Reply to: Wanted vouchers for IPSE and QDOS

[JohntheBike]

And IPSE is getting just as far remaining silent on the situation



Had a record



And I chose no-one, any lobbying "for the contractor" has long gone quite and the focus is now on maternity pay for mums and rural broadband, neither of which resonate with me as a bum on seat contractor for which the PCG was founded




It's not just the ex-cc who have abandoned the IPSE forums, pretty much everyone has! But yes you are right, work goes on as shown by the recent announcement of the Members Forums participants, and the fact IPSE would happily have an individual who disregarded a signed NDA as long as he agrees with the managements views. I wonder if Gavin Williamson would have kept his job if he was as much as a sycophant.

I find this post very interesting and valid. Let me make some salient points.

Given that it's claimed that there are 15000+ direct members of IPSE, it's really surprising that such a very small minority of members even voted in the latest issues. I guess no one can claim that the numbers are representative of the membership's views either way. However, if the voting statistics did reflect the general membership views, then clearly a sizeable proportion of the membership doesn't agree with the direction that IPSE is taking.

A BoD director resigned, and some long standing respected members have not renewed their membership. If the silent majority are actually BoS, and I believe there are many, then clearly I really can't see what benefit IPSE membership would offer them come April 2020. I'm a long standing member, however, just like HMRC, nothing seems to affect their policies and direction.

IPSE continually claims to be affecting the issues in a positive way, but offers no evidence to support this, despite being challenged by some members to do so. Yes, many IR35 investigations have been successfully defended by organisations affiliated to IPSE, and a few individuals have had success when directly supported by IPSE.

They claim to have affected the issue of NIC's for self employed people, but the Chancellor had no choice but to listen to the objections of a sizeable number of MP's. I really can't see how such a group of MP's would have listened to anyone other than their own constituents.

So, is IPSE having an effect on the issues? I'm undecided at the moment.

"IPSE is getting just as far remaining silent on the situation" - it would seem so.

"Had a record" - perhaps more so when it was the PCG

"It's not just the ex-cc who have abandoned the IPSE forums, pretty much everyone has!" - and the forum posting rules can be used judiciously to ban some people from posting entirely

[siphr]

@Scruff Enjoy the £20 voucher assuming your URL is correct.

[cojak]

Interesting, is there an easy to follow reference somewhere that I can go and read, or would a general google query suffice?

On a side note: The thread title would probably not hint at a valuable exchange , for anybody who was searcing.

Ask Scruff to change the title. As the owner I’m sure he’ll oblige...

[SimonMac]

Chaplin is making a lot of noise, but it's not actually getting him very far.

And IPSE is getting just as far remaining silent on the situation

IPSE at least have a record of getting things done, or changed, or even stopped altogether

Had a record

The choice from where I sit is IPSE or none - every other campaign group claiming to represent the freelance workforce in some way is a commercial operation. There are many others making the same points - ICAEW, REC, ASPCo, FSB and so on - they are being ignored as well.

And I chose no-one, any lobbying "for the contractor" has long gone quite and the focus is now on maternity pay for mums and rural broadband, neither of which resonate with me as a bum on seat contractor for which the PCG was founded

And as an aside, many of those who resigned in a huff (and who sign themselves as ex IPSE member or similar) were against changes to the status quo. It's interesting to note that on IPSE's forum the ex-CC, who one might assume had a close interest in its activities, are almost entirely absent. MEanwhile, work goes on without them...

It's not just the ex-cc who have abandoned the IPSE forums, pretty much everyone has! But yes you are right, work goes on as shown by the recent announcement of the Members Forums participants, and the fact IPSE would happily have an individual who disregarded a signed NDA as long as he agrees with the managements views. I wonder if Gavin Williamson would have kept his job if he was as much as a sycophant.

[mudskipper]

...many of those who resigned in a huff...

I think you rather trivialise what were genuine concerns for many.

You are the only one who keeps bringing this up - everyone else accepted the outcome of the democratic process. I don't know what good you think it does to keep on and on and on telling everyone how wrong they were, but frankly it's quite tiresome, and means relationships are unlikely to improve.

[malvolio]

Chaplin is making a lot of noise, but it's not actually getting him very far. The problem is not the level of activity around the changes to the rules, it's the lack of reaction from HMG. You can shout as loud as you like at a brick wall, nothing much is going to happen. IPSE at least have a record of getting things done, or changed, or even stopped altogether.

