Any point to IPSE membership?

[PerfectStorm]

I've said this before but the cover worked nicely for me when my company and I were investigated and they shortened the process by a few months (and possibly something more serious). Day to day I use the vouchers for Sainsburys, Tesco and Expedia which offsets a lot of it

So IPSE+ is £319.20

I reckon I spend £60 in Sainsbury's a week maybe
5% of that is £3
52 weeks of that is £156

Expedia 10% off
Spend what, 2k on hotels a year?
That's £200 off the best prices in the business most of the time

That's before getting into the gym and occasional trips to Tesco

So you're on £356 already - you've offset the membership cost and you still have all the insurance-like benefits (sickness, clients not paying, HMRC investigations)

I actually spent about 5k on hotels last year...

It does work out if you use it just a bit. Plus you get one other benefit - sleeping soundly knowing you're covered if you get the knock. They've got 2 years from the end of each accounting period you know... and those Corona payouts aren't going to pay for themselves, someone will need tapping up for it...

[Fred Bloggs]

As one of the Directors of IPSE themselves found out when they tried to claim, you need to read their policy wording too as when they tried to claim the company had gone bust in the wrong way so wasn't covered IIRC

It's not only them. I have had a claim refused this week by my travel insurance policy. I claimed for bankruptcy of the travel agent or in policy terms, "the travel service provider". Same thing? Not in insurance land it isn't. The policy small print definition excludes travel agents and hotel booking services from being covered. Apparently, a travel agent isn't a "travel services provider" in their world. Needless to say, a complaint is now filed and will be taken as far as possible.

[SimonMac]

Anyone considering the insurance only route such as Markel or another insurance provider needs to review the policy wording, limits of cover, etc and make their own decision on what is right for them.

As one of the Directors of IPSE themselves found out when they tried to claim, you need to read their policy wording too as when they tried to claim the company had gone bust in the wrong way so wasn't covered IIRC

[CheeseSlice]

...although it will cost rather more. Merkel discount their charges to IPSE members due to economies of scale.

Not necessarily. I was looking at this recently myself.

Markel have a Legal Expenses policy that covers £100k of IR35 tax investigation fees, also jury duty, and more for under £50 per year.

It seems to be hidden from IPSE members as when I try to use the 10% discount code when getting a quote online, it simply vanishes from the available cover options.

Taking a closer look, the cover limits are not like-for-like and I think IPSE have custom Markel policies for IPSE Standard and IPSE+ that beef them up over and above the direct Markel policy.

Anyone considering the insurance only route such as Markel or another insurance provider needs to review the policy wording, limits of cover, etc and make their own decision on what is right for them.

[Fred Bloggs]

You could join freelance corner instead


Freelance Corner | The biggest and brightest community for freelancers

Boy that’s confusing


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Wow, the trough just got wider and deeper. Snouts in deeper, guys!

[GhostofTarbera]

You could join freelance corner instead


Freelance Corner | The biggest and brightest community for freelancers

Boy that’s confusing


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

[Fred Bloggs]

Any point to IPSE membership?

Probably not any more, no. I expect I am not on my own if I were to say I dislike intensely any organisation that was founded and run for the sole benefit of the membership. Only then to become a snouts in the trough-fest for a tiny minority with almost nothing of significant interest to offer to members. It's time came - It's time went. Sad, but that often happens in life. Time to move on.

[xenomorph]

yeah I used the voucher to get the higher cost option and now thinking do I need it.
I could have spent that money on IR35 insurance instead which would be handy knowing whats coming next year.

[malvolio]

That's very true - it's an insurance product and is delivered by an expert company. You can always contract directly with such a company.

...although it will cost rather more. Merkel discount their charges to IPSE members due to economies of scale.

IMHO stay with IPSE, the savings won't really be significant (especially if you are constantly working) and the other benefits could save you an awful lot more. Any insurance is expensive if you don't need it, but a lot cheaper when you do (not that IPSE membership is insurance as such, hence their response....)

[ladymuck]

This has always been the case; even back when IPSE was PCG.


You may not be interested -- I wasn't either TBH -- but one cannot deny that the additional benefits *can* come in useful... although they are an expensive overhead if they are not used.

That's very true - it's an insurance product and is delivered by an expert company. You can always contract directly with such a company.

[wattaj]

...the reply I got made it very clear that they are 'hands off' wrt IR35

They said:

In the event that you make a claim for representation against your IPSE membership we appoint a representative from Markel Tax, all claims are sent directly to them. Markel’s professional expenses insurances is provided to IPSE members at a discount.

This has always been the case; even back when IPSE was PCG.

I'm not really interested with IPSEs other services, like jury duty cover - so is there no real point in keeping my membership? Surely I can just go straight to Markel or Qdos?

You may not be interested -- I wasn't either TBH -- but one cannot deny that the additional benefits *can* come in useful... although they are an expensive overhead if they are not used.

[ladymuck]

If you're only with IPSE for one particular insurance policy then it would definitely make sense to shop around and see if you can get that one policy elsewhere.

Just make sure you're comparing apples and apples.

[northernladuk]

Yes.
But bearing in mind you can save the cost of the membership on the discount thing and the items you aren't bothered about have been used by some on here, the business interruption one particularly, why would you not get it?

The business one could come in useful if agencies or clients start going bump or don't honour the contract.

[LouC]

I've been a member of IPSE since way back when it was still the PCG, and have renewed my membership every year in the event of an IR35 investigation.

I've been in the same contract for a while so was thinking whether to move to a QDOS IR35 insurance policy instead. I asked IPSE about their IR35 case successes, to see if keeping the membership was a good idea, and the reply I got made it very clear that they are 'hands off' wrt IR35

They said:

In the event that you make a claim for representation against your IPSE membership we appoint a representative from Markel Tax, all claims are sent directly to them. Markel’s professional expenses insurances is provided to IPSE members at a discount.

I'm not really interested with IPSEs other services, like jury duty cover - so is there no real point in keeping my membership? Surely I can just go straight to Markel or Qdos?