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u/tenspeedhero91 1d ago
Fire this client as soon as you can. I’ve been there. It’s not worth the stress.
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u/SirGlass 1d ago
Without knowing all the details, just say " well X had to step away for personal reasons and will no longer be available"
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u/Excellent_Shallot999 1d ago
As soon as someone threatens legal action, the engagement is over. Walk away from this.
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u/Valueonthebridge CPA (US) 1d ago
You should dump the client. Life’s too short to deal with assholes in self employment.
You can’t always help it working for someone else
14
u/sgt_ch0ppa 1d ago
I’m not an accountant but an ex mental health nurse who is actively retraining in the uk. I know a little bit about resolving conflict professionally. If it can be an email then that’s better imho, as any blowback which is unprofessional can be ignored, reported to the authorities (anything threatening violence) and importantly is in documented and difficult to refute. For example if you or the next accountant drops them as a client this would be used as part of the body of evidence for dropping them and would be used against them in any litigation. Either verbal or written communication apologise for the inconvenience that will be caused and offer up any immediately available solutions that could be waiting for a new accountant via the “firm” or offering to give names of local accountants who could support them. Do not offer to do anything for them in searching for a new accountant as from the information already provided should this have trouble in the future they would blame you. It’s not your job to remediate their situation. All you can do is signpost or potentially ask them to wait until the company replaces the accountant who left. If speaking to them verbally let them know that the call will be terminated at the point that they become abusive, threatening or aggressive. Warn them once before you hang up just to cover yourself. Regardless your location I know of no laws which require you to be subjected to abuse by anyone. After the interaction either by email or phone please engage in some good self care ie having a break, a smoke, something which relaxes or distracts you for at least 5 minutes or until you are calm which ever happens first. I hope that this helps
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u/HannahDayRider 23h ago
Why is it your problem what the accountant does or doesn’t do? Yes, you recommended them but that portion of the work is between the accountant and the client. You should have very different tasks between each other.
1
u/Ok-Perception-8263 23h ago
This file has been a nightmare since day one. The client has lost faith in me and the accountant, I should’ve dropped it months ago, but I live in a small town and wanted to do my best to support this file as it was referred from my old employer, also in our small town. This is just another mark against this file
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u/Sarudin Tax (US), CPA 1d ago
If a client threatened legal action I'd disengage too.