The Mystery Shopping thread - IX

scotsbob

twinklie wrote: »

Forget it...my little brain figured it out. My computer wasn't loading it up properly for some reason...it's all working now though!

I do however now have a question about the exception from NI class 2 contributions form now. Question 15 asks if you work for one or more employers please give the estimates for the year beginning 6th April 2009. Is that just self employed or does that include my day job as well?

I only ask because my I remember my dad filling in a box for the taxman incorrectly and it being a major issue for ages! I don't want to get on the wrong side of said man!

So you have a proper job. Then you are already paying NHI and don't need to fill in the form as I understand things.

Same with tax. If you are paying tax through PAYE then when you fill in your yearly return you just put down your MS earnings as well (along with the expenses of course )

mintchip

scotsbob wrote: »

So you have a 20 mile trip. Which is probably a gallon of petrol at £4.50 and say you print 10 sheets of paper thats ).10p so your actual costs are £4.60. However so far as the taxman is concerned your costs are 20miles @ 40p + £8.00 and 10 paper @ 6p = 0.60 Total £8.60 you show a loss of £3.60 and so not liable for tax.

If I were you I would be doing two jobs or more at a time so you only use one tank of petrol but can get two or more jobs out of it.

Thanks for the reply. As I say, I don't care about the loss, because, as far as fuel is concerned, I use a company vehicle anyway. Printing is also done from work! So, I don't make any loss on it (only my time I guess!) I'm just curious what the taxmans view would be at the end of the year when it turns out I owe him nothing. Surely I can't get in trouble and be told not to do it as there's nothing in it for mr taxman?

JOHNSTON24

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this thread for the past week and it has been so helpful. I have signed up with a few companies and got my 1st job on Friday which is a burger job. I just wondered how people manage with the timings. I've got a mobile phone with a stopwatch that I was going to use but I feel that if i start messing about with my phone while getting served I might be discovered as a ms especially if have to ask for a receipt too.

mintchip

JOHNSTON24 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this thread for the past week and it has been so helpful. I have signed up with a few companies and got my 1st job on Friday which is a burger job. I just wondered how people manage with the timings. I've got a mobile phone with a stopwatch that I was going to use but I feel that if i start messing about with my phone while getting served I might be discovered as a ms especially if have to ask for a receipt too.

hi Johnstone. I use a digital watch, with the face pointed towards my body. This way I can look at the times without being noticed. Burger joints tend not to hand out receipts unfortunately. Each time I ask, I get a sharp glance. They must know.....

scotsbob

mintchip wrote: »

I'm just curious what the taxmans view would be at the end of the year when it turns out I owe him nothing. Surely I can't get in trouble and be told not to do it as there's nothing in it for mr taxman?

Of course not. This is a hobby for you, people don't normally make a profit out of hobbies.

You declare your income, as required. You list your expenses. If you have made a loss you don't pay tax.

Look at it this way. I record a song and release it. It doesn't make the charts. I have had to pay for recording studio, promotion, tour expenses, bribes to disc jockeys etc etc. That comes to a few thousand pounds. I sell 100 copies, I have made a loss. Too bad, I will have to try harder next time. Meanwhile I have no tax to pay because I have made no profit.

scotsbob

JOHNSTON24 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this thread for the past week and it has been so helpful. I have signed up with a few companies and got my 1st job on Friday which is a burger job. I just wondered how people manage with the timings. I've got a mobile phone with a stopwatch that I was going to use but I feel that if i start messing about with my phone while getting served I might be discovered as a ms especially if have to ask for a receipt too.

You have the phone all set so you just have to press the button. You don't need to look at it, just press it once at each timing point. Practise at home before you go. Or do a dummy run in another place and then you will get the real thing right.

The other alternative is to have a newspaper or magazine in your hand, the assistant sees the magazine but you can see the phone on your side.

pinkprincess39

I have a competitor betting shop to do for Gap next week. However having checked it out for opening times etc I have found out its not at the address they say its at! There is one in the same street about 100 doors down though. Apparantly the one at the address gap gave me has closed down. So....do i shop the one i know is the wrong address or tell gap its closed

jdan9

Can somebody tell me if they've ever had any problems with REACT, or if they've always been good? I've never worked with them before but now it looks like I'll be shelling out about £70 for a flight in order to do an airside job, and I want to be sure they'll reimburse me!

JOHNSTON24

scotsbob wrote: »

You have the phone all set so you just have to press the button. You don't need to look at it, just press it once at each timing point. Practise at home before you go. Or do a dummy run in another place and then you will get the real thing right.

The other alternative is to have a newspaper or magazine in your hand, the assistant sees the magazine but you can see the phone on your side.

thanks for the replies. I think I might just get myself a cheap digital watch to use when I'm MSing as my phone is a touch screen phone and its not always the most reliable.

annasbee

scotsbob wrote: »

I have sent you a private message

Trust the Scotsman to get in first for the £1.50 lol - luv u really Bob x