After receiving what I consider to be substandard results from two accounting firms in CH, for my small business, I am wondering what options I have with regards to settlement of invoices.
If I do not agree with a very large amount charged for a job that has not been completed, is there any governing body for accounting services that I can complain to. And if it comes to legal proceedings, has anyone had experience suing a Treuhand? I am really at a loss comprehending how two firms that I have worked with can justify billing many hours of work and not producing/delivering results...and expecting me to just pay their invoices.
Would appreciate any advice about consumer protection in CH.
Have you complained to the two mentioned accounting firms? What did you agree on with the two accounting firms? Most consultants are paid for hours of service and not for results if not explicitly agreed on otherwise. Consumer protection for account firm customers?
It's not really a matter of consumer protection as it concerns a dispute between two businesses. Also, you don't have sue them. They have to sue you as they want your money. You may withold payment arguing that the your business partners have not met their obligations under the contract.
I'm not sure whether there's a general regulatory supervisions of trustees or audit firms. I would recommend that you turn to FINMA ( http://www.finma.ch/e/pages/default.aspx ) for further advice.
Don't know what the sarcastic face is for...pretty obvious what my question is. If you don't want to answer, stay off the thread.
Do you just pay bills that you do not agree with? I do not, and after going round in circles with the accounting firm, with no answers to my VERY specific queries, I am looking for advice from a consumer advocate/omsbudsman before consulting an attorney. Many industries also have associations that represent/regulate thier members and sometimes can be helpful when dispute occur.
It is extremely important that you have documented your complaints about the bills as well as the responses of the companies to these complaints. A lot then depends on what kind of contract you have with the companies and what is in the contract. As carcharhinus pointed out consultants are generally paid for hours of service and not for results unless explicitly agreed on. However, you do have the right to be informed in detail about their activities and their charges in the invoices.
As Calvin pointed out, the companies would have to come after you if they want their money, though it is probably better to try and sort it out beforehand. As it concerns two private companies, an ombudsman is unlikely to be of much help because in Switzerland they are generally there to deal with complaints against the government or administrative bodies. Your best bet, besides consulting an lawyer, which you don't want to do (yet), would probably be here: http://www.zav.ch/service/rechtsausk...l?newLangID=en .
The fact that you aren't happy with the result isn't automatically a reason not to have to pay their invoice. It all depends on what type of contract you have with them, result based or time/activity based.
Others have given you good advice already; if you don't want to pay, you don't pay and you let them make the next move (Betreibung and/or Inkasso).
Or why don't you simply pass it on to your Rechtsschutzversicherung, that's what it is for. I do presume you have one.
Sorry, I should have phrased my reply differently. In a nutshell: There is usually no consumer protection for customers of accounting firms due to the commercial nature of such relationships. I usually pay even bills I do not agree with since I want to avoid a Betreibung. Whether I complain or not depends on the situation and the money involved, in many cases, it is easier to let it go than to complain or even to start legal proceedings.