• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Collapse

You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

  • You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
  • You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
  • If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

Previously on "1stcontact and HELP??"

Collapse

  • cojak
    replied
    ...says sentinel

    otherwise known as Mr R&R Business Solutions...

    "They don't have a website" but they do have a domain, which means they've been in business for all of 3 - 4 weeks?

    Leave a comment:


  • sentinel
    replied
    Dear Spearfish,

    Due to recent change in legislation targetting MSC, not advisable to use MSC service providers . They may re-package their products but they cannot escape the special attention of HMRC.

    The legislation gives exclusion to accountants providing accountancy services in a professional capacity. The best solution is to obtain the services of an accountancy firm. Go for a small one ( which may be so small and doesn't charge VAT on their fees) so that you will get the personal service from the accountant. This way you will not run into the same communication problems you are facing with your present service provider.

    My friends and I use R&R Business Solutions who only charge £15 per week ( weekly interest-free payment for the annual charge of £780) to include all compliance with HMRC personal and company and payroll and Companies House. They dont have a website but you can contact them at rnr@rnraccountancy.co.uk




    Originally posted by spearfish
    Hi everyone.

    I've been using 1stcontact (operating a Ltd company but using their MSC servics for a while now and due to the recent changes they have totally changed their structure.

    What is annoying is that the communication between themselves and me their customer is totally rubbish. I don't even know where I stand. I've had to ring them about 20 times to get info out of them.

    Anyway, they have decided to change their structure and provide more traditional accounting services to us clients now. But still I'm not really sure what they'll be doing and what I'll have to do.

    Below is an extraction from their website of their new fee structure...

    Service Annual Fee*
    Ongoing Compliance Pack £700
    Includes:

    Company Formations
    Online Bookkeeping
    VAT Pack
    Salary Compliance
    Tax Helpline
    Total Value £1100 if taken separately
    (Flexible payment options available)

    Salary Compliance Pack £200
    Includes:

    NI/PAYE Calculation & advice
    Quarterly Salary Health Check
    Total Value £240 if taken separately
    Year End Returns Pack £200
    Includes:
    Completion of P35
    Completion of P11d & P14
    Total Value £240 if taken separately

    Year End Compliance Pack £250
    Includes:

    End Year Returns Pack
    Personal Tax Return
    Total Value £350 if taken separately


    Now, i've been on the phone to a couple of accountants and they can basically offer everything for between £60-100 ex VAT.

    Should I stick with 1stcontact or go someone else?

    Is anyone here continuing to use 1stcontact?

    Also, their expense system has stumped me.. I will admit that I am a bit naive when it comes to accounting, but they have a system that any company expenses are payed by your personal account, then you submit an expense claim and only receive 20% of the total expense back in salary!!!

    HELP!!!

    Leave a comment:


  • spearfish
    replied
    Originally posted by dmini
    That is a monthly rate though Multiply by 12 to comapre with your other figures!


    You shouldn't recieve any expenses as salary. Expenses, genuinely occurring should be paid as expenses

    To add my two pennorth to the above comments GET OUT OF THEIR SETUP!!
    You are wide open under the new legislation. Ex MSCs are high up the hit list - which is why the likes of Giant etc got out.

    You will have to pay some costs to move, to the new company, but then you won't be paying through the nose to 1st contact.
    Yes, I understand.

    total costs will be £720 per annum + VAT with new company.

    1stcontact want £700 for a basic package, + £250 for something else and another £450-750 for year end stuff. I told them to blow a dead goat.
    And this isn't MSC type stuff, just standard accounting services.

    Their phones have been jammed for 3 weeks now and sick of their lies. They said they only found out about the new changes 1 week before financial year!!! Pitty other companies knew well in advance and prepared.

    As I said, waiting for my year end accounts to be done (end of April) and then will switch.

    Leave a comment:


  • dmini
    replied
    Originally posted by spearfish

    Now, i've been on the phone to a couple of accountants and they can basically offer everything for between £60-100 ex VAT.
    That is a monthly rate though Multiply by 12 to comapre with your other figures!
    Originally posted by spearfish
    Also, their expense system has stumped me.. I will admit that I am a bit naive when it comes to accounting, but they have a system that any company expenses are payed by your personal account, then you submit an expense claim and only receive 20% of the total expense back in salary!!!
    You shouldn't recieve any expenses as salary. Expenses, genuinely occurring should be paid as expenses

    To add my two pennorth to the above comments GET OUT OF THEIR SETUP!!
    You are wide open under the new legislation. Ex MSCs are high up the hit list - which is why the likes of Giant etc got out.

    You will have to pay some costs to move, to the new company, but then you won't be paying through the nose to 1st contact.

    Leave a comment:


  • shane101
    replied
    Hi all

    First off: Spearfish, I'm not trying to hi-jack your thread, I think this is related and might help you too

    I'm currently with 1st Contact and getting very frustrated with them. I'm not an accountant and want something basic where all I really need to do is put in my invoices each week, like my 1st Contact SMC company used to be. Would I take a big knock in take home pay if I went with an umbrella company instead? I've heard Giant spoken of quite highly, anyone have any experience with them? I'll probably only work a total of 6 months in the UK before I head home to South Africa in November or December. My work so far has been very sporadic, generally a couple of weeks here and there, I've finally got a decent length contract, 2 months, but no telling what will happen after that. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Shane.

