Hey all.. I saw an accountant to help me out… turns out they didnt… sent me the bill. I was like whoah! when I saw it. They didnt do anything and just charged me for the review. 500 bucks. I said ok …people need to make money…mailed them 250 w/ a letter (since what I thought I owed them was 0 and they thought it was 500.. i went halfway). Thought the issue was closed until I got a certified letter with a late fee! Kinda ticked me off … dont know if I should pay the bill or tell them to lick a socket. Any thoughts? thanks…
Edited 5/10/2006 10:42 pm ET by bc
Replies
What do you mean they didnt do anything? Was it just a consultation? Was there any mention of a fee for a consultation? If not then I probably wouldn't have even sent them $250. They would have gotten a call first to see what this fee was all about.
My gut response is pay it and learn from it.
More though, I see this too much. Heck, I still do it sometimes, and end up kicking myself. Doing anything that involves a service and an exchange of funds without a contract. I'm sure you didn't have one, and an accountant would think you're odd for requesting one, but how clear were the two of you on expectations ahead of time?
I talked to a structural engineer a few months back. I said hey, we're not at contract point yet, but I'd like to know, in round general terms, what you think your $ involvement in a certain project might be if we get there. I gave him particulars. He said, aw heck, I'm out driving, why don't I just swing by and have a quick look. Ok, fine. He volunteered. And sent me a bill at $125 an hour for his "aw heck". Now that scenario, I'd balk. I did.
With an accountant though, you're going to end up, if this went to court, looking at what the common practice for that trade in your area is, and if the common practice is they bill for the time it takes and thats what they're doing, then you're still paying. If it makes you feel any better, our bill for the year end return and assosciated paperwork was $950.
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
Just a thought. Is it worth having your credit rating affected? Who better than an accountant to report to the credit bureaus that you a bad risk? Your choice, and you can still "vent" in a letter to them when you send in the check, if makes you feel better.
And what they'll do it smile, cash the check, and throw the "vent" letter in the trash. Does no good.
S'pose the lesson is always ask what it will likely cost before the work starts, or give him a budget for the services with a requirement that he call you first for authorization if the budget will be exceeded.
The guy who does my accounting is excellent and his firm came highly recommended. My return each year is about 2" thick and he charges me $400. I try to have a decent understanding of the tax code so I have some way to evaluate his performance and he never fails to save me a lot. Also takes care of a chore I'd rather pay for than do.
You could likely get him to take some haircut on that bill if it's worth the time to you. If you want to go that way, give him a call and talk it through.
I'd suggest also spending some time shopping around to see if his fees are out of line with the going rate in your area.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
just send the money, then send 500 bucks to each one of us you consulted....
No, I think you were fair enough. if he did'nt spell out the terms of his service as they relate to his involvement then he's just hoping.
"right before you forgot to tell me you were charging me I forgot to tell you you were fired"
How much time did you end up spending with the accountant and what was it over?