Agency trying to screw me over?

[Shane Mullan]

I got offered a job and was told I would be paid £11 an hour PAYE. My contact at the agency has now left and the payroll person is now telling me I have to sign up to their umbrella company where the umbrella will pay me PAYE.

Surely they are screwing me over, as now I will have employers NI deducted, as well as £15 umbrella fee a week!? (Originally they said it was PAYE directly)

I have worked there for over a month now and have been paying £12 a day on travel, I would not have taken the job if I knew I would have other money deducted. A colleague told me I might be better off getting a UTR number as that way the umbrella will take off expenses? (such as food and travel... of which I didn't keep any receipts for).

If anyone could offer advice or clarification on umbrellas and UTRs/CIS then I'd really appreciate it. I'm currently stuck with having worked over a month without being paid and have my bills coming out. It's all very confusing for someone that has not worked in industry before

 

[telectrix]

why have they not paid you for a month? you should have been paid 1 week in hand.

 

[Shane Mullan]

They haven't paid me because I haven't signed up to their umbrella company. I was waiting for them to pay me PAYE directly as agreed. So although they are happy to pay me, I won't end up being paid what I was expected from them... I'll be about £300 a month worse off

 

[Leesparkykent]

Ltd would be the way to go if your agency as it would be the most financially beneficial. If I was you I would sign up to the umbrella company and take what you can otherwise it will be weeks/months before you set up as ltd, company account and company CIS etc.

 

[Shane Mullan]

Ltd would be the way to go if your agency as it would be the most financially beneficial. If I was you I would sign up to the umbrella company and take what you can otherwise it will be weeks/months before you set up as ltd, company account and company CIS etc.

Thank you very much for that helpful advice.
Would I still be better off going limited if I'm only on £11 an hour?

 

[telectrix]

Thank you very much for that helpful advice.
Would I still be better off going limited if I'm only on £11 an hour?

you'd be far better off trying to find employment with a small local contractor who would also be a lot more help in expanding on your knowledge.

 

[Madocks]

Usually theres a price for PAYE and a price for umberella, the PAYE is generally 2-3 quid less per hour to cover their costs.

If your going with an umbrella, then I would speak to other lads on site, 11 quid an hour is crap to incur those costs..........

 

[davesparks]

What does it say in your contract?

 

[Shane Mullan]

I think the bloke told me it was PAYE just to get me to accept the job, now he's left the agency I can't even argue it.
I haven't signed a contracts for this agency

 

[davesparks]

I think the bloke told me it was PAYE just to get me to accept the job, now he's left the agency I can't even argue it.
I haven't signed a contracts for this agency

Surely you must have completed and some paperwork or signed some sort of agreement when you started working for them?

 

[Shane Mullan]

Surely you must have completed and some paperwork or signed some sort of agreement when you started working for them?

No, nothing like that. It was just a phone call where he said I would be paid £11 PAYE, then I emailed my passport and ECS card and I was on site the next day! No written contract, no written agreement. I haven't signed anything

 

[Madocks]

and youve worked for them for a month ? with no paperwork?

Any email confirming start date etc?

 

[Tes369]

Sign up to the payroll company you should get potentially 3 or 4 weeks money in one whack. You said you've worked over a month I'm assumining you've been there 5.

* Also send in your expenses.. download their expense form put in how much travel your doing to work etc plus don't forget the amount of time your spending out of the house.

* I've been self employed for years speak to an accountant see if he can set you up etc.. ?

* Payroll companies are scum they make you pay 2 lots of national insurance contributions your contribution and the employers share NIERS which is highly illegal but still nothing gets done about it.

* If I were you for now I'd go through the payroll so you can get paid don't cut your nose off to spite your face. Some are better than others but their still scum.

Ltd isn't all its cracked up to be the IR35 man is coming he's going to be cracking down hard. My accountant told me that and he was on about the industry as a whole.

I think it will go back to CIS like the good old days.

 

[Shane Mullan]

and youve worked for them for a month ? with no paperwork?

Any email confirming start date etc?

I have a text message confirming start date

 

[Tes369]

* Have you been putting in your timesheets..?

* You need to get paid if you put in last weeks timesheet and join the payroll this week (it needs to be done straight away or on your break) you'll have a nice amount of money Friday. And be paid again following friday.