Thanks - we'll give it a go and see if it works, if not I suppose the client will have to make sure they have a spare few hours and try phoning. I'll do a paper 64-8 in the meantime, always the best way!
It's good to hear from someone who went down just the same route that I've been considering and I agree with all of your comments - that's exactly how I've been feeling about them.
Thank you, I will look this up too - another one I'd not heard of!
(I know - it's the effort we put in to get here, but then I think, I've paid them £7,500 in the 12 years since I set up on my own...... and I really shouldn't have looked that up because I've just frightened myself!!)
Thanks, I'll look this up, it sounds as though you find it really useful - I do think it's a little sad that most of the support has to come from other members rather than the ACCA themselves, but rather wonderful that the other members out there pull together.
I used to have 3 employees but now it's just me part time due to having a baby (so doing about £15k turnover but obviously that's not profit, hence the feeling that the subs take such a chunk of my earnings). I've no intention of growing the business beyond just me full time for the rest of my career now as I was rather late becoming a parent.
I also live out in the sticks, nowhere near any cities or any places where the ACCA like to concentrate their efforts.
With regard to AML, I'm AAT qualified too so could just go through them, and yes they're much more friendly, have more local (ish) events and are more geared up for people working in practice in terms of CPD.
I just find it difficult to get any support from the ACCA it's starting to seem like money for nothing as they rarely help when I do ask. I see Kate_1834 mentioned that there's a members in practice panel - I was not even aware this existed!
I find one of the most supportive places is here on Accountingweb - thanks everyone.
I'll continue to mull it over and probably end up paying again because I still can't make my mind up and will put it off until next year....
Called me old fashioned, but this is just 'not the done thing' in the profession.
The clients are getting nothing for this - you are - you find out this information so that you can do your job and service your client properly and make them feel that you are interested and invested. It creates loyalty and that is far more valuable than penny pinching.
Have you tried logging in the normal HMRC login page rather than the ASA page but using your ASA login details - it takes you to the good old fashioned green page and one of the first things on the screen is communications (I know the login screens are identical but it depends what you google to get there, it actually makes a difference where it takes you after you login!)
Must admit, I didn't know you could register a client using your ASA, I've always carried on using my original agent account and the messages come up fine on that.
Thanks, but that's what I tried first. They are a fabulous lot I agree and I love the software too, but the conversation just went backwards and forwards by email and they just kept quoting the help guide which I had already read and was not relevant to my query. After 18 emails back and forth I thanked them politely and gave up.
My answers
Thanks - we'll give it a go and see if it works, if not I suppose the client will have to make sure they have a spare few hours and try phoning. I'll do a paper 64-8 in the meantime, always the best way!
That is true - I hadn't thought of it that way - I don't intend to go back into working for someone else, but I suppose one should never say never.
Thanks Gilly
It's good to hear from someone who went down just the same route that I've been considering and I agree with all of your comments - that's exactly how I've been feeling about them.
I think the same - turnover is above this, but I'm only earning a part time wage.
Just wish they'd do it on a percentage or have brackets perhaps.
Thank you, I will look this up too - another one I'd not heard of!
(I know - it's the effort we put in to get here, but then I think, I've paid them £7,500 in the 12 years since I set up on my own...... and I really shouldn't have looked that up because I've just frightened myself!!)
Thanks, I'll look this up, it sounds as though you find it really useful - I do think it's a little sad that most of the support has to come from other members rather than the ACCA themselves, but rather wonderful that the other members out there pull together.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I used to have 3 employees but now it's just me part time due to having a baby (so doing about £15k turnover but obviously that's not profit, hence the feeling that the subs take such a chunk of my earnings). I've no intention of growing the business beyond just me full time for the rest of my career now as I was rather late becoming a parent.
I also live out in the sticks, nowhere near any cities or any places where the ACCA like to concentrate their efforts.
With regard to AML, I'm AAT qualified too so could just go through them, and yes they're much more friendly, have more local (ish) events and are more geared up for people working in practice in terms of CPD.
I just find it difficult to get any support from the ACCA it's starting to seem like money for nothing as they rarely help when I do ask. I see Kate_1834 mentioned that there's a members in practice panel - I was not even aware this existed!
I find one of the most supportive places is here on Accountingweb - thanks everyone.
I'll continue to mull it over and probably end up paying again because I still can't make my mind up and will put it off until next year....
Called me old fashioned, but this is just 'not the done thing' in the profession.
The clients are getting nothing for this - you are - you find out this information so that you can do your job and service your client properly and make them feel that you are interested and invested. It creates loyalty and that is far more valuable than penny pinching.
Have you tried logging in the normal HMRC login page rather than the ASA page but using your ASA login details - it takes you to the good old fashioned green page and one of the first things on the screen is communications (I know the login screens are identical but it depends what you google to get there, it actually makes a difference where it takes you after you login!)
Must admit, I didn't know you could register a client using your ASA, I've always carried on using my original agent account and the messages come up fine on that.
Thanks, but that's what I tried first. They are a fabulous lot I agree and I love the software too, but the conversation just went backwards and forwards by email and they just kept quoting the help guide which I had already read and was not relevant to my query. After 18 emails back and forth I thanked them politely and gave up.