Client Testimonials
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Phillip Dixon
One sign of a good relationship between an umbrella company and their clients is if the clients are happy to recommend them to others.
Phillip Dixon, an EMC consultant working as a contractor through the agency TRS, would “recommend Sombrilla to anyone and everyone”. In fact, the umbrella company was recommended to him by TRS as the agency has been dealing with Sombrilla for a while and find them an excellent company.
Following the recommendation, Mr Dixon went straight to Sombrilla, had a chat with them, and joined immediately. Now the umbrella company effectively payrolls him.
“I submit a timesheet to both TRS and Sombrilla as the companies tie up.” explains Mr Dixon.
“I could have just used TRS as a PAYE employee but with Sombrilla I get my expenses paid for travelling to London as well as a daily subsistence allowance. As expenses are not available for PAYE employees, I am £500 a month better off through using Sombrilla so it is the best option for me.
“Sombrilla’s service is first class and exceptional. The payments are regular and the way they keep me informed makes being with them far better than being a company employee.
“Sombrilla are so good and they do exactly what they say will do. If they say they’ll do something at 3.06pm, it is done at 3.06pm, with no errors and no excuses.
“When I phone up with enquires, for example financial ones, they provide a full illustration within minutes. If I don’t understand the illustrations, they painstakingly go through them with me until I do understand.
“The people at Sombrilla are excellent and as a firm of accountants, they are the best I’ve ever come across.”
Mike Harris
Confidence and trust are key factors that shouldn’t be underestimated in any relationship, especially the one between a contractor and their umbrella company.
When the umbrella company Mike Harris, a Planning Manager on a one year minimum contract with Thales, was using didn’t fill him with confidence, he knew it was time for a change.
A close friend of Mike’s who uses CMEASY recommended Sombrilla to him, as he was happy with the services provided by its sister company.
“I lost all confidence in umbrella companies when the previous umbrella company I used were constantly causing conflicts with my agent, Morson International,” explains Mike.
As Morsons are the UK’s number one technical recruitment company, having the small umbrella company trying to advise Morson International what to do was an unworkable and tiring situation.
“It seemed pointless staying with the previous umbrella company when both my agent and I were not happy with the services being received. It took a lot, but I soon got my confidence back in umbrella companies when I quickly and easily moved over to Sombrilla, which in turn made Morsons happy too.
“I am very confident that Sombrilla does things not only accurately, but also with the employee at mind. The majority of umbrella companies all offer the same services, however, Sombrilla offers a hassle free environment that fills me with confidence and I always feel that I am being well looked after. Unlike most other umbrella companies, I’m not just a random number to Sombrilla – this is noticeable when I call Sombrilla and the staff recognise who they are speaking to immediately.
“With Sombrilla everything seems so easy. The website that holds the key to timesheets, payslips and much more is easy to use and a great way to keep all your timesheets and payslips in a safe place, which in turn can then be checked 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
“Payments made are quick, with a text message update following any payments to the employee, so you always know what payments have been made and when. Payslips are sent in advance of the money going into my account - 3 to 4 days prior to the payment - so it is not a surprise when the payment is actually made.
“Any questions or problems I might have are answered both in a friendly manner and in as little time as possible. Sombrilla is great value for money and is all round a good company to trust – after all these are the people who look after all my income.
“Other services such as Sombrilla Online Fantasy Football also make being a Sombrilla employee a great experience.
“I would absolutely recommend them to anybody in my situation, as Sombrilla have looked after me, so I have the confidence they will do the same for others. I wouldn’t recommend them to friends if I wasn’t happy with the service.”
Rob Gunn
Rob Gunn is a CAD draughtsman, producing 3D models and drawings.
After dissolving his limited company, Mr Gunn needed to get back into work quickly and turned to Sombrilla for help. As its sister company, CMEASY Ltd, had run Mr Gunn’s limited company, Sombrilla already had most of his details, and was able to get him back up and running in just two days.
The umbrella company takes care of his invoices and collects all the taxes. “I find my own jobs,” explains Mr Gunn, “while Sombrilla does all the invoicing and payment.”
“I don’t have to worry about the taxman at the end of the year. Sombrilla takes all the worry off my shoulders regarding taxes and ensures everything is legal and above board.
“I don’t need to employ an accountant, as Sombrilla’s sister company CMEASY Chartered Accountants can handle my tax returns. It makes everything so much easier and costs a great deal less than the price of using an independent accountant.
“I would recommend Sombrilla, as they take the worry of invoicing, tax and national insurance off my shoulders. If there is a problem with an invoice, if it has been lost or not gone through, I can call and it gets sent within minutes - Sombrilla are very efficient.
“They have their own secure website where you can upload timesheets and expense forms. You can view all your uploads and pay slips, and Sombrilla also text you when they have paid you.”
Les Ashby
Les Ashby is a requisition controller, contracted to American company KBR Defence Services to provide logistics for Afghanistan and Iran.
After joining the military services provider as a temp through a local agency, he became a contractor using a different umbrella company. When he discovered it charged one and a half times more than Sombrilla, he saw the benefits of moving over.
“I send over my timesheet,” explains Mr Ashby, “and Sombrilla does everything else, including the accounts and taxes. I have nothing to worry about, except sending my timesheet over.”
“There is no hassle as everything is done for me. Sombrilla provides a good single set up, with no complications and the contact is direct. The website provides all the information I need, and I find both the company and information brilliant.
“I have recommended Sombrilla to the warehouse staff at KBR Defence Services who are going from temporary to contractor status because it provides the cheapest and best service.
