Reply to: Urgent - Can anyone recommend a bank and an accountant?

Banks and Accountant

I have used a few over the years, mostly found I was paying them, but doing payroll, vat etc myself.

I now use AccountsNET, everythings included and works completely through the browser=no hassle.

Urgent - Can anyone recommend a bank and an accountant?

Matt James as well he's at a practice called Scodie Deyong in central London.

Urgent - Can anyone recommend a bank and an accountant?

Try Neil Paul at:

neilpaulco@hotmail.com

020 8863 9791

:rollin also

neil.paul@tesco.net

Abbey @#%$

Scott has only returned from holiday yesterday and I contacted him this morning. He has a mountain of emails and stuff to get through as you can imagine.

Try his number again.

/* ADDED ON EDIT
I have just spoken to Scott and he is trying out the online application process.
*/

For an accountant, try Frances Woodrow at Condies - 01383 741715. She will be handling my own accounts for both of my companies. Just tell her Paul recommended her if you decide to talk to her.

And if I'm not there?

Is anyone able to add the same sort of helpful suggestions for someone not resident in the UK, who may want to do a contract there?

Re: Abbey

<Comments removed. Finally got hold of Abbey and, as I might use them, feel it is only prudent to retract my statements for now>

Re: Abbey

Abby rejected me outright...something about me being in the country less than three years... so I failed the credit check.
Which is weird because there is no overdraft facility on the basic account...so what are they checking?

I ended up at RBS through necessity..but am looking to move the account as from Jan 2005 I will have to pay charges.
I am very happy with their service though.

Elivs.

Re: Abbey

Scott is part of my networking group and is more than happy to have me talk to others on his behalf.

The network group is the Business Referral Exchange and the objective is for members to help each other out with tips, leads, recommendations and referrals.

I only do that with people I either know by reputation or do business with.

In Scott's case I have had personal experience of both.

He came to my office, filled in the forms for me over a coffee and within 48 hours the account was opened.
Within the next week, all the paperwork had arrived and I was on my way.
Scott may not be able to visit you but his level of service was superb throughout the process.

The Alliance and Leicester took nearly 4 weeks to sort things out and insisted on asking for paperwork on my company which no longer exists due to the new method of online company formation.
After the 4 weeks, they lost my application and 6 weeks on, I have heard nothing from them. It was when they lost my form at 4 weeks that I gave Scott a call.

Re: Abbey

Are you sure you shold be giving out another persons mobile number here?

Hark I hear SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SP...

or was that the intention.

Seriously I've heard good reports on Abbey, or is SCHAbbey (yes thats the Spanish bit)

Abbey

Abbey offer free banking for life and reasonable interest too.

Talk to Scott Hutchinson at Abbey.
He is superb and I use him myself.
His mobile number is 07903 253333.

Tell him that Paul Murphy passed you his way.
Shame that I get no commission for recommending him

Bank Accounts

Another one to try in Bank of Scotland...part of the Halifax (HBOS) group. They also do free banking within certain limits.

Thanks

Thanks for all of the suggestions. So I am correct that either Carter Allen or A&L are the way to go for flexibility, good interest rate and accessibility (apart from Carter Allen not having internet access)??

Re: OK, fair enough

> plus a decent rate of interest on the savings account that you'll need for putting away all the money you have to earmark for tax

I've used a bank that gave you 2 accounts - 1 without interest and a chequebook and one with interest but no chequebook - it's a PITA constantly moving money around to cover cheques and remembering to transfer income into the "savings account". You're bound to forget sometimes and lose out on the interest.

Cater Allen do a single account that pays interest - so do others. I make about £750 a year interest courtesy of money owed to Gordon Brown plus a bit I leave in anyway.

OK, fair enough

I'm clearly having a Monday moment... :b

However, for £150 a year, I'll stick with the devil I know for a while longer...

HSBC charges

Malvolio -

Yes, I did get a little interest from HSBC but the rate was much lower than I could get elsewhere, so I transferred as much as I could out of the company current account, as soon as possible (usually via salary or dividend payments into a personal account). One of the reasons for switching to A&L was the better interest rates on deposit/savings accounts for the tax money that had to stay in the company. And as Darren quite rightly says, since A&L don't charge, you get to keep ALL the interest there !