PSL Umbrella Companies

[kaiser78]

You would have much more flexibility if you were Ltd - why are reluctant to do so, out of interest ?

[curtis]

I've just recently come out of a long contract, I am noticing a lot more lately that agencies are telling me they have a PSL for umbrella companies that according to them I have to use. I only came across this on the very odd occasion before now, is this something that other people are finding that work through an umbrella lately? It seems also most of the names they tell me I have never even heard of and do suspect they have some invested interest in having them there to use.

I read a document recently that basically said that this is illegal and if it went to court they would have to prove they get no financial gain form the company, think it was something I read that was under the bribery act. They can obvious enforce it and say its our way or go but I just wanted to know of fellow contractors who use umbrellas have you ever stuck to your guns and told them your using yours and has it worked or have you told them or they told you to go away?

Please don't reply go LTD as it suits me currently to go through an umbrella this is just to see how other people handle this question when agencies insist and you are very happy with the umbrella you use. Why would an agency want to lose a possible good candidate because they won't use their umbrella?