Reply to: Gorilla Accounting- spam?

[WordIsBond]

Don’t chastise me for not being able to count. Just for not being able to remember. Or read.

Oh, that's encouraging. An accountant who DOES know that 89 > 85 , but can't read or remember.

Just exactly what I've been looking for.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

While I agree that aggressive marketing like this is pretty annoying/underhand - the advertised rate on your website is £89+vat, theirs is £85+vat, so I don't think this statement is true? (unless I'm missing something?)

Mea culpa.

I thought they charged £95 plus vat.

Don’t chastise me for not being able to count. Just for not being able to remember. Or read.

[pr1]

I'd hate to have an accountant that thought £89+vat is less than £85+vat.

Are both giving free self-assessment returns to directors? What are their charges for opening a company, or changing shareholding? Have you compared the services they offer? Unless you've done that, a straight price comparison isn't valid, and you probably shouldn't be calling out Alan on it without checking to see.

Of course, if the services are comparable we should heap every ounce of humiliation on him that we can muster. Tarred and feathered, all that. Make him wear a scarlet "4" as a reminder that 89 is more than 85. I'm sure the forum could come up with a few other ideas.

IMO if Alan's point is that "they charge more than us" (whilst his price is higher), he should be outlining such comparisons pro-actively to back up his statement

his point wasn't "we offer more value than they do", it was "they charge more than us" ...

[WordIsBond]

While I agree that aggressive marketing like this is pretty annoying/underhand - the advertised rate on your website is £89+vat, theirs is £85+vat, so I don't think this statement is true? (unless I'm missing something?)

I'd hate to have an accountant that thought £89+vat is less than £85+vat.

Are both giving free self-assessment returns to directors? What are their charges for opening a company, or changing shareholding? Have you compared the services they offer? Unless you've done that, a straight price comparison isn't valid, and you probably shouldn't be calling out Alan on it without checking to see.

Of course, if the services are comparable we should heap every ounce of humiliation on him that we can muster. Tarred and feathered, all that. Make him wear a scarlet "4" as a reminder that 89 is more than 85. I'm sure the forum could come up with a few other ideas.

[pr1]

They charge more than us!!

While I agree that aggressive marketing like this is pretty annoying/underhand - the advertised rate on your website is £89+vat, theirs is £85+vat, so I don't think this statement is true? (unless I'm missing something?)

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

I agree. Just seems a bit tawdry.

There’s sales and sales. It’s a bit desperate.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I agree. Just seems a bit tawdry.

[saptastic]

Resurrecting an old thread i know but they must be persisting with this as I’ve had a client forward a letter he received. The headline is “are you getting value for money from BroomeAffinity?” They charge more than us!!

As long as 'you' offer a good responsive service at a reasonable price - can't see too many switchers from this approach. Someone needs either poor service or a super amazing incentive to switch accountant I would imagine.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Resurrecting an old thread i know but they must be persisting with this as I’ve had a client forward a letter he received. The headline is “are you getting value for money from BroomeAffinity?” They charge more than us!!

[eek]

Is that a thing? I've had a few letters over the years from firms bragging about their accreditation.

If you are a member of a professional association you brag not slag...

[Invisiblehand]

As an aside Craig, I assume Gorilla aren't regulated by either ACCA or ICAEW? Otherwise you could be in a little bit of hot water with either of them, if what I believe the content of your marketing letters to be (based on comments on here) is correct...

Is that a thing? I've had a few letters over the years from firms bragging about their accreditation.

[simondolan]

He had to, LOL!

Hahaha - very good!

[Fred Bloggs]

I see you've been reading the ACCA rule book Simon...

He had to, LOL!

[ContrataxLtd]

Similar thing in accountancy:

"A professional accountant in public practice should not bring the profession into disrepute when marketing professional services. The professional accountant in public practice should be honest and truthful and should not:
• Make exaggerated claims for services offered, qualifications possessed or experience gained; or
• Make disparaging references to unsubstantiated comparisons to the work of another."

I see you've been reading the ACCA rule book Simon...

[simondolan]

It's not only your profession. As a registered professional engineer we abide by a code of ethics. A very dim view would be taken if I were to start spamming other engineer's clients saying that I were better/cheaper/whatever compared to their currently engaged professional engineer. As I said above though, this kind of thread does make it easier to add firms to my black list as required. So the spam does serve a very useful purpose actually now I think about it.

Similar thing in accountancy:

"A professional accountant in public practice should not bring the profession into disrepute when marketing professional services. The professional accountant in public practice should be honest and truthful and should not:
• Make exaggerated claims for services offered, qualifications possessed or experience gained; or
• Make disparaging references to unsubstantiated comparisons to the work of another."