Bit of time-out point, so thought I'd stick it here.
Had a long phone call with a Field agent for PAYE on Friday, the guy had obviously been around for a few years and we started chatting at how it was getting more difficult for both Agents and HMRC alike.
Anyway 2 points he made astounded me.
Firstly, the internal hmrc computer system that they use for writing reports - wont let users input as "£" sign !! Because it's a US system it only understands "$" and reports anything else as an error and blocks the user moving on. Apparently HMRC IT team can't fix it and the users have to physically write Pounds, which causes other problems.
Secondly, last year field agents where told they had to stop claiming 40p a mile because the budget had ran out. BUT THEY COULD HIRE A CAR INSTEAD!! because that particular budget hadn't ran out.
Someone "higher up" obviously sat down, made this decision and typed thus email instruction.
Edit: Possibly should have mentioned the guys average milage was around 30 per day and the cost to hire a car was £70 per day.
-- Edited by ADAS on Tuesday 29th of May 2012 08:43:43 AM
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Tony
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Thats the joys of public sector budgets. They make no sense at all. When I worked for the council one of the admin officers spent 3 hours phoning round suppliers to get pens cheaper. She managed to save 30p. No one could see this was crazy that the cost of her phoning round was about £40 to save 30p. Their argument... wages came from a central budget and was already accounted for, stationery was a devolved department budget and they were running short.
Does that mean they won't notice if I pay them dollars instead next time :o)
Had a couple of VAT Visits here recently and the officer says they can't get any balances owed/overpaid from over 1 year ago, so we're suggesting there could be a £20K overpayment.
Something to do with privacy or some such red-tape. It's like someone there wants HMRC to fail.
