Change of Accountant information by email

Change of Accountant information by email

Didn't find your answer?

For some unknown reason I am getting new clients by the day and I was considering emailing the previous accountants rather than posting the standard letter in the hope that the other accountant will just send the information back by email
Do any accountingweb members use email for this purpose or have any views on it.?
Many thanks for any input

Replies (25)

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By refs8
17th Oct 2012 21:43

Personally would still send a letter
Just I think it is more professional and gives the accountant time to sort things out. Just my personal view.

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By petersaxton
17th Oct 2012 22:12

Personally I would send an email
I just think it's more professional.

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By refs8
17th Oct 2012 22:26

Perhaps I am just old school
.

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By petersaxton
17th Oct 2012 22:30

Why?
What is the advantage of letters over email?

You seem to think it's more professional. Do you send all information and requests by letter?

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By refs8
17th Oct 2012 22:38

None I suppose - just a personal choice.

I am aware I have to change some of my ways and perhaps this is one of them.!!!

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By petersaxton
17th Oct 2012 22:41

Email seems better
I would use email every time I think it is advantageous.

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By Chris Smail
16th Nov 2012 17:27

I do both!

Write letter ( it comes off system and just needs editing) print, scan, email, post, phone for chat. Not everybody clears their email regularly, so I like to be sure they got it.

 

Chris Smail   www.langer.co.uk

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By Tosie
18th Oct 2012 07:14

thank-you
Many thanks most grateful

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By refs8
18th Oct 2012 09:27

On another debate
Deleted - not going to waste my time

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By app08
18th Oct 2012 09:56

Deleted

Removed as comment reporting on has been removed

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By petersaxton
18th Oct 2012 09:50

Writing letters

Schools should teach letter writing.

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Replying to madakela:
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By SThornton
18th Oct 2012 11:01

Schools do teach it as well as e-mail writing.

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By petersaxton
18th Oct 2012 11:58

Sorry

Given the standard of the letters I receive from people applying for jobs I didn't think that was the case.

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By refs8
18th Oct 2012 12:12

Agreed Peter

.

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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
18th Oct 2012 12:21

Email

I usually send prof clearance letters by post, simply because I assume many firms are old school. I sometimes send by email if my client has told me that they are fine with it.

I always reply to prof clearance by email, whether they've asked for it or not!

I don't think there's anything in the "more professional" argument. Times have moved on. Writing a letter is a PITA compared with an email.

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By taxhound
18th Oct 2012 13:06

email

I email over a pdf of a letter wherever possible.

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Replying to Hknightas:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
18th Oct 2012 14:56

email

I also encourage the old accountants to email me the prior year tax returns, etc as email attachments rather than print them out and post them.

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By Ding Dong
18th Oct 2012 17:39

what I do....

Is email the old accountant and ask if they would prefer to send the info electronically, so far every one has said yes they would rather email and it is so much quicker !

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By Lutondata
19th Oct 2012 05:20

Getting an answer

I always email, because its instant.  But I am finding more and more that I just don`t get an answer!  Probably because clients are more mobile and accountancy firms are seeing this.  So, its email, letter and get the client to hound them.  Eventually they relent but not always!

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By petersaxton
19th Oct 2012 08:18

"Probably because clients are

"Probably because clients are more mobile and accountancy firms are seeing this."

What does that mean?

Do you phone the accountant to nag them?

 

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By Lutondata
19th Oct 2012 10:21

Mobile clients

Just to clarify, clients are less scared about going to a new accountant to get Stats done.  In the past they were more reluctant as they were scared stiff of revenue.  Now there is more competition between accountants and its becoming more commercial and less of a club.

No I don`t phone them, I think that would be aggressive.  If they don`t answer to an email/letter nagging from their client there may well be an unpaid bill?

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By petersaxton
19th Oct 2012 11:20

Phoning

You are more likely to be told about an unpaid bill if you phone.

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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
19th Oct 2012 13:02

We phone if necessary. We've never had any 'attitude' for doing so, and it's speeded things along.

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By ccassociates
19th Oct 2012 13:46

me too

I still post the letter but ask for a response by email, 99% comply.

Also if I get a request I respond by email and have refused to send hard copies of tax returns, as I have supplied copies to the client.

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By Lutondata
22nd Oct 2012 08:57

Phoning

Thanks for that, I appreciate your input.  I`ll phone the stubborn ones and try to get things going.  I always felt that our ethics would get a response.

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