Agency keeps trying to treat me like an employee

[cloudcontractor]

Hopefully this is just teething issues, but so far it's been like leading a horse to water and having to force its head down

[OneManBand]

I contracted for many years with Pontoon (long before they became Pontoon). They always paid on time and without fuss.

[Old Greg]

For the avoidance of doubt I've emailed this kid back to make him confirm that he understands that my company is acting as a Service Provider and that I'm not an employee of either his agency or their client. He's probably just a noob that doesn't appreciate the not so subtle but important distinction.

Let's say in the worst case scenario he replies to say that derp, they actually consider me to be 'basically' an employee; I walk right? I'm not hanging around in a contract if the Agency can't even get it straight.

Had you raised an invoice with VAT added etc. etc?

[Old Greg]

For the avoidance of doubt I've emailed this kid back to make him confirm that he understands that my company is acting as a Service Provider and that I'm not an employee of either his agency or their client. He's probably just a noob that doesn't appreciate the not so subtle but important distinction.

Let's say in the worst case scenario he replies to say that derp, they actually consider me to be 'basically' an employee; I walk right? I'm not hanging around in a contract if the Agency can't even get it straight.

Had you raised an invoice with VAT added etc. etc?

[billybiro]

Another gem from the agency.

are they just a bit thick?

[malvolio]

For the avoidance of doubt I've emailed this kid back to make him confirm that he understands that my company is acting as a Service Provider and that I'm not an employee of either his agency or their client. He's probably just a noob that doesn't appreciate the not so subtle but important distinction.

Let's say in the worst case scenario he replies to say that derp, they actually consider me to be 'basically' an employee; I walk right? I'm not hanging around in a contract if the Agency can't even get it straight.

Yes, walk. And tell both the client and the agency's MD why you are doing so. We need to start kicking off big time about the sheer ineptness of 90% of agency staff.

[cloudcontractor]

For the avoidance of doubt I've emailed this kid back to make him confirm that he understands that my company is acting as a Service Provider and that I'm not an employee of either his agency or their client. He's probably just a noob that doesn't appreciate the not so subtle but important distinction.

Let's say in the worst case scenario he replies to say that derp, they actually consider me to be 'basically' an employee; I walk right? I'm not hanging around in a contract if the Agency can't even get it straight.

[GreenMirror]

The good news is they will pay all your tax. Make sure you get a P60 at the end of the year. Happy days.

[cloudcontractor]

It's _probably_ safe to do so. Pontoon.

The contract looks very typical to me. I've opted-in, has substitution clauses, mentions the requirement to pay me even if not received from client, etc. Nothing to create confusion.

Their organisational skills haven't impressed me from the start though. I'm the kind to provide extremely detailed and complete documentation as soon as it's requested, and then I poke them to move things along, but everything still took a long time to get finalised. The cherry was being accused of having not provided my ID in person at their office for manual verification 3 days before the contract started. I replied to tell them I attended their offices three weeks previously, by appointment, and could even tell them that they were having their water cooler serviced at that hour on that day if they wanted to double-check

[northernladuk]

Did you get your contract checked for IR35? Let's hope their incompetence isn't mirrored in that.

[WTFH]

Care to name & shame?

[cloudcontractor]

Another gem from the agency. Whilst chasing up payment for last month's timesheets, he tells me:

As regards to your payment the contractor portal will be able to confirm what date you are due to be paid, if you would like an emergency payment of 60% of that wage tomorrow please let me know and I will process that but it will be emergency taxed.

Wage? Emergency taxed?

I politely replied to say I wasn't sure what he was talking about, since I'm not an employee and my company handles its own tax affairs. Is this just simple ignorance on the part of the agency individual who can't make the clear separation in their own mind, or something to worry about?

This is the second time I've had to remind them I'm not an employee bound by employee concerns. Same guy both times; are they just a bit thick?