    Leave a comment:


  • PAG
    replied
    If you are forming a new company then you can start trading immediately via new company, just get your agency to redraw the contracts with new company.

    Let whoever you are with settle books in their own time.

    Leave a comment:


  • spearfish
    replied
    thanks for the feedback

    1stcontacts service over the past couple months has been very poor. I've decided to go elsewhere.

    BUT. I have to wait until my company year end and wait till 1stcontact fix up my books so I can pass them off to the new accountants. Otherwise I'll have to pay up for it..

    Does this sound right?
    I've been speaking to SJD, Nixon..etc..

    Leave a comment:


  • Mr Pancamo
    replied
    I would stay well away from 1stContact...I used to be with them, and they are not worth the service they provide.

    IMO, get yourself a decent account and handle your business account yourself..

    Leave a comment:


  • bangface
    replied
    Originally posted by spearfish
    Hi everyone.

    I've been using 1stcontact (operating a Ltd company but using their MSC servics for a while now and due to the recent changes they have totally changed their structure.

    What is annoying is that the communication between themselves and me their customer is totally rubbish. I don't even know where I stand. I've had to ring them about 20 times to get info out of them.

    Anyway, they have decided to change their structure and provide more traditional accounting services to us clients now. But still I'm not really sure what they'll be doing and what I'll have to do.

    Below is an extraction from their website of their new fee structure...

    Service Annual Fee*
    Ongoing Compliance Pack £700
    Includes:

    Company Formations
    Online Bookkeeping
    VAT Pack
    Salary Compliance
    Tax Helpline
    Total Value £1100 if taken separately
    (Flexible payment options available)

    Salary Compliance Pack £200
    Includes:

    NI/PAYE Calculation & advice
    Quarterly Salary Health Check
    Total Value £240 if taken separately
    Year End Returns Pack £200
    Includes:
    Completion of P35
    Completion of P11d & P14
    Total Value £240 if taken separately

    Year End Compliance Pack £250
    Includes:

    End Year Returns Pack
    Personal Tax Return
    Total Value £350 if taken separately


    Now, i've been on the phone to a couple of accountants and they can basically offer everything for between £60-100 ex VAT.

    Should I stick with 1stcontact or go someone else?

    Is anyone here continuing to use 1stcontact?

    Also, their expense system has stumped me.. I will admit that I am a bit naive when it comes to accounting, but they have a system that any company expenses are payed by your personal account, then you submit an expense claim and only receive 20% of the total expense back in salary!!!

    HELP!!!
    Ditch the MSC and either handle the Limited Company admin yourself or Go Umbrella

    Leave a comment:


  • The Lone Gunman
    replied
    I am in a generous mood this morning so I wont repeat what socky said, though he is correct.


    MSCs will be targeted. Former MSCs may well be targeted more. Staying with them exposes you. The difference in the package does not seem much different to what thye were doing as an MSC so HMRC may well say they are still an MSC.
    Do you follow?

    They seem a little expensive.

    You own the Ltd. You make the decisions.

    PM our tame Accountants:
    User names
    Darren@1stAccountancy (now Upton).
    Simon@SJD.
    Nixon Williams.
    The Puma.

    They will tell you what thye offer and how much they charge. Be wary of any who tell you the others are rubbish.

    Leave a comment:


  • Burdock
    replied
    I think Sockpuppet is suggesting that you leave 1st Contact, and run your own limited company with the help of a bona fide firm of accountants...as per the general gist of advice on this forum!

    Leave a comment:


  • spearfish
    replied
    i've searched about 1stcontact... not much info and they are old posts..

    sorry...

    Leave a comment:


  • Sockpuppet
    replied
    For ****s Sake Do A ****ing Search You Lazy Person

    Edit: Edited...having a bad day.

    Leave a comment:


  • spearfish
    started a topic 1stcontact and HELP??

    1stcontact and HELP??

    Hi everyone.

    I've been using 1stcontact (operating a Ltd company but using their MSC servics for a while now and due to the recent changes they have totally changed their structure.

    What is annoying is that the communication between themselves and me their customer is totally rubbish. I don't even know where I stand. I've had to ring them about 20 times to get info out of them.

    Anyway, they have decided to change their structure and provide more traditional accounting services to us clients now. But still I'm not really sure what they'll be doing and what I'll have to do.

    Below is an extraction from their website of their new fee structure...

    Service Annual Fee*
    Ongoing Compliance Pack £700
    Includes:

    Company Formations
    Online Bookkeeping
    VAT Pack
    Salary Compliance
    Tax Helpline
    Total Value £1100 if taken separately
    (Flexible payment options available)

    Salary Compliance Pack £200
    Includes:

    NI/PAYE Calculation & advice
    Quarterly Salary Health Check
    Total Value £240 if taken separately
    Year End Returns Pack £200
    Includes:
    Completion of P35
    Completion of P11d & P14
    Total Value £240 if taken separately

    Year End Compliance Pack £250
    Includes:

    End Year Returns Pack
    Personal Tax Return
    Total Value £350 if taken separately


    Now, i've been on the phone to a couple of accountants and they can basically offer everything for between £60-100 ex VAT.

    Should I stick with 1stcontact or go someone else?

    Is anyone here continuing to use 1stcontact?

    Also, their expense system has stumped me.. I will admit that I am a bit naive when it comes to accounting, but they have a system that any company expenses are payed by your personal account, then you submit an expense claim and only receive 20% of the total expense back in salary!!!

    HELP!!!
Working...
X