Reply to: Parting company with accountant.

[hgllgh]

I am also with a smallish firm that targets the contractor market (I joined on a recommendation from two contractors whoose opinion I trust) - and I am having trouble getting e-mails answered. Judging form most stuff on here, it looks like it probably isn't worth moving.

Needless to say, there was plenty of advice and help promised before I joined up - and to be fair, they did a quick and effective job of registering my ltd. Since then, though they have been rather average.

What is it about e-mails - are they just scared of putting stuff in writin g like lawyers?

It's ridiculous ... if you pay someone for on ongoing service you should expect swift answers to your emails .. period

[FiveTimes]

I am also with a smallish firm that targets the contractor market (I joined on a recommendation from two contractors whoose opinion I trust) - and I am having trouble getting e-mails answered. Judging form most stuff on here, it looks like it probably isn't worth moving.

Needless to say, there was plenty of advice and help promised before I joined up - and to be fair, they did a quick and effective job of registering my ltd. Since then, though they have been rather average.

What is it about e-mails - are they just scared of putting stuff in writin g like lawyers?

I've noticed that. I now call them instead of emailing and get a better/swifter response.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

I am also with a smallish firm that targets the contractor market (I joined on a recommendation from two contractors whoose opinion I trust) - and I am having trouble getting e-mails answered. Judging form most stuff on here, it looks like it probably isn't worth moving.

Needless to say, there was plenty of advice and help promised before I joined up - and to be fair, they did a quick and effective job of registering my ltd. Since then, though they have been rather average.

What is it about e-mails - are they just scared of putting stuff in writin g like lawyers?

[Fred Bloggs]

I pay everything myself electronically. I always calculate my own figures except for corporation tax, though I suppose I could do that myself. That way I just use the accountants figures as a check on my fogures before I actually pay. I have avoided being late with any payment for the best part of 5 years that way. I have found errors in NI, Income Tax and VAT but each time I've manged to get a correct figure within 24 hours of pointing out a possible error. So that's the upside. The downside is that the errors happen at all and the potential hassle factor that would be caused by making an incorrect payment. I just don't need that kind of hassle hence operating the way I do. Everything is cross checked to a penny.

FWIW my accountant has not been mentioned in this thread and as far as I know they do not have a presence here. But they are well known in the contractor world and they target that as a primary client base.

[hgllgh]

I was with PlanIT but got completely pissed off when sending them emails and getting completely ignored. I mean. I'm paying them £90 - £100 a month and have had to chase up practically every email I have ever sent them. Shocking

I also found it awkward having send stuff in quarterly and wait for everything to come back in the post before doing my VAT return and PAYE payment which meant I was late on a number of occassions, although this wasn't necessarily their fault. I have registered to submit VAT and PAYE online, but will have an accountant do my CT and CH returns.

[Epiphone]

If you are all having problems with the same one then it would be good to know which one that is.

Agreed. But I think I can guess anyway.

[r0bly0ns]

It would be helpful to know which of the main ones you are all with, just saying "I am with one of the main ones and they are not good" doesn't realy help.

It could mean that each of you is having problems with a different accountant, or that you are all having problems with the same accountant.


If you are all having problems with the same one then it would be good to know which one that is.

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm with one of them and I'm moving away. No helpful advice (just a link to the PCG Guide to Freelancing), guidance that differs wildly from what gets suggested on here, I get asked my opinion on tax matters when I'm expecting to be told, and stuff not being filed on time. It's the last one that was the last straw.

Seems that this experience is pretty typical then. I'm not surprised.

[BrowneIssue]

I agree with that. Why bother with the risk. Go with Nixon Williams, SJD, Upton or any other recommended accountant.

I'm with one of them and I'm moving away. No helpful advice (just a link to the PCG Guide to Freelancing), guidance that differs wildly from what gets suggested on here, I get asked my opinion on tax matters when I'm expecting to be told, and stuff not being filed on time. It's the last one that was the last straw.

[FiveTimes]

That pretty much acuratey reflects my experience. On average there is one mistake a year, all caught by myself since I use their calculation to merely cross check my calculations. I run everything myself on spreadsheets updated weekly. The "sausage machine" firm that I use has just jacked up their monthly rates again so it might be time for me to look around again. If I move it will be to a local high street practise that I have spoken to a year or so ago and who charge the same as the sausage machine practise.

I don't use any of the big uns banded around here, I went for a local accountancy firm, then got annoyed and have found another local'ish one who is going to save the company anywhere between 400-650 year.

[Fred Bloggs]

Not always true...I am with a well known accouting firm who frequents this forums and get a pretty much standard sausage machine service which is good in some terms,But again they messed with some of my calculations and I am seriously contemplating changing to a more personal accountant...

That pretty much acuratey reflects my experience. On average there is one mistake a year, all caught by myself since I use their calculation to merely cross check my calculations. I run everything myself on spreadsheets updated weekly. The "sausage machine" firm that I use has just jacked up their monthly rates again so it might be time for me to look around again. If I move it will be to a local high street practise that I have spoken to a year or so ago and who charge the same as the sausage machine practise.

I agree with that. Why bother with the risk. Go with Nixon Williams, SJD, Upton or any other recommended accountant.

Not always true...I am with a well known accouting firm who frequents this forums and get a pretty much standard sausage machine service which is good in some terms,But again they messed with some of my calculations and I am seriously contemplating changing to a more personal accountant...

[VinnyB]

I would switch at the end of your company trading year. That way it should be pretty painless I believe.

I'm looking to switch and was advised that after Year End is best, followed by
anytime up to approx two months before year end as the transfer could be more complicated.

[Fred Bloggs]

My take on this is that one day there will be a big test case over the MSC legislation. HMRC are going to look very carefully at the ex-MSC providers and select the one with the weakest defence and the biggest potential gain should their assault be successful. The big win for them in an MSC case is that ALL contractors operating under the MSc company will be caught. Potentially that's 000's of contractors. Contrast that to an IR35 case where each contract at each Ltd contracting company is assessed. My longest contract to date is 10 months. My potential losses under any IR35 investigation therefore are limited. Go with an ex-MSc provider and you have lost a lot of the control over your destiny or liability. That's my take on it. others will have different views ofcourse. I'd avoid them at all costs myself.

[Lewis]

I'm sure I remember reading that an MSC attempting to re-invent itself would still be viewed as an MSC in Hector's eyes. Go with an accountancy firm who's principle business has always been accountancy.

I agree with that. Why bother with the risk. Go with Nixon Williams, SJD, Upton or any other recommended accountant.