Letters.

Intuit and the Dark Ages[QQ] I was interested to read that Intuit is launching QuickBooks 8.0 on 21 April (Intuit launches upgrade, 6 April), but somewhat taken aback by the comments from Alan Ross about the lazy accountants who are living in the past and failing their clients. I extensively use Quicken and have started to recommend QuickBooks to my clients. The products are a joy to use and the reporting aspects are so good it just makes you want to weep when they are compared with the expensive niche-market products that practices have to use for incomplete record production. I was so sold on the products that I decided to pay good money and sign up as a QuickBooks Professional Advisor (QPA). So what happened when I logged on to the website? – I had to phone for a form, or print a copy and fax it in – how about registering online? – I was then sent a pack including six trial disks for my client recommendations – fantastic, until the clients came in and confessed that they could not load the software. In disbelief I showed them how on one of our machines; oh no – they were right. – Back on to Intuit. Yes I had received upgrade disks that had been put into trial boxes in error. Certainly they could replace them, but they were produced in Germany and there would be a delay of about 28 days. Not impressive, the clients were beginning to think that I was recommending the wrong product. – After the 28 days had expired I thought that I would go onto the site to send an encouraging e-mail. As far as I can see there is no easy way of communicating with Intuit other than by phone. – I have made a number of calls, by the way I have now received the replacements, but on three occasions I could not be helped as ‘the system was down’. – I thought I would check the site to ensure that people were aware I was an advisor – this is one of the benefits of QPA membership. I was disturbed to note I was not listed in my home town. I eventually found the entry and the reason was that the town had been incorrectly spelt in the website entry (but not on the postal correspondence). – I have been phoning Intuit for about three months in order to get it changed. They have now changed it but there is a further typo with the same result. – Why can’t they change it while I am hanging on the phone? Simple – they can only amend the entries from the States. If Mr Alan Ross reads this then perhaps he could e-mail me, I would really welcome a contact e-mail address so that I could register my complaints, rather than waiting in a telephone queue. Further, if he wants to experience professionals living in the dark ages, then why not have a go at looking at his own website. Jeremy Stone, partner at Condy Mathias No rhyme or reason Your article in Taking Stock reminded me of a limerick I composed a little while ago on the subject of Hector. It goes as follows: If we were to rename that Inspector, I don’t think we’d make the name Hector, What name should we choose, To fit taxpayer views, I’ve got it now, Hannibal Lecter! J Stafford, Cambridge All letters should be sent to: The Editor, Accountancy Age, VNU House, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG Tel: 020 7316 9236 Fax: 020 7316 9250 Or e-mail us on: [email protected] Accountancy Age reserves the right to edit letters for space or clarity. Please include your title, company name and a daytime telephone number. ?: