PCG vs QDOS

[NotAllThere]

I've commented on jury service before. My summons just went back in the postbox with "no longer at this address" on it. Didn't hear a peep after that. Naughty me.

Do you have insurance for contempt of court?

[malvolio]

Nice to know the message gets across, isnt it?

OK, I'm biased (duh...) but consider what I'm saying:

PCG are not an insurance company. You get a signficiant discount from B&C by being a member, but PCG don't do reviews themselves, why should they? QDOS will insure you under TLC35 if the contract is unlikely to be caught, so you're insuring a risk that is very unlikley to happen. So you need to compare the costs of PEI coverage - PCG free, basic QDOS coverage £90.

The £120 for the PCG is not an insurance premium, it's what you pay to learn how IR35 and all the other taxation things work and how to work around them. It's having something over 17,000 other people behind you if you get into trouble. It's a source of highly expert and free advice. And you get a package of benefits worth around £300 on the open market.

[hgllgh]

ok, see what you're saying but I am more interested in comparing the tax investigation insurance (PCGPlus vs QDOS version) rather than the tax liability (full TLC35) insurance. (As you have said before, the likelihood of HMRC winning out against a contractor who has taken the necessary precautions is slim.)

The tax/legal helpline for PCGPlus does not extend to actually negotiating for you in the case of an agency playing hardball over IR35 contract terms whereas the QDOS tax investigation insurance helpline service does....

[Lewis]

QDOS will insure you under TLC35 if the contract is unlikely to be caught, so you're insuring a risk that is very unlikley to happen.

They changed it some time ago such that they don't need to see your contract.

[hgllgh]

For example, in my current contract the schedule stipulates "normal working hours" and then defines "normal working hours" as a "professional working day (8:30am to 6:00 pm)

I am guessing I need to get that changed to exclude the hours?

In general, how amenable are agencies to changing these kind of contract details?

anyone ?

[oracleslave]

anyone ?

Kind of depends on how badly they want you etc. If they are desperate then they tend to be fairly amenable. If you are one in a number of people that could do the job then they are likely to go with the least admin option for them and the person that creates the least hassles. This is likely to be an ill-informed contractor who isn't as aware of the issues as yourself and is likely to accept any old contract.

[malvolio]

anyone ?

If you or they want a Professional Working Day, it's just that. You do some work (don't care how much) you charge a day's rate at your disctretion. If they want to put limits on it, fine, but you will charge by the hour. They can['t have both, only PWD or hourly rate.

As regards QDOS vs PCGPlus - PCGPlus is a no-brainer IMHO Look at the whole offering, not just the insurances - (QDOS read this board, they would no doubt argue it somewhat differently... ).

[ratewhore]

anyone ?

Depends on the agency. One changed the schedule after I spoke to them. They removed 8 hours and added PWD. Then, in the footer, added a PWD = 8 hours. Thanks My current agent had no problems and removed all references entirely...

[MonkeyWorld]

No contest.... I've been a member of the PCG for a number of years, and the forums have been a great source of advice (worth it alone), but...

the PCG have been next to useless so far in helping me with my IR35 enquiry... every time I ask for help (via tax helpline) I get a reply saying...

Sorry you don't have the PCG Plus cover, we won't help or advise you until the IR deem you inside IR35 then your insurance cover will kick in.

In stark contrast... I've paid £40 to QDos for a years inclusion in their Freelancers club and I've had hours and hours of help and advice from them on what to reply to the IR... a questionairre to determine working practices to stave off an IR questionairre and just so much support .... = there is no comparison.... the PCG are good, but QDOS are just so much better when the chips are down!

[malvolio]

No contest.... I've been a member of the PCG for a number of years, and the forums have been a great source of advice (worth it alone), but...

the PCG have been next to useless so far in helping me with my IR35 enquiry... every time I ask for help (via tax helpline) I get a reply saying...

Sorry you don't have the PCG Plus cover, we won't help or advise you until the IR deem you inside IR35 then your insurance cover will kick in.

In stark contrast... I've paid £40 to QDos for a years inclusion in their Freelancers club and I've had hours and hours of help and advice from them on what to reply to the IR... a questionairre to determine working practices to stave off an IR questionairre and just so much support .... = there is no comparison.... the PCG are good, but QDOS are just so much better when the chips are down!

So what do you want, FFS? Basic membership covers you for IR35 investigations; if you ain't in one, you ain't covered; hardly unreasonable. PCGPlus covers you for any tax-related investigation, and gives you professional representation from day one.

As for help and guidance - been on the fora yet?