Goodbye AccountingWeb

Goodbye AccountingWeb

Didn't find your answer?

Sadly I have reached the point where I am done with AccountingWeb.

Thank you to all the staff who have been involved during the time I've been a user of the site, and to all the contributors who helped me through either advice or humour.

I feel I've given the 'upgrade' enough time to improve and it just isn't happening so it's time to call it a day. It seems as though the Aweb team have given up, like a football team at the last few games of the season where there's no threat of relegation but also no prospects of any trophies, just aimless plodding around. I like to think that behind the scenes John is raging at the higher-ups "Damn it guys, let me change things and make it better!" but even if that is the case it clearly isn't working.

So, as a farewell gift to you all, I've decided to tell you all what I think of you. The only criteria being that you must never have been banned/suspended, and that you are still regular users of the site. So here goes:

 

Well that didn't take long. Farewell, bon voyage etc etc

Replies (31)

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FT
By FirstTab
10th Aug 2016 13:42

Hello mwngiol, please think again. There is helpful information on AW. Despite the changes, the content is still invaluable. There is no alternative.

If I gave up, I would lose out far more than any useful gain.

At lunch time today, this article filled a gap my knowledge:

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tax/hmrc-policy/losses-must-be-streamed

Its Ms Cave again!

Just think about the content and not the style so much.

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By Mr_awol
10th Aug 2016 13:51

Unfortunately they don't care. They've ruined any answers, and severely damaged the Aweb interface - but they wont admit that, lose face, and put it back. Hell it might not even be possible to fix it now.

It's much easier for them to keep it how it is, and wait for those of us who hate it to either leave or get too fed up repeating the same feelings of dissatisfaction. New people will replace you/us in time, and the new hideous clunky format will become the norm for all.

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By Ruth Lesley
10th Aug 2016 13:56

See ya!

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Replying to Ruth Lesley:
By mrme89
10th Aug 2016 14:32

I've only just twigged. Ruthlessly.

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counting
By Counting numbers
10th Aug 2016 14:19

I too left and came back. I agree with the points raised. I find it very annoying that the site is so jumpy too. Also it drives me bonkers that you have to click on 'view all replies' for the any answers section. Any answers did used to be my favourite part. I'm going to try to stick with it though because I do like the content. I think sift should set up a blog that updates users every week on what has been changed. Or if they are not going to change something then say so and explain why. At the moment it does feel like they have given up after 'kind of' listening to one or two points.

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Replying to Counting numbers:
By mrme89
10th Aug 2016 14:26

A regular blog has been promised on a number of occasions from what I have read.

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By mrme89
10th Aug 2016 14:24

It’s worth staying just to read about how FT’s sweatshop is progressing.

I can just about get over the scrolling and clicking, but the large boxes and images are still horrid.

I had well over 3000 posts helping small businesses on UK Business Forums (another Sift site). I criticised Sift about this website and used the word crappy on one of the threads. I was given a warning despite other threads containing the words bullsh*t, nig*er and other colourful language. Clearly, Sift do not want any feedback that is negative.

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By beanz
10th Aug 2016 14:31

I agree completely, as do most of my colleagues. We have never known a website to go 'backwards' in its 'development', as AWeb has done. Very amateur-like website which has lost so much of its functionality. Lets hope it came at an amateur price!!

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By beanz
10th Aug 2016 14:31

I agree completely, as do most of my colleagues. We have never known a website to go 'backwards' in its 'development', as AWeb has done. Very amateur-like website which has lost so much of its functionality. Lets hope it came at an amateur price!!

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By Democratus
10th Aug 2016 14:54

I don't like the new site, but that's just form, the substance is the contributors and members, Sift are messing around and are changing the substance by making well liked and learned members leave.

If you must go I wish you well; if you find a better site come back and let us know.

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Replying to Democratus:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
10th Aug 2016 15:07

Agreed, if you set sail from these lands and find Eden send someone back with the directions and we can all follow; build it and they will come.

I am now hit and miss posting, these days sometimes I can be bothered others times I think my effort is better spent monitoring the stockmarket.

Bon voyage

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
10th Aug 2016 16:10

I am not a fan of UK Business website. There is a daily post from a rogue using the annoying spongebob plan to shirk his tax payment after he has rinsed the company of every penny for himself. It just annoys me.

Plus loads of free loaders who hate accountants.

Surely the community is more important than the website itself.

Would you stop going to church if the roof was leaking.

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Replying to Glennzy:
By mrme89
10th Aug 2016 16:15

Glennzy wrote:

I am not a fan of UK Business website. There is a daily post from a rogue using the annoying spongebob plan to shirk his tax payment after he has rinsed the company of every penny for himself. It just annoys me.

Plus loads of free loaders who hate accountants.

Surely the community is more important than the website itself.

Would you stop going to church if the roof was leaking.

The SpongeBob Plan is pinned as a sticky thread by Sift Media. It has been brought up many times why such a scheme is promoted by Sift. In Sift fashion, no answer.

I prefer the layout of UKBF to the new Aweb site. I suspect UKBF will soon be like this site though.

To be fair to those freeloaders, they were pointed in the direction of UKBF by many Accounting Web members.
That said, I know accountants that have won business from it.

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Red Kite
By Red Kite
10th Aug 2016 16:10

About par for the course these days. Member since 2008, remarks ignored/overlooked/discounted.
The last (latest) member update - number 5, from Ben (been busy) was 24th June and, from John (also been busy and, we won't go back to the old site) was around 26th July. Talk about keeping members informed!
Backward and downwards.
Thank goodness these people don't have influence on my practice.

