Phrasing letters

Phrasing letters

Didn't find your answer?

So say you send a letter/email saying 'I have started your tax return but I'm missing your P60 and 2 bank accounts of interest'.  A month later, no reply. 

How do you phrase your next letter/email?

"Further to my earlier letter/email (attached) I note I do not appear to have received a response as yet.  Any particular reason you are ignoring my letters?  Do you WANT your tax return doing?"

That's my standard format but can anyone suggest a better one?

Replies (6)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By happy
28th Oct 2010 10:48

Dont wait that long

I dont think its the wording which matters its the time you take to chase which is the problem. I really have very few clients who dont respond to an email within 24 hours (I dont use letters now) but if they dont I am very quick with reminders. Always polite and courteous but I remind them their tax affairs/tax return/accounts etc are important and I want to deal with it for them it does the trick.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By cymraeg_draig
28th Oct 2010 11:36

7 days

Simply point out that if they dont respond in 7 days you will not be able to meet the neccesary deadlines and they will face £100 penalties from HMRC - and an increased liklihood of being investigated.

Thanks (0)
Image is of a pin up style woman in a red dress with some of her skirt caught in the filing cabinet. She looks surprised.
By Monsoon
28th Oct 2010 11:39

2weeks

If I'm chasing info, I'm reminded to chase them 2 weeks after the last one. If it drags on, the wording becomes stronger.

I'm waiting a signed tax return at the moment which has a nice refund attached to it. I've been waiting 2 months or so, and no reply!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By MarionMorrison
28th Oct 2010 12:07

Pick up the phone

I despair of people these days in their contact-avoidance.  Why not just ring them up?  If there's a reason you get to find out and if there isn't you get to remind them in a way that's appropriate to their likely response.

In truth if it were just a couple of bank interest figures, I'd have rung them up in the first place.

Clients with whom I have the right relationship who I can't contact, will occasionally get letters or emails with the message 'Pull Your F***ing Finger Out' in 36 point and without the asterisks.

Thanks (0)
By ShirleyM
28th Oct 2010 12:20

Same problem

We have a new ltd co client for whom we are now preparing accounts & CT, but information is missing. Home phone isn't answered, mobile permanently on voice mail, our letters ignored.

As we have a substantial deposit I am truly tempted to send a disengagement letter and refund any overpayment. These types of client are just too frustrating to deal with.

EDIT:

The previous years accounts/CT were submitted late but the client blamed the previous accountant!!!!!!!!!

Thanks (0)
Quack
By Constantly Confused
28th Oct 2010 12:28

Marion

In this case it is a 'mysterious financial advisor' I'm chasing who doesn't have a 'phone number (perhaps he works at HMRC?).  So email is the best I can do.

I do tend to ring clients but given they have always 'just popped out' or are on another call whenever I ring I'm finding the whole thing quite depressing.

And this is client's who haven't even spoken to or met me yet, I can understand the ones who have got to know me not wanting to talk to me but...

Thanks (0)