Poor Accountants

[Flubster]

We did once actually. It was over a bill for £75.00 and after a three month investigation and about 26 hours in our time spent on it we were not found to be at fault.

So, the story does at least highlight that the Institutes do take complaints seriously!

I hope you charged the appropriate person your time for the 26 hours investigation...otherwise surely it would have made sense to cut your losses and paid the £75? Unless of course you gave this to a graduate as on the OTJ training experience...

[simondolan]

I'm surprised you know this, Simon. SJD surely have no experience of this type of thing happening to them...

We did once actually. It was over a bill for £75.00 and after a three month investigation and about 26 hours in our time spent on it we were not found to be at fault.

So, the story does at least highlight that the Institutes do take complaints seriously!

[xoggoth]

Most accountants are crap.

[milanbenes]

MF you do get in some funny situations

Milan.

[Flubster]

If they are qualified you can complain to their governing body usually ACA, ACCA or CTA. The threat of this should be enough to make them get their fingers out.

I'm surprised you know this, Simon. SJD surely have no experience of this type of thing happening to them...

[simondolan]

Right, what do you do when your accountant takes over five months to do your accounts(2005-already late), takes months to do your self assessment forms. You have to chase up, leave messages and you dont get replies, they dont reply to letters. If you do get someone they say someone will ring you back, or it will be done in a weeks time(a month later it still hasnt been done)

In short, they ignore you and leave you high and dry.

In the meantime, I keep getting chased by HM Customs, being sent fines.

I have instructed a new accoutnant, but they have ignored his letter to handover the documents.

I;ll pay the final bill, when they actually file my return!!!

So what do you do? Is there an ombudsman you can complain to, can I threaten legal action?

If they are qualified you can complain to their governing body usually ACA, ACCA or CTA. The threat of this should be enough to make them get their fingers out.

[AtW]

It certainly makes them liable for your losses - you should be able to successfully pursue them in court, probably small claims which makes things easy - I'd send final warning with special delivery so that it was proven it was received, and then (if no action taken) file the case.

[MarillionFan]

Right, what do you do when your accountant takes over five months to do your accounts(2005-already late), takes months to do your self assessment forms. You have to chase up, leave messages and you dont get replies, they dont reply to letters. If you do get someone they say someone will ring you back, or it will be done in a weeks time(a month later it still hasnt been done)

In short, they ignore you and leave you high and dry.

In the meantime, I keep getting chased by HM Customs, being sent fines.

I have instructed a new accoutnant, but they have ignored his letter to handover the documents.

I;ll pay the final bill, when they actually file my return!!!

So what do you do? Is there an ombudsman you can complain to, can I threaten legal action?