Reputable umbrella agencies

**cojak** · 25 February 2022, 15:19

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.

**eek** · 25 February 2022, 15:31

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.

**northernladuk** · 25 February 2022, 15:32

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/

**northernladuk** · 25 February 2022, 15:33

Originally posted by eek View Post

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..

**eek** · 25 February 2022, 15:40

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

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.

**eek** · 25 February 2022, 16:11

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.

**dardasim** · 25 February 2022, 17:26

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? )

**ITContrator** · 25 February 2022, 18:31

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..

**youngguy** · 28 February 2022, 10:57

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!!!

Reputable umbrella agencies