Working before contract was signed. What are my options?

[TheBigYinJames]

Chances are you are not even insured if you are on the client's premises without a contract. If anything goes wrong you might find yourself personally responsible. It's not a good idea ever to work without a signed contract.

[Pops]

All's well that ends well

Just to let everyone know - downloaded the sample PCG contract yesterday, filled it in, got it approved by B&C and got the agency to sign it.

Lessons learnt: Never start working without a signed contract. Use the PCG resources afforded by the subscription...

Thanks for all the constructive answers

[NickFitz]

Just to let everyone know - downloaded the sample PCG contract yesterday, filled it in, got it approved by B&C and got the agency to sign it.

Lessons learnt: Never start working without a signed contract. Use the PCG resources afforded by the subscription...

Thanks for all the constructive answers

Have you checked the terms of the contract between the client and the agency? If those fall within IR35 then you are still not safe

[ittony]

What are the IR35 implications of not having a (written) contract at all?

[THEPUMA]

What are the IR35 implications of not having a (written) contract at all?

Better than having a crap contract. Worse than having a good contract.

HMRC ask you to clarify the terms that were in place but clearly if you say that you had an unfettered RoS they will not necessarily just take that at face value.

[malvolio]

What are the IR35 implications of not having a (written) contract at all?

Not as bad as the business ones?

Contracts are mostly for when things go wrong or you have to prove something. As Mr Dragonfly has recently discovered, it's not a given that what you think your contract says is what the client thinks it says, but if you have one at least you can argue the point.

[rootsnall]

Lessons learnt: Never start working without a signed contract. ...

I wouldn't make that a hard and fast rule ! Sometimes it's better to get your backside in there before somebody else takes the job and then sort things out once you're on site. I've gone on site with no contract at all but an emailed one is enough for me if it looks OK.