unexpected bill from 2021 through to 2023

GENralQ

we've been asked to pay a bill from our accountant that goes across 2021 through 2023, it's a payment of over £5500
this is toatally unexpected and we're questioning why at this late date they're asking for it.

normally we pay immediately and last year when i forgot a payment for myself i was reminded within weeks for payment which of course i did

so odd as we've never been asked for these bills before

MeteredOut

Are you disputing that you owe the money, or just frustrated that the invoice arrived so late?

If you are not disputing it, you legally have to pay it (they have 6 years). Make a complaint and see if they can knock a hundred quid or so off the bill, or if you can't afford it all at once, ask for them to agree to a repayment plan.

Was this work for a personal matter, or a B2B relationship (not that that really changes things much, but they're less likely to give you a gesture of goodwill discount if its B2B)?

kazwookie

Have you seen the bills before? (check old purchase invoices)

Do you owe the money?

Have you paid the bills previously (look at bank statements)

How do your bills arrive, ie post / email etc, maybe check emails search for your accountants name.

If you do owe the money, it you not think it was 'odd' that no invoice have come into the busines? di you not put the money to 'one side' to cover for these?

Depending on how well you get on with them, can you ring them up to discuss the matter / go and visit their offices

Hoenir

The invoice is presumably itemised. Are you disputing that you never received these services? 

GENralQ

the invoice is only itemised in as much a certain amount on a certain day, no more information
we've never seen any of these bills before and cant believe we've been in error, plus some time would have been in covid when we were closed.
we've been with them over 30 years and we're trying to get hold of someone we usually deal with... nothing as yet

we have no idea as yet if we actually owe them this money as it goes back 4 years and cant believe they would leave it so long to ask for payment... and normally it's  a bill sent out and we pay immediately

MeteredOut

Two simple facts

- Its up to them to show that you owe them the money - so don't pay anything until they've produce itemised line items showing what services they provided
- If they did provide the services, you are legally obliged to pay for them

Why do you need to "get hold of someone you usually deal with"? Just speak to whoever issued the invoice, tell them you have no recollection of the services for those dates, and can they please provide more details.

GENralQ

there is no name apart from the company name on this invoice. however we've spoken to the accountant who we've dealt with over the years, apparently these bigger invoices have been going to a different email address not ours, then when they had no replies they sent paper invoices to the business address that we'd closed - half the company had our correct email address..tax issues and wages information, and other departments not, these larger bills of thousands of pounds had been going elsewhere . ...we had no idea we were in debt to them over two years 2021 and 2022. our accountant says check if you can see any large payments we may have made (but without any request for payment we wouldn't pay anything ) and maybe we can come to an agreement about payment over a lenghthier time line.

MeteredOut

GENralQ said:

there is no name apart from the company name on this invoice. however we've spoken to the accountant who we've dealt with over the years, apparently these bigger invoices have been going to a different email address not ours, then when they had no replies they sent paper invoices to the business address that we'd closed - half the company had our correct email address..tax issues and wages information, and other departments not, these larger bills of thousands of pounds had been going elsewhere . ...we had no idea we were in debt to them over two years 2021 and 2022. our accountant says check if you can see any large payments we may have made (but without any request for payment we wouldn't pay anything ) and maybe we can come to an agreement about payment over a lenghthier time line.

Unless you are disputing the charges, coming up with an agreed repayment plan will be the best result you can expect.