tackling fraud

[feral chile]

WHich is where we disagree. IMO most benefit cheats are doing it so they've got a bit more money to live on, not through any real evil intent, where as those avoiding tax at the very highest levels are doing it through greed.

We keep being told that we're in the middle of the worst budget deficit since the war. So why is the only way that the government are looking to sort the deficit is to cut spending? I accept that this has to happen, but only if balanced by them also bringing in the billions of additional pounds that people are being allowed to get away with not paying.

Is doing something through need or greed more evil?

[dakyras]

No, what you get is advice that you believe is right for your business.

If your accountant works for clients on the same t&c as every other accountant, he won't even put his name to a piece of paper which says "the advice offered is right for the business". He'll only say "I have offered my advice".

Like all of the supposed "professions", accountants are a joke. You get a more worthwhile guarantee about the quality of work off the most dodgy cowboy builder/plumber/whatever than you will ever get from someone from "the professions".

[eFestivals]

Professions? So there's no guarantee of the quality of work from pharmacists and engineers? You do talk some silly rubbish, Neil.

sorry, I should have been more specific - I was particularly meaning accountants and solicitors. They defo don't give guarantees.

But I wasn't including engineers as one of the 'professions' - they're not traditionally one of the areas that is classed as 'the professions'.

[Steve P]

Professions? So there's no guarantee of the quality of work from pharmacists and engineers? You do talk some silly rubbish, Neil.

[sifi]

Professions? So there's no guarantee of the quality of work from pharmacists and engineers? You do talk some silly rubbish, Neil.

[Steve P]

Always struck me as odd that. In Italy, an Engingeer called John is called "Engineer John", much like a Doctor in the UK called Robert is called "Doctor Robert".

This does assume however the Engineer is an actual Engineer rather than a plumber.

[oafc0000]

In most countries, being an Engineer is seen as a really important profession and something to aspire to. In this country being an enginerr means your Gran asks you to un-clog her washing machine.

[dakyras]

sorry, I should have been more specific - I was particularly meaning accountants and solicitors. They defo don't give guarantees.

But I wasn't including engineers as one of the 'professions' - they're not traditionally one of the areas that is classed as 'the professions'.

[eFestivals]

Well that's alright then

And I'd say engineers are definitely traditionally considered a 'profession'. At least the important types, like civil engineers, not people who call themselves software engineers.

It appears that you're right.

This wiki article:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession#List_of_professions

... gives this list:-

Professionals include:

* Accountants

* Actuaries

* Advocates

* Architects

* Dentists

* Engineers

* Lawyers

* Librarians

* Nurses

* Pharmacists

* Physicians

* Professors

* Teachers

* Medical Laboratory Scientists

(then again, it says "lawyers", so it's bollocks. There is no such thing as a lawyer in England [if not the whole of the UK])

[gratedenini]

Doesn`t it have vets on the list?

den