Mystery Shopping Thread 20 **PLEASE DO NOT MENTION CLIENT NAMES OR FEES ON HERE**

boyoboy1986

ljshopper wrote: »

There were 3 of them doing it and I am standing there with cold sweat forming on my back and thinking "ive got to ask about a lawn mower next".

Horrible.

Some of them sell turf, a lawnmower demo is possible.

The DIY stores are funny, one of the ones I do they know exactly who I am. The last time I went the guy out the front watering the flowers dropped his hose and charged into the store when he seen me crossing the car park. The him and 2 others re-emerged looked at me and nodded then I got the DIY stores version of a burger floor show. When I entered the kitchen showroom and saw the balloons I thought oh no, please not the balloons.

boyoboy1986

Payments have landed this morning for visits around the 20th of last month.

clippy_girl

burnoutbabe wrote: »

I make a loss on quite a few jobs when i do my tax return. Don't forget to take off printing costs (i deduct £5 a year for the cost of printing - ie a ream of paper).

Omg £5 pear year!!!! I deduct 6p per page. I wish I only spent that much, I must have bought 2 packs of paper and 3 cartridges since jan!

Lil_Me_2

clippy_girl wrote: »

Omg £5 pear year!!!! I deduct 6p per page. I wish I only spent that much, I must have bought 2 packs of paper and 3 cartridges since jan!

Same here. I'm claiming £50 for last year.

jen_br

borders wrote: »

Snap!! I get stalked round my local diy by an assistant who I think has sussed me from previous visits and who is very helpful every time I go. But unless they say something, it's only my assumption, so I still do the visits.

It's speaking to the same assistant in the kitchen/bathroom area every time that I hate. After 3 or 4 visits I'm sure they must realise what's going on. Was relieved when the last visit had a scenario in a different section.

Hah it must be only me and you that do our local. I was in last month and it was the same ol... Ive done a video visit for them as well so they definitely start singing and dancing... I try to go on a sunday now.

mamashaz

clare*H wrote: »

I am still plodding along with my first tax return and have been looking on the first page for help.
I am currently working out my profit and loss. Am I right with a couple of things: My income is the amount paid from the company you worked for (fee and the reimb). For expenses, anything I had to pay out i.e my purchase for the particular product? Also, I have completed a restaurant visit and this was a reimbursement to a max of £XX only job, so effectively when I minus off mileage it will be a loss? Is this the right way to record it or not? Any help would be grately appreciated, many thanks

I spoke to the Inland Revenue about this only a few days ago. After keeping me on hold for ages, the guy returned to tell me that all monies received whether in fees or in reimbursements for goods or food are taxable.

When I asked about goods that I couldn't use - I used the example of men's underwear (!!), he said that was also taxable as I had received the benefit of it!

HTH,

Mamashaz

rachchel

I was accepted for a job last night to which said that it had to be done Next Sunday which is fine. I just looked at the assignment and its saying the date to do the visit was yesterdays date !. This is with GB does anyone have a contact number for them ?. Ive looked on the site and can only find email but i would rather talk to them.

boyoboy1986

rachchel wrote: »

I was accepted for a job last night to which said that it had to be done Next Sunday which is fine. I just looked at the assignment and its saying the date to do the visit was yesterdays date !. This is with GB does anyone have a contact number for them ?. Ive looked on the site and can only find email but i would rather talk to them.

01256 810998

That used to work, although people gave reported being sacked for phoning so it may be worth just dropping the visit or rescheduling if possible. Do you have you confirmation saying yesterday's date?

burnoutbabe

mamashaz wrote: »

I spoke to the Inland Revenue about this only a few days ago. After keeping me on hold for ages, the guy returned to tell me that all monies received whether in fees or in reimbursements for goods or food are taxable.

When I asked about goods that I couldn't use - I used the example of men's underwear (!!), he said that was also taxable as I had received the benefit of it!

HTH,

Mamashaz

no don't do it on this basis. only do it on that basis AFTER IR has done an investigation of your numbers and said you must change it. Its not a tax rule, the rule is you can deduct your expenses from your revenue (the fee plus re-imbursement)

if HMRC want to argue that there is a benefit from the item, then let them do it themselves, not do your accounts on that basis.

Else you'd be taxed say £20 on a hotel visit where you maybe got paid £5 plus room/food. Our job is to Assess these things, which we can't do without buying them. Any personal benefit is incidental.

(i put £5 printing down as i mostly don't print stuff out, i will claim the cost of my toner when that needs replacing though and did claim for the laser printer as i use that 100% for the MS work - i may prorate this year though as more private usage)

rachchel

boyoboy1986 wrote: »

01256 810998

That used to work, although people gave reported being sacked for phoning so it may be worth just dropping the visit or rescheduling if possible. Do you have you confirmation saying yesterday's date?

Yes i have had confirmation with Sundays date on it for the visit. I didnt apply for it until 8pm sunday night. Ive sent an email telling them of the problem so i will give it a day or so before phoning. Thats so wrong that they can sack you for phoning :mad:. Its my first job with them and its not looking good.