PayStream

A company full of liars - everyone is in a meeting or just left. I had to prove multiple times people have not just left because I asked when they leave daily, and funnily enough once i said this I could speak to said person. I have been discriminated against because I am a Migrant - despite providing sharecode, biometric card, immigration acceptance letter, drivers license and many other supporting documents to prove my identity and right to work I was told on multiple occasions they cannot complete my application - I advised as I work in law that they need to speak to there legal team as that is all i need. They than sent me on a wild goose chase and failed to respond to me everytime I emailled or called. DO NOT USE THIS UMBRELLA COMPANY! The staff are lazy liars that lie to get out of simply transferring you - they want you to email so they can ignore it.Utter joke of a company - I even tried to ask if i can come to the office to hand in my documents and was told it is a data risk - A DATA RISK BY HANDING OVER PAPER IN THE RECEPTION. M

I have never used an Umbrella before so I have phoned a few to understand how they work and the fees etc. Paystream was the only company to explain the tax side well and how the fees are calcualted and deducted. The illustration even took account of my actual tax code so was more accurate than the other firm's illustrations. I will use them for that alone. Also the girl on the phone was really friendly and not at all pushy.

Paystream are as good as any other umbrella at running a basic payroll. They claim to run an "expenses" process but in reality this is infuriating, purposefully so in my opinion. Expenses are an overhead to them which costs them money to process so they make the process as difficult as possible to discourage it's use. They pointed me to the much simpler HMRC process, which spoke volumes about where they'd prefer me to do my expenses. I worked through Giant previously, they were much better!

It's been over a year and Paystream STILL HAVE NOT and REFUSED TO pay back over 2k of my expenses. Even though my expenses were deemed not tax deductible after filling in Paystream's form, they still taxed them. I'm currently taking legal proceedings against them. Please avoid them at all costs, every time I have called them guaranteed I was given different information on each occasion. Extremely incompetent staff, and not in the slightest knowledgable.

As my contract stipulates i am paid in arrears on a weekly basis which is absolutely fine which is normal with recruitment agencies... here is the BUT..... Pay stream are paying me either a week late or even 2 weeks late meaning they have already been paid by the company and hold onto the money not sure why... anyway as they pay they mess around with the tax so your are not paid correctly, so eventually you are paid the money owed because you have paid the higher tax due to the fault of Paystream not paying correctly in the first place !! Very unethical !! and there is no escalation process, they put u in touch with a team leader and that's its... they'll send u a link which on their webpage and oh and behold what a load of bollox as I've tried this process and just falls on deaf ears. HERE IS THE PROBLEM... THEY GET AWAY WITH IT - CHECK THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS HERE...somehow they are all the same !! Leave this company and shame them !!

Last pay was received at the beginning of August. Next pay was due at the beginning of September still not received as of today (16/10) and now the pay that was due at the beginning of October has also not been received. No one seems to know what is going on and I am aware that there are a large number of people in the same situation. Reporting them to the FCSA as it is beyond a joke!

Paystream started off great, but they have a weird approach to expenses. If you spend over £40 on subsistence (which is entirely possible at an airport with current rates of price inflation), Paystream will only permit you £40 of expenses and the remainder of the expense is treated as income, meaning you pay tax. Paying tax on a business incurred expense is absurd! Paystream say that they are administering the regulation set out by HMRC, but HMRC don't give any guidance on a limit. HMRC’s own words https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim31837 “A simple list of agreed rates would run the risk of permitting excessive relief or being inadequate and so of little practical use.” Paystream picked a universal and arbitrary £40 limit out of thin air. Clearly they've never had to have dinner in an airport. If you don't have expenses as part of your role (or they are always below £40) then Paystream aren't a bad umbrella. If you're incurring expenses for subsistence beyond £40 you'll be better off with a different umbrella (make sure you ask how they treat subsistence expenses). The worst part of it all is that I only noticed that I was paying tax on my expenses once I reconciled my expenses against my payslips. Paystream didn’t proactively tell me that they were adjusting my expenses. I feel like they were hoping I didn’t notice.

