Umbrella.co.uk

I used them for my limited company but they were the most incompetent company I have ever dealt with. They had a great initial sales pitch, but that's where the positives end. Just a few of the issues I had - both my bank account set-up and VAT registration were somehow lost at the start of my time with them, which caused me huge issues for the 1st year. I could never contact any accountant by phone (you have to use a switchboard) and the accountant you wish to talk to was usually unavailable. They also forgot to submit VAT to HMRC (multiple times), leading me to get warning letters from them, even though I had paid the correct amount. They take up to 6 months to submit corporation tax after having received all information (and having followed up multiple times). They also failed to answer 90% of the questions I asked by email and just responded with a generic email template response (it was like communicating with robots). The worse thing however was that they almost cost me to lose a property I was purchasing, as they took a couple of months (apparently this was fast tracked) to turn round some of my accounts that were required by my mortgage company. I dealt with over 50 employees during my time with them (no joke), who seemed to constantly leave the company, even though when I signed up I was told that I would have a dedicated accountant. This means there is no accountability and due to them using generic mailboxes and not adding their name at the bottom of emails they send, you do not know who you are communicating with and who has made mistakes on your account. I can only assume from this that the company hire a large amount of trainees/graduates (there also seemed to be an exhaustive review process of anything they produced for submission to HMRC). If not, then the turnover is ridiculous and there is obviously some reason for this. It took me a while to realise that some of the above had taken place and I did submit written and verbal complaints to them, but was always given an excuse as to why it had happened (and was never given any reimbursement). Please also read the negative reviews on Trustpilot and avoid this company - https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/umbrella.co.uk. I am also highly skeptical of how they have managed to get their positive reviews on there.

The incompetence and lack of accountability are striking. When I found permanent employment Umbrella.co.uk indicated my new employment as a second job to the HMRC and as a result the wrong tax code was assigned and I was charged thousands of pounds more tax which I am unsure when I can recover!

It took a while, but they did pay it once things were cleared up by HMRC. Communication was difficult, but that’s understandable in the circumstances.

JRS paid fairly and communication has been very good, especially by Peter

NO YOU ARE NOT. STOP LYING! I am eligible (your words) and then you told me the agency refused my payments, yet they know nothing about that and they are not paying me, the government is paying me through you, but you have refused my payments. OUTRAGOUS

Umbrella.co.uk are paying furlough to eligible contractors

Umbrella.co.uk is delighted to announce that we have launched a furlough scheme for our approximately 400 eligible contractor employees. We have been working tirelessly over the past 8 weeks, independently and as part of the industry lobby, to solve technical issues relating to how furlough pay is calculated and whether holiday pay is included. We are delighted that we managed through hard work to receive the assurances we needed from the Treasury. As such, our furlough scheme will launch next week with the first payments in the week commencing 1 June. These payments will consist of 80% of average gross pay plus holiday pay and will be subject to tax and NI. The payments will be backdated to the first date of lay-off.

Where to start. Last year I took a job under IR35, wound my Ltd up. That was a stupid move. The current situation with umbrella is far from clear. Personally I believe they have no intention of using the JRS for contractors. Holiday pay is the stated stumbling block. On the surface this seems a very thin excuse to me. It has clearly been stated in government advice that holiday pay is covered under the JRS. How do I feel? Devastated to see millions of people getting help. I have no idea what the future holds. Presently I feel I have no future.

They have sent a few emails, so I do feel updated at least once per week. The issue seems to be holiday pay, they say they would have to pay, though I’ve been told this can be claimed back. Very frustrating, when you see other Umbrellas paying.