Bishop Fleming Reviews 6

Avoid. Most expensive mistake I've made in a decade. They simply don't care. High fees, always OOO, and both year returns were prepared 6 months after submitting my details leaving us with scary and expensive year end stress.

I would strongly recommend anyone who is looking for professional probate services to choose specialised or a legal entity rather than this accountancy firm. Be careful with overly zealous marketing messages and suggested fees that do not represent what they actually charge by an hourly rate. Inflexible and lack of communication when the probate costs just keep rising and rising to £10,000s more than the average fee they represent on their website.

They made a good impression on me when we were shopping for a new accountancy firm. However, it quickly went downhill from there. They tend, I believe, to farm out their services to subcontractors. The payroll was done by someone else. The person doing the VAT had precious little knowledge of my business (so I suspect she was an external consultant). We specifically chose this accountancy because they said they would chase us for information, as we are very busy people and tend to leave accounts to the last minute. In practice, it was us chasing them. Our new accountant has given me better advice in one month than Bishop-Fleming gave in 18 months. I'm just sorry that we left the previous accountant.

They are very much clock watchers and every second counts as far as billing is concerned. They should understand that the services they charge for includes things like responding to a quick email, giving an answer to a simple question. For example, having moved to our new accountant, they are very unhelpful with things like confirming salary to third parties, and responding to queries regarding historical data. Things which our new accountant is unable to help with and is totally dependent on B-F. In addition, half way through our time with them, we were late paying their invoice, so they refused to respond to our requests until we paid. Well, I would NEVER treat any of my clients this way. We have a long list of our own unpaid invoices and to refuse to continue working is not the right approach at all. Interestingly, they are aware of the money owed to our business but never provided any advice on how to deal with them.

I suppose they may read this review and if they do, they need to know that THEY are supposed to be doing US, their client, a service. We pay them to work for us. They are not doing us a favour, but a service. I don't think they get it.

Where to start?! After my terrible first impression from the rude receptionist (some young graduate), I hoped the bar couldn't sink any lower. Messy office, peeling wallpaper and definitely asbestos in the walls! No level of professionalism with the managerial staff being incompetent at best and less switched on than a power cut. The staff lack any drive or passion for the world of accounting which is integral for a successful accountancy firm - something which they are clearly not. I would never recommend this accountancy firm to any of my clients and I hope they have a good hard look at themselves and who they're employing. They wouldn't know talent if it shat down their mouth - and if I could give zero stars... I would. Overall, Bristol is a lovely city full of wonderful culture and history I just think it's such a shame it has to be ruined by this joke of a company.

This company did the payroll for a startup I worked for. The startup went under shortly after Covid started and now, 2 years later I need an important payslip from that period for HMRC. I have called and left several messages asking for their help. They neither bother nor care to respond.

Gross incompetence
They acted for a v dodgy individual in Worcester re a bridging loan I had.
Once it was cleared they failed to remove second charges causing me considerable distress
I am now suing them for SUBSTANTIAL damages
If you are seeking advice re debts or any related financial interests I implore you to give these clowns a wide berth