PITA ex-client

PITA ex-client

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I have a client who I ceased acting for over a year ago. She really was a PITA client - awful records, always moaning about fees, poor payer etc., and I asked her to appoint another accountant.

I suspect frankly no one else wanted to take her on, but she informed me that she was going to deal with the company accounts and tax herself.

She is now a year later continually pestering me for information. 

It is very apparent that she hasn't got the first clue how to account for prepayments and accruals and is claiming the accounts I prepared for her were incorrect as she doesn't understand the basic principals of double entry; she did sign and agree the accounts I prepared a year ago.

I have agreed to send her an opening TB and tax comp free of charge but have told her I'll charge for anything else she wants. She's clearly not happy to pay for my time. 

Am I being unreasonable? 

Any thoughts/words of wisdom will be appreciated.

Replies (9)

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By Steve McQueen
02nd Sep 2014 16:35

If you've dis-engaged...

...Do not get sucked back in - UNLESS, you get a BIG upfront payment that will more than cover the amount of pain you know you are going to suffer

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By johngroganjga
02nd Sep 2014 16:40

Opening TB and last year's tax comp - of course.  You would obviously have passed those to a successor if she had appointed one.

But as Steve says nothing else unless she pays.

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By Howard Marks
02nd Sep 2014 16:40

Dis-engaged

Supply her with copies of what you'd supply an accountant were they to be taking over with a cover letter saying that's the last you'll be doing.

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Universe
By SteveOH
02nd Sep 2014 16:41

I think that an opening TB and tax comp are more than enough

I would send them and tell her that all future correspondence will be ignored.

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By happy
02nd Sep 2014 16:43

Thank you

Thanks all much appreciated.

I can just see where she'll go next - it'll be a complaint to my professional body.

 

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Replying to Tax Dragon:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
02nd Sep 2014 16:51

training

Present it to her that she is asking you to train her to become a bookkeeper.

"The cost for me to give you initial bookkeeping training is £x payable in advance but you may find it cheaper to book a course with a training provider."

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Replying to KPEM online:
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By happy
02nd Sep 2014 16:56

I like it

Red Leader wrote:

Present it to her that she is asking you to train her to become a bookkeeper.

"The cost for me to give you initial bookkeeping training is £x payable in advance but you may find it cheaper to book a course with a training provider."

Hadn't even thought of that :)

Mind you she'll also need training in accountancy and tax too!!

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By ShirleyM
02nd Sep 2014 16:56

I use my insurers as an excuse

I say my insurers do not permit me to give advice to non-clients, and as she is no longer a client, then I can no longer offer assistance or advice.

If she asks to become a client again, say you never re-engage with ex-clients, or some other suitable refusal.

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By andy.partridge
02nd Sep 2014 17:23

Is that all?

When you take on a new client do you only ask the outgoing firm for an opening TB and tax comp?

What about a schedule of fixed assets, a break down/rec of current assets and liabilities accounts. In other words all those things that would help you in a handover?

I would deal with this once and for all with a covering note that says. 'This is all the information you should pass to the new firm when you appoint them. They will know how to deal with it. If we receive a request to duplicate this material in future we will require a payment in advance of £x.00.'

What you don't want is for her to be able to come back at a later date accusing you of withholding information that prevented her from filing accurate accounts on time.

 

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