Subby/freelance climber being ask for PL

[Lewistree]

Hi guys 

 

trawled through some of the older threads on here but some are a good few years old now, so thought I'd start a freshie.

 

Been asked to have my own public liability subbing out to quite a large firm. Fine no problems i can get some, just think its a bit odd since I'm a 'labour only subcontractor' providing my own saws and climbing gear like most subbys do. There was some mention of IR35 reg's so guessing they're covering their backs in case they get investigated for disguised employment (seems a bit  extreme since I'm providing tools, not wearing uniform etc)

 

just wanting to know if anyone has come across this before and if some insurance providers require subbys to have their own? I'm working else where and I'm covered under their insurance. 

 

thanks

[Mark Bolam]

Tell them to f off.

[Rich Rule]

Drop the subby term.

 

Tell them you are a contract climber operating under their instruction.

[Steve Bullman]

Don’t need it, 100%

[Dan Maynard]

Also - IR35 is a thing to check out and be on top of, but it's tax and nothing to do with insurance. For example, they still need employers liability insurance if you go and volunteer for them for no pay.

 

Regarding IR35, answer the questions in CEST - for tax and NI status only as it says

Check employment status for tax - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

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Use the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool to find out if you, or a worker on a specific engagement, should be...

 

[Joe Newton]

11 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

Drop the subby term.

 

Tell them you are a contract climber operating under their instruction.

Or is the term "freelance climber"

[AHPP]

Freelance climber is the best term in England. It sounds the most like the actual legal relationship in 99.9% of cases, that being a labour only subcontractor as opposed to a bona fide subcontractor.

 

Contract climber gives the (false) impression that you can contract out of what the law will deem the relationship to be. Possibly correct in America. No idea what the law is there. Just let them use it anyway.

[krummholz]

Unless you're a bona fide subcontractor then you don't need your own professional insurances. If they want you to act as one, then that's a very different arrangement altogether and will cost them a lot more money.

[Lewistree]

thanks guys, to add to the weirdness they only need 1 million PL it turns out. Not sure what companies are going to offer tree work PL for that much. New to the self employed thing so glad I checked, gone back to them to clarify why exactly.