your right, excellent answer there that cannot in any way be misconstrued.
there's nothing worse than a mate down the pub for giving you completely the wrong information.
I've had cases before where I've virtually had to be banging the head of my client off the desk because I'm told "Well, my mate can claim that" or "But my mate said that I wouldn't have to pay any tax".
Glad you did the right thing. Didn't believe them and asked on here.
All the best,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Spare me from the client who would rather trake advice from a his bricklayer mate about matters of accounts than from his bookkeeper/accountant. The number of times I've had 'my mate down the pub reckons a good accountant would get you off paying any tax' or 'my mate does exactly the same as me but he pays less than half the tax I pay'!! Grrr!!
Don't you just love those potential clients, not. I have had some interesting chats with a few similar people and guess what I didn't get to do their books. Am I disappointed, certainly not.
I've managed to get the books from some of these people but they then disappear after a year or so. A few years back I managed to secure the accounts for about twenty subbies when their 'accountant' died. I have lost just about everyone of those as the previous accountant was putting all manner of things in. There would be a subbie with around £15k turnover and the profit would be around £5k and they were so used to getting big refunds that I was soon out of the picture with quite a few refusing to pay me because 'you don't know what you're doing'! Now I admit that sentiment may be correct but I knew a fair bit more than the previous one! Funnily enough the only one of the clients that I have retained is the widower of the accountant who is also a builder. He comes round just after the start of the year, pays me before I have even started the job and never grumbles about his tax!
I am constantly amazed as to how accountants and their clients think they can get away with things, especially when most if not all of the contributors on this forum make sure that we get everything spot on and ask when we are not sure.
It is good to hear that there are still good clients out there, how did you get him to pay you before you have started the job, that is impressive.
There are a few out there who like to settle up straight away, but the amount of times I ended up kicking myself because I've said 'no, that's fine I'll invoice you when I've done the job'...big mistake!
that sentance 'no, that's fine ......' just rolls off the tongue so easily doesn't it. I have been fortunate with it up until know but who knows in the future
I've quite often found that some of the fastest to pay are the one's that you feel can least afford it!
Conversely, those driving brand new Jags virtually need you to go to work on them with a blow torch and pair of pliers before they'll part with any money!
I find that I'm a lot more forthcoming with free advice for those that pay than those I have to dangle by their ankles from upstairs windows to extract payment.
Although I've not had a problem with people not paying I have had issues with slow paying.
Personally I try to get mine onto standing orders. Helps with the cashflow (mine and theirs) and cuts down on bad feeling. Only downside is that you're setting a fixed fee which is not always sufficient for the hours that you need to put in... But it's swings and roundabout of course and more often than not I'm up on the convert to hours front.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
