IR35 Scaremongering?

[malvolio]

Bearing in mind PCG make money selling protection (insurance or whatever) it seems a pretty serious accusation this. It isn't just scaremongering, it is making people part with cash on false information.

Am sure they will respond with clarrification soon though.

They have now. However, which bit of "not-for-profit organisation" are you having trouble with?

[meanttobeworking]

Whether the motivation in monetary or otherwise, I think most people will just be wondering what the full story is, and struggling to find an explanation that shows them to be working for the contractor's best interests. Although I'm happy to be persuaded otherwise if you've got suggestions...

[ZARDOZ]

Here is the follow-up:
PCG removes claim of '2,000 IR35 enquiries since May' :: Contractor UK

Oh Dear, it was scaremongering then?

[northernladuk]

They have now. However, which bit of "not-for-profit organisation" are you having trouble with?

Abbey Tax are NFP?

[meanttobeworking]

Perhaps the PCG ought to dig a little deeper and find out who all these other commentators are that also back the claim, rather than just blaming their friends at Abbey Tax (who PCG considered a trustworthy source in the first place).

[ZARDOZ]

The PCG considered Darren Upton trustworthy, he was recommended on their website. Perhaps he came up with the figure on the number of investigations.

[mudskipper]

They have now. However, which bit of "not-for-profit organisation" are you having trouble with?

I don't think 'not-for-profit' is relevant. The PCG's existence depends on them attracting members. Although they offer more than just IR35 protection, it is the IR35 protection that makes contractors consider joining. Indeed, you yourself when people pose IR35 questions respond with, take the contract, join the PCG and stop worrying.

[mudskipper]

I've added a poll

[malvolio]

I've added a poll

PCG did that one among the membership a couple of times. Retention rate was well over 85%. Most members appreciate that it's not all about IR35, and that even if IR35 goes away (and it won't), there will be something else to worry about.

As for the original story, inquiries are up significantly - not thousands, obviously, but enough for people to start looking over their shoulders. This is partly becuase they were scaled right down for a couple of years as much as anything, and we're getting back to status quo. Except they are turning them round much faster (6 weeks rather than 6 years?), so obviously can handle many more cases. There's nothing "scaremongering" about it, just unwarranted hyperbole.

And yes, Abbey aren't a NFP, but PCG are and it's PCG that are being accused of trying to drum up additional business. With growth rates like theirs and well over 80% retention rates, why would they need to?

[meanttobeworking]

I don't think you can explain away an inaccurate statistic quoted by a trusted organisation that is likely to be interpreted as fact by the audience as "hyperbole". Nobody is likely to interpret the statement that over 2000 enquiries have been open as "intentional exaggeration not intended to be taken literally".

It's like me telling my car insurance company I only drive 5,000 miles a year when actually I drive 100,000, and then when I'm caught out, telling them "don't worry, I was just using hyperbole".

Nobody here is arguing the other merits and advantages of PCG, but the fact remains that they have seemingly decieved a trusting audience and then tried to excuse it by blaming someone else. You may say they don't need to do it to drive membership, but they did it for *some* reason, and I don't think it was for the benefit of their current members (or contractors in general).