TekSystems (Allegis Group] - Beware!

[LondonManc]

It's because of:

http://http://www.mggroup.co.uk/blog/archive/article/2015/June/employment-agencies-reporting-requirements



They have a duty to ensure the payments aren't being siphoned off to some dodgy offshore individual.

They have a duty to pay the money into a UK bank account controlled by the UK company that they have engaged with. We as UK companies have an obligation to be compliant with UK taxation laws. How we run our business, so long as it is legal, is NOTHING to do with the agency.

[LondonManc]

Any data available via Companies House - just tell them to go look there. If they want to offload their admin to you because they CBA to look, you should be charging them for your time.

Anything else not required by law - tell them it's company confidential and off-limits.

To be honest, I don't mind filling in the appropriate bits. I've got most of the stuff to hand (having already sent it to the clearing company) so it's not an issue. The financial stuff is like asking a retailer about their costs and operating model - it's nobody else's business.

[SueEllen]

They have a duty to pay the money into a UK bank account controlled by the UK company that they have engaged with. We as UK companies have an obligation to be compliant with UK taxation laws. How we run our business, so long as it is legal, is NOTHING to do with the agency.

Then all they have to do is request a paying in slip or other proof.

[BrilloPad]

They have a duty to pay the money into a UK bank account controlled by the UK company that they have engaged with. We as UK companies have an obligation to be compliant with UK taxation laws. How we run our business, so long as it is legal, is NOTHING to do with the agency.

My accountant is an agent of HMRC. Why do they need the agency's help as well?

[LondonManc]

My accountant is an agent of HMRC. Why do they need the agency's help as well?

Who knows. It's probably all an elaborate trap to wrap us up in tax.

I wouldn't mind a decree something along the lines of "25% of any contract must be paid through PAYE, while the rest can be recognised as commission due to the nature of the market in which the limited company operates" or similar. I'm sure we'd all accept a higher percentage of PAYE clout rather than all this messing around with dividends, expenses and IR35.

[BolshieBastard]

I apologise for my first post ever here being a warning to navigation, but I have come across something very odd, and I do not think the agency [TekSystems aka Allegis Group] can demand this information. Upon offering a 8 week contract, they proceeded with the paperwork and it seemed OK at first, but then I was sent an OLC E-Questionnaire, which among apparently legitimate questions, included the following:

=> Are you the sole Director of the OLC? If no, provide the full list of all director and their relationship with the OLC

=> Do you own 100% of the shares in the OLC. If no, list all other shareholders, specifying their names % of shares they own and their relationship to you and your OLC

=> Please confirm if you receive dividends and if so, when are you planning to receive dividends

=> Are you the sole worked in the OLC. If no, please list details of all other workers in your OLC

=> Please confirm that you will notify TekSystems [Allegis Group] of ANY changes to ANY of the above

=> Please provide details of ANY accountants and ANY Legal Advisors. Please ensure you include their full names, postal addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses

=> To what extent does the OLC receive the services from an Accountant? Please details what those services are

=> Please confirm that you do NOT (and at no point will...) instruct your Accountant to make any forward payments into any account other than the one specified in this Questionnaire

Needless to say that the Agency promptly received an assertive email back from me to let them know the Questionnaire is being declined and sent over for assessment before any information is provided to TekSystems.

The first and foremost point I wish to make about this is that a Ltd Company is regulated primarily by the UK Companies Act 2006, the Insolvency Act 1986, the UK Corporate Governance Code, and any European Union Directives.

Although the new requirements to provide certain info such as NI number and such are legitimate, this is not a "carte blanche" to feed more info than agencies are lawfully entitled to demand.

And I should add that for an agency apparently so keen on making sure the Ltd Company is legally compliant, TekSystems does not seem to care to put the contractor in blatant breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

In 30 years in the business world, I have never come across one Ltd Co willing to pass private and sensitive info at the request and demand of another Ltd Co. Ever!

As far as I can tell, TekSystems [Allegis Group] are not entitled to the above information and may be acting unlawfully, although at this point in time, I am unable to say for sure if they are.

Finally, I think it is rather "fishy" that the said OLC E-questionnaire is built in a way so that it is not possible to copy its contents or save it. I was able to save a copy of the entire thing by taking shots screen-by-screen, in order to send its contents for assessment. A copy was also sent to my local MP in the House of Commons for good measure, because I really do NOT like being taken for granted or offered a bad "ride" I did not ask for. I always act in good faith and dislike being treated intrusively beyond what is reasonable.

Anyway, I just wanted to alert other contractors for this.

Regards

TEK Systems and their associate companies like Aston Carter are an effing pain in the R's. I simply refuse to deal with them but they constantly phone me. And no i cant block them because they use different numbers.

They approached me a few years back about a role back at a previous client. It was all 'who did you work for their?' 'Was such and such still there when you were there?' and 'Do you know anyone else who you've worked with and know are nowworking with the client/' etc, etc.

They're crap payers as far as rate goes too. Deffo avoid!!!!

[stek]

TEK Systems and their associate companies like Aston Carter are an effing pain in the R's. I simply refuse to deal with them but they constantly phone me. And no i cant block them because they use different numbers.

They approached me a few years back about a role back at a previous client. It was all 'who did you work for their?' 'Was such and such still there when you were there?' and 'Do you know anyone else who you've worked with and know are nowworking with the client/' etc, etc.

They're crap payers as far as rate goes too. Deffo avoid!!!!

I'm with TEK, had issues before but this one is A1, good rate, local, none of the above tulip, and the agent seems genuinely keen on being nice, visiting, paying for lunch, almost to the point of being a bit annoying but that's preferable to the ignore button I've had with Hay's etc...

Like 1990's/2000's again!

[The Butcher]

I'm with TEK, had issues before but this one is A1, good rate, local, none of the above tulip, and the agent seems genuinely keen on being nice, visiting, paying for lunch, almost to the point of being a bit annoying but that's preferable to the ignore button I've had with Hay's etc...

Like 1990's/2000's again!

I'm currently with TEK, their agent bought me lunch before starting, they paid me for a few days before the client was ready. Best rates so far for previous client - they pay on time and are more hands on than any other agency I've dealt with. Lots of hoops to jump through but I'm not complaining.

[NotAllThere]

...

Many thanks

Kind regards

xxx

That last paragraph is a bit mehhhh

Yeah, kisses on a professional communication?

[BlasterBates]

They have a duty to pay the money into a UK bank account controlled by the UK company that they have engaged with. We as UK companies have an obligation to be compliant with UK taxation laws. How we run our business, so long as it is legal, is NOTHING to do with the agency.

You are quite right you have no obligation to report anything, as HMRC rules apply only to the agency.

However will it raise a flag to HMRC, who expects the records from the agency to be complete?

Not saying it will, but it strikes me you may as well give them the info just not to end up in a "routine PAYE" audit.

I mean I don't mind, just saying. Sometimes it's prudent not to be the odd one out when HMRC is dong ther checks.