a few weeks ago I made the above post about a now ex cleint & friend and whether or not I should sue for the balance of my fees.
I issued the 7 day letter a while ago now and the completed the papers on line last night so they will be landing on their desk soon.
The new agent who I had concerns about being able to handle the client has sent what you could loosly call professional clearance via a text message.
The text message said "I am the new accountant for ABC limited, can you send me copies of thier working papers".
I rang him up as do not know him and said could he formally request what information he needs (I dont hold any clients books and O/B have adjusted after previous years accounts). I also asked that he provides a letter from the client confirming his appointment and said I would deal with his request (hopefully post receipt of my fees).
10 Minutes later he sent a second text: "can i not just give him my last years file so he can copy from it to save time".
Who does business via text message?
I suspect my ex client is going to find the hard way that "you get what you pay for".
I look forward to your comments.
Replies (19)
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Why did he text after you rang him? While you were talking to him seemed the perfect time for him to say 'well can't I do this instead?' rather than saying he'd do it then texting you.
I always insist in getting clearance lettes in writing.But then again I don't use a mobile phone
Wow
It's different certainly! But I'd stick with a tad more traditional and want something in writing that I could actually keep (and I think a text message counts!)
And I certainly wouldn't just hand over a copy of last year's file - laziness never impresses me.
Edit - I meant to type that a text doesn't count, well unless you take a photo of it or something :)
Unprofessional
Completely unprofessional on his part. I suppose a text is ok to confirm you are attending a meeting that afternoon, but certainly not for a professional clearance request.
@ Flash – I don’t think a text message would count. If the phone is on pay as you go it cannot be traced to an individual, therefore he could later deny he sent such a message. I think an email or letter is the best route to take.
Unbelievable
I know technology is advancing but FFS!
I wonder whether we will end up with standard practice being a text message from another accountant saying "hiya m8, I'm now doin the accs for X Ltd can u send the wrkg pps over thx"
I've never heard anything like this in ten years of being in practice!!!
Text
When I first read the heading this is I thought yes I do text clients etc.,
I would not though accept professional clearance by text. I would want a trail of paperwork so either a letter or email would be fine.
My view has that even if a client leaves I remain professional, even if the new advisors are not so professional as us.
In other words NO CHANCE !
Fly on the wall
I would love to be that proverbial 'fly on the wall' to see how this accountant handles everything. Maybe he sends engagement letters and draft accounts by text message too :)
His text message to your ex client in 3 months time?
I fkd ur accntz up soz. Im pssn of abroad to ly low. Cow boi accntnt xx
I only ever text my wife ....
and usually it goes dlsfkjbdkljfb and she interprets that as 'I am just leaving' or 'I am running late' or whatever seems appropriate in the circumstances. Still, at least she doesn't have to check my mobile for an illicit text affair ... although she occasionally deletes the contents of my in-box for me!
Regardless of whether he should have used a text, his first message was not a clearance request but an immediate request for information that until he has requested and received clearance, and accepted appointment, he does not know whether he wants or needs.
If it were me, I would have asked client for written authority to communicate with new accountant, not new accountant to obtain it for me.
text, email, social media
we are all of a generation and although I would not like to generalise, but those who are able to communicate-particularly with younger-newer clients using text or email will be ahead of the digital "game" very soon-but never the less most courtesies have been dropped in the younger/newer digital-twitterati age!
it is so much easier for the world-media of communication-to change so much arround us without us knowing-but an accountant who sends texts??? to another accountant???
I mean lawyers did not develop the DX system well before email for nothing did they?
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I started to do clearances via email 10 years ago and got some *very* frosty responses albeit I would email an attached PDF letter so I guess you have to move with the times, ableit I don't have a business mobile so no-one *could* text me other than to my landline.
If it was me I would ask the client via a phone call to confirm that you can release to said person and treat as a clearance and hint heavily that the quicker you get paid the quicker it will happen. Don't of course threaten to not send the info which would of course be unprofessional.....
A letter from the new accountant stating that your fees were excessive will not help them avoid paying you. They had already agreed your fee and engaged you as their accountant.
Please keep us updated when the client gets bitten by this idiot.
Hmmm
If he is as inept as he sounds, surely he will be visiting AW for advice. I wonder if he would recognise himself in our comments...
Unpaid fees
What is the guidance regarding clearance s d unpaid fees? I've never lost a client who hadn't laid my bill, but I've picked up clients in the past and written to the previous agents and got the response "we see no reasons why etc etc and we will be happy to forward the information WHEN OUR account has been settled" - I've seen this quite a few times from very reputable firms. Is this bad practice or normal?