The choice from where I sit is IPSE or none - every other campaign group claiming to represent the freelance workforce in some way is a commercial operation. There are many others making the same points - ICAEW, REC, ASPCo, FSB and so on - they are being ignored as well.

And as an aside, many of those who resigned in a huff (and who sign themselves as ex IPSE member or similar) were against changes to the status quo. It's interesting to note that on IPSE's forum the ex-CC, who one might assume had a close interest in its activities, are almost entirely absent. MEanwhile, work goes on without them...

[siphr]

Well, personally, I think Dave Chaplin's campaign appears to making far more headway in the fight against IR35 than IPSE's is. More than one member has been asking IPSE's ruling body to demonstrate with results, that IPSE is making a difference to the landscape. Yes, IPSE has supported some individuals in their personal IR35 battles, but when you compare the information that Chaplin has provided through FOI requests, with IPSE's information, IPSE's performance seems lacking to me.

Interesting, is there an easy to follow reference somewhere that I can go and read, or would a general google query suffice?

On a side note: The thread title would probably not hint at a valuable exchange , for anybody who was searcing.

[JohntheBike]

That is a fair statement however, my question is if there is somebody else who is even attempting to represent the contracting and freelancing community at the same level as IPSE? Is there an option, for a contractor to go elsewhere if they think IPSE to be incompetent?

Well, personally, I think Dave Chaplin's campaign appears to making far more headway in the fight against IR35 than IPSE's is. More than one member has been asking IPSE's ruling body to demonstrate with results, that IPSE is making a difference to the landscape. Yes, IPSE has supported some individuals in their personal IR35 battles, but when you compare the information that Chaplin has provided through FOI requests, with IPSE's information, IPSE's performance seems lacking to me.

[siphr]

well, it depends on a contractor's individual circumstances and whether or not IPSE's policies and direction concur with their needs. Not everyone agrees with their direction, as can be seen by recent resignations and calls for BoD resignations, along with long standing members declining to renew their membership. Given next year's IR35 changes, I can see that many members might find that IPSE doesn't offer any significant benefits and wouldn't want to help finance an organisation which might not be in their best interests. Time will tell if I'm right, but I guess many existing members will not renew their membership after April 2020.

That is a fair statement however, my question is if there is somebody else who is even attempting to represent the contracting and freelancing community at the same level as IPSE? Is there an option, for a contractor to go elsewhere if they think IPSE to be incompetent?

[JohntheBike]

Is there something (out there) better than IPSE?

well, it depends on a contractor's individual circumstances and whether or not IPSE's policies and direction concur with their needs. Not everyone agrees with their direction, as can be seen by recent resignations and calls for BoD resignations, along with long standing members declining to renew their membership. Given next year's IR35 changes, I can see that many members might find that IPSE doesn't offer any significant benefits and wouldn't want to help finance an organisation which might not be in their best interests. Time will tell if I'm right, but I guess many existing members will not renew their membership after April 2020.

[malvolio]

Incidentally, £50 off your first year for Plus membership - Join IPSE | IPSE

[northernladuk]

QDOS used to do codes until about a year ago, I had 10 -15% reduction every year. They seemed to have disappeared when I tried my my last renewal back in January

I did notice earlier whilst looking for my referral codes that there is a discount option in the members area.

Sign in, go to my account at the top right and then pick Members Area on the right hand side of the bar. I'm showing a 15% voucher for Working Practices Reviews. Must admit I've never seen that before.

[Eirikur]

https://www.contractoruk.com/forums/...ral-codes.html

QDOS don't do codes for discounts but if you use the link in Scruffs signature (see in thread above) he'll get an Amazon voucher. Might as well be in his pocket rather than QDOS.

P.S. The forum search as described in the FAQ section would have found all this for you.

QDOS used to do codes until about a year ago, I had 10 -15% reduction every year. They seemed to have disappeared when I tried my my last renewal back in January

[northernladuk]

Nope. It's a no brainer.

Those who complain about on here are mostly still living in 1999.

Absolutely this. Smash the Perkbox loyalties and you can make your money back and more let alone the extra benefits. Plenty of people come on here that have been screwed by agents and been able to claim on the business interruption product.

[malvolio]

Is there something (out there) better than IPSE?

Nope. It's a no brainer.

Those who complain about on here are mostly still living in 1999.