“Sombrilla offers free insurances, and also recommends an associate company which provides a variety of services, including independent and specialised mortgage advice for contractors. I don’t require these services, but I have heard it can be difficult for contractors to get mortgages.”
Mike De Souza
Word of mouth and reputation in business is invaluable. When Mike De Souza, an air conditioning draughtsman contracted to BVT Surface Fleet, needed an umbrella company, another contractor recommended Sombrilla.
“There were a couple of names in the hat,” explains Mr De Souza, “however, I decided to give Sombrilla a try.”
Sombrilla manages all his accounts on a week-by-week basis. Mr De Souza submits his timesheet and expenses, then the umbrella company sorts everything out and pays him accordingly. They also keep him informed of government changes and how they affect contractors.
“I would rather deal with my accounts on a week-by-week basis rather than have the headache at the end of the year. Sombrilla are convenient and take the headache away from me.
“I would definitely recommend Sombrilla as they are very, very good and have never missed a payment. They are quick to respond to email queries and are very professional.
“On occasions when I’ve been busy and have forgotten to submit my timesheet, Sombrilla give me a quick prompt.”
Rita
Compatibility is a vital component in any relationship, especially the one between a contractor and their umbrella company.
When Rita, a PA on a short-term contract, needed an umbrella company, she turned to Sombrilla.
“The guys at Sombrilla are friendly and professional,” she explains, “if I ring up to ask about the smallest thing, they are always very helpful, polite and efficient.”
Sombrilla takes care of Rita’s tax, something she would find “an absolute nightmare” to do herself.
“They take away all the headache and hassle, in a totally professional and efficient manner.”
Rita thoroughly recommends using Sombrilla because of their “effective, friendly and helpful” approach.
“You can build up a good rapport with the guys at Sombrilla, which is very important as it means they know who you are and what your particular needs are.”
Paul Ross
Word of mouth and reputation in business is invaluable. When a colleague recommended Sombrilla to Paul Ross, an architectural coordinator with SLP in Lowestoft, he decided to work with them.
“They worked for him, and they work for me,” explains Mr Ross.
The umbrella company acts as a “one stop shop”, taking care of his fortnightly salary, as well as the tax deductions and expenses.
“Sombrilla provides a hassle-free working environment, as I don’t have to worry about tax or insurance. While most of the communication has been via email every 14 days, when I have had telephone calls, the service has been pleasant and above board.
“I would certainly recommend Sombrilla, as I have never had once ounce of problem in the six months I have been with them. Everything is done efficiently, and I have not had to record a single fault, so the service is 100 percent.”
Lucie Field
As a contractor, efficiency should be a vital characteristic of the umbrella company you work with. According to Lucie Field, a London-based interior designer, this is exactly what she receives from Sombrilla.
When Ms Field got her job through an agency, they recommended that she use an umbrella company. As she had never worked with one before, Ms Field visited Umbrella Supermarket to research her best options. She chose Sombrilla as it was ranked number one, and, when it came to money, she wanted to be with the best.
Sombrilla handles her accounting for her, taking payment from the agency and sorting out the national insurance and tax.
“Sombrilla is very efficient and very good, especially at communication,” explains Ms Field.
“They send me a text when money is transferred into my account and email me to say my timesheet has been uploaded onto the website. Also the initial financial illustration was very useful and very clear.
“If I meet another contractor, I will definitely recommend Sombrilla to them as the company is very efficient and sort things out quickly. I have had no problems with them.”
Mark Lee
Mark Lee is a project manager at the Information Centre for Health and Social Care in London.
As this is his first time working as a contractor, his agency advised Mr Lee that he needed an umbrella company. After ringing round a few firms, he chose Sombrilla as the individual he spoke to from them was “the nicest, seemed honest”, and was the one he trusted the most.
Sombrilla liaised directly with Mr Lee’s agency, which reduced the paperwork involved in setting up as a contractor and shortened the time this process took.
Sombrilla were also helpful in answering any queries Mr Lee had. For example, the agency gave Mr Lee a waiver to sign, which Jeremy at Sombrilla was able to explain to him by translating the Legalese into English.
Before the first payment, Mr Lee encountered difficulties in getting the correct forms to the right organisations. When he emailed Sombrilla to explain this, he got an immediate reply and a helping hand to ensure payment was received.
As Sombrilla are so helpful and supportive to him, Mr Lee would certainly recommend them to anyone in the same position as himself.
“Having an easy relationship is definitely a benefit,” explains Mr Lee. “I am able to contact Sombrilla by phone or email if I have any queries. The ease of service is definitely the main benefit.”
“I don’t know if I will be contracting long term, so I am better working with an umbrella company. My relationship with Sombrilla is totally open and upfront, they understand that I might be doing something different in a few months time.
“Working with Sombrilla is easy to get into, and easy to get out of, if your circumstances change.”
Katy Simpson
Despite working with Sombrilla for only three months, Katy Simpson, an Edinburgh-based accountant, would recommend them to anyone looking for an umbrella company.
“It’s all been really easy,” explains Ms Simpson, “Sombrilla are helpful and able to deal with my requests and any problems that might arise.”
Sombrilla, whom Ms Simpson chose from umbrellasupermarket.com because it was “well ranked” and “reasonably priced”, processes her payslips and timesheets once she has uploaded them.
“The service provided is very convenient, and saves me from having to do the paperwork. It is simple to upload everything, and the process is quite smooth.
“Sombrilla are good at keeping in touch and I can contact them easily. Everything is so easy to do.”
