[ubuntu-uk] Lack of support for small business

[Barry Titterton]

On Fri, 2011-11-18 at 23:32 +0000, Gareth France wrote:
> Recently I decided to do my part by starting up a small business
> selling machines with Ubuntu pre-installed and  offering support. My
> bank have refused to offer me a business account at all 'because it's
> too risky to open an account for a company selling computers',
> apparently there's a high risk I will commit carousel fraud (whatever
> that is). Another bank are getting iffy about it because I'm involved
> in software (installing Ubuntu), I did attempt to explain that any
> company selling hardware is just as involved with software as I.
> 
> 
> Is it just me or does the British economy not want small businesses to
> succeed?
Gareth,

Oh yes, I have just given up freelancing after fifteen years of battling
the establishment. The government (of any colour) will happily give a
speech saying that they support small business than immediately pass
another piece of oppressive legislation.

I think carousel fraud involves claiming a VAT refund from the British
government for items that you claim to have purchased abroad. By the
time the paperwork has caught up you are long gone with the money. Small
high value items are the favourite subject for this fraud.

Please name and shame the bank involved. The big high street banks are
all rubbish with small business. My own bank, HSBC, told me when I first
started my company the inter account transfers with a private account at
the same branch would be free. But they gradually introduced charges
over the next few years without telling me, which is against the rules.
When I challenged them all they said was "Tough". You may want to try
some of the smaller obscure, and even foreign, banks or building
societies. Many building societies have a business arm these days and,
being generally locally based, are more sympathetic to local small
businesses.

Barry T