A client I took on a couple of years ago had appointed an accountant (unqualified).

The accountant advised setting up a limited company and took the client's bookkeeping records to write up the books and prepare the accounts and tax returns.

The accountant then became non-responsive, leaving the client with a Limited Company which she didn't need and didn't know what to do with.

Of course this ended up with big fines building up for the client on the Limited Company (for non-filing of annual accounts, annual return etc), non-filing of self assessment returns etc etc.

I am still trying to piece the situation together now two years later.

Both the client and I have tried to contact the former accountant on several occasions by letter and phone (there is no email address) and had absolutely no response.

The client can't even get her paper records back. A total disgrace and shouldn't be allowed to call themselves an accountant.

An IT Contractor had been with the same accountant since he set up his limited company nearly 10 years ago.

During that time he has suffered numerous penalty fees but also has actually had his company dissolved by Companies House resulting in the loss of the funds in the bank account as it become the property of the Crown.

The client just accepted that after speaking with his accountant is that "these things happen".

The accountant charged large fees for restoring his limited company follow an old process even though there a new and much simpler process had been introduced.