Help Dodgy Accountant

Elkcooper85

Can some one help?

I have been paying an accountant for a few years to do my self-assessment tax. They charge a fixed annual fee but spread the cost over the year but direct debit to help with cash flow (this is how they sold their services to me).

I have recently discovered that they are very expensive for the service they provide and would like to go else where. They haven't started work on my accounts for this year, but they have taken money from me by direct debit. When I called to get a refund because I don't want them to do my accounts for this year they said they don't do refunds.

Can anyone advise? Surely they can't refuse a refund when they haven't done any work yet?

wealdroam

Elkcooper85 wrote: »

Can some one help?

I have been paying an accountant for a few years to do my self-assessment tax. They charge a fixed annual fee but spread the cost over the year but direct debit to help with cash flow (this is how they sold their services to me).

I have recently discovered that they are very expensive for the service they provide and would like to go else where. They haven't started work on my accounts for this year, but they have taken money from me by direct debit. When I called to get a refund because I don't want them to do my accounts for this year they said they don't do refunds.

Can anyone advise? Surely they can't refuse a refund when they haven't done any work yet?

Are you paying in advance or arrears?

In other words, are you perhaps now actually paying off the debt for last year's accounts?
In which case you will have to continue paying until the debt is cleared.

Even if you are paying towards next year's bill, this all really depends on the terms of your agreement, and as this is probably a business to business arrangement, there is no consumer right that can help you.

arcon5

Sorry but you've agreed a contract ahead of the accounts falling due so what makes you think you can renegade?

This is a b2b contract and you are expected to understand agreements you enter in to, so no consumer rights here and the laws surrounding penalties are different.

Why couldn't you do research in to prices etc a long time ago? (no of payments * amount = fee) basic stuff really.

Dodgy accountant? A bit dramatic and unfair really

arcon5

It's highly unlikely op will be paying in arrears.

cazziebo

You will have to check your initial agreement. I would expect that you would have to give notice to your accountant that you want to terminate this agreement with them. That notice will be specified in the contract.

You might find that you have to pay for a further three or six months. All quite usual in professional services.

(It's not "dodgy" to charge more than others, or to charge on a retainer basis. Your thread title is misleading, dodgy in fact!)

Fergie76

If it's a self-assessment, it may not be a b2b contract, just someone in the higher tax bracket?