Umbrella for our PSL

[Beefy198]

Blimey kids, calm down!

[zoso]

Originally Posted by Malvolio

Disagree totally. The whole point of being a freelancer is to make your own decisions and be responsible for your own life.

Well go and find the work without agencies then!!!
Maybe then it wouldn't be a problem whether they have PLS's or not!!

[Malvolio]

Originally Posted by zoso

Well go and find the work without agencies then!!!
Maybe then it wouldn't be a problem whether they have PLS's or not!!

Actually I do, but that's not what I was saying. Agencies have 90% of the work, you would be foolish not to use them. But that's where it stops - you don't need to play any part in the business arrangements of freelancers any more than you do for your clients. More than a few agencies should stop believing their own PR.

[Pistachio]

Completely agree with the above. An agency's work is doing the graft of finding work and lining up an interview. They should not concern themselves with dictating accountancy terms.

[Greasy Chip Butty]

This happened to a friend of mine once. He had used the same umbrella company for three years, it suited him and his lifestyle and he had a good rapport with them.

Then he found a new contract and the agency insisted that they use an umbrella company on their PSL. In the end he got his own way, but only because he talked to the client and the client pushed it through. So that's probably the best thing you can do.

[dodgy_Dave]

That's probably the best advice. Our agency doesn't insist that you use a certain company, and we get no kickbacks. It's not a good way to do business.

[JeffreyC]

I've had a couple of contractors forced to leave because of PSLs, normally through the big agencies.

It sucks, especially when they say they're being forced to do it. I've actually had one or two come back as soon as the contract has finished.