In accordance with the recommendations of our licensing professional body, the Association of Accounting Technicians, these terms and conditions confirm the basis on which Melot Accounting Limited provides services to you, so as to avoid any misunderstandings of our respective responsibilities.
All accountants must comply with The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the Money Laundering Regulations 2017), which came into force on 26 June 2017. If we fail to perform these duties, we risk imprisonment.
As such, before we accept your instructions, we may need to obtain ‘satisfactory evidence’ to confirm your identity. Usually this will involve an online check of your identity. In certain circumstances, we may need to obtain evidence confirming the identities of third parties, the source of any funds or other property, the purpose of any instructions or any other matter. We may also need to obtain such evidence after we have begun to act on your instructions.
We assume that our clients are honest and law abiding. However, if at any time, there appear to be grounds to suspect (even if we do not actually suspect) that your instructions relate to ‘criminal property’, we are obliged to make a report to the National Crime Agency (“NCA”), but we are prohibited from telling you that we have done so.
In such circumstances, we must not act on your instructions without consent from NCA. If NCA do not refuse consent within 7 working days we may continue to act. If NCA issue a refusal within that time, we must not act for a further 31 days from the date of the refusal.
‘Criminal property’ is property in any legal form, whether money, real property, rights or any benefit derived from criminal activity. It does not matter who carried out the criminal activity or how removed the property is from the original crime. Even if you are honest in your dealings, if your property represents a benefit from someone else’s crime, we must still make a report.
Activity is considered ‘criminal’ if it is a crime under UK law, no matter how trivial. For example, tax evasion is a criminal offence but an honest mistake is not. We will assume that all discrepancies are mistakes unless there is contrary evidence.
Melot Accounting Limited does not hold any monies on behalf of clients.
If we have to withdraw engagement due to the fact the financial statements are misleading, we do not issue any report, or if it becomes necessary for us to withdraw from the engagement, monthly fees for the period up to that point will remain payable by you. Likewise if the company withdraws its business prior to the completion of reports and returns no refunds will be given for the period up to the point of leaving.
In the event of non-payment of fees for services rendered, we may exercise a particular right of lien over the books and records in our possession and withhold the documents until such time as payment of invoices is received in full.
In the event that a limited company is unable to meet its liability in respect of outstanding fees owing to Melot Accounting Limited as and when they fall due then the company’s directors would be personally, jointly and severally liable in respect of the outstanding fees.
Whilst certain documents may legally belong to you, unless you tell us not to, we intend to destroy correspondence and other papers we have stored which are more than ten years old, or five years after cease to work with you in the case of identity documents if that is sooner. We reserve the right to retain documents we think may be of continuing significance. If you require the retention of any document, you must notify us of that fact in writing.
We will observe the ethical guidelines of the Association of Accounting Technicians and accept instructions to act for you on the basis that we will act in accordance with those guidelines. A copy of these guidelines will be supplied to you on request.
We are committed to providing a high standard of customer service. If you have any ideas as to how our service to you could be improved, or if you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving, please let us know. In the event that you have a complaint, we will look into this carefully and promptly and do all we can to explain the position to you or address your concerns. If you are still not satisfied you may of course make a complaint to the Association of Accounting Technicians.
All accounts, statements and reports prepared by Melot Accounting Limited are for your exclusive use within your business or to meet specific statutory responsibilities. They should not be shown to any other party without our prior consent.
No third party shall acquire any rights pursuant to our agreement to provide professional services.
This engagement letter is governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. The Courts of England will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute or difference concerning this engagement letter and any matter arising from it. Each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to object to any action being brought in those courts, to claim that the action has been brought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.
Melot Accounting Limited will not be liable for any loss suffered by you or any third party as a result of our compliance with the Anti Money Laundering Legislation or any UK law or at all.
We will not accept responsibility if you act on advice given by us on an earlier occasion without first confirming with us that the advice is still valid in the light of any change in the law or practice or in public policy or your circumstances.
We will accept no liability for losses arising from changes in the law or practice or in public policy that are first published after the date on which the advice is given.
Once agreed, these terms will remain effective from the date of acceptance until they are replaced. Either party may vary or terminate our authority to act on your behalf at any time without penalty. Notice of termination must be given in writing.
By engaging our services, and/or continuing services for each further year you agree to the terms set out above. If anything is unclear to you or you require any further information please let us know.