Reply to: Accountants

[Iron Condor]

I really have had bad experiences with accountants since I've been contracting. I'm currently on my 3rd (and worst) and am going to move yet again. I've been paying £145 / month for his services (company accounts, advice etc) & given the crap service I've been getting I feel this is way over the top. When I say crap service I mean everything being done at the 11th hour, taking weeks to reply to emails etc etc.

Anyone any idea how much I should be paying? I also need them to run a payroll for me as well as my monthly accounts as I've given up on IR35 proof contracts & am just bunging money into a pension instead. Any advice would be most welcome.

My accountant charges me 300+VAT a year to do my company accounts+corp tax return.

VAT i do myself.
I dont operate PAYE. Saves so much paperwork.
I do my own self assemement at the end of the year.

£145 a month is high end although some accountants have been known to take even more piss and charge 3K a year.

As for him doing everything at the last minute, i would guess that is because you leave everything to the last minute too.

Before i took this cheap option, i used to use SJD the were about 100 a month + VAT. I never had any issues with them. Found them ok for Payroll.

[THEPUMA]

Is it just me who thinks this board is becoming a marketing platform for accountants, rather than a space for contractors to share their 'customer experience' of them?

They are either posting to apologise for crap service and offering to put it right or they are posting to state what they do for what monthly price.

Get's reet on my tits it does...

You've got to get the balance right. I think for accountants to want to post here, it needs to be worth their while ie generate a reasonable level of new clients for them. Probably the best way to acheive this is by being helpful and demonstrating your expertise rather than outright asking for new business.

I think Upton and NW seem to have got the balance about right as they answer queries nicely, charge a modest fee and I should imagine pick up piles of new business.

For me it didn't work (ie the amount of time spent posting was disproportionate to the amount of new business won) so I rarely post any more.

PUMA

[ratewhore]

My observation remains that you slag off everyone but Uptons.

Bore off? What are you, 12? Or is this some other group think whine?

Group think whine? wtf are you on?

Next time, make sure you're observations are based on fact.

[oracleslave]

I'll have to disagree with you there. I don't slag everyone off except uptons. I am a customer of theirs and their service is good, so I will recommend them. I have experience of 2 other accountants, ITAccounting and SJD. In my opinion their service was crap, so I won't recommend them. This is the feedback I give when someone asks.

Now bore off...

My observation remains that you slag off everyone but Uptons.

Bore off? What are you, 12? Or is this some other group think whine?

[ratewhore]

Are you on an Upton's referral fee scheme? You slag off everyone but them.

I'll have to disagree with you there. I don't slag everyone off except uptons. I am a customer of theirs and their service is good, so I will recommend them. I have experience of 2 other accountants, ITAccounting and SJD. In my opinion their service was crap, so I won't recommend them. This is the feedback I give when someone asks.

Now bore off...

[oracleslave]

Is it just me who thinks this board is becoming a marketing platform for accountants, rather than a space for contractors to share their 'customer experience' of them?

They are either posting to apologise for crap service and offering to put it right or they are posting to state what they do for what monthly price.

Get's reet on my tits it does...

Are you on an Upton's referral fee scheme? You slag off everyone but them.

[Sally BFCA]

Not aimed at you specifically, it's more a general observation. The most ironic part is where a contractor posts they have had bad service and then their accountant jumps in straight away with a 'phone me, I'll sort it out' post. I see that as a poor attempt at solving an issue which should have been put to bed directly.

On the other hand, there are posters who post a complaint 'without' going to their accountant first. Poor form on the poster...

In my case (non office based) I deal with new clients and takeovers. For the marketing side of the business I keep tabs on the forums, as I find many useful posts giving me ideas of "what contractors want to know" so that I can put an article on the subject on our website so our clients don't need to ask the same questions.

If there is a problem with a client on here, I feel it only right to respond.

[ratewhore]

Sorry you feel this way. If the posts you are referring to were BFCA last week, that is because it is impossible to identify a client from their user name in the forum...

If they don't contact me personally, it would be rude not to reply to the thread in here, thus ignoring them.

Point taken though, thank you.

Not aimed at you specifically, it's more a general observation. The most ironic part is where a contractor posts they have had bad service and then their accountant jumps in straight away with a 'phone me, I'll sort it out' post. I see that as a poor attempt at solving an issue which should have been put to bed directly.

On the other hand, there are posters who post a complaint 'without' going to their accountant first. Poor form on the poster...

[Sally BFCA]

Is it just me who thinks this board is becoming a marketing platform for accountants, rather than a space for contractors to share their 'customer experience' of them?

They are either posting to apologise for crap service and offering to put it right or they are posting to state what they do for what monthly price.

Get's reet on my tits it does...

Sorry you feel this way. If the posts you are referring to were BFCA last week, that is because it is impossible to identify a client from their user name in the forum...

If they don't contact me personally, it would be rude not to reply to the thread in here, thus ignoring them.

Point taken though, thank you.

[ratewhore]

It's probably you he's complaining about.

BTW the other accountants are much better than spamming than you are. They actually answer question asked in detail before suggesting the OP sents them a PM.

Is it just me who thinks this board is becoming a marketing platform for accountants, rather than a space for contractors to share their 'customer experience' of them?

They are either posting to apologise for crap service and offering to put it right or they are posting to state what they do for what monthly price.

Get's reet on my tits it does...

[SueEllen]

Hi Wurzel

We offer a complete package and specialise in contractors. More than happy to give you advice. Feel free to PM/call me 0500 152 500.

Jaime

It's probably you he's complaining about.

BTW the other accountants are much better than spamming than you are. They actually answer question asked in detail before suggesting the OP sents them a PM.

[Jaimesjdaccountancy]

I really have had bad experiences with accountants since I've been contracting. I'm currently on my 3rd (and worst) and am going to move yet again. I've been paying £145 / month for his services (company accounts, advice etc) & given the crap service I've been getting I feel this is way over the top. When I say crap service I mean everything being done at the 11th hour, taking weeks to reply to emails etc etc.

Anyone any idea how much I should be paying? I also need them to run a payroll for me as well as my monthly accounts as I've given up on IR35 proof contracts & am just bunging money into a pension instead. Any advice would be most welcome.

Hi Wurzel

We offer a complete package and specialise in contractors. More than happy to give you advice. Feel free to PM/call me 0500 152 500.

Jaime

[wurzel]

No one can help you unless you indicate what kind of service you expect, and how many directors and employers are on your company.

Just myself. Want a monthly payroll + my co accounts + all related paperwork handled

Can you name who you have been using?

Will do once I've wrapped it up. The guy is ex - HMRC & I'm a little apprehensive of rubbing him up the wrong way.

[diesel]

I really have had bad experiences with accountants since I've been contracting. I'm currently on my 3rd (and worst) and am going to move yet again. I've been paying £145 / month for his services (company accounts, advice etc) & given the crap service I've been getting I feel this is way over the top. When I say crap service I mean everything being done at the 11th hour, taking weeks to reply to emails etc etc.

Anyone any idea how much I should be paying? I also need them to run a payroll for me as well as my monthly accounts as I've given up on IR35 proof contracts & am just bunging money into a pension instead. Any advice would be most welcome.

Can you name who you have been using?

[SueEllen]

No one can help you unless you indicate what kind of service you expect, and how many directors and employers are on your company.