New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

Andy2013

When I started trading it probably sounds mad but I actually aimed for the day I had £100 of fees per month as it meant I had good sales coming in as 95% of my fees are for final sale value fees :ie turnover.

This month up to 14th when I get invoiced I am on target for £200 in fees but then my turnover is 10x that amount , so its a cost worth paying for me.

Also ebay is the master of self promotion with literally millions of visitors every day so I spend nothing on marketing or promo which would cost many ££££s over the year

pinkypoopydoo

Andy2013 wrote: »

Also ebay is the master of self promotion with literally millions of visitors every day so I spend nothing on marketing or promo which would cost many ££££s over the year

I wonder if I could get away with selling my bookkeeping skills on ebay then - could save me a fortune on marketing if people bought me by the hour on ebay!

Andy2013

Hey joking aside people sell all sorts on there.

A local plumber has an add, listed for 1 penny and his page has his services listed on it with prices beside.

Another is a white van man with a similar idea.

A little strange but it gets word around I guess

pinkypoopydoo

Really?! I might have a look and see if it would be worth a punt!

BigAl127

Andy2013 wrote: »

Bad news is the JC have not sorted my NEA payments after the switch from the £65 to £33

Like Andy 2013, my NEA switch from £65 to £33 has NOT been sorted. This is despite the fact I was told over 2 weeks ago it should be.

On ringing the NEA Customer Service, yet again, I've been informed the switch over isn't automatic, and can't be done until you've had a review of your business, by the Jobcentre.

Having rung the Jobcentre to get it sorted, I've now got to sit and wait for them ringing me back to get it sorted out. This should be week 1 of the switchover. I'm hoping it doesn't take another 5 weeks, like my original payments did.

My advice to anyone nearing the 13 week mark of NEA is make sure you get your review done by the Jobcentre in plenty of time.

Andy2013

BigAl127 , Sorry it has happened to you also, a total pain in the bum.

I had 2 visits to the job centre and a total of 4 weeks wait whilst they sorted mine out , and even then the guy in the payments office was unsure how much we get and for how long .

Like I said I never thought I would get so excited over a poxy £33 but it gets to be a mission when it comes to anything NEA, nothing is straight forward.

BigAl127

Well looks like mine should only take 2 and 1/2 hours to be in my account.

Jobcentre rang me back within half hour, and said if I can get proof to them that i'm still trading, they'll photocopy them and sort things out.

I left the jobcentre at 12:25pm after having took my paperwork, and them photocopying a couple of receipts and my balance sheet and profit & loss. Just had a phone call at 12:45 saying "good news", she's rung NEA payments and they will be actioning my payment this afternoon, and should be in my bank by the end of the day. She will call me again later to confirm payment has been made.

The one thing that does help my case, is that I now go via the Senior Managers' Office (Direct number) at the Jobcentre, following the complaint I made at start-up when it took 5 weeks to close my JSA claim and pay NEA.

Though it's still annoying, that we have to keep banging our heads to get things sorted. If it was us not following their procedures, they'd soon be on our backs sanctioning us.

Andy2013

Hey that's great news looks like today was your lucky day .

Now don't spend that £33 all at once !!! :rotfl:

BigAl127

Well almost 4 hours have passed, no phone call and no money in the bank like promised, so I won't be spending it at all, never mind all at once. Why can't the Jobcentre be honest once in a while?

What is it that you sell Andy2013? I prefer to use new/small companies rather than the big guys, as my custom is usually appreciated more.

CuriousWorker

Are you concerned about these details on invoices for bookkeeping/accounting purposes? The only people that will see these are yourself and any bookkeeper/accountant you employ and HMRC. Bookkeepers and accountants must work under the regulations of governing bodies (if they are not a member of a governing body, then steer clear! )

I DO have a governing body already wanting to see them - for Housing Benefit/Council Tax purposes, even though I've hardly got anything there yet.

Paypal transaction receipts are a perfectly acceptable form of receipt for bookkeeping purposes - I have a few myself from buying stationary supplies from ebay and amazon.

This is completely different to what I asked - I DIDN'T buy anything, I got paid from someone via a site, who I have no way of sending an invoice or receipt to. Is the Paypal transaction for RECEIVING the money from the site enough or do I need more?

I think you need to phone DWP and see what they are playing at

They said it'll be at least another week!

My council deal with housing benefit and council tax reduction on the same form - I'm not sure if that is standard practice?! I had to resubmit my claim for council tax reduction, along with a Self employment earnings form, that asked for costs and income so far, and estimates of costs until the end of the financial year.

and they also want bank statements, both personal and business, showing the last 2 months transactions (which, obviously, I have not even received yet), invoices, receipts, accounts, proof of WTC, etc most of which I do not even have yet (so how can I show them) before they will continue to pay HB again.

From what your saying it sounds as though your planning on using your personal bank account instead of a business bank account. I feel with this you may run into problems further down the line

I was told it wouldn't be a problem but I think getting a seperate bank account for the business is probably a better idea.

Also if your bank notices regular payments from specific companies then they could decide to question you upon this and hit you with charges.

All payments come through Paypal before going to the bank... and I'm a non-VAT registered sole trader using my real name (I have been advised that this is fine).