rogue accountant

[Joop123]

Hello first time so take it easy on me
I have had the business 2 years now and used an accountant who himself ispart of taxassist accountants.For the past year he has been totally unreliable and in September 09 I informed him that I have moved accountants and if he passed all the relavant info to the new accountant I would pay him the monthly installment.
However it's over 6 weeks now and he hasn't sent anything and if it wasn't for the fact I need the employers pay roll doing then I wouldn't keep intouch.
He never answers/returns the calls and if I email him the employees hours he just sends in the payslips.
I've lost count how many times I have been to his office but he's never there !
Is there anything I can do to force his hand as I'm determined not to pay him for October as I feel he is stringing me along.

thanks for any advice

Joop

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Q1 - Is he actually a qualified accountant. Go dig out some paperwork and tell us what appears after his name - ACA, ACCA, FCA, etc etc etc. And what he signs himself off as (Chartered accountant, certified accountant, etc etc etc).

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Contact the Tax Assist head office - they are a franchise:

http://www.taxassist.co.uk/

I should have thought they would have a complaints procedure in place.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Oh I stand correctly:

Client Complaints
We hope that you will be fully satisfied with the services you receive from your TaxAssist Accountant. However, if you have a complaint regarding one of our TaxAssist Accountants you will need to contact them direct as all of our TaxAssist Accountants are self-employed individuals.
Each TaxAssist Accountant is licensed to use the intellectual property of TaxAssist Direct Ltd and operates as a sole trader in their own right. They are also required to carry their own professional indemnity insurance which is a requirement of being a member of our network and all TaxAssist Accountants are comprehensively trained by us before they commence trading, with continual professional development.
Whilst staff at the Support Centre are happy to listen to any comments you may have regarding your TaxAssist Accountant, we do not have access to, or authorisation over, any individual client records, accounts or monies that are held by a TaxAssist Accountant. You must therefore pursue any grievance you may have with the accountant concerned.
TaxAssist Direct Ltd are full members of the British Franchise Association.



http://www.taxassist.co.uk/customerservices.php

 

[Joop123]

Well the said accountant has I found out been forced out of taxassist for unknown reasons.
At my initial meeting the accountant mentioned he had a degree in accountancy.I will try and dig out any old paperwork but to be honest I can't ever remember him having any letters after his name ?
I have phoned the taxassist office but what Elainec posted was what I was told........
Do I have any legal right if I do get him in his office to hand over the work ?

joop

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hello first time so take it easy on me
I have had the business 2 years now and used an accountant who himself ispart of taxassist accountants.For the past year he has been totally unreliable and in September 09 I informed him that I have moved accountants and if he passed all the relavant info to the new accountant I would pay him the monthly installment.
However it's over 6 weeks now and he hasn't sent anything and if it wasn't for the fact I need the employers pay roll doing then I wouldn't keep intouch.
He never answers/returns the calls and if I email him the employees hours he just sends in the payslips.
I've lost count how many times I have been to his office but he's never there !
Is there anything I can do to force his hand as I'm determined not to pay him for October as I feel he is stringing me along.

thanks for any advice

Joop

I suspect this person isnt actually a qualifed accountant.

A professionally qualified accountant has to ensure their is a continuity of professional cover when a client changes accountants regardless of any issues with fees etc.

It's not an ideal scenario but your new accountant will be able to reconstruct the payroll from your employees payslips - this will incur additional unnecessary time but it can be done.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Odd situation. You'd think that TaxAssist would want to protect their name by having a fallback procedure in this sort of case. Otherwise what is the name actually offering to a client?

 

[Joop123]

Mmmmmmm lesson to be learned, sometimes it pays to pay a bit extra at the start...I will just keep badgering him until he gives in I suppose....Thanks for the replies aswell

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Qualified accountants are bound by the rules of their institute. For example as a Chartered Accountant I have to have a complaints procedure and then if you are not happy you can complain to the ICAEW which then may have an impact on my membership.

Without wishing to open the qualified v non qualified debate this is one area that does benefit the client.

Have you asked you new accountant if they can reconstruct the records?

 

[Joop123]

I think that getting the new accountant to reconstruct will be the best option.Thanks again all.

joop

 

[John Mansley]

The problem is Tax Assist don't have a duty of care to their franchisees' clients and the franchise agreement will be water-tight in this regard.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

The problem is Tax Assist don't have a duty of care to their franchisees' clients and the franchise agreement will be water-tight in this regard.

That should not be a problem if the franchise agreements sets out a code of conduct for the accountants.

I really should have thought that this would have been included to protect the brand name.

As I said before if they were qualified accountants with valid PC then it would not be an issue.

 

[John Mansley]

That should not be a problem if the franchise agreements sets out a code of conduct for the accountants.

I'm sure they'd be able to wriggle out of it and hang the franchisee out to dry in the process!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

I totally agree with you Elaine.

I have made a note that on Monday 30 November 2009 James and I agreed on something

 

[yorkshirejames]

I have made a note that on Monday 30 November 2009 James and I agreed on something

I was also thinking the same. Great minds and all that

Merry Christmas Elaine. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on a variety of topics, but if either of us are anywhere near the same piece of mistletoe I'll give you a big christmas kiss (or maybe not).

