January Wisdom for Next Year

January Wisdom for Next Year

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However many reminders we sent out during the year the numbers of clients bringing papers in at the last minute (any time after Christmas) was far too many. There have been several posts over the years where fellow members have threatened clients with additional fees if they bring in papers after a certain date. Have any of you actually charged more and have you retained the clients or have they walked.

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By andy.partridge
04th Feb 2014 10:08

No problem

Charged more, all stayed (so far).

Few clients will leave on the basis of fees alone. If they believe in you and the relationship is strong they will stay. They will probably be just as late next year, though.

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By ShirleyM
04th Feb 2014 10:42

Us, too

We charge extra for January returns, and had 3 to do. We picked up quite a few new clients at the increased charge too, and all have promised to get their next returns in earlier so they benefit from a lower fee.

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By Fenella
04th Feb 2014 11:11

The trouble is though....the law of unintended consequences

A school nursery started 'fining' parents who came late to pick up their kids, to try to stop them being late, as it causes so much distress to the kids and means the staff can't go home.

They found that rather than preventing late pick ups it encouraged them as the tardy parents thought it was ok to be late as they were paying for it - so it became their 'right' to be late!

Still at least it addressed the schools additional costs - in your case just make sure the additional charge reflects the extra work/stress...if it can!

 

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By The Innkeeper
04th Feb 2014 11:12

@Andy@shirley

Was the uplift a percentage or a fixed amount

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Replying to Mr_awol:
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By andy.partridge
04th Feb 2014 12:09

Fixed

The Innkeeper wrote:

Was the uplift a percentage or a fixed amount


Depending on the work that was required. It's part of our letter of engagement, the clients get a reminder and on the invoice I have a stamp that says, 'Did you know your bill could have been £x less if we'd received your paperwork sooner'

As I have worked just about every day in January for the past 10 years I know there will always be people who leave it late, I am psyched up for it, but I get paid more. Seems a fair arrangement to me.

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By ccassociates
04th Feb 2014 11:25

20%

We added 20% to our charges for latecomers and listed it as an extra charge on our invoice.

It only applied to two clients both are habitually late, both paid, as we don't submit without payment and both were advised that if they do the same next year the fee will be 20% greater again

If they want to go and be late somewhere else good luck to them

 

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By Ken Howard
04th Feb 2014 12:32

Just talk to them

I don't have a problem at all.  Only had a handful of stragglers to do in January, most of the others had been done last Summer/Autumn.  My practice is based around email rather than face to face or the post, so I have established a good rapport by the sending and receiving of emails regularly throughout the year.  Once that rapport is established, it's easy to keep plugging away at them to get the info in to me as a PS to emails about other things.  Email also gives me an informal opportunity to explain why leaving it late isn't good for them or me.  The same applies to those with whom I regularly speak on the phone which I regard as the same as emails.

I used to send letters (which were ignored) and I also established a new pricing structure where I quoted x for the fee, x-25% if the client brought them in early (within 3 months) or x+25% if the client brought them in late (3 months of the deadline) - most clients ignored it and carried on bringing their stuff in the same time as last year - either didn't read it or didn't understand it!

For a lot of clients, writing and being formal just doesn't work - they have a tendency to turn off and not bother reading (many don't even open the envelope).  Once you have regular direct contact, by email or phone, you've opened up communication channels and then you can get your message across far more effectively.

 

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