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counting
By Counting numbers
10th Aug 2016 16:34

There is a total lack of communication between sift and it’s members. Clear communication is key. While, of course this is a free website for people in the accounting industry, sift surely still need members to be happy. Without members there would be no opportunity to sell advertising space!!

Sift can we have weekly updates on website changes?

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Replying to Counting numbers:
By mrme89
10th Aug 2016 16:38

Counting numbers wrote:

There is a total lack of communication between sift and it’s members. Clear communication is key. While, of course this is a free website for people in the accounting industry, sift surely still need members to be happy. Without members there would be no opportunity to sell advertising space!!

Sift can we have weekly updates on website changes?

It is not a free website to those members who provide answers on a regular basis.

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By petersaxton
11th Aug 2016 08:08

I've noticed that accountingweb users have started using discussions on linkedin and ukbusiness forums. I expect people to use accountingweb less and less but accountingweb will increase the numbers they tell advertisers by using irrelevant statistics. The more you have to click to do something the more the statistics will increase. It's called marketing and we all know marketing people have no shame. I think they will mess up ukbusiness forums next. It will be in the name of progress. Gary Turner will congratulate them. The site will go downhill. That's just what incompetents do. They know no other way.

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By LJCASE
11th Aug 2016 11:31

I cant cope either but I'm sticking with it through gritted teeth as its the only one around. A quick search shows the same comments being made only a few months ago but nothing seems to have changed:
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/why-are-the-top-17-most-like...
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/vital-stats
>>> I know its August but the number of Any Answers has fallen dramatically. Where are the contributors such as Steve Kesby? Have they given up as well? Have I missed any of Portias or ShirleyM's contributions?

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By LJCASE
11th Aug 2016 12:56

I had a few minutes to spare and though I'd try to find out whose idea it was to change the site format. On Linked In it says that the person responsible for Sift was a Ben Heald - formerly a KPMG employee (surely he must know what accountants want to view? But although he is CEO it appears that he has time for other interests including being director of Bristols own currency - Bristol Pound.
Perhaps we should direct our comments to him via Linked In

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
11th Aug 2016 13:32

I lurk. I find the occasional article of interest.

But the real value of old AccountingWeb was the sense of community. New AccountingWeb has completely destroyed that. I could go into a long list of how they've done that, but frankly the interface is too painful to use to make it worth the time.

I now only log in to write on threads like this one, decrying the idiocy of Sift.

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Replying to stepurhan:
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By Ruth Lesley
11th Aug 2016 13:43

stepurhan wrote:

I lurk. I find the occasional article of interest.

But the real value of old AccountingWeb was the sense of community. New AccountingWeb has completely destroyed that. I could go into a long list of how they've done that, but frankly the interface is too painful to use to make it worth the time.

I now only log in to write on threads like this one, decrying the idiocy of Sift.

I agree. There have been some improvements.

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Replying to Ruth Lesley:
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By Manchester_man
11th Aug 2016 15:28

Ruth Lesley wrote:

stepurhan wrote:

I lurk. I find the occasional article of interest.

But the real value of old AccountingWeb was the sense of community. New AccountingWeb has completely destroyed that. I could go into a long list of how they've done that, but frankly the interface is too painful to use to make it worth the time.

I now only log in to write on threads like this one, decrying the idiocy of Sift.

I agree. There have been some improvements.

Outch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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By Manchester_man
11th Aug 2016 15:31

Oh, it's just dawned on me again, Ruth Lesley is another one of Portia's frequent name changes.

Bloody confusing

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Red Kite
By Red Kite
12th Aug 2016 08:09

Yes, click on here name and, there you are, another zoo exhibit, just like the rest of us.
Let's rename the site www.grossincompetance.com

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Replying to Red Kite:
Morph
By kevinringer
16th Aug 2016 14:54

Red Kite wrote:

Yes, click on here name and, there you are, another zoo exhibit, just like the rest of us.
Let's rename the site www.grossincompetance.com

Sorry, that domain has already gone and is now known as GOV.UK
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Quack
By Constantly Confused
12th Aug 2016 08:15

mwngiol wrote:

So, as a farewell gift to you all, I've decided to tell you all what I think of you. The only criteria being that you must never have been banned/suspended, and that you are still regular users of the site. So here goes:

 

Well that didn't take long. Farewell, bon voyage etc etc

Anyone else super disappointed that that was a set up to a burn and not a genuine prelude to mwngiol offering their heartfelt feelings to each and every one of us?

Now I'm all sad :(

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By ScribbleD
15th Aug 2016 09:57

Farewell @mwngiol.. another one bites the dust.

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By Gone Sailing
15th Aug 2016 12:35

Hang on, I clicked to read one post, went to the top, now I'm reading another.
How does that work?

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Replying to Gone Sailing:
Morph
By kevinringer
16th Aug 2016 14:57

Gone Sailing wrote:

Hang on, I clicked to read one post, went to the top, now I'm reading another.
How does that work?

It's called progress - it guarantees that your answers are put on a different thread. It is designed to make life interesting in sift's quest to be like GOV.UK
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Replying to kevinringer:
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By Gone Sailing
20th Aug 2016 13:16

Well sort of, though I thought Spurs played better in the second half.

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By DMBAcc
20th Aug 2016 11:38

I am only posting here to stop getting email updates

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