Reply to: Dodgy accountant

[lamboman]

Hardly a balanced nor representative view of the situation was it?

As you brought this into a public forum I think I have the right of redress.

You complained that your account manager had not answered your queries, and yet I quite clearly pointed out to you exactly when and how she had replied, and sent you the emails. I also pointed out to you that as you expressly told us you would not accept any telephone calls from us because you were too busy at work it can make communication difficult on some points.

I reiterated the answers to your queries again yesterday and asked whether you now understood, or whether there was anything I could add. You did not acknowledge this, and simply wanted me to give you another accountant, which I did.

Sorry Simon, I thought my message above was positive. Let me make it clear - I asked for another accountant and you have given me one, problem solved and I am *happy* now. Thank you

[Maxamus]

well i hear what you guys are saying but i dont have any of these problems with my accountant.
When i decided to become limited in January, i did some research for possible accountants. I asked a few people who i knew and they gave me some pointers. I ended up going with a firm called ChipChase Manners. They specialise in Tax but do other accounting aswell. They are a leading firm of chartered accountants. My friends business with a turnover of £20million uses them and has used them for over 5years. I decided to send them a few emails to specify they services i was looking for and they timely replied with a detailed reply. I have to say for £750 a year the service they provide is exceptional.

If ever i have a question they always reply with a detailed analysis. I've been with them for over 3 months and i cant complain.
They advice they give is exceptional. My accountant is one of the managers and hes great. He clearly tells me what i can and cannot claim and what sort of divi payments i should be taking.

All advice is dispenced via email because then i can log it, print a hardcopy and save it should the taxman come calling and they are aware of this.

Shame some of you guys are getting caught in the trap. Like some one once said; "All you need in life is a good doctor and a good accountant"

[MarillionFan]

SJD. Shame on you again for poor service and ignoring customers.

[simondolan]

Hardly a balanced nor representative view of the situation was it?

As you brought this into a public forum I think I have the right of redress.

You complained that your account manager had not answered your queries, and yet I quite clearly pointed out to you exactly when and how she had replied, and sent you the emails. I also pointed out to you that as you expressly told us you would not accept any telephone calls from us because you were too busy at work it can make communication difficult on some points.

I reiterated the answers to your queries again yesterday and asked whether you now understood, or whether there was anything I could add. You did not acknowledge this, and simply wanted me to give you another accountant, which I did.

OK here's an update as promised:

Simon has kindly put me in touch with another accountant at SJD who will be managing my account.

I will continue to use SJD and hope that everything will go smoothly from now on.

Thanks

[lamboman]

OK here's an update as promised:

Simon has kindly put me in touch with another accountant at SJD who will be managing my account.

I will continue to use SJD and hope that everything will go smoothly from now on.

Thanks

[portseven]

I am currently in the process of finalising my accountant between SJD & Nixon Williams

Not that it's any help but I had a similar response to a similar question from Nixon a few years ago when I was with them. Maybe I got them on busy days....

I am going Ltd again later this year and I am under orders from the Mrs not to use Nixon.

[lamboman]

Lamboman/Simon

It's all gone a bit quiet. Can we assume that Lamboman was a figment of someone's imagination?

No, I am real. I am in communication with Simon right now but I do not have a positive outcome as yet.

[THEPUMA]

Lamboman/Simon

It's all gone a bit quiet. Can we assume that Lamboman was a figment of someone's imagination?

[MarillionFan]

If it's Highfield Strand. It's because they can't be arsed to do a proper job.

[malvolio]

Hi lamboman,

It would be great if you can post the outcome of your conversation with [email protected]. I am currently in the process of finalising my accountant between SJD & Nixon Williams, I wanted to be sure I am joining the right people.

It will be really helpful if you can post the outcome in the forum.

Cheers

He won't, 1 gets you 10 he's not a real person with a real question...

[lamboman]

I am sending Simon an email now and will keep this post updated.

My colleagues use other accountants at SJD and don't seem to be having any problems, so do not take this as an overall opinion of SJD just yet!

Thanks

[ASB]

what's wrong with this ? My accountant also advises me to charge about one third rent for home office. Is that wrong ?

Charging rent of itself may or may not be a problem depending on the views of your accountant and the circumstance.

But, I was referring to the rent a room schme. This is a system where you make up to about 3600 a year in rental income on your property without declaring to the tax man. You can't claim any other expenses. Unfortunaltey this is only valid in a residential scenario (which accountant 2 had failed to realise).

Generally there is likely to be little use claiming rent from your company for the use of a home office because:-

a) It reduces the company profit and saves tax at 19%
b) It increases your schedule A income by the same amount and is taxed at either 22 or 40%.

In the case of a rented property I think it would be different.

[itcontractor07]

Hi lamboman,

It would be great if you can post the outcome of your conversation with [email protected]. I am currently in the process of finalising my accountant between SJD & Nixon Williams, I wanted to be sure I am joining the right people.

It will be really helpful if you can post the outcome in the forum.

Cheers

[andy]

Second big knock was when my next accountants had me claiming the rent a room scheme for the company office - recommended in writing. Nice wheeze, I thought. Can't remember how much that incident cost in penalties and interest but it wasn't a small sum to me. The complaint went nowhere.

what's wrong with this ? My accountant also advises me to charge about one third rent for home office. Is that wrong ?

[simondolan]

Thanks for your responses.

I have basic knowledge of accounting, but just want my accountant to *confirm* how much I can take out of my account and how much I should leave in it for paying my taxes.

This is not a difficult question, and given my accountant is SJD they have more than enough details given their wonderful spreadsheet!

Do I have to pay more than £99.88 a month to get some basic advice?

OK, assuming you are a genuine poster and not one of the usual competitors trying to put the boot in, then please email me directly simonatsjdaccountancy.com

I do find this a little odd to say the least though as we do these calculations as a matter of course for our 4000+ clients.