Terms and Conditions

Charges

Standard charge

This covers the basic service and includes invoicing, payment collection, payroll processing, expense processing, pension, PAYE and VAT processing. CML operate a monthly payroll. When your agency\client pays us, we immediately pay 60% of the net receipt to you, thereby relieving any financial hardship on your behalf. Any further monies due are paid after we have finalised the monthly payroll.

Monies received up to and including Friday are paid by BACS the following Monday. Processing normally takes three days and is in your account on Wednesday. If payment is required immediately, a CHAPS payment can be arranged at an additional cost of £15.00. Monies will be deposited the following day.

Spouse on payroll

If you have a spouse or partner who does not work, or is on a low income, then there is a benefit in employing them to assist you with your contracting work. They can take messages, talk to agencies, collate expense receipts, etc. By paying them a salary you can avoid or reduce your top rate of tax. We will set the salary in order to take maximum advantage of the tax allowance and the lower rate band. When utilised the benefit far exceeds the additional cost.

Weekly processing

Our basic service provides for one payment to each contractor a month, however where you have arranged weekly invoicing, we can pay you an 'advance' of 60% of any monies we receive during the month, any balance which is normally quite small will be paid with your normal salary payment.

Expenses

Contractors are required to fill in an expense form each month and attach all receipts. We will then pay back the expenses part of your earnings free of tax and national insurance. An expense manual is available to all members so they know what can be claimed. We have negotiated certain dispensations from the Inland Revenue in respect of allowances that are of a business nature.

Private cars

We apply two business mileage rates depending on the business mileage undertaken. Recent changes to the legislation means that contractors based at home can now claim the allowance to and from your normal place of work.

We do not recommend the purchase of a vehicle through the company. Government legislation has eroded the benefit to the extent that any benefit is now marginal.

Office equipment

An allowance is paid in respect of items purchased for use as a contractor, such as computers, desks and fax machines. You wioll be supplied with an expenses manual explaining how this works.

Invoicing

We will invoice your client on the terms you have agreed. You must inform the agency/client to raise any contract in the name of Contract Associates Limited, so that we can invoice on your behalf. The agency/client should forward the contract to our office so that it can be reviewed and signed by our managing director. If there are any contentious matters we will bring them to your attention before we sign. You should also obtain a copy.

You will normally be required to complete a timesheet for the agency/client. This should be sent direct to the agency/client, we do not require a copy. You should phone or email your hours to CML so that we can invoice your client. If you do not let us know your hours we cannot invoice your client.

Invoices are sent out to clients within 3 working days, copied to you.

We review our sales ledger constantly, and chase any overdue invoices. If we encounter any difficulties we let you know immediately.