Easy set up and friendly staff.

Informative, really helpful and friendly service.

The best umbrella in my experience having worked with another previously. Quick and efficient, thanks!

I was forced into using an umbrella l had nothing but problems, the staff do not understand payroll and other financial matters I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a qualified accountant working there, I see others had worked for Brookson they are worse, in addition to the issues and garbage responses from unqualified staff, they charge a ridiculous amount for a sub standard service, rant over be warned

I've used 3 different umbrellas over the past 4 years and PayStream is easily the best... you can actually contact someone on the phone if i need to and i've had no issues with pay. Would recommend to others looking to work via umbrella.

I have been forced into using an umbrella company due to IR35 rules. I had been using Brookand for a year or so, however they were terrible. I found pay stream to be so much better in every way, they actually answer the phone and help you.

Been with them for over 3 years on and off and never had any problems. I’d definitely recommend for umbrella.

I was paid on time and the staff were friendly and helpful to speak with. Never personally had any issues using PayStream and would rejoin in the future.

I had a 14-day job (13 days in November, 1st day of December), and Paystream combined them into 1 payment, but 2 payslips. This allowed them to charge me their exorbitant fee of £88 TWICE. The second time was just for the 1st day of December. After trying to get a refund of the second fee, they said they could only do that if I had another pay coming (which I don't). The high fee is already a rip-off (another umbrella company did the same for me previously for a fee of £10). But to charge that for one day, on a 14-day total job is another level of rip-off. Don't use this company, there are much better deals out there.

Joined just over 4 weeks ago and have received excellent service so far. No delayed payments. Would recommend.

I signed up with paystream a couple of weeks ago and the process has been quick and easy. The guy who I spoke to in the beginning was great and knew what he was talking about unlike quite a few people who are only bothered about getting you to sign up. Payments have been quick and efficient and not had any need to get in touch for them, but they have been quick to respond with anything I have needed.

PayStream are by far the best umbrella. I've been contracting for years and have dealt with other companies who are quite frankly incompetent. With PayStream, no hassle, get paid...job done!

I have been using Paystream intermittently for the past 3 years and I have always had an incredibly positive experience using their Umbrella Company.

I was coerced into using this company by the agency. Error after error leading to irregularities in pay and deductions. This company has no competency or integrity and take over 60% of your assignment rate. Errors with tax codes, pension deductions, and refuses to reimburse expenses, in part because they refuse to update their records with correct data. They accept zero responsibility for their errors and blame the agency, the contractor even the client. These people are utter barracudas! Your eventual take home will be a third of your assignment fee. Avoid like the plague and save yourself the stress and aggravation of dealing with these sharks

There is absolutely nothing to recommend PayStream. They are responsible for very little but seem incapable of getting anything right. On multiple occasions their system has prevented Timesheets being raised and more concerning; they have been late (by days) in paying invoices on numerous occasions. Their latest excuse for this is staff illness! The most unprofessional company I have worked with in contracting.

Never had an issue using their umbrella. It's simple enough to contact the customer care team via the phone and always get paid on time. Would and have recommended to others.

Avoid like the plague - they are unable to process expenses properly Also everythin is handled via cal centre contact... so very litle personal service Anything that is not completely standard breaks all their processes and you end uo not getting paid

Although I am deeply against the IR35 rules at least Paystream make the process smooth and quick. I can easily recommend them Adrian

Rubbish umbrella company. Do not pay on time.

They do what they say on the tin, no complaints. Thanks.

Used PayStream for umbrella over the past 8 months. Was happy with the service received, easy to talk to someone on the phone if you need it. Would recommend.

Using PayStream from umbrella. Has paid on time and easy to speak to someone on the phone. I'm happy.

I recently left PayStream having used them over the past 2 years working through their umbrella company. Paid on time, could always get through to someone on the phone. Would recommend and return in future.

I have used PayStream for 2 years now and i have had no issues. I have referred a few colleagues and we all get paid on time and their portal is very easy to use. I will use PayStream for every contract going forward as their margin is competitive with good service.

