The Consumer Action Group Needs Your Help

[BankFodder]

We've had some generous responses to our request for help but

 

We still need donations

We manage to pay our bills but often it is touch and go

This month we have our accountants bill coming up and we may have difficulty paying it.

If you think that we have helped you then maybe you would like to help us.

Find a donate button on the site

 

Have we helped you ...?

[micheybabes]

This site is priceless to it's users. Thank you to all the moderators for everything you do xx

[Cait116]

17 hours ago, micheybabes said:

This site is priceless to it's users. Thank you to all the moderators for everything you do xx

They're something else these guys.  Hope you have it all sorted now

[Cait116]

Payday end of week bankfodder, will donate then. Thank you so much guys for all your hard work xx

[Foolishly]

A donation is the least I could do, without this site, the help,  advice and knowledge offerred I would still be in fear of that dreaded phone call or knock on the door. The team on here are amazing thank you so much for all the hard work and effort you all input to make this site work. Ive zero stress levels and not under the pressures I was before signing up. Will donate again before the new year. Thanks !!  

[honeybee13]

Thank you very much. 

 

HB

[anon060anon]

@BankFodder - fortunately, this is the first time I have had to use the site. The information I have found has been far better than anything I've seen elsewhere, and the selfless help of the users is amazing. Payday is fast approaching, and I will do what I can to support.

[BankFodder]

On 16/12/2019 at 11:22, Cait116 said:

Payday end of week bankfodder, will donate then. Thank you so much guys for all your hard work xx

 

2 minutes ago, anon060anon said:

@BankFodder - fortunately, this is the first time I have had to use the site. The information I have found has been far better than anything I've seen elsewhere, and the selfless help of the users is amazing. Payday is fast approaching, and I will do what I can to support.

 

Thanks to both of you for these kind messages. If you are able to make donations then of course that would be very helpful but we do realise that Christmas can be an expensive time for everyone.  Whatever you do, don't compromise your Christmas expenditure.

[Foolishly]

6 hours ago, BankFodder said:

 

 

Thanks to both of you for these kind messages. If you are able to make donations then of course that would be very helpful but we do realise that Christmas can be an expensive time for everyone.  Whatever you do, don't compromise your Christmas expenditure.

I did donate but I did not send my email details/info over to you with payment as it gives you the option to do so, hope you dont mind me keeping things anonomous same as the site, 

[BankFodder]

Of course not. We are very happy to keep everybody anonymous but as it happens your email address was contained on the PayPal notification and I have actually responded. Check your spam folder if you haven't seen it.

If you don't get it – then thank you very much anyway.

[Foolishly]

5 hours ago, BankFodder said:

Of course not. We are very happy to keep everybody anonymous but as it happens your email address was contained on the PayPal notification and I have actually responded. Check your spam folder if you haven't seen it.

If you don't get it – then thank you very much anyway.

Yes I received your email thanks. Thats perfectly acceptable anyway, as its to my email address

[GoldenGoose]

Happy Christmas Guys,

Just made my donation as I promised, thanks to you guys for everything great site and help.

Absolutely priceless. 

[AndyOrch]

     Many thanks for your support...and all the best for the festive season.

 

Andy

[BankFodder]

2 hours ago, GoldenGoose said:

Happy Christmas Guys,

Just made my donation as I promised, thanks to you guys for everything great site and help.

Absolutely priceless. 

 

Yes, thank you. I've responded by email.

[crashlanding21]

Donated Chaps!

[AndyOrch]

[honeybee13]

Our users are very kind.

 

HB

[firstship]

Firstship Donated with many thanks for your help

FS

[finaldj]

Donated but not much, I plan on making a few more over the coming months...

 

Just wondering what does it cost the site come bill time?

[BankFodder]

Any donation is always helpful. Thank you.

I'm afraid that we don't discuss the running cost of this site but we don't make profits but by and large we have managed reasonably well in the past but in the past few months things have been very difficult. January is the most difficult month because within have to to deal with a bookkeeper and an accountant as well as our normal monthly bills. we don't often make enough to put something by to deal with those larger events.

