Advice needed please on increased accountancy charges

[tomcroll]

Hi,

I have searched for answers to this, but can't find any, so apologies if this has been asked before:

I used to pay £75 / month for my accountancy, my company was not being used for a year, so I was paying this money for absolutely nothing.

Anyway, my accountant has now contacted me, stating that they sent me a letter some months ago telling me they were almost doubling my fees and I now owe them an extra £500. I never recieved any letter and have barely even used their service. I am obviously moving accountancy firms, but I'd like to know if I am obliged to pay this increased amount. I don't feel like I ever agreed to this increase (who would?) but I don't know the legalities of the situation. I'm not too inclined to start a legal wrangle with an accountancy firm if I'm not on solid ground either.

Please could someone advise me?

Thanks,
Tom

[Clare@InTouch]

I think your best bet would be to try to negotiate with them - figure out exactly what's been done, list it out and request that they carry out a review based on the time spent on your affairs and the fees paid to date.

Is there a reason you wouldn't have received their letter regarding fees? Moved address or anything?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Look at your SLA, FPA or engagement letter with them. That should tell you whether they can bang up fees without your approval. If there is no reference to it (or fees at all) tell them to whistle for it. If they can, I'd say negotiate. I'd imagine they'd be happy to accept the fee you have already paid is adequate if you have done next to no business anyway.

[Wanderer]

Look at your SLA, FPA or engagement letter with them. That should tell you whether they can bang up fees without your approval.

Eh? I wish I had a business relationship where I could "bang up fees without approval".

Tell the accountants to bugger off. They either stick to the original deal or you sack them, the contract is not negotiable. Especially as you've been paying them to do nothing.