The quoted margin is £22 per week. However if there is a delay from agency and they pay in 2 instalments (2 payslips) for 4 weeks. They charge £88 twice. So the fee is actually £88 per payment (ie a monthly charge per payslip). I got charged £168 margin fee for 4 weeks.....Watch out !

I am currently on my third contract using paystream as the umrella (inside IR35). Fees are reaosnable enough, and agencies are familiar with them so accepted everywhere so far.

Great umbrella company. Cant go wrong with Paystream. They deliver each and every other time and are far better than other umbrellas I have used.

I've worked with 3 other umbrella companies and PS is the best by far. great service.

All went much better than I expected for my first umbrella job. Easy in easy out. Responsive to questions (3 rings to answer the phone). Good informative pay slips. Very pleasantly surprised. Will use them again.

Long term contractor. Paystream have no process, structure or indeed infrastructure. A total shambles. Refuse to pay finders fees despite recommendations insisting agency recommended when the did not 🤣. Formal complaints process not followed. Be careful you may be sacked if you dare to raise concerns 🤣. A total shambles with terrible service best avoided

Hadn’t received any payment by 3pm on pay day. Phoned and was given a cast-iron guarantee that I’d be paid by 7pm, latest. No payment came and now it’s the weekend and they’re closed. Absolutely shocking service. They have one job and they can’t even do it properly.

I am writing this to express my displeasure and frustrations with your service. I joined your company out of the choices that were presented to me by my agency but I have now come to regret this decision. Firstly, I was over-taxed because I requested to move from monthly frequency to weekly frequency. I have been short-paid for four weeks now and all efforts to get back this money have been frustrating for me. I have been on this matter for over three weeks now. Secondly, I do not receive any text message to notify me whether I will be paid or now. As of 5:31 pm today, Friday 13th of March 2022 I have not received payment and I have called your lines over four times today. I referred a colleague of mine to your company just because I believe the service will be beneficial mutually but I am wrong. I will be leaving this service as soon as possible.

I am writing this to express my displeasure and frustrations with your service. I joined your company out of the choices that were presented to me by my agency but I have now come to regret this decision. Firstly, I was over-taxed because I requested to move from monthly frequency to weekly frequency. I have been short-paid for four weeks now and all efforts to get back this money have been frustrating for me. I have been on this matter for over three weeks now. Secondly, I do not receive any text message to notify me whether I will be paid or now. As of 5:31 pm today, Friday 13th of March 2022 I have not received payment and I have called your lines over four times today. I referred a colleague of mine to your company just because I believe the service will be beneficial mutually but I am wrong. I will be leaving this service as soon as possible.

Payments always delivered on time and customer service are easy to get hold of and helpful in addressing any issues. Easy registration process too.

I spoke to their staff regards this, and all I was informed was there nothing in at the moment and this remained the case the entire day. I am appalled and disappointed in the manner the follow up was made.

Having contracted through multiple payroll suppliers and multiple companies I'm at a loss to know why payments are missed as this company quotes dates that never match ANY dates in my paperwork or payslips or even their own login systems. Wthin 12 months this is my 4th incidence of Paystream stating they havent received anything and I have to wait 3 weeks (after payment should have been made). That can be only 2 things... they are incompetent or its by design which means they must be benefitting somehow..... I'm paid on time for a number of weeks then all of a sudden payments stop for 3 weeks and client/agency are both baffled as payments have been made but Paystream are adamant they havent received anything.

My Wife, started a new contract on 28th Feb. For Feb, even though its a day, Paystream wants to charge the whole month's commission (not a week !). When Enquired, no apologies but argue that they have charged correctly. For one day - £88 commission !!! Avoid these unethical umbrellas.

Can anyone tell me what PayStream charge for their weekly fee? I was told it is £22 per week - is that aligned with what you are being charged?

Have used this umbrella company for the past 12 months with no issues. Paid on time and easy to contact someone on the phone or email if I need to. Would recommend.

