone noticed Freedom don't appear to be replying to emails? Maybe they have been inundated with clients wishing to leave? Or maybe the stress has been too much for Tina and she has taken some leave? Personally I thought she was pretty straight but she must have had an idea what was going on?

Wish they didn't have such a naff name; impossible to do a search on the forum and find anything related...

Maybe its time to start a Freedom Accountancy thread?

[Pondlife]

Has anyone noticed Freedom don't appear to be replying to emails? Maybe they have been inundated with clients wishing to leave? Or maybe the stress has been too much for Tina and she has taken some leave? Personally I thought she was pretty straight but she must have had an idea what was going on?

Wish they didn't have such a naff name; impossible to do a search on the forum and find anything related...

Maybe its time to start a Freedom Accountancy thread?

Seriously, just

Never in the history of CUK has that smilie been more apt.

[backagain]

Actually been away doing something much more interesting than work, hence the handle. I think thats what you meant? I can also report that its extremely hot and nice where I am Shame the swimming pool pump is broke but thats in hand...

So shall we start a Freedom Accountancy thread to post issues post Upton-gate? Personally I am moving accountants but would like them to prepare accounts for the current year since I already paid them for that.

I checked companies house and they are still in business...

[Waldorf]

I am amazed that some people get so many signals and yet they still ignore them.

Whether you have paid for a service or not, you have just got to cut your losses and move on, if you stick around then please don't post on here when it goes tits up.

[backagain]

Have people got nothing to do with their (paid for by clients) time than sit on forums like this slagging off others?

Nothing has gone tits up for me and everything I asked Freedom to do has been done (including my accounts for last year). However since Darren Uptons actions have now been made public I do not wish to be associated with people that have committed fraud. Thus I move on.

Has anyone else got a problem with this, or should I await the barrage of childish, snide remarks, which add no value whatsoever?

Personally myself I prefer to share information and keep things civil. As I said before I havnt got an axe to grind; business is business.