iBalance umbrella company - anyone?

**Pondlife** · 3 August 2007, 13:28

Why, in the light of P4, would you want to trust anyone else with your money?

Why would you not go limited? Or why not stay with Parasol?

**Ardesco** · 3 August 2007, 13:28

Never heard of them.

If everythig was fine with Parasol previously why move?

**salazie** · 3 August 2007, 13:55

I most probably will end up going back to Parasol, I think if you invoice weekly, and get paid a couple of days after the agency pays them then the risk is reasonably small. I'm not very organised financially and found using an umbrella company less hassle than when I had a limited company. Trust me, I know all about losing money when these guys go bankrupt - I was owed a lot of money (£xx,xxx) from Specialist Skills when they went bust, so I'm not going into this naively or with my eyes closed... Hence this posting I guess!

The reason for asking about these guys is because they're close to where I live, and I'd have more trust in a company I could go and visit, see who's running the place etc. By no means foolproof but it might give some peace of mind...

**BA to the Stars** · 3 August 2007, 13:58

I would think that their location is fairly irrelevent unless you need to actually meet them. I was with a brolly for 3 years and they were based over 200 miles away. No need actually see them, they were always contactable by e-mail and phone.

**Pondlife** · 3 August 2007, 14:00

If I were to use a brolly, I'd do it thru this;

http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/index.php?...477&Itemid=659

It's Parasol but with PCG benefits.

**salazie** · 3 August 2007, 14:03

Yeah guess so, I just like the idea of actually meeting these people, finding out who's running the company, seeing their processes, how organised they are etc. If they're nearby it's easy to have an excuse to drop your expenses off by hand occasionally and say hello... Speaking in person makes a big difference I think to your relationship with people...

**bangface** · 3 August 2007, 15:11

Originally posted by salazie

I know a lot of you have much more important things to be worrying about at the moment (prosperity4...) but...

I'm starting a new contract in 2 weeks, I've used Parasol for a couple of years in the past to save ltd company hassles (paperwork etc) but found these guys (http://www.ibalance.co.uk/) and wondered if anyone had dealt with them?

Quick clarification (after reading lots of the threads about umbrella companies on this site!): I found these guys searching for 'Bristol umbrella company' (cos I live in Bristol) - I honestly, genuinely, 100% don't have anything to do with them (except live close-ish to their office)

Just hoping the owner doesn't post on this thread cos then no-one will believe me!

Never heard of them, they charge £22.50 per week, don't seem to offer much in the way of employee benefits unless you count the additional charges they make for references etc...LOL

**malvolio** · 3 August 2007, 15:29

Red flag warning

mad

mad -

Originally posted by their website

Claim expenses to reduce your tax bill

Walk away now. Seriously...

**salazie** · 3 August 2007, 15:36

I'm sure I'm just being stupid (I am from Dorset...) but what's wrong with what they've put there? Isn't that exactly what umbrella companies do - take expenses off your gross pay thus reducing your tax bill?

<bracing myself for a battering...

>

iBalance umbrella company - anyone?