Client gone AWOL (Edited post)

Client gone AWOL (Edited post)

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Most of our clients pay us by direct debit.  We have just one client on our books who still has not given us all we need to complete his self-assessment for the year ended 5th April 2014 (edited).  To be honest, we have given up chasing him, but he's still paying us on a regular basis.  I just don't know whether to hope he eventually contacts us, or simply disengage and give him a refund.  I don't feel very comfortable working with clients that are so late with supplying information, but I quite like clients that pay regularly.  Conundrum!!

Replies (9)

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By Anne Robinson
13th Jul 2015 10:13

Goodness , all records received by July! Do you mean that they are also filed?
Do you do a lot of Ltd accounts for the rest of year?

Not like our firm at all but then a very large proportion are ST and partnerships who don't seem to show much urgency unless it is for tax Credits or Student Grants or mortgages.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By amyaccountant
13th Jul 2015 10:23

Ooops - I meant 5th April 2014!!  Now corrected in my post.

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By Wanderer
13th Jul 2015 10:16

Late???

You think that someone who still hasn't given his year ended 5 April 2015 information is that late that you are considering disengaging?

You work in a different world to me! I'm really quite envious.

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Replying to bernard michael:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
13th Jul 2015 10:25

Late

Wanderer wrote:

You think that someone who still hasn't given his year ended 5 April 2015 information is that late that you are considering disengaging?

You work in a different world to me! I'm really quite envious.

Unless the question has changed since you posted this, the OP refers to year ended 5th April 2014, so they are significantly late.

EDIT : It would appear that was the case.

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By MissAccounting
13th Jul 2015 10:26

The post states its the 2014 tax return not the most recent one so unsure where the confusion is coming from? Unless the post has been edited?

If you cant get in contact with the client then you'll just have to transfer the money into your client account for now I guess?

 

Edit - clearly was a typo.

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By cheekychappy
13th Jul 2015 10:27

The post has been edited.

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By mwngiol
13th Jul 2015 10:58

Depends what he's paying for?

What does AWOL mean exactly? He doesn't reply to mail/email, doesn't answer his phone? Or just that he doesn't provide any info?

If he's completely incommunicado to the extent that you don't know whether he's still even living in the country (or living at all!) then I'd contact the bank to stop future payments, and write one last time to explain what you've done just in case.

Whether to refund the amounts already paid depends on what he's paying for. If he's paying for ongoing support etc then non-refundable as the service has been available but he's not made use of it.

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By Howard Marks
13th Jul 2015 11:07

Same situation

Disengage by recorded delivery.

 

Refund fees already collected towards 14/15.

 

Retain 13/14 fees unless chased then make a judgement call - you've presumably been monitoring deadlines, chasing etc so work has been done (albeit not quite as much as you'll have been paid for).

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By bernard michael
13th Jul 2015 14:44

Alsowrite to him via his bank

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