Upton Accountants - more info

[blacjac]

Thought we were sticking to facts on this thread? So I was just giving feedback on recent dealings with Upton/Freedom, which are facts. I was not recommending them; just giving some balance to those who would want to paint them as totally evil.

I wasn't stupid enough to give a load of money to someone to invest, based on a personal relationship, do I hear some sour grapes from others who have?

So where are the mods today?

I suspect the comments you are referring to relate to people whose tax / VAT money has gone missing after they thought they had paid it rather than people who invested in the other scheme Darren ran.....

It could all be a big mistake and there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation here. But this is the issue / allegations we are discussing here - nothing to do with the investment scheme from last year.

[Bugbait]

Thought we were sticking to facts on this thread? So I was just giving feedback on recent dealings with Upton/Freedom, which are facts. I was not recommending them; just giving some balance to those who would want to paint them as totally evil.

I wasn't stupid enough to give a load of money to someone to invest, based on a personal relationship, do I hear some sour grapes from others who have?

So where are the mods today?

Unfortunately I and many others cannot divulge the pertinent facts in any public forum, atleast not until after the criminal case is heard in court. I shared a fact as well, that no past or present employee of Upton & Co or Freedom is able to answer a simple accounting question relating to the money that was paid by clients.

To be fair I'll point out that Tina and other former Upton staff are not implicated in the latest charges against Darren Upton. You say it's just a single bad seed and it has been addressed? How much faith can you place in Tina Upton, the new Director of Freedom Accountancy? Someone who is married to the accused and was apparently completely ignorant of what was occurring (safe assumption since she was not charged)? Doesn't put a lot of faith in their ability to assess or take responsibility for any possible mistakes in future does it?

My dislike of Darren Upton has absolutely nothing to do with "currency scam" as I did not participate in it.

[backagain]

I didn't advise that at all. Just said I had good service from them recently and they appear to be making an effort.

Regarding my own situation, I just need the admin/accounts/vat returns and some other ancillary bits doing from time to time. Nothing too demanding and very little risk from my point of view. I would do it all myself but I do need that specialist tax experience from time to time. Thus its good enough for me and a reasonable price.

A friends mother has sufficient tax/hmrc experience that he is getting his mother to do it; says can't see the point wasting the money when they have the experience in family, so to speak.

[Bagpuss]

Regarding my own situation, I just need the admin/accounts/vat returns and some other ancillary bits doing from time to time. Nothing too demanding and very little risk from my point of view.

When you sign someone off as your representative to the HMRC you would be surprised what they can do. You have to trust them or you can get seriously burnt. I would at least want my accountant to be regulated by a main accounting body. Who are your accountants regulated by? If they aren't regulated then ask yourself why.

Anyway, as others have said I smell a rat here.

[Wanderer]

I have had excellent service from Uptons recently (or shall we call them Freedom?).

Does anyone else find it a little bit amusing that Uptons have apparently been phoenixed as "Freedom". Kind of an ironic name given the circumstances....

[richy]

Hi, I've been keeping track of this thread for some months now as Darren was my accountant, I'm sure this has been asked before in round about ways, but I have now hit a brick wall as to what to do next. In summary; Uptons caused me a hefty fine because they didn't submit my company return on time despite saying it had gone, and then in the months leading up to Darrens arrest they continued to take direct debits (even after his arrest) - It was only then we were aware of what was going on and advised them that we would take our business elsewhere and would like refund on this years payments already made - needless to say Tina has been no help and eventually advised I contact their insurers; which I then did only to be told by them that we would have to go back to Uptons direct....

Seems that they've got away with this one and as a small company we have taken a hit while they now can trade under a different name. Can anyone suggest a good path to take to get any funds back or is that just the way the cookie crumbles? I have tried calling today the new company (on the same phone number) and it was no help and I couldn't reach Tina (or Darren though I guess he's on his 'break' now). Anyone else in the same situation or found any help on this? Thanks

Another ltd co colleague only just managed to switch in time. Otherwise would have had the same penalties I expect. I think being upfront with people and open about the problems they faced would have kept everyone in the picture. What I heard was that promises were made, and not delivered. lucky colleague moved in time.

Upton's weren't Chartered were they? I guess PCG and Chartered Institute of Accountants is a good way to check firms out before working with 'em!

[SueEllen]

Another ltd co colleague only just managed to switch in time. Otherwise would have had the same penalties I expect. I think being upfront with people and open about the problems they faced would have kept everyone in the picture. What I heard was that promises were made, and not delivered. lucky colleague moved in time.

Upton's weren't Chartered were they? I guess PCG and Chartered Institute of Accountants is a good way to check firms out before working with 'em!

Upton is a member of the ACCA. ACCA website

If you read the thread from the beginning you will find a few other things that show even recommendations from trusted sources doesn't stop people allegedly doing bad things.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Upton's weren't Chartered were they? I guess PCG and Chartered Institute of Accountants is a good way to check firms out before working with 'em!

PCG possibly, but don't assume that because a firm is CA registered, the know what they are doing. I could tell some stories about High Street CA firms who are nothing short of incompetent. They're not all like that though. I'd say a good way to check out a firm before working with them is to talk to their clients. Get referrals beforehand.

[blacjac]

PCG possibly, but don't assume that because a firm is CA registered, the know what they are doing. I could tell some stories about High Street CA firms who are nothing short of incompetent. They're not all like that though. I'd say a good way to check out a firm before working with them is to talk to their clients. Get referrals beforehand.

I found Uptons and became a client of theirs via the PCG......

[bawlee]

How much I've learned today.

This morning I knew nothing about any of this. I just thought I needed to sign a new standing order for Freedom Accountancy. But just before signing, I thought I should give Uptons a call first, just to check everything was ok and to ask why they had changed their name...

Am so glad I asked.

Slow to find out, but I bet I'm not the last.

Now I've just got to find a new accountant,
And check everything Uptons have ever done for me...

Sigh