Asked for your private documents and rejected your case
As a first-time UK tax-filing expat, I sought out professional accounting services to resolve my tax queries and file my tax return if needed.
The conversation went well at first, asking me to provide some background information and income details necessary for providing a quote. Then they asked for my payslip and P60 files. I shared with them as I anticipated that I were going to use their service. They did not respond to me after I gave them the files.
A week later, I asked for an update on quoting in the morning, only to receive a delayed response by the end of the day. I was informed of potential "problems and uncertainty" in my tax situation (who would say such thing to their prospective client?) which would take them more time to analyse my case.
Instead of offering a clear quote, they vaguely hinted at possible costs exceeding their package prices, even suggesting a potential doubling of the initially amount. What made things worse is that they started mind-reading by saying "if you think our price exceeds your expectation, we will totally understand it" without seeking my input. Apparently they did not want to take on my case. That's fine.
At last, I replied to them politely based on above comments and sought clarification on the handling of my confidential documents. Unfortunately, my messages went unread, indicating a disregard for client communication. Such passive-aggressive behavior is wholly inappropriate for a company offering professional services.
I cannot, in good conscience, recommend their services to others unless they are seeking a sense of betrayal. The lack of transparency, delayed responses, and presumptive interactions make them an unsuitable choice for those in need of reliable accounting assistance.
My extra advice to the concerned company: if uncertain about handling a case, please, consult internally with the accountants instead of requesting confidential documents from the client upfront. Those are private and confidential documents that require careful handling and respect. Your company would be suspected especially if leaked data were to falsely associate me with questionable financial activities.