Company charging employee for van

Huft

Hi,
I work for a railway company via a Umbrella payment company. Just last week the company decided they are going to start charging us £72 a week for our work vans. This week they have taken the £72 out of my wages as a deduction. My question is, is it allowed to charge an employee for a van? I have not authorised this to be taken out of my wages nor have I ever been charged for the van in the last 2 year.

Thanks.

Comms69

It sounds as though you are a contractor, not an employee?

Huft

Yeah sorry, contractor employed by the Umbrella company

sangie595

This is a matter of the nature of your contract with the company - I can't see how the umbrella company, who work for you, have deducted anything. It's more likely that the railway company have simply taken the money before passing the money on. But there really isn't any real information here for us to go on. You aren't an employee so it isn't a deduction of wages. It's down to the arrangements between you and the railway company. You may need legal advice on this.

Tammykitty

He is an employee - of the umbrella company.


Recent case confirming that contractors with this type of arrangement can be employees
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/landmark-ruling-finds-against-payroll-company-deductions


It can be hard to understand the payslips with this arrangement.


A lot of "contractors" working for umbrella companies - get paid minimum wage with various expenses etc topping up the take home money.


Has your take home pay actually changed by £72 or just your payslip?

Comms69

Tammykitty wrote: »

He is an employee - of the umbrella company.


Recent case confirming that contractors with this type of arrangement can be employees
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/landmark-ruling-finds-against-payroll-company-deductions


It can be hard to understand the payslips with this arrangement.


A lot of "contractors" working for umbrella companies - get paid minimum wage with various expenses etc topping up the take home money.


Has your take home pay actually changed by £72 or just your payslip?

You’re assuming. The umbrella company process on behalf of their client - the OP.

He’s not an employee as such.

sangie595

Comms69 wrote: »

You’re assuming. The umbrella company process on behalf of their client - the OP.

He’s not an employee as such.

Don't bother arguing. We have a new expert in town.

If the OP wishes to listen to the poster they can do so. I wouldn't recommend it though.

LilElvis

Are you taking the van home with you or is it left at the employer's premises overnight?

Huft

The £72 was taken as as a deduction on the deduction section of my wage slip. I am a contractor but classed as employed by the Umbrella company for payment. I haven't sign any kind of contracting saying I will pay for this van or permitting them to take the money from my wages. I have had this van for 2 years and they only decided last week to start charging us and informed us by email

agrinnall

So the contract to provide services is between the Umbrella company and the railway company, has that contract changed to allow the deduction in the amount that passes between the 2 companies?

Comms69

Huft wrote: »

The £72 was taken as as a deduction on the deduction section of my wage slip. I am a contractor but classed as employed by the Umbrella company for payment. - so the umbrella company as in essence provided a service to the railway and hired you to do the job? OR you contacted the umbrella company to work out your tax etc for you? I haven't sign any kind of contracting saying I will pay for this van or permitting them to take the money from my wages. I have had this van for 2 years and they only decided last week to start charging us and informed us by email

I suppose the key question is - what kind of contract do you have?