Month: March 2014

Will Trading Standards be able to end Government “Copycat” websites

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HMRC had a number of copycats trying to offer self assessment returns, here is an extract from the Tax Agents Blog in January…

With the 31 January deadline for filing SA returns fast approaching, the media has been asking us for our view on ‘copycat websites’, where companies offer to file returns for customers in return for large fees – sometimes up to £400. These companies pay to advertise their link at the top of search engines, so customers find them first when searching for ‘HMRC’, ‘tax return’ and so on.

I thought I’d let you know that our view on this hasn’t changed. It costs nothing to file a tax return. It’s important that anyone thinking of using a tax return agent is clear in advance about fees payable – and can satisfy themselves that they will receive the service they are signing up for.

, 16 January 2014

Misleading websites that try and palm themselves off as legitimate government services are to come under the spotlight from Trading Standards  (4 March 2014) as Consumer Minister Jenny Willott confirmed extra funding for them to help tackle these rogue traders.

The Minister has committed an additional £120,000 this financial year to National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) so they can investigate these websites. This money will help NTSB also tackle websites that exaggerate the nature of the services they provide or deliberately underplay that people can get them for free or at a lower cost from official sources.

Further details from TSI http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/news-item.cfm/newsid/1429

Will this end copycats?

steve@bicknells.net

Have Accountants in Oz gone mad? who is the dancing accountant?

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Accountants are normally reserved, professional and controlled, but a new type of accountant is taking social media by storm, the dancing accountant.

Dressed in his signature accounting ‘uniform’ that includes a tie, glasses, sweater-vest, and obligatory black briefcase, once a week the Dancing Accountant performs a one-man ‘flash mob’ style public dance, which is uploaded to his YouTube channel.

After attending a music festival a couple of years ago, the character was born after the Dancing Accountant realised that his unique dance moves were being copied by a group of people standing behind him. Unperturbed, he continued before realising that the crowd of imitators soon grew, until almost fifty had joined in.

“It was then I realised that people just enjoy seeing someone let loose, and that’s where the idea of the videos came from.” Viewers suggest the location and make song requests.

http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/News-Media/Charter/Charter-articles/Member-profiles/2013-10-Dance-like-everyone-is-watching.aspx

Is this totally crazy? obviously the bank didn’t like it because they called the police

Does this help to improve the image of accountants?

steve@bicknells.net