Signing in and parking in the vistor's car park

[SueEllen]

I don't think it's that much of a biggie, to be honest. I've had passes for client car parks before, that lasted for the duration of the gig. Just the same as I've had my own door pass, rather than having had to be signed in and accompanied by a member of staff whilst on-site every day.

I tend to park in visitor car spaces only when I'm first interviewing, but not otherwise. If you're a regular visitor to the premises, it's natural that you'd avoid using spaces set aside for occasional visitors.

Well done for a polite answer.

The point I was originally trying to make it's not an IR35 factor as the client is responsible for Health and Safety plus security at the site.

If you park on-site regularly the client may probably ask for your car registration and keep it in a list.

[SueEllen]

Possibly, although if the questions went:

Security: Why are you parking in the vistor's car park and not in the normal car park.
Me: Because that is where contractors park and I am a contractor.
Security: But you have been here for months, you are an employee surely?
Me: Nope, a contractor like the guy who fixes the boiler only I am here for longer than him.
Security: I will need to check this as I think you are an employee.
*Manager checks explains that I am not an employee*
Security: Fair enough then. Although I think it is a little odd.
Me: No worries, can I have copies of that conversation where it was shown I was not an employee?

As already said it's worth being nice to security.

Then I might gain a nice bit of paper for my anti IR35 folder.

Not if it's a verbal conversation.

I am not sure where you are coming from here but the question and required answer are simple - have you done this, yes or no.
If you want to throw insults then come and find me in General and flame away.

The point I'm coming from is antagonising people particularly security staff and receptionists is one way of making your life at the client site difficult.

It would be better of parking in the visitors space then asking security if you are allowed to park there.

Make security feel slightly powerful so when you misplace something or want to come in when the building is normally closed they are happy to help you.

[stek]

Going back to the DVLA example, the onsite security staff where on you in secs if you parked in the visitors - there its supposed to be for people visiting the DVLA office for car/licence issues.

We contractors had to park three miles away at a Park and Ride, and any parking transgressions meant after three strikes your DVLA pass was revoked and presumably your contract cancelled, since it's an SC site and no WFH..

[northernladuk]

There is a big difference acting like a business and understanding your relationship with your client and just picking things out of thin air trying to get yourself out of IR35. The latter makes you look more like a hidden permie looking for excuses IMO.

Contractors parking in visitor spots? <sigh>

[MyUserName]

As already said it's worth being nice to security.

It is worth being nice to everyone IMHO.

Not if it's a verbal conversation.

I would be able to follow up and get it in writing quite easily, I have done this sort of thing before. I can show you how for a small fee?

The point I'm coming from is antagonising people particularly security staff and receptionists is one way of making your life at the client site difficult.

It would be better of parking in the visitors space then asking security if you are allowed to park there.

Make security feel slightly powerful so when you misplace something or want to come in when the building is normally closed they are happy to help you.

This is a good point. If you had said this straight away rather than just calling me 'bloody stupid' then this thread might have been a lot more pleasant.

Going back to the DVLA example, the onsite security staff where on you in secs if you parked in the visitors - there its supposed to be for people visiting the DVLA office for car/licence issues.

Oh right - yes. I did not mean that type of vistor space! I can see why that would get you in trouble!

I don't think it's that much of a biggie, to be honest. I've had passes for client car parks before, that lasted for the duration of the gig. Just the same as I've had my own door pass, rather than having had to be signed in and accompanied by a member of staff whilst on-site every day.

I tend to park in visitor car spaces only when I'm first interviewing, but not otherwise. If you're a regular visitor to the premises, it's natural that you'd avoid using spaces set aside for occasional visitors.

Fair point.

[MyUserName]

For those who have descended upon me with neg reps *sigh* please have a look here:

IR35 - Top 10 traps to catch the unwary contractor

For those who cannot be bothered to read the link here is the important bit, for those who cannot be bothered to read the quote I have bolded the even more important bit:

A huge number of contractors fall into the trap of using employee facilities and thereby becoming ‘part and parcel’ of their client’s organisation. This can be so easily done, by taking on seemingly innocuous tasks like becoming the fire warden or organising employee events. Don’t use staff facilities like subsidised canteens or gyms, staff parking or even staff entrances. It might be inconvenient, but make sure you use the visitor’s car park, that you sign in every day, just like a visiting contractor would be expected to, and never, ever organise the Christmas party!

I have never heard of this before and do not do it but I wondered if I was missing something and this was something that other contractors regularly did.

It is not a case of trying to pull a cord and drag myself out of IR35 merely making sure I was not helping bury myself.

[eek]

For those who have descended upon me with neg reps *sigh* please have a look here:

IR35 - Top 10 traps to catch the unwary contractor
For those who cannot be bothered to read the link here is the important bit, for those who cannot be bothered to read the quote I have bolded the even more important bit:



I have never heard of this before and do not do it but I wondered if I was missing something and this was something that other contractors regularly did.

It is not a case of trying to pull a cord and drag myself out of IR35 merely making sure I was not helping bury myself.

So you look at a crap article clearly written to get links and decide to follow or investigate the advice. Rule 1 of being a contractor is get the job done, Rule 2 is not to p*** everyone else off when doing Rule 1 and being an arse with those tricks will easily break rule 2.

I don't understand how NLUK can comment on all the posts on here continue to willing help out and not lose the will to live.

[MyUserName]

So you look at a crap article clearly written to get links and decide to follow or investigate the advice..

Yes, that is exactly what I did.

The other nine points were good, it was only the tenth I was not sure about so I thought I would check to make sure as I have not been doing this that long.

I like to check things which I am not sure about - not sure why you think that this is such a crime. I think it would be quite remiss of me to not follow up on things.

This question was not one that can be easily checked as it is not a 'fact' based answer, hence I queried people to see what the general opinion was.

I don't understand how NLUK can comment on all the posts on here continue to willing help out and not lose the will to live.

No one forces him to respond to questions which he considers beneath him or to be scathing and insulting when he does it. The same is true of yourself.

I bet when you (and NLUK) are new to something even you ask some questions which experts think are simple. Maybe you should think about that the next time you feel the need to insultingly reply to someone because they have less knowledge or experience than you about something?

[SueEllen]

So you look at a crap article clearly written to get links and decide to follow or investigate the advice. Rule 1 of being a contractor is get the job done, Rule 2 is not to p*** everyone else off when doing Rule 1 and being an arse with those tricks will easily break rule 2.

WES

There are some clients who know a little about IR35 and use the little they know to cause major inconveniences to the contractors they bring in.

If you start to wind up security and other staff by doing things like using the visitors car park to park when there is no reason you can't park in the company's main car park which their staff use, then the next contractors who end up on site will have to park in the street or pay to park.

[SueEllen]

I bet when you (and NLUK) are new to something even you ask some questions which experts think are simple. Maybe you should think about that the next time you feel the need to insultingly reply to someone because they have less knowledge or experience than you about something?

Probably like me they found CUK and realised it had a great search facility. So whatever question you thought of you could search and there was an answer.