Permies with Chips

[ChimpMaster]

I remember when I first started contracting years ago. I'd left a perm job with a company car and bought myself a new car. Lemon yellow hyundai coupe. I liked it anyway.

They werent that expensive to be honest (because it was hyundai) but it did look expensive at least. Had a private plate too - not an expensive one just one of the DVLA ones that was £200 or something.

So anyway, worked with this dutch guy. Nice fella, used to go to canteen together etc. really friendly. Until he saw me get out of the car one morning.

He came over to my desk and said can't believe you've got that car and you waste money on a private plate.

Blanked me and never spoke to me again. Really weird.

I never found out why he took offence but I thought maybe he had financial problems and was a bit peed off that there was a contractor there who looked like he had a flash motor.

Rory Rory Tell Us a Story.....

Dutch had fancied you from the moment he set eyes on you, before you had even walked into his office, before even the ink had dried on the contract paperwork. He had fallen in love with the idea of being in love with you, and he knew this was a dangerous game but he knew that he could not stay away.

His dreams were shattered on that fateful, rain drenched morning. Dutch peered out from his drab office, wiping away the condensation that had formed by the cold winter rain settling against the warm window glass. He took a second look, trying to steady each beat of his heart that had suddenly become deep and erratic, fighting to disbelieve what his eyes were trying to tell him: Psychocandy was a Hyundai driver.

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

I'm surprised this is still an issue as these days a lot of permies earn more than contractors do anyway even if its £500 aday as most really fail IR35, expenses are going, permies employers pay there pension etc etc I thought contracting these days not about the £ but the flexibility to be your own boss.

[PurpleGorilla]

Yeah I rolled up to a client once in a proper pussy wagon, only the one time mind...

[Hobosapien]

I'm surprised this is still an issue as these days a lot of permies earn more than contractors do anyway even if its £500 aday as most really fail IR35, expenses are going, permies employers pay there pension etc etc I thought contracting these days not about the £ but the flexibility to be your own boss.

It's all about perception, which will be different for the client management (who bring in the contractors in the first place so don't see the rate as an issue), and the permie staff who may be getting all the staff benefits to close the gap somewhat but they just see the contract rate (or imagine what that rate will be if they aren't involved in the paperwork).

One of the reasons I don't like the secrecy around what the agency is billing the client is that the perceived value is hidden, which may be substantially different from contractor to client if the agency is taking a big cut. I've outlasted similarly skilled contractors when a project is winding down due to them being on a higher rate with the client yet 'taking home' similar to myself due to the agency taking a bigger cut.

So if on a contract you get ribbed for 'raking it in' yet feel the rate is average at best, maybe they've seen or heard what another contractor is on that has a totally different skills set so commands 2 or 3 times the rate. They think we're all on roughly the same when it can differ massively for many reasons.

[Hobosapien]

Yeah I rolled up to a client once in a proper pussy wagon, only the one time mind...

That gives me an idea to get around the jealousy of contractors and their flash cars. Fit an MR2 body kit to the Ferrari for when on site.

Or a Beetle car wrap to the Porsche.

[seanraaron]

Hire a limo on your last day and wave a fan of £100s out the window at them as you leave.

[TheFaQQer]

He came over to my desk and said can't believe you've got that car and you waste money on a private plate.

Blanked me and never spoke to me again. Really weird.

I never found out why he took offence but I thought maybe he had financial problems and was a bit peed off that there was a contractor there who looked like he had a flash motor.

He didn't take offence. Some people will believe even the most stupid of excuses though.

HTHBIDI

[LondonManc]

He didn't take offence. Some people will believe even the most stupid of excuses though.

HTHBIDI

Anyone who buys a yellow Hyundai Coupe then puts a private plate on it needs blanking.

[TheFaQQer]

I'm surprised this is still an issue as these days a lot of permies earn more than contractors do anyway even if its £500 aday as most really fail IR35, expenses are going, permies employers pay there pension etc etc I thought contracting these days not about the £ but the flexibility to be your own boss.

If that were true, there would be no need to try to clamp down on IR35, introduce a dividend tax, and attempt to force people into being paid as a permie after one month with the same client, and HMRC would be shouting from the rooftops.

But it's not.

[TheFaQQer]

Hire a limo on your last day and wave a fan of £100s out the window at them as you leave.

That way, the permies will take pity on you for having to use Scottish or Northern Irish notes?