Agency reporting reqs. Questions, excessive?

[MankyManning]

I'm getting asked a load of questions by a new agency which seem to go beyond those listed in other threads. E.g. What share split is I have in my company, who the other directors are, whether I plan on paying out dividends and what the relationship with my accountant is.

These reporting requirements haven't changed recently right? Am I correct in thinking these questions sound excessive?

[Hobosapien]

Sounds like the MSC stuff and applying it to PSC too, as mentioned in another recent thread where some agencies are checking contractor is sole director/shareholder of ltd.

Though not sure why they want to know the relationship with accountant, maybe they're just nosy.

[northernladuk]

I don't know why they ask so many questions, I'm sure it's explained in the other thread but I find it really disappointing if the agent is so bothered about this why they can't use company check to see what the split and the other directors are. Why trust the contractor when the facts are freely available on the web?

I wouldn't say the agent asking questions about what is freely available on the web is excessive. It's freely available whether they want it or not anyway.

[LondonManc]

Ask them about theirs because you want to be sure that you can trust them and that they are doing everything above board and legally.

Seriously, though, a lot of agents are becoming overly anal about this. What they'd be better doing is sending a briefing email out to explain why they are doing what they are, or rather to allow the sales drones to forward said briefing to candidates to explain legislation that may or may not impact them depending upon the contract at hand.

[GillsMan]

The relationship with your accountant is a sensible question IMO. They should be checking that your accountant provides an advisory service and isn't involved in actually submitting invoices, or making decisions or handling monies, etc, because these are a lot of factors involved in dodgy schemes afaik.

[SueEllen]

The agency wants to know whether you are the director with financial control over the company.

Unfortunately unless you deal with the director of the agency the rest of the staff know SFA about company legislation so do what they "think" they have been told.

I have left it to my legal advisor to tell them their understanding is sh*t after they have amended the contract.