Pay on time, good, helpful team, any issues are resolved quickly

I've been offered a job and the agency are pushing me towards this umbrella company. The agent is making out they get no cash for doing this - but is this true? I'd have thought he wouldn't much care which umbrella I went with otherwise.

Absolute Garbage . 1.They signed and accepted a contract for me even though I told them not to and had received confirmation from them that they would not on two separate occasions 2.Following a pay increase they paid me the lower amount .When I questioned this stated that they paid me what my agency had invoiced them. They left me to sort this out and it turned out my agency had invoiced the higher rate!! No apologies for the error 3. My pension plan returned some funds to them which Paystream continuously states they had not received. It was not until I was able to obtain evidence that the money had been paid to them over a month earlier that they miraculous contacted me saying I was due a payment from my pension plan . Again no apologies 4. Good luck getting any assistance when querying anything. You will speak to and receive emails from several different people who will have not looked at your previous history leading to the situation where you'll have to constantly repeat yourself. Use any umbrella company other than Paystream

One of the better umbrellas. Submit timesheets on a Friday, get a text message on following Wednesday advising what will reach my bank account then two days later (Friday) it's credited along with emailed payslip. No problems and everything ran like clockwork unlike certain other umbrellas.

One of the larger and more professional Umbrellas. Costs are reasonable, they pay quickly on receipt of the funds from the end client, they answer the phones quickly and the website self service is good (the phone app functionality is a waste of time). I have had conflicting advice from different staff members - specifically around the process for opting out of auto pension enrolment (I wanted to opt out) but achieved what I wanted in the end. Ultimately they provide a basic PAYE payroll service for a small fee. Its not their fault that a good deal of people forced to use them should be operating direct outside IR35 but end clients have been scared into making policy decisions to only hire contractors via Umbrella avoiding the need/risk for SDS.

Customer service is great and very responsive from early morning and into the evening. Great when your agency doesn’t pay on time as they do the chasing. Also pay promptly

Payments were delayed by two weeks without explanation. If you're charged weekly and take a week off, they'll still charge you for it. This is even when you only get paid monthly I.e. one payslip produced. They can hold onto your pension deductions by up to 6 weeks before releasing them as they deliberately don't align to their cut off dates.

Other than running a PAYE payroll they are utterly useless. Irrelevant communications that are pointless, incoherent, incorrect. They don't reply to your same email communications and make a mess of different people giving you all sorts of different and contradicting information. Unable to get any sense from them, poor quality of staff, this company should be closed down. They will only do what HMRC require so forget any additional benefits, SIPP nope, salary sacrifice forget it, workplace pension they ain't going to let you contribute any additional amount. KID document, they bury their heads in the sand when even asking and enquirying about this and yet somehow are fcsa accredited... that's a bloody joke! For the love of god avoid! avoid! avoid! like the plague.

I have been working for 2 weeks for Formel D Ltd (Agency)and they didn't pay for me my money owed. After that they sent me Assignment Details- where was Payment Type- Umbrella Company( PayStream).Nobody told me before about that, when I was talking about my kind of job.Whats going on? Im not intetesting Umbrella Companys scheme. Somebody from PayStream called to me and said 'if Im not sigin - I will not get my salary". I don't want pay extra 53£ per week! For what? They sent to me my Personal Illustration - where was: Employer NI and Apprenticeship Levyand Umbrella Margin.I don't know what can I do now. How can I get my money?

I was on furlough in the Spring 2020 lockdown.

Paid.

Received in first half of 2020.

Paid in early 2020.

Hang on... so some contractors through Paystream have been furloughed when others haven’t? I was told universal credit was the only option as the scheme would cost Paystream too much and they wouldn’t be able to claim any of it back from the government.

Paid Furlough.

I’m a contractor and was paid furlough throughout the summer. Work as a primary school teacher.

