Can self-employed agree their rates?

Comms69

Supersonos wrote: »

Odd part of my question to focus on. Although nice to see you now believe that I am self-employed.

Obviously, it would be impossible for me to contact all self employed people, but it wouldn't be impossible for me and my colleagues to all agree to charge the same.

I have no reason to believe you are actually self employed.


What colleagues? You have competitors. Not colleagues.


- This is why I struggle to believe your claim

Undervalued

Supersonos wrote: »

Could you point me to more info? I can't find anything online regardless of what I search for.

https://www.gov.uk/cartels-price-fixing

Comms69

Supersonos wrote: »

Wow - people here really like to go off on random tangents. I guess you could call them competitors, but I'd call them colleagues as we often work together on the same jobs.

Does that change the answer to my question?

What is it that you do? Maybe that would help.

Supersonos

Comms69 wrote: »

What is it that you do? Maybe that would help.

What's the point in me telling you? You think I'm a liar and pick holes in my comments, so it would be pointless me divulging that information.

Plus, I don't see how my profession would affect whether or not I'm allowed to agree rates with my colleagues.

Supersonos

Undervalued wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/cartels-price-fixing

Thanks - that's exactly what I was looking for.

Comms69

Supersonos wrote: »

What's the point in me telling you? You think I'm a liar and pick holes in my comments, so it would be pointless me divulging that information.

Plus, I don't see how my profession would affect whether or not I'm allowed to agree rates with my colleagues.

I think you're misguided, not a liar.


How many clients do you have? Do you set your own hours? Could you send a substitute in your place?

Supersonos

How can I be misguided about being self-employed? My accountant and all my clients seem to think I'm self-employed.

Probably about 30-40, no, yes.

Ozzuk

You may find there is something in your contract that stops you discussing what you charge with your competitors (colleagues).

I've certainly heard of companies in a tender taking it in turns to set a high price so they spread the work out (we had no proof though).

Supersonos

Ozzuk wrote: »

You may find there is something in your contract that stops you discussing what you charge with your competitors (colleagues).

I've certainly heard of companies in a tender taking it in turns to set a high price so they spread the work out (we had no proof though).

I don't have a contract (well, I do once I start a job, but when the job finishes a couple of weeks later, that contract expires).

Dox

Supersonos wrote: »

I don't have a contract (well, I do once I start a job, but when the job finishes a couple of weeks later, that contract expires).

Contracts expire but enduring covenants don't - and keeping confidential information confidential endures. Charge out rates normally fall into this category.

If a client spots that a number of self-employed individuals all suddenly start charging the same rate, be prepared for some awkward questions. It won't go down well if they think you are colluding, so for purely commercial reasons, it would be a fairly daft thing to do.

A possible way round it, given (from what you say) that you seem to undertake lots of very short term jobs all doing similar things, might be to set up a limited company and supply your services via that. It would be entirely reasonable to charge everyone out at the same rate for the same type of work.