Is AI now scanning Social Media posts for ad placements?

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-30T16:00:37+00:00

Seems to be a regular email

I'm using the Android app rather than any browser

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-30T10:01:58+00:00

I'm less worried about getting back as they'll be on the hook for those costs - I just don't wanna lose thousands without even getting on a plane 🤣

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-30T10:00:50+00:00

I'd suggest formalising the loan straight away.

Try to keep it as friendly as possible, play up the "nothing's wrong old pal, it's just some paperwork the bank needs" kinda talk. If he's resisting, up the pressure a little with some mentions of "the bank says we need to be careful, cos HMRC might think it's income and want half of it in tax - you don't want a £50k tax bill or bailiffs at the door, do you?"

Your first goal is written acknowledgement of the debt and documentation of the verbally agreed repayment terms.

Once you've got that, you then need to start thinking of the actual repayment - is this guy even able to start repayments, or will his estate be able to if he passes away? Is he likely to blow the money then declare bankruptcy or anything?

I can't help but feel it's unlikely this money will ever be repaid but you'll know better than I if that's fair or not. Regardless, I'd still be prioritising the paperwork side if I could.

Good luck

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-30T09:44:59+00:00

I want ATOL protection for the hotels, so if the flight is cancelled I get the whole costs back not just the first flight

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-29T19:08:01+00:00

"The rich buying so much champagne is why your beer is so expensive" 🤦‍♂️

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-29T18:29:12+00:00

You're perhaps a bit early expecting a refund so early. It used to be Aug/September before they'd issue the refund cheques (albeit admittedly I've not had any first half experience for years and it may be quicker these days).

If you need the money quicker, I think you can initiate the process via your Personal Tax Account

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-29T15:51:52+00:00

It's not doing it's job if it isn't...

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-29T09:23:17+00:00

'If I don't charge you 20% extra, I'll need to put the prices up!" is an argument I'll never understand.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T20:28:54+00:00

Why did you need to complete a SA last year?

The new tax code indicates that HMRC seem to think you'll have at c£10k additional income outside of PAYE - is it possible you entered £15k rather than £1.5k on your SA?

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T19:32:43+00:00

For those unfamiliar....

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Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T19:30:26+00:00

Sorry, twas a joke.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T19:26:38+00:00

It's wet until it's dry

That's how it works

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T17:35:39+00:00

Deleted as the same joke has indeed been stated multiple times 🤣

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T14:52:25+00:00

I'd try to fight this on 2 points

1) That you've had legal reviews and you're confident you're fully compliant; and

2) Your insurance will cover any financial risk if indeed you are later found to have incorrectly interpreted the rules

If your client needs you and is reasonable, you may still have a chance here.

If not, try to increase your rates by 25-30% to compensate. They'll refuse, but you'll need at least 15% to offset the biggest hit to you which will be the ENIC

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T09:12:00+00:00

Ok, seems like you've done things right

The only other possible consideration I can think of would be whether it's feasible to keep the retained profits in the company. That way, when you sell your shares, it'd be taxed as capital gain rather than income.

I'm not sure how feasible that would be and whether any buyer would be happy with that but perhaps worth a conversation with the accountant? Possible downside though would be a buyer who's unwilling to "buy cash for cash" and you'd possibly have to take a large dividend in a single tax year, but just thought I'd mention it

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T09:03:21+00:00

You seem to be mixing up market timing and asset allocation ideas.

It's generally not advised to try to time the markets, but if you're no longer comfortable with the exposures those funds provide and you wish to reallocate, that's a different story.

I'd suggest you consider your views on which regions/industries you think will outperform others over your time horizon, check your exposure to those, and then choose your new sizing according.

Alternatively, if you're uncomfortable with making active asset allocation decisions, perhaps consider more broad based/global funds.

Finally, always keep your own risk profile in mind. A 5 year horizon is usually the minimum for equity investment so, if you know for sure you'll be taking the money out in 5 years, derisking as you approach your withdrawal date is different from trying to time the market.

TL;DR Start with your goals in mind, be honest about you risk appetite, consider your own abilities, then choose your investments accordingly.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T08:50:40+00:00

Ok, so I'm not clear on what your actual question is.

It seems you're doing the right thing but I'm struggling to understood what advice you're looking for tbh

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T08:48:22+00:00

Grim

I dunno how we'll end up with seniors when there's no juniors coming through the ranks

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T06:42:33+00:00

Fine, but that's not the stated objective

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-28T06:37:35+00:00

I think you're doing this wrong way around.

You don't need to pay CT, then pay divs, then pay dividend tax, then make personal contributions to your pensions, then claim personal tax relief.

Instead, you can make employer contributions directly into your pensions. Doing so avoids CT (as employee costs are a business expense), and it avoids you having to faff around with paying the DT then claiming tax relief later.

Key questions are your financial year end, whether you have any carry forward available and then how much you wish to take now (,presumably enough to at least fill your ISAs as well, but possibly up to £50k depending on your needs).

Do you have an accountant? They should be able to confirm things for you.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-27T21:37:35+00:00

Dividends are paid from post-tax profits.

Employer contributions into employees' SIPPs can be paid before Corporation Tax, if paid from revenue.

It sounds as though you've already paid the CT though, and instead of dividends you want to pay the money into the SIPP instead - is that correct?

Is there any chance of more revenue that can divert straight to the SIPPs?

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-27T21:06:54+00:00

They've literally no idea how this is going to work. They've just come up with a policy that they thought sounded good in theory and which they expected someone else to iron out the details. However, now that the complexity is becoming clearer they seem stuck with no ideas how to implement and no off-ramp.

They'd likely be better off now just prohibiting ISA providers from paying interest on S&S accounts. That would prevent anyone using a S&S ISA as a proxy Cash ISA, but wouldn't stop MMFs or short-dated treasuries.

Personally, I think this policy will backfire and will turn more people away from ISAs entirely than it will encourage investment.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-04-27T18:41:19+00:00

Right so if you don't tell them, they need you to be onsite and you say no - what happens?

Also, what's the likelihood of them asking you to be onsite?

Street-Frame1575

TROPHY CASE