Help with accountant who is ignoring all correspondence

[nuttarussell]

Hello. I have been using the same accountant for approximately the last 8 years with no problems, up until now. My accountant deals with my tax returns as I am a sub contractor. He has been dealing with 06/07, 07/08, 08/09/09/10 and 10/11 for the last 2 years and I have not received any rebate from him. My tax bill was approximately£15k and I have a letter from him confirming that he had managed to reduce it to appx £2k. The year 06/07 was very problematic in so far as a late return was filed (my fault). My problem is that he said he would not forward the last 4 years to HMRC until 06/07 was sorted out. He is now completely ignoring all correspondence that I send to him asking where the money is as in my mind the 06/07 was sorted in so far as a bill in HMRC favour for £1500. He is now requesting payment on account and payment for work he has done although I have never seen a bil and his requests for payment are only in a letter. It has been his usual practice in previous years to take his fees from the rebates which are paid directly to him from HMRC.

 

I have recently asked him for his formal complaints procedure and also whether he belongs to a professional body and once again he has ignored me. My tax rebates add up to in the region of appx 10k so there is a deficit of about £8k somewhere which he is refusing to tell me where it is! Why should I pay him for something that I dont believe he has done but I am doubtful of whether he will return my invoices or anything as now I would really like to use another accountant because if it is left much longer we will be out of time for filing once again and I will lose another rebate! Who can I complain to about his conduct? Any ideas?? I am really at my wits end!

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

Does this person work in a firm or is it a one man band please? If it's a firm, you could speak to the senior partner about it.

 

If you have correspondence from them, I think it should say which organisation they belong to. Otherwise, do they have initials after their name? We could identify them that way and then you could complain to the professional organisation or ask them for advice.

 

My best, HB

[Bang!]

It sounds bad.

 

His letter should list his professional body. Call them and ask their perspective, which you then must mention in your next letter to him.

 

Failing that - call round the profession bodies asking if he is a member.

 

You can also get someone else to call him 'looking for an accountant' and ask (taping is advisable).

 

Do you know where he lives or if he appears to have assets?

[nuttarussell]

Hello and thank you for your replies. They are a limited company - I am not sure if that makes a difference. The guy that is dealing with it (wait for it) was convicted for fraud a number of years ago with the company he owned, he was hiding money apparently and doing all sorts of things he shouldnt have been doing. The company is now in his wifes name, although she doesnt work there as far as I am aware. I do have some good news though, at the weekend I was put in touch with someone who is an accountant (a proper one!) and she is hopefully going to be able to help us sort this dreadful mess out. I would still like to complain though! Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.