Blinkhorns Reviews 1

I entrusted this firm with my finances since 2019. I write this with hope that what occurred with me will NEVER happen again to their client. This is from my perspective in the most concise way that I can manage, hoping that what I share helps others make informed decisions when they employ this firm. I am still recovering from this deeply painful time. I was invoiced an advantageously extortionate amount of money in February of this year (2024). Triple the amount I have ever paid the firm in the 5 years that I was with them. I didn’t understand the amount therefore I requested an itemised invoice for clarity. I tried to call them, each member was unfortunately either unavailable or away from the phone and would give me a call back which never happened. This avoidance struck me as strange, but I persisted. Instead of receiving the itemised invoice requested I was emailed by representative who offered me money for the “general and loose wording of the invoice”. This offering felt like a slap in the face, I was being offered below 1% of the invoice they wanted me to pay them. I genuinely could not understand why and I needed support and clarity urgently. This is due to a client account which they held for me, where they would take their payments from. I learned after days of chasing, multiple emails and calls. That I might get their urgency should I file a complaint. I later on found out I did not have access to this account though it was in my name. Only they could access it. I went through the client statement to learn that this firm had withdrawn money in regards to an invoice that I had authorised 5 months prior. Without contacting me, without informing me that they had missed taking their payment. They just went in and took it. I couldn’t comprehend how any business could enter an account in someone else’s name take funds without my permission but I also had no access to this account myself.
I went to make my complaint, I learned that the partner was away for at least another 18 days. This was distressing. In that time, I did my own research - found information from their governing bodies website, requested an SAR and tried to get them to engage with me. I then learnt that due to my own financial illiteracy I had never learned the scope of a VAT return, infact I had never even seen one. This firm had been filing on my behalf since I joined in 2019. As someone who had grown up working class, there was just so much I didn’t understand. I came to this firm under recommendation, however what this firm did was encourage me to stick my head in the sand and not engage with my finances. I was young and foolishly thought they had my best interest at heart. I finally got to sit down on zoom with the complaints partner. First he told me that the firm will be deleting every document they held with my name on for space. He then did calm me, around the concerns I had about the avoidance techniques and the offering of money by their representative. He expressed deep disappointment by taking off his glasses and rubbing his head in frustration. I hoped that the stress of this situation which was taking a toll on my mental health was going to be alleviated.
That was a false dream which was squashed when he requested that I go through the bill reports.
When I recieved these bill reports top it stated in capital letters DO NOT SEND TO CLIENT I panicked. The SAR finally arrived and it’s hard to describe the scale, of the documents they sent me. I was confused, anxious and paranoid. I started to suffer insomnia my physical health also started to decline. I needed to ask for explanations on abbreviations and the back and forth was disintegrating my wellbeing. Of which I informed them, rather than acting urgently to protect my wellbeing. They went about rectifying internally “with immediate effect” the complaints I flagged because they had failed their own policies in a multitude of ways. I expressed fervently the decline in my well being and the response was to tell me of the ways I’ve helped improve the firm and how they would seek my advice on financial matters of the firm going forward. I desperately needed help but they only sought to protect themselves and exploit my diligence in the process. I flagged this and finally after weeks of much pain and strife they agreed “in good will” to no longer charge me for those invoices that were adventurous and opportunistic.
They basically wanted me to go away, and to be honest I am happy it is over.
But this company needs to also think of ways that they can externally engage with their clients (of which there are 800) to explore their financial literacy. They need to respond with urgency to the duty of care they hold for their client rather than seeking to confusion and bully them into submission.
They have an abundant amount of moral work to do. Please be advised.