Reputable umbrella agencies

[dardasim]

So as you can tell this is my first time dealing with umbrellas.. I just contacted the NASA one.
is it normal that they won't issue a unique tax code for my 2 contracts (the two agencies I work for) but 2 separate one? I thought that was the point of working for an umbrella. Plus I'll have to pay more because I have more than 1 contract (something like 110£ a month).

Is this normal? Nobody is trying to force me in umbrellas, my 2 agencies are happy to pay me as PAYE.
But I thought that going umbrella ment having just 1 payslip, 1 tax code and simplify everything out...
What would be the difference between having 2 PAYE contracts, and 1 umbrella company issuing 12 tax codes?

I'm baffled.

[eek]

Interested in hearing your concerns about Merit and eezytime Eek

Merit is desktop software (not a great idea when it's windows that is mainly targeted by ransomware gangs)

Eezytime is there as it's an easy way of identifying their even less IT literate customers (where Merit is doing everything for them).

[youngguy]

Oh and to add when deciding on an umbrella pick one that has a portal that isn't eezytime.co.uk or anything else thar uses Merit.

JustAccounts. My Digital, Octopaye, Flexr are all cloud based software - Merit frequently isn't which opens up some additional risks.

Interested in hearing your concerns about Merit and eezytime Eek

[youngguy]

I've had issues with Orange and currently Exact Payroll are on their third attempt at giving me correct calculations and failing miserably and massively.

Colleagues of mine have found Paystream and NASA to be ok.

But what I would say is that it appears to be luck of the draw. If you don't have anything even slightly out of their window of ordinary (ie a simple pay weekly with no expenses, pension contributions, no special discount deals etc etc) you may be ok.....but in reality most of these companies are high volume low margin and as Mav says, don't expect much of a service for your £20 per week....not even correct payroll in many cases!!!

[ITContrator]

I'm with Orange Genie, can't say I'd recommend them.

My work colleague is with NASA, they seem ok so long as how you use them is straight forward, once you start claiming "chargeable expenses", there seems to be a tendency for utter confusion, but they are not as bad as OG..

[dardasim]

Thanks for the quick replies, I'll try to look into the single names on the forum.
as far as the second part of my question :

I could be hired as PAYE by all my agencies as well and avoid umbrella companies... But is there a way not to have a nightmare with the HMRC? I tried once and they doubled my estimate earning (while I can work with multiple agencies, the overall hours I work are about the same, only distributed differently, but the distribution vary wildly month by month)..

Ps what should I look for when looking for a good umbrella? For example, why clarity is so good compared to others? (How is it more expensive than other? )

[eek]

Oh and to add when deciding on an umbrella pick one that has a portal that isn't eezytime.co.uk or anything else thar uses Merit.

JustAccounts. My Digital, Octopaye, Flexr are all cloud based software - Merit frequently isn't which opens up some additional risks.

[eek]

And why is the one we'd normally pick by default not on it..

Reasons - a lot of which is Lucy doesn't have time to get on to PSLs.

However I don't think I would be recommending Clarity anyway as I suspect a cheaper umbrella is a better bet given the work the OP does. Sadly none of the cheap options that I know are honest are on that list which is why I end up saying Nasa because I know SM is happy with them and their prices are lower than many others if you aren't paying extra to put money into a SIPP.

[northernladuk]

From that list - definitely not Global.

SimonMac uses Nasa so I would suggest them.

While I totally hate the idea of a PSC list for umbrellas anything would be better than a list of 20+ options which range from meh to how the f***ity f*** are they on any list.

And why is the one we'd normally pick by default not on it..

[northernladuk]

Easiest way to search the forums is using the google search method.

In google type <umbrella name> site:forums.contractoruk.com and it will return all the threads where that brolly has been mentioned. You could narrow it down to the umbrella section if you are getting too many random results. If you want to do that use the following search

<umbrella name> site:forums.contractoruk.com/umbrella-companies/

[eek]

From that list - definitely not Global.

SimonMac uses Nasa so I would suggest them.

While I totally hate the idea of a PSC list for umbrellas anything would be better than a list of 20+ options which range from meh to how the f***ity f*** are they on any list.

[cojak]

That’s an awfully long list. I would advise searching through the first couple of pages of this forum - you’ll find a lot of your answers there.

E.g Exact and Parasol have problems and are just a few posts below this one.

[dardasim]

Hi,
I'm an agency nurse, I'm looking into going from PAYE to umbrella, so I can manage better my multiple contraccontracts.


I have received a list of approved umbrella companies from one my agencies, but I can't find one with goog enough reviews.
could someone advice on any of them? (List below)

Secondly is there any way to have multiple employers (PAYE) without having a nightmare with HMRC and still avoiding umbrella? (Earnings with different companies vary week by week).

Thanks

• Alpha Republic Ltd
• Amaze Umbrella Limited- FCSA accredited
• Bar 2064 Limited
• Canopaye Limited
• Champion Contract Services Ltd
• Charteris Management Ltd
• Danbro Workforce Solutions Ltd- FCSA accredited
• Everest Cloud (WM) Ltd
• Exact Payroll Ltd- FCSA accredited
• Exceed Umbrella Limited (FPS Group)- Passport Professional accredited
• Exchequer Solutions Limited- FCSA accredited
• FRS Contractor Solutions Limited
• GFP Payroll Ltd
• Global Challenge Umbrella Limited- FCSA accredited
• Greenwich Contracts Ltd
• Hapstone Ltd (Ricson)- FCSA accredited
• i4 Pay Partners Limited
• ICS Umbrella Ltd- FCSA accredited
• JSA Services Limited - FCSA accredited
• KAS Consulting Ltd
• Liquid Friday Limited- FCSA accredited
• LS Engage Ltd- Passport Professional accredited
• MainPay Limited- FCSA accredited
• MyPay Limited- FCSA accredited
• NASA Umbrella Limited- FCSA accredited
• Orange Genie Cover Limited-FCSA accredited
• Parasol Limited- FCSAaccredited
• Paystream (MyMax)- FCSA accredited
• Purlieus Consulting Limited
• Smart Cash Limited
• SmartWork.com Ltd- FCSA accredited
• Swann Accountants Umbrella Services Ltd-Passport Professional accredited
• Uni Professionals Services UK Ltd
• Workr Umbrella Ltd (Walker Smith Contracting)- FCSA & Passport Professional accredited
• Well Pay Umbrella Ltd