Reply to: Parity

[ipguy]

I can see, that the most of the feedbacks about Parity were positive. That's good.

[Sysman]

That's the hook. You, me and many other contractors think so. But they pretend they think another way.

I'd like to get 'the rate plus VAT' mentioned in the contract.

And I've got the same advice from the contractor who worked through Parity.

That rings a bell, though in my case it was the way they changed the contract rate from "Total" to "Total minus social contributions" (this was not in the UK).

[Lockhouse]

In my experience B&C have got a very fast initial response time.

[EternalOptimist]

That's the hook. You, me and many other contractors think so. But they pretend they think another way.

I'd like to get 'the rate plus VAT' mentioned in the contract.

And I've got the same advice from the contractor who worked through Parity.

If you suspect they are trying to disguise the actual rate by adding the VAT on during negotiations with you

a) I never came across this before
b) This is blooming serious. Do not sign anything till its clarified, even if it takes 2 weeks, never mind 2 days

[TheFaQQer]

That's the hook. You, me and many other contractors think so. But they pretend they think another way.

I'd like to get 'the rate plus VAT' mentioned in the contract.

And I've got the same advice from the contractor who worked through Parity.

My schedule said "Daily Rate:*" and then "* exclusive of VAT"

Should be dead easy to get them to clarify that on the schedule - speak to them about it.

[RichardCranium]

I started a contract with Parity about a year ago. I had seven things I brought up about the contract; IIRC five were changed. None were showstoppers.

There were no issues at all regarding VAT.

It was self-billing but that was operated perfectly (much to my surprise).

Timesheets were multi-part, faxed and posted (my preferred method because I don't trust computers).

If you shop around you can get contracts reviewed faster than two days. If you have £500 spare, I expect you can get it done today by a specialist IT contracts lawyer some of us know and love.


What is the nature of the problems you foresee?

[ipguy]

I can't even think about how you might be being messed about with VAT - I always thought is was an automatic, straightforward thing...

That's the hook. You, me and many other contractors think so. But they pretend they think another way.

I'd like to get 'the rate plus VAT' mentioned in the contract.

And I've got the same advice from the contractor who worked through Parity.

[TheFaQQer]

Rather unfair terms and conditions from my perspective.

I totally agree that a review of Parity's contract is necessary.

So get it done. Or don't and don't sign it.

But if they continue to mess me around with VAT, I'll hardly wish to sign it off.

Without knowing the full details (and there are obviously some deeper issues here with both the contract and the VAT), it's impossible to give any more meaningful advice.

I can't even think about how you might be being messed about with VAT - I always thought is was an automatic, straightforward thing...

[cojak]

You ALWAYS have time to get the contract reviewed - make time.

If the agency cannot see that you need to get the contract reviewed by your legal advisors, then you need to convince them that you are minimizing THEIR risk by having it reviewed.

Get the contract sent over to QDOS or B&C for review now. Then explain to the agency that you are just waiting for confirmation from legal before proceeding.

WHS..

In fact the concern is - if the agency cannot see that you need to get the contract reviewed by your legal advisors, then it smells bad because they might not want you looking at it too closely...

[ipguy]

I totally agree that a review of Parity's contract is necessary.
But if they continue to mess me around with VAT, I'll hardly wish to sign it off.

[TheFaQQer]

Many thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I don't have time for the contract review by QDOS. It normally take 5 days to get the contract reviewed.

Have spoken to them. 2 days is the minimum.

You ALWAYS have time to get the contract reviewed - make time.

If the agency cannot see that you need to get the contract reviewed by your legal advisors, then you need to convince them that you are minimizing THEIR risk by having it reviewed.

Get the contract sent over to QDOS or B&C for review now. Then explain to the agency that you are just waiting for confirmation from legal before proceeding.

[ipguy]

Why not call them and see if they can do it quicker? I've always found them to be very helpful.

Have spoken to them. 2 days is the minimum.

[DiscoStu]

Many thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I don't have time for the contract review by QDOS. It normally take 5 days to get the contract reviewed.

Why not call them and see if they can do it quicker? I've always found them to be very helpful.

[ipguy]

Many thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I don't have time for the contract review by QDOS. It normally take 5 days to get the contract reviewed.

[TheFaQQer]

I contracted through Parity for 18 months. Had no problems with them at all, apart from a rather frustrating, somewhat antiquated timesheet system - they still run off paper carbon copies that need to be posted in to them.

Agent turned up a week after I started to take me to lunch to check that everything was running smoothly. She was completely open about their commission, too - without being prompted, she told me the rate (and I checked it on the invoicing system to make sure )

QDOS found three things that needed to be changed in the contract - no problem whatsoever getting it changed. Next day, new contract arrived in my email.

I'd work with them again.