MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 18 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

redzhell

Lalli, how do I go about claiming for 50% of my laptop cost? Can I just claim the amount on my expenses or do I have to read up on 'depreciation' or something?

squeaky1055

Did a survey for Edigital over the weekend and have just gone back to the site and booked myself a holiday I don`t think the fee will help out much with the cost...but thumbs up to the company I booked it with...great customer service

lalli_pickle

redzhell wrote: »

Lalli, how do I go about claiming for 50% of my laptop cost? Can I just claim the amount on my expenses or do I have to read up on 'depreciation' or something?

Strictly speaking it should go on your tax return under capital allowances in the box labelled annual investment allowance or AIA. However as the tax treatment of assets is currently a 100% write off for spending on assets totalling less than 25000 per year, in reality you could include it in your expenses and still end up with the correct amount of tax.

Depreciation you don't need to worry about unless you're preparing accounts as it is an accounting adjustment and does not agree with tax treatment so hmrc say that any depreciation deducted has to be added back on to your profit for your tax return and instead you get the cappital allowances and AIA as above. All rather over complicated tbh!

Hope that helps

katiekittykat1977

owlet wrote: »

I love Tern, they are one of my fave companies. I don't get regular work from them as such (but I hammer the glasses jobs ) and I do get most of the jobs I apply for. As Lalli says, they pay promptly and are friendly on the phone. I do the opposite to Lalli though, if they say the jobs are linked, I usually say I can do X but can't do X because it is too far! They link my two local towns with towns that are over an hours drive away for some bizarre reason. This doesn't seem to have affected the amount of jobs I get from them. I do pick up jobs in batches locally though.

I am also a little bit in love with TERN....they've just allocated me 5 glasses shops

yonk

ButterPie wrote: »

Do you lovely experienced shoppers find it useful to have covert recording equipment? On a whim, I decided to record a visit on my mobile phone (just for my reference, as a backup) and I found it really useful, and of course there is the question they always ask when you register about if you have a hidden camera. Is it worth getting one?

Yep, as MG says there is a world of difference between recording the shop, mainly for audio and to remember things, to covertly performing a video shop.

The equipment is high-definition camera and audio and picks up a lot of detail. It's easy to use but difficult in that you obviously can't fiddle with it to get the shots you need. The reports are based on the video footage and so is the feedback!

It is expensive but it's a LOT less than it used to be when cameras were the same size as handbags and were hidden in them.

However, for your purposes, there is no reason not to vid a shop, just be really subtle. There is apparently footage out there of a shopper being chased out of a shop and down a road...

yonk

lalli_pickle wrote: »

Hmrc generally accept expenses 'which are incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily for the purpose of trade'.if the only thing you use it for is work, and it is necessary for your job as a video shopper then I don't see why not.

If you are a sole trader who sometimes uses it for other things (although I don't want to ask what!) Then you would only be able to claim a portion of the cost which related to your business usage. If you're trading through a limited company you would claim the whole amount but there may be a taxable benefit for any non business use by any employees or directors.

Does that help?

According to the supplier, they are often used for checking up on builders. They have a motion sensor and so people locate them in their knicker drawer...

I only use mine for work!

Lil_Me_2

ButterPie wrote: »

Do you lovely experienced shoppers find it useful to have covert recording equipment? On a whim, I decided to record a visit on my mobile phone (just for my reference, as a backup) and I found it really useful, and of course there is the question they always ask when you register about if you have a hidden camera. Is it worth getting one?

Personally I audio record all of my shops using my iPhone. I wear jeans and have my headphones around my neck with the microphone so it looks natural. It's great to pick up timings and being able to check exactly what was said. Means I can focus on the visual checks.

However I must make it very clear that the recording is for personal use only, as there are legal complications should you pass it to a third party.

jen_br

Yup I use my covert kit all the time even for report jobs now as it gives me a back up A) for memory for evidence. Only had to use it once as evidence.....

Most employers have their employees sign a waiver saying they will be recorded etc etc etc as part of their job so it clears us MS if anything was to come about.

I have used my covert kit personally too as it takes GREAT quality video-- recorded my son playing football!

serendipity2706

yonk wrote: »

According to the supplier, they are often used for checking up on builders. They have a motion sensor and so people locate them in their knicker drawer...

I only use mine for work!

What would builders being doing in the knicker drawer? (She naively asks having led a sheltered life

yonk

serendipity2706 wrote: »

What would builders being doing in the knicker drawer? (She naively asks having led a sheltered life

No idea, (equally sheltered life) tho I did have a landlord when I was student that used to come into my bedroom when I wasn't there. He left footprints...literally...

It's just what Ed told me, he said he'd been told some hair-raising stories...