Rupe

I've just been out on my bike. Its drifting a lot on the hills, roads seem clear but there is so much snow in the fields that if it continue to blow across roads, some will be closed dut to drifting. Drifts are much heavier then fresh fallen snow.

I am as small as they go and I'm on the LA's contractor list and they are happy to use me. Probelm is the larger companies have more to lose by not getting the work, so I may be able to undercut them and/or work to a higher profit margin but at the same time I dont HAVE to, and I choose not to quote at stupid prices. The prices are so low already that smaller companies can't compete. We may have smaller overheads but I don't have staff on a pittance who will work in all weathers for fear of losing their jobs. We work nicely and do nicely and thats how I want it to stay. I leave the others to their price wars! HAvign said that I'm skint now and could have done with a cheapo LA contract to tide me over through the snow!

True, the last LA contract that went out here before christmas went at crazy cheap prices because the companies were all fightign to get that "bread and butter" work, and the ones that lost out will go even cheaper on the next round of contracts etc etc.

Do they not call you and tell you no work to save you the trip? If you've made it in your owed something IMO.

I think the new generation of arbos will tie themselves in knots with health and safety legislation to the extent that no satisfactory work will get done (domestically) and those who are prepared to bend the rules the most will survive!

I don't mind, it was never my idea or anything.. Your pics are clearer than my vid I think. Maybe I could add the vid here too? Shorter version?

Usign the duck like that looks good, I've used a tibloc in the same way but they are a bit vicious on ropes.

No its snowign in and around gloucester. Well aorund it on my side at least!

Trying to snow here now!

The fprces on the top anchors must have been huge?? Looks simple enough though, and I would prefer the hub over karabiners.

There isn't the detail available to make them much bigger

You should be able to get the cock up ok mate, keeping it up all night might be tricky though but you only need to keep it up as long as the fire is burning!!!!!!!! I would offer to give you a hand..........etc etc etc.

Do you need some sort of cock? A thing that moves with the wind and turns the flue round the opposite side that the wind is coming from?

Good stuff. Thanks Todd. I've got some pics I'll put up on TB sometime soon!

Cool Tod! Come over this way a bit more often if you can!! Did you find that the hub, made it possible or just helped out?

I'm not sure, its getting complicted now. Delivery of the plant might be non deductable. 1500 a day for delivery!!

Ha ha! Me too! My mum sent me to her accountant cos she didn't want to visit me in the clink! All sorted now but not paid up in advance!

They don't take it off the total, they take it off the labourt part of the invoice, so it must be itemised and you can down value the labour costs within reason. Good for you on gettign round it, I've done that many times as well as I have said already. Walking off site is a good way of gettign things done how you want them especially as the office bod has deadlines etc and can't afford to find another contractor at short notice. He obviously pulled strings or fiddled it in your favour becaus ehe wanted the job done, but not becasue you were right. If you were a bricky and tried the same stunt he would have gone into the office and called another bricky, simple.

Your work isn't agricultural if the end result is building a house? How is building a house agricultural?? It may have been in 1999 but its not now. If you get away with it then good on you, like I say it can be got round, its up to who pays the bill though.

I'm right and SWB is right in that it can be got round! And Lee confirms this it seems. From IR website Every business is different. If you've got any questions about whether your business is affected by CIS you can call HMRC’s CIS Helpline on Tel 0845 366 7899 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week).

Cool, go for it and see what happens! Fill out some form after someone complains not before!

I know what you are saying, but they don't really have something of yours do they? They give you a certificate and its paid towards your tax. Maybe you are a good boy and pay your tax in advance like Lee, and so they don't need to deduct. But most labourers arn't that well behaved. And yes, we don't really fall into the catagory, and yes there are ways round it, but construction companies employ people to manage these things and if the company in question employs a jobsworth then they will tax you. At the end of the year you houl dbe no worse or better off either way. Followign the law to the letter, "if the work is for the overall objective of construction then CIS is required". If you can get round that then fine no worries. They pay many bills without CIS (stationery, coffee etc) so its not un-feasable for them to put your bills through with those, but thats not how its supposed to be and many seem to be clamping down now. For me. I'm so bad at paying tax that I'm actually pleased they deuct it, its like a little savings account for me!

Sometimes, if he's unemployed or disadvantaged in some way then HE might get a funding. If he's working for you and YOU need him to get tickets so YOU can get extra work and be compliant, then guess who's gonna have to pay for it..........? Its for the advancment of your business, get the cheque book out already, but maybe contract him to work for you for x amount of time after qualification or else he owes you the money back?

Thats interesting! So ifyou are fully uptogether and paid all your tax in advance like the IR think everyone should, then the company asks the IR about you and get told not to deduct? Is that right? That does sound fair, never gonna happen for me though, I pay in arrears and thats that.

Sure, I cant disagree about that. The whole point of the forum is to provide a host of information for others to search for to find answers etc. I only commented about the age because the replies were directed at the thread starter, rather than just adding additional information on the subject in general. No harm doen either way, just thought I would point it out is all, especially as I am so bored!!!!!!!!!