Would you teach your clients accountancy?

[Madeleine II]

Hello,

I have a client who asks so many questions that I'm assuming she's trying to learn accountancy from me in order to do her own accounts.

She's asked for yet another meeting to 'clarify a few points about the computation and how the form is completed.'

She's a very intelligent woman and I can't see that it's idle curiosity.

Apart from being really annoying, I'm talking myself out of a job.

What do you do in these circumstances?

Do you simply spend the time with them to go through the whys and wherefores of everything from the relevant tax rules and computations to completing the Tax Returns?

Tell me I'm being mean spirited and I'll reveal all to her! (Not that it'll help because her circumstances will change each year but she won't know what she doesn't know).

Thanks.

Madeleine

 

[SteveHa]

I tell my clients what they need to know. It's not my place to explain 19,500 pages of tax code to them.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Believe it or not, it can often help you to teach clients how things work. They think they can DIY it until they realise their time is better spent running their business.

With regards to time, I’d politely but firmly draw a line in the sand based on time spent. Assuming you are fixed fee, point out what that fee covers, and that you will need to make additional charges for Work (including education) over and above that.

 

[Blaby Loyal]

This

"With regards to time, I’d politely but firmly draw a line in the sand based on time spent. Assuming you are fixed fee, point out what that fee covers, and that you will need to make additional charges for Work (including education) over and above that."

 

[estwig]

I get this quite a lot, I do plans for loft conversions and house extensions, DIY'ers ask lots of questions.

If I feel the questions are getting too much, especially if they want to see me. I politely explain that whilst I am here to help and assist in anyway I can, teaching someone how to do a loft conversion, is not a service I offer.

 

[Madeleine II]

Thanks for your replies everyone that's really helpful. I appreciate your time.

 

[HazelC]

This

"With regards to time, I’d politely but firmly draw a line in the sand based on time spent. Assuming you are fixed fee, point out what that fee covers, and that you will need to make additional charges for Work (including education) over and above that."

full agreement!

 

[ffox]

She's asked for yet another meeting to 'clarify a few points about the computation and how the form is completed.'

My clients are generally overseas, or at least many miles from my base, so I always do meetings via Skype.
I usually configure Office 365, Dynamics 365 or Office automation using VBA and clients often wants to know how processes are done.
I always provide a detailed job specification and if they want extras I simply say that the request is not within the scope of the current project.

 

[Madeleine II]

Excellent thank you. I don't feel so mean now! Your replies are much appreciated.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

I charge £50 per hour or part of for accounting advise over and above the charge for doing the contracted work. Thats what I would say. set whatever number you want

 

[estwig]

I charge £50 per hour or part of for accounting advise over and above the charge for doing the contracted work. Thats what I would say. set whatever number you want

I've tried that and it don't half p*ss people off. The response is usually along the lines of, 'you said you would help and answer questions, why have I now got to pay you to answer questions?'

Explaining there is a fine line between teaching and helping and teaching isn't a service you offer, goes down a lot better with the punters, they are more inclined to accept it, plus they leave you alone after that.

 

[Gecko001]

Quite simply it demands skill to deal with such customers who do not respect your boundaries. Once they start to step over your boundaries, try lowering you voice slightly, and giving shorter answers. Act almost like you have an important meeting with the bathroom. They eventually will get the message without causing offence to them.

With the more difficult clients you might have to put some sort of protocol in place with other staff to give you some excuse to get away from them without causing offense.

 

[Madeleine II]

Some excellent ideas. I'll try them out and see which works for me. Thank you!

 

[Lisa Thomas]

Tell her you will have to start charging for you time. ...

 

[Stephen @ SO FM Ltd]

Believe it or not, it can often help you to teach clients how things work. They think they can DIY it until they realise their time is better spent running their business.

With regards to time, I’d politely but firmly draw a line in the sand based on time spent. Assuming you are fixed fee, point out what that fee covers, and that you will need to make additional charges for Work (including education) over and above that.

Great advice which I would agree with.

 

[Madeleine II]

Thanks very much. Your answers have been very helpful.

 

[The Byre]

Point your client to the relevant on-line explanations such as Wikipedia and tell them that tax law is just to complex for over-the-phone explanations.

Learning how to do the books and understand the basic principles is part and parcel of running a business and there are plenty of courses available.

If a person does not understand the basics of how to run a business (and the principles of accounts and taxation definitely belong under the general heading of 'The Basics') then (IMO) they might like to find something else to do.

 

[Pish_Pash]

I have a client who asks so many questions that I'm assuming she's trying to learn accountancy from me in order to do her own accounts.

I just use these forums (hehe you can't beat baiting the odd accountant once in a while ;-) )

 

[Stephen @ SO FM Ltd]

If you are not interested in a certificate you could try a number of free sites providing advice on management issues, all of which I would recommend. They are:

https://www.12manage.com (This provides a wealth of information - it can be a bit 'academic'.)

https://www.businessballs.com (Huge range of material business and management - good start point.)

https://www.mindtools.com (For management, leadership and personal 'effectiveness' skills.)

Hope these are of some assistance - I would suggest that they are worth bookmarking for future reference/use.

 

[Madeleine II]

Thanks again to you all for your help. I managed to have the meeting getting her to accept that she would have to trust me on certain things.