is PCG worth it

[BrowneIssue]

I am contemplating joining PCG for some of the benefits.

I am a member, but I do not know why. I think it was because I was conned by their empty promises.

They are doing a wonderful job, and you should all be grateful and send us as much money as possible.

They were set up to fight IR35. Ten years ago. It is still there.

Apart from arranging champagne dinners with live stand-up for their directors, I'm not sure what they are for.

It does give you access to draft contracts that have been checked by the likes of B&C.

So does Staples, the stationery shop.

For me joining was always more because the way that people like us work has been under continued attack from the current government for the past decade and as a result I think an organisation that speaks for us is essential.

That's what I thought I was paying for with my membership. Since then, a friend of mine became a House of Commons lobbyist for a charity and I found out the PCG seems to have done bugger all on that front.

I have never seen it only as an insurance organisation and the only discount that I have availed myself of was the reduced charges from a credit check company.

I have used that. Once against me and once against an agent. Learned we are both solvent. Whoopy doo.

Do you have cover for Jury service?

You can get out of that with a suitable letter you write yourself.

Who is fighting your corner with HMRC and agents etc.

I don't believe that any more.

PCG Jury Service pays up to £300/day for up to 10 days, less the court allowance.

Half my rate. Personally, I see it as civic duty anyway and employers should take the burden.

I get more useful benefits from my BCS membership.

I get better financial benefits from my IAP membership.

I get better networking opportunities from LinkedIn.

I get better advice here!

An alternative view for you.

Repeat:

They were set up to fight IR35 ten years ago.

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

[Archangel]

I get more useful benefits from my BCS membership.

Of course you do.

[Pondlife]

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

They did for me.

[Stolly]

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

Elan accepted it last year with not a question asked, ymmv.

[BrowneIssue]

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

They did for me.

Elan accepted it last year with not a question asked, ymmv.

From: A Gent <A.Gent@elanit.co.uk>
To: BrowneIssue@...

In anticipation of the formal offer coming through from procurement I need the following documents

o Copy of Passport plus Visa if applicable
o Copy of the Company Certificate of Incorporation - (Elan can only work with UK Registered Limited Companies)
o Copy of the Company VAT certification if VAT Registered (no VAT is payable without this certificate)
o Copy of your bank statement (a company cheque is acceptable to verify the bank details i.e. your company name, address and company bank details)
o Copy of the Limited Company insurance certificates (All 3 insurances, Public Liability, Employers Liability and Professional Indemnity should be verified to the limit of £1 million minimum)
o 2 References

PCG Combined Insurance Quotation - BrowneIssue's LtdCo

Professional Indemnity Insurance
Individual limit £1,000,000 in the aggregate including costs and expenses
Excess: £500 each and every loss including costs and expenses
You will have the benefit of a £2 million special aggregate shared limit (costs inclusive) which is available all PCG members be they IT Contractors/Consultants, Engineers and Other Professionals. This £2 million is shared between all members who purchase their insurance from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc via Randell Dorling Ltd (The Manager).

From: A Gent <A.Gent@elanit.co.uk>
To: BrowneIssue@...

Hi BI,

I have queried our legal department about this insurance and unfortunately we do not accept this type of insurance.

Perhaps it was because in this case the client had expressly stated the need for insurance (which I know they had) so Elan checked the small print for once.

[swamp]

I'm not overly impressed with the PCG. Their S660 fight was great, but they need to do more on IR35. They should be vigorously pushing it into the public eye and secure concrete policy commitments from the Conservatives and Liberals.

Also in their press releases they say things like "we welcome HMRC's crackdown on umbrellas..." How can they 'welcome' anything like this? Unless you are the type who welcomes a fart in a bath that follows through, you do not welcome tax clampdowns. Especially if you are a trade group set up to fight tax clampdowns...

OTOH look at the Taxpayers' Alliance. They are a small bunch but every week they seem to be in the news. If the PCG had 1% of the TA's nous they would have had IR35 nailed by now.

[BrilloPad]

Personally I think it is worth joining the PCG. I like the insurance against an IR35 investigation : and they have a legal helpline.

[malvolio]

I'm not overly impressed with the PCG. Their S660 fight was great, but they need to do more on IR35. They should be vigorously pushing it into the public eye and secure concrete policy commitments from the Conservatives and Liberals.

Also in their press releases they say things like "we welcome HMRC's crackdown on umbrellas..." How can they 'welcome' anything like this? Unless you are the type who welcomes a fart in a bath that follows through, you do not welcome tax clampdowns. Especially if you are a trade group set up to fight tax clampdowns...

OTOH look at the Taxpayers' Alliance. They are a small bunch but every week they seem to be in the news. If the PCG had 1% of the TA's nous they would have had IR35 nailed by now.

Rubbish. IR35 won't go away as long as we have a Labour Government and was never going to. Dim Prawn sold the idea of freelancers as MGB's to the party and they ain't going to change their minds about that.

Then again, the day we don't have one any more may be not that far away of course...

[BrilloPad]

Rubbish. IR35 won't go away as long as we have a Labour Government and was never going to. Dim Prawn sold the idea of freelancers as MGB's to the party and they ain't going to change their minds about that.

Then again, the day we don't have one any more may be not that far away of course...

Hi Mal

Long time no post

How are you?

BP
PS I think PCG is well worth it : though their forums are not as good as cuk....

[BigJake]

IR35 abolition?

Given that IR35 gave birth to the the PCG, and the Tories abolish it, surely far fewer people will bother joining up.

That's an irony if ever I saw one.