Questions to ask before accepting a contract?

[MyUserName]

Thanks for your answer Kelstar.

Got a couple of questions related to your answer:
Any handcuff clauses I should avoid ?(if all of them)
Payment terms : You mean getting paid per week or per month I guess?
Billing method: What do you mean by that?

Should I also ask in my contract fall under IR35 legislation?

*sigh*

Handcuff clauses should be as long as possible. Agent often do not understand this, so be prepared to check yourself.

Payment terms. You will bill however the client wants but the agency should be paying your between 30 and 60 days but under an umbrella probably does not matter. Make sure you sign out of the agency directive. Some agents do not know about this so you might have to remind them.

Billing method means how you actually bill the client (timesheets etc).

Ignore IR35 - it does not apply unless you have been somewhere for at least a year.

[luciddreamerfrench]

For serious questions we usually use the Business forum rather than General.

We do not know what is in your contract, what it is for or what you want out of it. It is difficult to know what to ask.

Have you read and reread the guides on the right? They are very useful and full of information that you need.

What is it a contract for? A one of job to fix someone's boiler? A 6 month C++ programming task under client control with no ROS for an investment bank? A 1 month rolling contract to play Marius on the West End?

I am guessing that it is a professional IT one but if you could give us the specifics then we might be able to help more.

Oops sorry I should have posted it in the business forum indeed.

It is a position as an avionics system engineer at Airbus (S/W, H/W design) under Airbus control. I had a couple interviews with the employment agency and for the moment they only sent me an email with their rate proposal + duration of the contract (6 month contract + progression to move onto permanent) + start date and I told them I am going to send them a list of questions to make sure I do understand all the conditions.

I've been indeed reading the guides but I think having advices from actual contractors is a good thing as well

[northernladuk]

Would you mind terribly if I leave when I find something that suits me a little better?

Can you pay me in Zimbabwe dollars?

Can you tell me about your sick pay policy?

Do I get a company car?

[northernladuk]

Oops sorry I should have posted it in the business forum indeed.

It is a position as an avionics system engineer at Airbus (S/W, H/W design) under Airbus control. I had a couple interviews with the employment agency and for the moment they only sent me an email with their rate proposal + duration of the contract (6 month contract + progression to move onto permanent) + start date and I told them I am going to send them a list of questions to make sure I do understand all the conditions.

I've been indeed reading the guides but I think having advices from actual contractors is a good thing as well

He's a bob!!! Run for the hills.......

[eek]

He's a bob!!! Run for the hills.......

He's french. I thought that was obvious from this username.

[Kelstar]

Thanks for your answer Kelstar.

Got a couple of questions related to your answer:
Any handcuff clauses I should avoid ?(if all of them)
Payment terms : You mean getting paid per week or per month I guess?
Billing method: What do you mean by that?

Should I also ask in my contract fall under IR35 legislation?

Handcuff clauses - only relevant to what is acceptable in your field. For instance it is common (and acceptable) for me to agree to not approach a client direct for a period of 6 months prior to the engagement end date. I'm not familiar with your industry so you'll have to apply some common sense.

Payment - how often are you paid, on what basis e.g. weekly, 1 week in lieu.

Billing Method - Are you on self bill, do you need to raise timesheets, invoices etc...

Payment and billing method I would call and ask the agent directly to explain. Handcuff clauses, review the contract and have it reviewed by a professional.

Thats my good deed done for the day...

[luciddreamerfrench]

Handcuff clauses - only relevant to what is acceptable in your field. For instance it is common (and acceptable) for me to agree to not approach a client direct for a period of 6 months prior to the engagement end date. I'm not familiar with your industry so you'll have to apply some common sense.

Payment - how often are you paid, on what basis e.g. weekly, 1 week in lieu.

Billing Method - Are you on self bill, do you need to raise timesheets, invoices etc...

Payment and billing method I would call and ask the agent directly to explain. Handcuff clauses, review the contract and have it reviewed by a professional.

Thats my good deed done for the day...

Great Kelstar thanks very much for all your explanation and your time

Eek: Thanks

[Zippy]

IR35 won't apply. As you are an employee of an umbrella co, you won't be able to minimise your tax bill, so will be PAYE on the lot (minus travelling/accommodation expenses).

[eek]

IR35 won't apply. As you are an employee of an umbrella co, you won't be able to minimise your tax bill, so will be PAYE on the lot (minus travelling/accommodation expenses).

Be careful selecting your umbrella. Some can be very awkward with travelling and accommodation expenses if you only have 1 client with them.

[EternalOptimist]

The only thing I bother asking any more is how often I will get paid.

and even then, I never believe them so I dont know why I bother.


my advice - to the newbie

dont ask any questions. when they come back to you and say 'what about travel, accom, etc etc'

reply ' they are my problems not yours. I will not make my problems into your problems'


this will make you look highly experienced, flexible and laid back.

then when you dont get paid on time they wont mind so much when you come around and kick their ***** in