Am I being petty?

claudialowe

What would you lot do?

Got client's books in early December - and early on realised that he should have registered for VAT in October 2007. Phoned and told him - he threw a hissy fit, and went to someone else.

Good riddance I thought, and like a good girl gave all required info to new accountants.

Phones me on Saturday morning(!) wanting to know if I had still got any of his stuff - checked this morning and phoned him back to say no I hadn't.

He then had a tantrum - saying that I am unprofessional - I have lost some of his records, I didn't act properly as an accountant in telling him about the VAT laws (which as the previous year he wasn't close to the threshold, didn't cross my mind - should it have done?).

This has wound me up and actually upset me a bit :crying:

I have also heard on the grapevine that he is bad-mouthing me......

Do I just rise above it (as my sensible head tells me to) or do I write to him stating the facts, and telling him - well, tell him what :confused1:

Sorry for the rant, but I would like to know what others would do in the same boat.

Claudia

T.C.

I would suggest that you get a cup of coffee and relax first! Then draft a letter to him, with a copy to the new accountants, stating that all the paperwork was sent to the new accountants and the date it was sent. I wouldn't do any more than that. :thumbup:

Poodle

Hi Claudia

I would get really upset just like you and woud take it personally as well but you must not, it's only business and hopefully the cup of tea would have done the trick.

At the end of the day it is the tax payers responsibility to know that he should have registered for VAT after all he was a big boy and went self employed??

What I do, and I think that it is a good idea for exactly this reason, is to send out the 'should I be registered for VAT' leaflet to all new clients when you send out your letter of engagement if you mention it's enclosure in your covering letter then advise them to contact you if they ever think that they may need to register then they will have no recourse to you.

The leaflet is free, just order up some from the helpline.

Poodle

deanshepherd

Great advice Poodle.

Let him have his petty rant, put it behind you and move on. As much as you want to get your point across he will never listen to reason so you won't do yourself any favours by dragging out the argument longer than it needs to. I'm sure the new accountant will soon realise what they have taken on.

claudialowe

Thanks you guys - my sensible side knows just to forget it and move on, but I don't like being dissed :mad2: and I want to stand up for myself....

Tea and coffee didn't work, but a large vodka did :thumbup:

Claudia