Giant or Paystream umbrella company

[savvycontractor]

Hello,

I'm new on this forum so I apologise in advance if my question has been covered in the past (I did try to search on it but nothing came up).

I was wondering if any one has used Giant Umbrella service or Paystream umbrella service and if they could share their experience?

I'm a new IR35 victim and will be moving over to umbrella payroll soon. My recruitment agency said I have to use one of the umbrella companies on their PSL and these two are the ones I've sort of heard of over the years. I have always contracted via my Ltd company so don't have any experience of using umbrella companies and the horror stories I've been hearing about them recently are giving me concerns.

I would really appreciate any experience (good or bad), suggestions, pointers, anything really to help me make an informed decision.

Thanks

[cojak]

Hi Savvycontractor

There are a number of regulars recommending Paystream, here's one:
https://www.contractoruk.com/forums/...ml#post2717942

And as for searching, just add "site:forums.contractoruk.com" at the end of your search terms (in this case "Paystream"), and it will only look on here.

[savvycontractor]

Thank you @cojak, that was helpful

[Ossie]

My initial experience with pay stream was good until the gremlins started appearing on information that they did not disclose at the time of set up. It wasn’t until I started chasing for updates and payments that it started becoming apparent. They promised the world at the beginning and are good with basic admin.

My biggest issue with them is that they decided to hold onto my salary sacrificed funds to be sent to my pension, they state that allegedly the payment run dates are missed.
Here is an example of what i am dealing with, I worked all of January and submitted my time sheet at first week in Feb and I am then told.....”As your payment was processed on 7th Feb, this missed the cut-off of the 5^th. Therefore, payment will be sent over to on 19^th March.” This is 6 weeks later, is this even legal for them to hold onto my money?

I then submitted my Feb time sheet at the end of February, Today I am told that payment will be sent on 19/04. And March will be paid at the end of May!
This is extremely frustrating, their support is slow in responding, unhelpful and not flexible. I have asked several times for this to be escalated without any success. I have emailed the CEO and general manager and not had any such luck.

At the time of writing this I received an update from Paystream basically saying this is their process, this is how it has been managed and will continue to be managed.

I am certainly taking my business elsewhere

Disappointed, I wish I were back outside ir35 so I could manage my own business

Best of luck with your decision

[RandomContractor]

I've found paystream to be good, no issues with pay at least. Not the cheapest, but it seems you get what you pay for with these umbrellas.
The only issue I had is I took a role with a large agency and they tried to put me onto the agency default rate (higher). I argued I signed up directly with them previous to this role so there was no introduction. After a complaint they agreed.

[MonkeysUncle]

Hi All
To revive an old thread (apologies if its the wrong one)
I am having to go umbrella route for my next contract. They have a preferred list which is:

Paystream
Giant
Amaze
Brookson

Having a bad experience with paystream before, they are out.
I have been on this forum enough to see the bad comments about Giant and Brookson and havent seen much about Amaze.

Luckily the agency is open to any other umbrella, ideally FCSA regulated.

Is the consensus still Clarity?

[northernladuk]

Is the consensus still Clarity?

Without a doubt. They won best Umbrella under 500 contractors at the recent CUK awards. If they aren't on the agents PSL then give Lucy a ring to see if she can have a word. If its about compliance she can help them but it's highly likely all about kickbacks sadly.

[MonkeysUncle]

Without a doubt. They won best Umbrella under 500 contractors at the recent CUK awards. If they aren't on the agents PSL then give Lucy a ring to see if she can have a word. If its about compliance she can help them but it's highly likely all about kickbacks sadly.

Thanks
Agency is happy to go with any umbrella as long as they are FCSA accredited so passed on the info.

[northernladuk]

Thanks
Agency is happy to go with any umbrella as long as they are FCSA accredited so passed on the info.

Smashing. Mention my name to lucyclarityumbrella and put me down on the iPad list for when they come in.

[lucyclarityumbrella]

northernladuk , I thought we were even now!