 

I think this is the first time in 14 years that we have had to put out the begging bowl

 

[GoldenGoose]

I don’t think accountability comes into it, let’s just think about  all the hours and advice available and from my experience quicker than any solicitor, almost immediate response and advice on tap is something you cannot put a price too.

if everyone gave what was affordable in relation to what advice was given the site should not be asking for financial help.

I really hope the donations pay what’s needed or lots of people will be left struggling.

Ask yourself would you do the same for no return, please donate if you can 

 

[cjcregg]

18 hours ago, BankFodder said:

January is the most difficult month because within have to to deal with a bookkeeper and an accountant as well as our normal monthly bills. we don't often make enough to put something by to deal with those larger events.

 

 

 

 

It's none of my business of course but I can't imagine that your business is particularly large or complex enough to justify employing accountants and bookkeepers. 

 

This is particularly so when it appears that their cost is disproportionately large in comparison to the other expenses of the company. Crazy really.

 

As a small/medium sized business owner of many years, and not particularly bright at that (!),  learning to prepare and file my own accounts was really quite easy and once I got the hang of it was actually less time consuming than dealing with accountants to do it.

 

Like I said, none of my business but I'd give the same advice to anyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

[BankFodder]

5 hours ago, cjcregg said:

 

It's none of my business of course but I can't imagine that your business is particularly large or complex enough to justify employing accountants and bookkeepers. 

 

This is particularly so when it appears that their cost is disproportionately large in comparison to the other expenses of the company. Crazy really.

 

As a small/medium sized business owner of many years, and not particularly bright at that (!),  learning to prepare and file my own accounts was really quite easy and once I got the hang of it was actually less time consuming than dealing with accountants to do it.

 

Like I said, none of my business but I'd give the same advice to anyone. 

 

 

 

I'm afraid that the whole business of keeping the accounts and getting it all sorted out in time is just too much to handle on top of the daily running of the forum. Most people here would realise that I am very hands on and I have been for most of the last 14 years.

 

I don't have the skills I don't have the energy.

 

Also, a few years back we were late in producing our accounts and an administrator from another forum put in a complaint and we ended up having to pay a penalty – which is definitely not what people intend their donations to be used for.  It hit us very hard.

 

As far as the administration of this forum goes I want an easy life and as little conflict as possible. Getting our accounts properly done every year is a luxury that we treat ourselves to and it is well earned and well deserved.

 

Also, you are describing this forum as a "business". It's not a business – Sometimes I wish it was and I wish it was making money – but it's not. This forum is a work of massive personal commitment on the part of the entire site team and all of the people who keep on coming back to help others.

 

I'm afraid that you have badly misjudged the ethos of this community.

[Ecker]

Not been on the site for a few weeks guys. I have made a donation and wish you all well. Thanks for this superb site

which is so useful when you need advice and feel so alone at times.

[cjcregg]

10 hours ago, BankFodder said:

 

I'm afraid that the whole business of keeping the accounts and getting it all sorted out in time is just too much to handle on top of the daily running of the forum. Most people here would realise that I am very hands on and I have been for most of the last 14 years.

 

I don't have the skills I don't have the energy.

 

Also, a few years back we were late in producing our accounts and an administrator from another forum put in a complaint and we ended up having to pay a penalty – which is definitely not what people intend their donations to be used for.  It hit us very hard.

 

As far as the administration of this forum goes I want an easy life and as little conflict as possible. Getting our accounts properly done every year is a luxury that we treat ourselves to and it is well earned and well deserved.

 

Also, you are describing this forum as a "business". It's not a business – Sometimes I wish it was and I wish it was making money – but it's not. This forum is a work of massive personal commitment on the part of the entire site team and all of the people who keep on coming back to help others.

 

I'm afraid that you have badly misjudged the ethos of this community.

 

I'm not describing the forum itself as a business but the underlying structure and activity that supports it financially. Unless you treat it as such and look at reducing optional costs such as accountancy you will continue to have to ''put out the begging bowl '' as you put it. It's simply an unescapable commercial reality. Of course it's your choice but not how I'd go about it, that's all.

 

If the ethos of this community is to offer advice freely and unconditionally (which I have genuinely attempted to do in this case) then I do not believe I have misjudged it.