Actually I don't think I'll have the time for any christmas socialising due to the new baby (who was one month old on Saturday).

Merry Christmas to everybody.

 

[John Mansley]

But surely such a duty could be construed?

I wouldn't have thought so. The ICAEW sets down a code of conduct to its members and requires requisite training to be undertaken but the ICAEW certainly doesn't have a duty of care to its members' clients.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

if either of us are anywhere near the same piece of mistletoe I'll give you a big christmas kiss

Now steady on, old chap

Seriously - congratulations on the new arrival.

Have a good Christmas and here is hoping we get along well in 2010

For everyone's sake

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

I wouldn't have thought so. The ICAEW sets down a code of conduct to its members and requires requisite training to be undertaken but the ICAEW certainly doesn't have a duty of care to its members' clients.

but it can strike us off if we are naughty!!!!

IMHO the threat of this means that many of us try to keep on the straight and narrow

(well work wise anyway)

 

[John Mansley]

but it can strike us off if we are naughty!!!!

IMHO the threat of this means that many of us try to keep on the straight and narrow

(well work wise anyway)

I was just going to put "Indeed!" but I need to make the message at least 10 characters!

 

[yorkshirejames]

I wouldn't have thought so. The ICAEW sets down a code of conduct to its members and requires requisite training to be undertaken but the ICAEW certainly doesn't have a duty of care to its members' clients.

If you have an issue with a Burger King franchise, would head office be involved at all I wonder? Theres surely something to try to persue.

Thanks Elaine

 

[Stuck]

Hi,

I'm in a worse position. I was recommended an accountant from friends at work. They have worked with him for a number of years and he is well respected. He is very expensive (upwards of £4.2k a year) and I mistook this for quality. He is now not returning any of my calls or emails for weeks after a dispute over pay (his latest invoice completely blew our agreed limits). As he was a recommended from trusted, capable friends, I did not do a review on him before I hired. My mistake! In doing a review now, I find no quals mentioned in writing and his office is in Guernsey (he would come to London to meet). What options do I have to get an accounting body to assist with forcing a response from him or even conducting an impartial review? I have responses owing to HMRC and can not make them accurately myself without the detail he knows.

Many thanks!

 

[Williams lester]

If he is not a member of an accounting body, then they cannot help you.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Nothing can be done by professional bodies other than the one he is a member of and as you say he isn't - closing the door after the horse has bolted I'm afraid.

The thing is now not to ignore the HMRC requests / filing deadlines.

Treat the issue with your current accountant as a separate issue but get a new accountant appointed asap so that you don't find yourself in a mess with the authorities.

£4.2k is high - he must have been doing a lot for you?!

 

[Wild Goose]

You might find an accountant willing to reconstruct your tax affairs (from HMRC's records, eg) and cloing accounts figures even if you owe the previous accountant his fees - esp if your old accountant's a cowboy with no quals.

Try to find one who quotes his fees up-front, or publishes a set price list.

 

[Stuck]

Thanks for the advice all!

I've engaged another accountant and have advised HMRC of my situation.

Thanks!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Try to find one who quotes his fees up-front, or publishes a set price list.

or her fees of course

 

[Williams lester]

Try to find one who quotes his fees up-front, or publishes a set price list.

All the decent ones do that these days!

 

[Wild Goose]

or her fees of course

You keep getting' me on that one Elaine - alright then, his or her fees. Or their fees come to that, in case it's a partnership. Drat, this reminds me of a German lesson; let's conjugate together Elaine: I charge, you charge, he charges, she charges, we charge, they charge. Sehr Gut!

I loved that scene in the "Life of Brian" film where John Cleese is repeatedly heckled by "Reg". Cleese:"..his inalienable right..." (Reg:"or her inalienable right..."). Why the female gender as well as the male? Because Reg wants to be a woman, and exercise his ("or her") inalienable right to have a baby. Great stuff!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

You keep getting' me on that one Elaine - alright then, his or her fees. Or their fees come to that, in case it's a partnership. Drat, this reminds me of a German lesson; let's conjugate together Elaine: I charge, you charge, he charges, she charges, we charge, they charge. Sehr Gut!

I loved that scene in the "Life of Brian" film where John Cleese is repeatedly heckled by "Reg". Cleese:"..his inalienable right..." (Reg:"or her inalienable right..."). Why the female gender as well as the male? Because Reg wants to be a woman, and exercise his ("or her") inalienable right to have a baby. Great stuff!

one day you will get it right

Men just take a little more training on it I suppose

God created the world and one the 7th day she rested

 

[Wild Goose]

God created the world and on the 7th day she rested

I bet she did the hoovering

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

I bet she did the hoovering

whilst the bloke skating on very think ice drowned

 

[mr. mischief]

If God really was a woman:

In the beginning there was darkness. And then God said "Let there be light" and Lo! there was light.

And then God said "Now can I please just have another quick look at that darkness again?"

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

And that is how she created night and day

 

[Wild Goose]

If God really was a woman:

In the beginning there was darkness. And then God said "Let there be light" and Lo! there was light.

And then God said "Now can I please just have another quick look at that darkness again?"

And, Lo, when the light re-appeared the Golden Gates had disappeared!!

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

And, Lo, when the light re-appeared the Golden Gates had disappeared!!

as easy access to heaven is there for all of those who are nice people