Experience with ITECS?

[The Lone Gunman]

Pearl is legal. I know this.
ITECS is legal. I have been told by one of its users.

There are other options, but you have to watch out for certain pitfalls.

A UK management company will set you up well and do a good job look at JSA international. A UK company will probably do a local salary offshore pension scheme as is allowed in Belgium, however, the UK law means that the pension fund is not available to you while you are registered with as an employee.

There are other internationals based abroad. Try Project Services Beta (PSB) if they still exist. They were quite good, but I left when they changed the way they deal with tax. I was in Germany so the rules may be different. They have a witholding agreement with the tax man which meant they held onto a chunk of money untill I could prove I had paid the tax. As German taxes can be paid up to 18 months behind......

You can send me a private message using the PM facility on this board.

[Chris Kay]

Itecs

Is anyone currently with ITECS?

If so, what is your experience, positive? negative?

Would you recomend them for contracting in Europe?

I used them several years ago and they were always late in paying and I had to chase them always for payment. Not the best!

[bren586]

I used them several years ago and they were always late in paying and I had to chase them always for payment. Not the best!

This was also my experience in Holland recently - They did not invoice the agency for several days (12! in one case). Also their relationship with the employment agency seemed to be more important than their relationship with me.

I liked the people I dealt with but I would not use them again.

[Advocate]

I'm currently using them, its an exciting and interesting game as to when and how much I'll get paid.

There's a finger in the air decision for both!

[Chris Kay]

Keywest International

This was also my experience in Holland recently - They did not invoice the agency for several days (12! in one case). Also their relationship with the employment agency seemed to be more important than their relationship with me.

I liked the people I dealt with but I would not use them again.

I have been using Keywest International in Luxembourg for the last few years and they have been great. Great service, always get back to me if I have question and offer solutions throughout Europe so I can stay with them wherever I move to.

[BWW1981]

Itecs

I started using them about 4 months back after switching from a company called Global K. They informed me I would get better retention but so far I can't see it, looks like I have been paid alot less. Also their communication seems to be terrible, the guy who signed me up and said 'Ring me anytime or drop me an email' never gets back to me.
Advocate, what sort of problems are you having with them?

[man-in-blue]

...

I'm waiting to be paid for the first time by ITECS, and I'm getting nervous. They said money would be in my Belgian account this afternoon - it isn't - and in my UK account on Tuesday

Am I right to be nervous or can I relax for the weekend and assume the lag is due to the clearing banks?

If I'm about to get screwed over, what can I do? Should I just switch to invoicing through my UK Ltd company?

[SueEllen]

If I'm about to get screwed over, what can I do? Should I just switch to invoicing through my UK Ltd company?

You are not allowed to in Belgium.

I would change management companies.

[CiderEagle]

Another newbie here

...to the forum, that is, and also to contracting in Belgium, but not to contracting in general (twelve years behind the bell, m'lud)

I've read this thread with great interest as I may be starting a contract in Belgium next month and have already got an illustration from ITECS. On the basis of comments on this thread I'm now also getting some figures from Pearl. Happy to share the findings. And thanks to all the contributors for the advice / POVs.

[man-in-blue]

Well they may have been legal - but they owe me money and their local rate phone numbers stopped working today.

Enough said