Safe Solutions

[Tramline]

Not suggesting that you are a greedy contractor Malvolio-simply saying some want to maximise their income but pay no heed to the consequences. You are clearly outside and welcome to your divvies.

Also a very close friend works for Hays and i asked him directly about this-his answer was: own ltd is fine (and comprises about 70% of the contractors on assignment) as is (approved) umbrella. Composite is not. Not knocking anyone but in this case "I do understand it".

I think this may have something to do with the fact that certain umbrella's pay referral fees (back handers) to agencies. I don't think it has anything to do with the umbrella going bust. IMO if the agent has paid your umbrella and your umbrella goes bust you acn't moan at the agent or the client. To do so would be stupid, cost you your contract and a good reference.

[Uncle Max]

Not suggesting that you are a greedy contractor Malvolio-simply saying some want to maximise their income but pay no heed to the consequences. You are clearly outside and welcome to your divvies.

Also a very close friend works for Hays and i asked him directly about this-his answer was: own ltd is fine (and comprises about 70% of the contractors on assignment) as is (approved) umbrella. Composite is not. Not knocking anyone but in this case "I do understand it".

[malvolio]

I don't believe that the agencies are in the business of stopping people working through their own ltd companies-they couldn't make that stick and no one would stand for it, as you say.

Well yes they are, actually. Go talk to CP or Hays or some of the other big boys. And I know of people who have been told to use this or that umbrella as a condition of the offer and have walked away.

I'm not a greedy contractor, as you so charmingly put it. I work hard and I deliver a value service. Equally, I don't get sick pay, time off, pensions, health care, long-term sick pay, cars, expenses, canteens, free gym, employment protection or bonuses at Christmas, nor do I get paid 365 days a year come what may. I run a fair degree of risk to get my income, which is why it's higher than most. I also pay a lot more tax than most, year on year. So go sit behind your comfy desk and feel superior, but don't knock what you don't understand.

[DimPrawn]

The separate point is that 95% of agency contractors are caught inside IR35 so would be no better or worse off under (a properly run) umbrella

Where did you get that figure from, Dawn Primorolos website?

More like 95% of contractors are outside IR35 if they took 10 minutes to organise their working practices, contracts and company activities.

[DimPrawn]

Well said Malvolio. These same muppets are the first to cry like babies when the agency/brolly goes tits up, or the government spin some new legislation to squeeze even more tax out of them.

If you ain't running a company, you're just a temp.

[Uncle Max]

[QUOTE=malvolio]Well not quite. Some agencies are insisting their candidates go through their PSL of umbrellas so that they know you are inside IR35 and are not paying yourself dividends (i.e. avoiding paying NI on your income - although doing so is perfectly legal, of course, and is none of their concern anyway) QUOTE]

I don't believe that the agencies are in the business of stopping people working through their own ltd companies-they couldn't make that stick and no one would stand for it, as you say. No, they are just trying to stop "head in the sand", plain greedy or just plain stupid contractors from using the likes of (un)Safe Solutions and causing an almighty problem for themselves and the client (i.e. when the guy doesn't show up for work cos he's not been paid!!)

The separate point is that 95% of agency contractors are caught inside IR35 so would be no better or worse off under (a properly run) umbrella

[malvolio]

Well not quite. Some agencies are insisting their candidates go through their PSL of umbrellas so that they know you are inside IR35 and are not paying yourself dividends (i.e. avoiding paying NI on your income - although doing so is perfectly legal, of course, and is none of their concern anyway)

So if, like me, you have a proper Ltd Co to work through, no f***ing way, you can go stick your job.

If, however, you are with an Umbrella you like and trust, just why should you have to change to another one because yours isn't on their PSL? Especially since (a) you will almost certainly get a worse net income and (b) who said they had any right to dictate who you deal with anyway: it's like saying you have to shop at Sainsburys rather than Morrisons or you don't work for us.

Sadly, there are enough muppets who roll over to make it worth while.

[Uncle Max]

I seem to remember a few on this board suggesting that the recruitment agencies had no place mandating the use of particular "approved" umbrellas. However the demise of this composite company (presumably because they have received some unwelcome IR scrutiny!) would be a powerful counter argument to that.

Use a properly run umbrella or your own ltd co. Composites are bad news.

[ladymuck]

I used JSA for a while before setting up my own ltd co. They were ok. Charged £17.50 a week, if I remember correctly, for doing the 'payroll'.

[Technically Blonde]

Check this out

What can any one tell me about these guys? I have been recommended by my agency to give them a call and then I came across this website and read quite a lot about Prosperity 4, and have decided not to call them.. So can any one give me any advice..

Apparently Safe Solutions have gone into Administration

http://www.itcontractor.com/Articles...01&photopage=0

http://www.computercontractor.org/fo...pic.php?t=5031

[G8_Summit]

[fran.daynor21]

What can any one tell me about these guys? I have been recommended by my agency to give them a call and then I came across this website and read quite a lot about Prosperity 4, and have decided not to call them.. So can any one give me any advice..

I can recommend Charterhouse Group International Plc. Check their website out... www.charterhouseplc.com

[The Late, Great JC]

Don't touch "Prosperity 4" they're a bunch of cockney barrow boys who may very shortly be on the receiving end of some unwelcome IR attention.

[Lucifer Box]

What can any one tell me about these guys? I have been recommended by my agency to give them a call and then I came across this website and read quite a lot about Prosperity 4, and have decided not to call them.. So can any one give me any advice..

The advice I can give is that if an agency recommends them you should probably steer well clear.

[Laalaa]

What can any one tell me about these guys? I have been recommended by my agency to give them a call and then I came across this website and read quite a lot about Prosperity 4, and have decided not to call them.. So can any one give me any advice..