Reply to: PCG benefits

[Denny]

Yes, I heard that quite frequently in my last four years of membership...

If you make it to being head honcho, you might be fortunate(?) enough to get honourary lifetime membership.

...he's already grease palming GB too, to get a peerage, as we speak.

[NotAllThere]

...
However, they are launching new Forum software soon(-ish...) ....

Yes, I heard that quite frequently in my last four years of membership...

If you make it to being head honcho, you might be fortunate(?) enough to get honourary lifetime membership.

[malvolio]

I would have liked to stay in the PCG just for forum access. But it is all or nothing. I would like to see a PCG-Lite...

It's been discussed. Snag is it has a bad effect on the insurance premiums, since if you have a membership that can opt out of the insurance you change the risk profile significantly as well as reducing the number of contributing members. Economically it's doesn't really work. Of course, if we get to the point where we can de-risk IR35...

However, they are launching new Forum software soon(-ish...) which may give a bit more freedom on how they are run - although there are still the legal and confidentiality issues to consider.

[BrilloPad]

I would have liked to stay in the PCG just for forum access. But it is all or nothing. I would like to see a PCG-Lite...

[rootsnall]

Why? The insurance requirement would still stand. Investigation will still take a while to complete and probably need significant effort. Plus that would assume the insurance is a significant proportion of the subs, which it may not be any more.

I agree the price would have to reflect a different risk profile and they would need to make some changes, but as usual it's never that simple!

I'm just guessing people will not pay up without such an obvious enemy as IR35 to scare them into action. I'm sure the replacement legislation acronym will quickly become demonised though !

From some of your earlier comments and other gossip I've picked up am I right that the number of new IR35 cases is dwindling. My accountant says he hasn't had one for a good while, but quite a few in the early days.

[NotAllThere]

well worth £120 quid. Or is it more now?

What's really great, is that even when you're no longer a member, you can still use the card for the same purpose.

[malvolio]

..{snip}.. I assume the cost of membership would have to fall significantly to keep the membership numbers up.

Why? The insurance requirement would still stand. Investigation will still take a while to complete and probably need significant effort. Plus that would assume the insurance is a significant proportion of the subs, which it may not be any more.

I agree the price would have to reflect a different risk profile and they would need to make some changes, but as usual it's never that simple!

[rootsnall]

PCGPlus covers you for represenatation in any aspect inquiry - the idea is to manage that so it doesn't turn into an IR35 one. Standard membership covers IR35 aspect investigations. However, if IR35 is ever repealed they would most likely re-jig the coverage to compensate. There will still be inquiries and there will still be a need for professional representation. The PCG won't die when IR35 does, and it's about a lot more than IR35 anyway.

That is how I understood things, it's clear again now. I'd be careful with using the statement "The insurance is for Payroll Investigations, not IR35".

I know it's a lot more than just IR35 but convincing tight ar*e contractors ( inc me ) to pay up without such an obvious benefit will be tough. If the IR did can IR35 and not replace it with something similar ( not much chance of that ) then I assume the cost of membership would have to fall significantly to keep the membership numbers up.

[malvolio]

You've got me confused now ! The 'insurance' with PCG Plus is to cover the legal costs of NI investigations and also the legal cost of an IR35 investigation if it leads to that !?

PCGPlus covers you for represenatation in any aspect inquiry - the idea is to manage that so it doesn't turn into an IR35 one. Standard membership covers IR35 aspect investigations. However, if IR35 is ever repealed they would most likely re-jig the coverage to compensate. There will still be inquiries and there will still be a need for professional representation. The PCG won't die when IR35 does, and it's about a lot more than IR35 anyway.

[rootsnall]

A common misconception. The insurance is for Payroll Investigations, not IR35. Taking away IR35 will not take away the need for the insurance. Replace IR35 with something more focussed, you are back into Investigation land again...

I agree that they haven't been very good at getting that message out though...

You've got me confused now ! The 'insurance' with PCG Plus is to cover the legal costs of NI investigations and also the legal cost of an IR35 investigation if it leads to that !?

[malvolio]

You're not much of a businessman are you! You can get a windscreen scarper for a fiver. I use my finger and a rag for grouting the kitchen tiles.

Seriously! The insurance is what people join for, more's the pity. If it wasn't for that I expect membership numbers would fall like a stone.

A common misconception. The insurance is for Payroll Investigations, not IR35. Taking away IR35 will not take away the need for the insurance. Replace IR35 with something more focussed, you are back into Investigation land again...

I agree that they haven't been very good at getting that message out though...

[Bluebird]

Just done a straw poll in my office amongst the contractors and the consensus is they've done a good job so far. Fighting S660A to the death plus the insurance made it good value for me personally. I'd normally use the AA card but couldn't find it.

so how long have you been off the wagon then ?

[rootsnall]

Just done a straw poll in my office amongst the contractors and the consensus is they've done a good job so far. Fighting S660A to the death plus the insurance made it good value for me personally. I'd normally use the AA card but couldn't find it.

[Denny]

The pros and cons of PCG membership have been done to death but I thought I'd pass on one thing that is often overlooked. My PCG membership card has this week been invaluable for scarping ice of my car windscreen and as a grouting tool when tiling my kitchen. Thanks to Malvolio and the PCG.

You're not much of a businessman are you! You can get a windscreen scraper for a fiver. I use my finger and a rag for grouting the kitchen tiles.

Seriously! The insurance is what people join for, more's the pity. If it wasn't for that I expect membership numbers would fall like a stone.

[oracleslave]

The pros and cons of PCG membership have been done to death but I thought I'd pass on one thing that is often overlooked. My PCG membership card has this week been invaluable for scarping ice of my car windscreen and as a grouting tool when tiling my kitchen. Thanks to Malvolio and the PCG.

I don't share the sentiments but