[Rogue Trader]

You got me thinking now , maybe it is a LTD requirement, i know that at some point in the past someone, probably my accountant has told me i need to issue numbered invoices for every customer and keep those invoices for 7 years.

[Smudger]

if that is right RT, on CP you could just click "create invoice" this would then be on the system for your records but you would not have to give it to the customer or print it out - BUT it would be on the system and able to produce at a click if required.

[Rogue Trader]

Just want to say to say Rob that the new addition a star next to new customers details on the database is a real help. Especially as i am in the midst of a leaflet campaign ATM and forgetting about new customers and letting them be swallowed up in my database without prioritising them would be a disaster.

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Thanks Smudger.

Been trying to get iron clad clarification on this on the HMRC website, this is all I can find:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/charging/vat-invoices.htm#3

If you are registered for VAT you must give any VAT-registered customers a VAT invoice for any standard-rated or reduced-rated goods or services you sell them.

If you are a retailer, you do not need to issue a VAT invoice or receipt unless your customer asks for one.

Doesn't actually make clear what non retailers are required to do if the customer isn't VAT registered, so I'm guessing nothing - i.e. it's at the customer's request as Smudger said?

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Just want to say to say Rob that the new addition a star next to new customers details on the database is a real help. Especially as i am in the midst of a leaflet campaign ATM and forgetting about new customers and letting them be swallowed up in my database without prioritising them would be a disaster.

Cheers Rogue

Smudger - Rogue asked how you guys "sell" GoCardless to your customers - I'd be interested to know that too I mean it obviously is more convenient for them. I'd go on GC in a heartbeat if my WC did it (I'm working on him!) can't be bothered with all that BACS faffing around every month, I always pay him promptly so I've got no issue with it. But I guess people do worry about giving over their bank details, and GC isn't exactly a trusted household name - yet - almost feel they need to do a TV ad or something to get into the public consciousness! I might suggest that to them

[Mike #1]

GC is gaining more presence with paid ads etc , I view a locally published paper online and they have ads on their and they have just made a move into Europe after $7m investment .

Their improved website defo helps and the Fact that they are regulated by the Finanical Conduct Authority which has been mentioned quite a bit on the news recently .

On my site on the Pay Your Bill is almost fully dedicated to GoCardless with extracts from their site , Plus a brief explanation about the security of a Direct Debit it has swayed a few customers since the recent changes . Mike

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

The new GC website is OK (on-trend deliriously happy smiling head in the banner of course ) but it's still aimed 100% at people taking money, not people who have to part with their bank details.

"GoCardless makes it quick and easy to take Direct Debit"... "Add customers in 2 clicks"... "Take payments effortlessly" etc...

Maybe they're focusing on other channels to build awareness and credibility with consumers such as newspaper ads as you say on the assumption that if you've come directly to the website you probably want to use GC to take payments rather than make them, but what about the people who Google GC after being asked by their window cleaner to sign up with them? There's nothing on there that speaks to them, explains what it's all about, why you should trust them etc.

Think I will ask my contact at GC for his thoughts on this

GoCardless definitely is a good thing for both sides but I think they've got a job to do to convince consumers of this.

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Prompt and helpful response from Ricky @ GoCardless:

It's a really good point and something we are currently working on improving.

This webpage, http://gocardless.com/benefits/paying-through-gocardless may help in the meantime.

Our security page may also shed some light on the measures we take to ensure customer data is safe.

Good page to link customers to that I think

[Arnold Palmer]

VAT invoices should be produced to any customer who asks for one, whether they are VAT registered or not.
Any VAT registered customer will want one to reclaim the VAT so you should always give them one.

[Smudger]

We really promote GC to all new customers and simply call it a DD just like many other companies ie gas/electric - we stress that we only take payment AFTER a clean has been carried out (so if we get behind they are not paying in advance) as we like this, but you can set it for a fixed day of the month too.

Its really not been a hard sell at all - its a DD they have full control over it and anyone that pays by cheque give out their bank details each time they write a cheque.

Its also a FAB tool for late customers, we simply get the account up to date and then a letter is issued saying that we are swapping to DD and that we would like them to set it up - basically we pop their account on hold until its done, and to be honest we didn;t loose too many and the ones we did were no real loss as were always slow to pay. Genuine people that are late because they forget were pleased to swap over to an automatic payment system.

Mrs Smudger