Posted By Tonyg Hi, can anyone let me know what is the norm when working via a recruitment agency. I recently secured a position on a contract day rate, nothing unusual in that, i have worked as a contractor on many occasions and usually get the rate advertised. The particular company i work for would have taken me on direct as i am a Ltd co, but unfortunately i went through the agency who take 25% off the top which now makes the rate low eneough for me to think about looking elsewhere. This is the first time this skimming exerise has happened to me before, anyone had a similar experience? Tony

Posted By Tonyg Mike, i have used "umbrella" companies before. Which i do not need to do, because i have set up my own company so cut out one of the links in the chain. My issue is with the recruiter who takes a fee off the client and then 25% off me for every hour worked. They didn,t go to the interview or pay the hotel or fuel, or do the studies to gain the quals. Nor do they climb all over scaffolds with the snow and rain beating down. Whilst i understand they got the position for me, the fact they may actually take £10k out of my hard earned money is the real point. A trifle excessive or what?

Posted By Stuart Nagle Tony. I think the legal way of avoiding an umbrella company taking you hard earner cash is to have more than one employer, so you can prove that you are not an employee of one company alone., and of course get rid of the blood sucker ASAP. First of all I would talk to your 'main' employer and ask if they have more than one company operating within a 'group' - do you work for more than one company in the group? this is often the case...and if not could they provide other 'instructions' in writing to your limited company... If you are working as a self employed person for an employer, ask them to accept an invoice from yourself, for the work performed for each of the companies in the group worked for (means keeping a record of hours worked for each) and try to take on some other work too. Ask the employer(s) to provide 'instructions' to your company (in writing) as this is evidence (for the tax man) that you are a company working on commissions rather than an employee....simply trying to avoid tax... Stuart