PCG membership - still as important ?

**malvolio** · 20 June 2006, 11:57

Of course it is, why wouldn't it be? IR35 is still on the books and people with half-a-dozen concurrent contracts are being investigated as I write this. Also, many of the larger agencies are now making IR35-caught contracts almost mandatory, mainly becuase they and HR don't understand the Muscat decisions. You don't think B&C would be as busy if "there are not nearly as many IR35 contracts about these days are there were back then"...

Apart from which PCG are a bit wider than just IR35 insurance these days and are about the only weapon we have against HMG, agencies and Human Remains, so they're worth supporting anyway. Go on, it's only 200 notes.

**Magnificent7** · 20 June 2006, 12:24

there are not nearly as many IR35 contracts about these days are there were back then

I'm pretty sure that was a near-direct quote from one of the accountants on these boards a couple of weeks back. But, yeah, I take your point about them being worth supporting anyway.

**Lockhouse** · 20 June 2006, 12:29

No one else apart from the PCG will do stuff like this. IMHO having a non-commercial lobby group like the PCG working for contractors is generally worth the subscription on it's own without all the other extras you get bundled with it.

**css_jay99** · 20 June 2006, 15:20

Can I deduct that a large % of peolple here are with PCG.

If so why is that ? considering that a lot of people have been contracting for sometime hence should no where they stand with regards to IR35.

css_jay99

**malvolio** · 20 June 2006, 16:12

There are two entirely different reasons for most people, either the insurances and support provided against the machinations of Mr Brown and family, or the feeling of belonging to the one organisation that is trying to represent contractors. We are not normally a body with a single voice (as you can easily tell from the people, lizards and encapsulated aliens lurking on here). Some, of course, look for both.

The third reason is their forums, which are every bit as witty as these (although no naked ladies, so CUK is safe for a while!) but also includes some serious advice from some very qualified people backed up with an early insight into all sorts of things that might affect you - ever heard of the ILO and the threat to the whole idea of contracting, for instance? Thought not...

Even at the highest membership cost, it's well under a quid a day - a no-brainer from where I sit.

**Jay54** · 20 June 2006, 21:13

but also includes some serious advice from some very qualified people

I could not agree more as I recently joined PCG and have found the forums full of advise and thankfully found advisors who know what they are talking about without spending a fortune when it comes to contracts and making changes + IR35 so for me it is money well spent, I wish I knew about them years ago

**autodial** · 20 June 2006, 21:22

Me too I think the PCG are a good support for information and advise as most of the people on the site I am on are in the civils trade and come from abroad so they dont think that IR35 applies to them so it is money worth spending to join.

**css_jay99** · 26 June 2006, 10:48

sorry for the 20/20 questions :-

Would they review my contract to check my IR35 status ?

Of what use is indemnity Insurance ? when clients are more likely to terminate your contract rather than suing you.

Are there any other company as PCG out there just as good and probably offering Accounting services as well. ?

malvolio , I know you do your accounts/bookeeping yourself, do you enlist the services of accountants at all ?

cheers

css_jay99

**malvolio** · 26 June 2006, 12:05

Accountants - no, I use SJD. Can't be bothered with all that detail and trying to keep up with the tax changes every 6 months.

Look, PCG is not a company, it's more like a Trade Union for freelancers. Through them you can get significant discounts on insurances and contract reviews, but they don't do it themselves. Someone worked out a while back that the £200-ish annual fee gets you an immediate £1100 of benefits as part of the standard deal (they also pointed out that an IR35 investigation will cost you around £10k-£15k if you are not insured BTW).

Do your contract review through Bauer and Cotterell as everyone keeps saying - and get a discount as a PCG member. You could post it on their forums and you will get a pretty good idea of how good it is but that won't help you renegotiate it.

And through the PCG you can get PI/ELI/PLI through Randall Dorling - £1m for £200 pa, half the commercial cost, and if your contract says you need to have it, then you need to have it.

PCG membership - still as important ?