Clearance letter received, wrong client!

Clearance letter received, wrong client!

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Ive dealt with some poor accountants in my time but has anyone ever received clearance from the previous advisor only for them to enclose a different clients accounts and workings?  To top it off when Ive had a quick flick through half the working papers dont even match the accounts!

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By musclefoot
14th Dec 2011 10:02

yes i've had that just recently actually, you probably have my info! lol

 

 

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By Jekyll and Hyde
14th Dec 2011 10:30

funny

Is this a potential client that you would want? If so write to the actual client and inform them that this confidential information was passed to you in error and mentioned that your procedures are such that this would never happen at your practice.

Then write to the previous accountants and inform them of their error and ask for the correct information and that you have passed the confidential information onto the client. I am feeling rather harsh today, if you do this ASAP, it might even arrive on their desks in time for their Christmas break.

 

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By MissAccounting
14th Dec 2011 11:43

Funny you mention that as I was considering drafting up a letter to the "incorrect" client informing them of the error but wasnt sure whether I would be in any breach of any data protection issues myself?  Ironic I know given whats gone on but Im really not interested in getting into a slagging match with a two bit non qualified if/when they find out Ive sent a letter to the client informing them of their mistake.

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By Jekyll and Hyde
14th Dec 2011 12:04

Data protection act

I would have thought it the clients data that you are passing back to them. Data protection act covers personal data, and as such any information the accountants have produced would not be their personal data, but personal data of the clients. I am not a specialit but cannot see why you would be at fault for infomring a person that some other organisation has sent you their information.

I understand you views regarding the other practice, but putting my harshness aside, I would consider I had a professional consideration (not obligation) to inform them that I had passed such data to the client as to be sure that I am being open and honest with this transaction/data.

 

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By edward33
15th Dec 2011 00:17

What goes around comes around

Be professional and mature. Send the info back to previous accountant and ask can he forward the correct info asap.3 years ago I was dealing with a revenue enquiry into an spv and they asked for computer records. One of the partners sent the wrong disk to the revenue. The Inspector who opened the disc saw it was the wrong client and phoned immediately to say he had opened it but had neither read any info nor copied it. I know that he didnt read the file because if he did the client would have been investigated.

At the end of the enquiry I asked him why he didnt read the files. He replied that he had once returned a set of client's books to the wrong accountant who rang him and arranged their return.

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By Jekyll and Hyde
15th Dec 2011 09:29

Edward, Hadn't really thought about it that way.

Hadn't really thought about it that way.

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By User deleted
15th Dec 2011 10:33

I'm with Edward

Treat them as you'd hope to be treated if it was you who'd made the mistake. You'll feel like a better person for doing it. And it is Christmas!!

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By Andy Reeves
16th Dec 2011 11:54

Wrong and proabbly false name

I received transfer papers for a client apparently named "Kofi Annan" (i.e. same name as the ex UN Secretary General) instead of those for someone with a rather more Anglo-Saxon sounding name.

This was just one of the many failures of the previous accountant, who seemed to specialise in subcontractor refunds. I do wonder whether their client had given a fictitious name, and whether the firm had performed the correct ID procedures.

I didn't think I had enough suspicion/evidence to make a money laundering report.

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By The Black Knight
16th Dec 2011 12:19

Much as you would love to ?

I think the satisfaction is in being professional....

Might have been the secretary or a Junior....Unacceptable....but could happen to anyone...

You would be unlikely to win new client with this approach anyway...

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By taxhelpukcom
17th Dec 2011 11:54

Juniors?

I recently took over a client who was switching:

Sent the professional clearance letter and received some tax papers with just a compliment slip...

followed by a letter saying that they would release the papers when the final invoice had been settled...

then followed by some more papers!

 

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By cathygrimmer
17th Dec 2011 15:15

People who live in glass houses...

We are all human and humans make mistakes. It doesn't matter if it was the principal or the junior, we're all busy and sometimes something just goes wrong. I would just return it and ask for the correct information. Hopefully, if you ever make a similar mistake, someone will do the same for you!

I've had stuff from HMRC for people who weren't my clients (in the same envelope as my client's stuff) in the past. I just sent it back.

My experience with HMRC being the recipients is different from Edward33's. Many, many years ago, I worked for an Inspector at HMRC. He received a letter with draft accounts from the accountant - intended for the accountant's client. He photocopied them (yes, we did have photocopiers when I was young!) put them in a new envelope and sent them to the client as if they had come from the accountant. When the accounts arrived in final form, they were very different from the accountant's draft and the Inspector opened an enquiry which uncovered all sorts of incorrect expenses claims! It was a bit underhand - but I'm guessing the accountant had the last laugh when he opened his newspaper a few years later and saw the Inspector - then with Special Office - jailed for five years for taking bribes!

Cathy

[email protected]

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By petersaxton
17th Dec 2011 19:11

Unprofessional

If somebody sent me the information for the wrong I would tell return it. I would assume that the wrong information was sent accidently.

Deliberately trying to cause trouble is unprofessional and shouldn't be done.

 

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