Can the people that commented that THEY were PAID through JRS, state what they did, how did they ask, maybe which department they spoke to? because I spoke to multiple people at PayStream via their normal number and selecting option 4, and furlough is out of the question. I can only assume that the people stating they got JRS are people that worked directly for PayStream, and not contractors. It would be great to understand if they are indeed giving JRS to some and not to others, if yes why is that? Financially I am struggling and I would appreciate any help.

Redbridge guy again, I managed to talk to someone else that explained that the Employer NI is a monthly allowance, not yearly. I don't know if that's the case as this is my first Umbrella contract. In regards to Furlough I asked again and was told the same thing, they don't pay furlough so nothing I can do except claim Jobseeker Allowance or Universal Credits, but I would need to terminate my employment contract with them. In regards to lock-down, even though they are our employers, we get absolutely no support from them. Lucky I can claim minimal furlough through my LTD company as I didn't close it down yet, but this is barely enough to get me by, around £500. Might be better off applying for unemployment. Can't comment on the general service, I never talked to them except for setting my profile up. But never had problems with payment. Their monthly charges are £84.

I have been with PayStream since 2nd of March 2020, working for Redbridge Council. In July I got sick with Covid19, positive testing etc. As I was off ill for 3 weeks, my employer let me go. For the last 3 months I have been getting absolutely no income. I asked PayStream about this and they told me I can either leave them, get my P45 and claim Universal Credits, or stay with them in case I find something else. In addition I asked them about my employer contribution (Employer NI), why they charged me £1274.71 more than I should have been on my current salary and they didn't say anything.

Have been paid furlough all throughout the government scheme which is ending at the end of October. Starting a new contract in November.

I received a friendly service from the customer care team and was paid furlough as promised. I can't complain really.

Appear to be common themes on here...??

Will not be recommending this Company! Mismanagement from the beginning of lockdown to present, 1 feasible payout,plus others that i was told i was entitled to,then retracted. So,all in all,have ended up in debt with no support from them. My timesheets will be going elsewhere from.now on. Shambles!

Have communicated to me by email which I understand. They have been waiting for clarification from government of the basic V commission Calc before confirming to me what payment I would receive. Had my first JRS last week which was 80%. Well done Paystream, I will defo be staying with them in my next umbrella role.

Furlough money was paid on Friday and more than I expected so I am happy. What more can I say?

First JRS run being paid based on full PAYE. Paystream have pulled through a lot of difficulties in setting this up from it being optional at a cost to them to having vague and ambiguous guidance from HMRC and Treasury Directions and then working with the Agencies to get a solid audit trail for eligibility. Communications have been via email which is understandable as the Customer Care teams are not in the office. I, like a lot of people, have felt frustrated by this at times but culpability lies with HMRC / Treasury for this. Top marks to Paystream for their persistence and for delivering for their contractors. That will be well remembered in the future.

They have made this as tough as possible to claim. I tried to claim furlough for an almost 5 week period only to be told that I wasn't out of work long enough. They are not accepting calls instead they are telling you to email them and they will call you back promptly, well I simply cannot get them to call me. Today they was supposed to be processing the first batch of payments to hit accounts Friday and I cannot get any response on whether I will be receiving payment. This really isn't fair as I have outstanding debts to pay and I cannot plan if they simply refuse to give information. All I know is they are seeking clarification from my agency that I was laid off..........they know this already! PayStream have simply been a disgrace from the start.

Managed to get agreement that basic plus “commission” was included in calcs for furlough. Well done. Then said I had to provide evidence from the agent or end client that my contracted was terminated due to COVID19. Why? They asked me to sign a declaration then said my agent told them my recently renewed contract (3 weeks into a new 6 month contract) was terminated for “funding reasons”. I was working for a Water Company who had started a new AMP with at least £30m to spend on project. I was told (verbally) by my agent and end client that my notice had been served “due to the obvious issues caused by the current situation”. My question: why will Paystream, as an employer, not furlough me without evidence. They are my employer, not my agent or end client. This sort of employee protection is what umbrella companies are meant to offer whilst I pay Employers NI for the privilege.

They seem to be doing everything they can not to furlough me. At this point I will not be working with them going forward and would not recommend them to anybody else.