Your Haunted House Umbrella Company Compliance Check

Janene Rudge — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:02:54 +0000

October brings cobwebs, carved pumpkins, and the annual appearance of uninvited spectres. Good news. Most hauntings are caused by creaky processes, not actual monsters.

Light a lantern, and let’s ghost-proof your PSL .

Stake through the heart essentials

Get these right and the ghouls tend to stay in their coffins.

Check Companies House

Confirm registration details, trading history, and directors. Look for consistency and avoid companies with frequent name changes or similar names to known entities.

Confirm Tax Compliance

Check HMRC’s list of tax avoidance schemes: request proof that all the company tax obligations have been met and are up to date.

Transparency

Request a home pay illustration – this should include all deductions including all HMRC deductions, pensions and margin.

Confirm legal employment

Request a contract of employment and ensure it is a standard employment contract with no hidden non employment clauses.

Review payroll practices

Request copies of payslips, they should be transparent and show all breakdowns of gross pay, deductions and net pay. Sterling has veriPAYE accreditation giving you the confidence that every payment made is independently checked by veriPAYE to assure compliance.

Look for accreditations

Look for memberships, such as FCSA, veriPAYE etc.

Insurance

Full insurance cover including employers liability, public liability and professional indemnity cover.

Payments made on time

Check they pay contractors on time, every time via same-day Faster Payments and have an online portal or app for tracking timesheets, payslips, and all payroll information.

Customer Service

Do they have excellent customer service providing access to dedicated account managers and Human Resource support and have responsive knowledgeable customer service teams.

Positive Reputation

Do they have a positive reputation such as high ratings on Trustpilot, reviews and testimonials from contractors and a long-standing presence in the industry with a proven track record?