Launch of new website
FPS has launched a new website www.fpsgroup.com, promoting both its Umbrella and TradePay services. The site provides information on the services as well as publishing the latest news from FPS and its blog. Access to the members lounge is via the button in the top right hand corner and underneath is the phone number you need to ring if you want to talk about your contract invoicing with our Membership Team.
Don’t forget to let us know your Hours
It’s easy to forget, when you are running to a busy schedule, to let us know the hours you have been working. We appreciate that working on assignment can be hectic, but it could mean a delay to your payment. Your billing details activate a chain of events that not only raises an invoice for your services to the recruitment company, but it also means that we can’t identify your money as it comes into us from those recruitment companies that are on an automated system with us.
You can leave your hours with us by choosing from the following convenient options:
1. Online at www.fpsgroup.com and click on Member’s Lounge
2. Email to invoicing@fpsumbrella.com
3. Telephone 08707 669 229
4. Fax 01624 818 502
It will only take a minute of your day but makes a big difference to being paid promptly!
Immigration Update
From April 1st 2009 the Home Office plans to introduce changes to the Tier 1 general visa application criteria. From this date onwards any highly skilled, non-EU migrant workers wishing to come to the UK on a Tier 1 general visa, or those looking to switch to the Tier 1 general visa will face tougher criteria than previously.
The Home Office is raising the qualifying standard for applicants to a minimum qualification of a Masters degree and minimum salary of £20,000.
If you are looking to change to the Tier 1 general we recommend that you apply now before the new rules come in.
Smooth can assist with Tier 1 general visa applications, for more information please contact Brenda Lloyd today on 08707 669 229 or email contact@mysmoothgroup.com
Remortgage solutions for FPS clients
With some lenders now waiving redemption fees on their fixed rate mortgages, you could be thousands of pounds better off by switching to take advantage of today’s historically low interest rates.
We understand the need for our Members to receive advice that reflects their unique working status and so have teamed up with the specialist Independent Financial Advisers at ContractorFinancials who will charge FPS Members none of the mortgage broker fees that can often be applied elsewhere.
Simon Foster at ContractorFinancials suggests that there’s never been a more important time to weigh up your mortgage options. Simon states ‘if your current lender is still charging a redemption fee, we can calculate the saving that can be made by switching to a lower fixed or variable rate deal, and then weigh this against any penalty charges that you would have to pay to leave your existing lender'.
In the current difficult climate for some Contractors the money that can be saved in this way could be a welcome relief, and may compensate for possible lower hourly rates until the market picks up again.
For more information on your remortgage options call Simon today on 0845 062 8888 or email fps@contractorfinancials.com
Membership Queries
If you have a query about your FPS membership you can get in touch with our Membership Services team.
If your query is related to the processing of expenses please bear in mind that these have a 24 hour turn around time. New members should ensure that they promptly send |
