Clarity Umbrella - what's going on?

[agentzero]

Never used any previous usernames. Used VPN endpoints from a well known VPN provider, do a DNS lookup to confirm this with the IPs you suggest, it's mostly an IT contractor forum after all.

As mentioned in the "state of the market" thread, I work outside contracts only, never via an agent, and don't work inside ir35. That's why my username is agentzero.

[WTFH]

Never used any previous usernames. Used VPN endpoints from a well known VPN provider, do a DNS lookup to confirm this with the IPs you suggest, it's mostly an IT contractor forum after all.

As mentioned in the "state of the market" thread, I work outside contracts only, never via an agent, and don't work inside ir35. That's why my username is agentzero.

Slightly odd that someone who claims to work outside contracts only with your claimed experience is using an umbrella company and not working through their own Ltd.

[agentzero]

I found out about Clarity from one of my accountants. I work abroad often and have different accountants for different contracts, as one includes a tax cross border tax accountant.

The FCSA has contacted big agencies to tell them about the removal of Clarity and other linked umbrellas from their FCSA membership scheme. All I know is that these agencies told both accounting firms I use, because they both told me. I had recommended using Clarity based on views and Lucy's posts here. So I don't use them but know people who do and therefore feel some responsibility. The trusting responses in this thread I have found weird and am on the side of the responses echoing loss of trust.

HTH

[Protagoras]

I think that there's one assumption that could reasonably be made; where an umbrella company lacks FCSA accreditation it will be a challenge to attract new customers.

[Ketto]

And to not have it in these circumstances i.e. unannounced ownership change, move to offshore, loss of FCSA accreditation, getting flamed on main IT contractor forum with virtually no response. I wouldn’t use them again based on this and as things stand wouldn’t be able to do my usual “try Clarity” line whenever someone asks me for brolly recommendation. Such a shame.

[Nothing to see here]

Chris Bryce Any chance of a statement?

[malvolio]

Chris Bryce Any chance of a statement?

Unlikely, but they have been removed from the FCSA's register. ISTR the FCSA requirements excluded non-UK ownership

[jamesbrown]

Curious if they've been removed from the FCSA register. Perhaps pending enquiries. Lucy?

If true, some updates needed here:

https://clarityumbrella.co.uk/about-...ny-compliance/

I don't believe UK ownership is a prerequisite for FCSA membership, and Clarity remains a UK company, but the umbrella company should not be based offshore. I recall some furore about the FCSA charter w/r to whether it allowed scummy offshore tax dodging umbrellas to become members, at which point they updated their charter to specifically clarify that it didn't, but that is different from foreign ownership. My guess is that this is either pending enquiries or something else is going on. I note some shenanigans here:

https://find-and-update.company-info...filing-history

Something definitely doesn't smell right...