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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel pissed off at being self-employed

41 replies

grannysmiff · 30/10/2017 12:04

So on top of not getting paid leave and all the other fun perks of being a salaried employee, you often get treated like an ultra suspicious liability when you're self-employed.

I'm about to head to an estate agent because me and DP want to move into a bigger place together. We both make good money and have been SE for years but they still treat you like you're iffy - despite the fact that if you were an employee you could get laid off at any time. I also can't believe how for a lot of things you have to show financial statements etc going back years whereas employees are just asked for their last 3 wage slips. Now for example, going to see an estate agent, I'm going to have to act super reassuring and "convincing" despite the fact I earn multiples of what my in-house counterparts earn. Not a humblebrag just fact.

I love being SE but I fucking hate our "status" in society! /rant over

OP posts:
fucksakefay · 30/10/2017 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notanurse2017 · 30/10/2017 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 30/10/2017 12:08

Would you like to give up being self-employed and get a PAYE job? Why not contact some recruiters?

DunkMeInTomatoSoup · 30/10/2017 12:11

So. Why dont you have a company set up and employ yourself through your company and then you wouldnt have all this faff would you?

Nandoshoes · 30/10/2017 12:21

You knew all of this when you started. If you don't like it go and work for somebody else.

With your lazy attitude I'm surprised you make anything working for yourself.

BenLui · 30/10/2017 12:39

Dunk that doesn’t actually make a difference to what evidence you are asked to provide. Limited company status is still self employed.

Flowerbot · 30/10/2017 12:41

“Lazy attitude” - what’s lazy about anything she’s said? She just gets annoyed that she’s treated as though she’s somehow more of a risk just because she’s self-employed, and has to make a really big effort to prove herself compared to employees

hiyasminitsme · 30/10/2017 12:41

This has never been an issue for me, just get the tax summary from hmrc for however many years they want it.

BenLui · 30/10/2017 12:43

I have to say I’ve never been made to feel “iffy”.

Easte agents, mortgage providers ask for evidence of income and you provide it .

And lack of paid leave etc is part and parcel of being self employed.

I’d be more sympathetic if you were worried about something like Jury Duty but everything else... meh.

bingbongnoise · 30/10/2017 12:43

So you earn loads of money but can't be arsed to prove it when you have to? Stop complaining!

This ^

What a weird rant from the OP. If it's THAT bad, get a normal 'salaried' job. Confused

Original poster
grannysmiff · 30/10/2017 12:44

@Nandoshoes

Lazy? Thats rich coming from someone who names themselves after a fast-food chicken joint.

OP posts:
Oblomov17 · 30/10/2017 12:45

Eh? You earn tonnes and pay minimal tax. What's the problem? Hmm

Flowerbot · 30/10/2017 12:46

OP I think you’ve angered people by daring to mention that you earn decent money

fpurplea · 30/10/2017 12:48

Renting or buying? Been on the end of both as a self employed couple, buying was infinitely easier, I guess because a landlord doesn't really have the same clout and missed payment wriggle room that a bank does.

No idea why you think it's unreasonable to expect increased proof of affordability though. They want to see a regularity of your income, if you don't get paid the same amount on the same day from the same external source (because closed systems can be manipulated), what are they supposed to think? Or should it be back to the slippery slope of self-certification?

Original poster
grannysmiff · 30/10/2017 12:48

@Oblomov17

Whats tax got to do with anything?

OP posts:
JustKeepStumbling · 30/10/2017 13:06

Wow you are getting some hate here Hmm I agree. I don't earn loads from being self employed but when we applied for our mortgage it was an utter ball ache and added weeks and weeks to the buying process due to self employed proof paperwork despite having tax returns done through a proper accountant and proof of this for 5 years plus. And I am a limited company and pay myself out of it so it should have been even simpler than self employed status. Running your own business takes over your life and I often think it would be simpler to quit and go employed.

BenLui · 30/10/2017 13:06

Oblomov not all self employed people pay minimal tax.

Nandoshoes · 30/10/2017 13:21

Lazy? Thats rich coming from someone who names themselves after a fast-food chicken joint.

Sorry I don't understand the connection between lazy and nandos ?

It also says Nando shoes...Awkward

Original poster
grannysmiff · 30/10/2017 13:31

Oh I read it as nandos hoes. Awwwkwaaaaard!

OP posts:
Biker47 · 30/10/2017 13:35

So on top of not getting paid leave and all the other fun perks of being a salaried employee

Become a salaried emplyee somewhere then? Or save up some of your "good money" to cover those things, like many other self-employed people manage to do.

phlebasconsidered · 30/10/2017 13:39

My dh is self employed and it's a pain in the arse now we are trying to move and remortgage. Even though we are ready to move, we are stuck waiting on one form from the hmrc who dont rush anything. Its added almost a month to the buying process so far despite our accountant and broker handlingnit all.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 30/10/2017 13:42

Your issue isn't being self employed; your issue is people treating you worse just because you're self employed. I agree, it's shitty.

One of my banks turned me down for a loan because I'm self employed and couldn't guarantee my income Hmm Except the bit I could guarantee (as much as anyone in employment can guarantee anything) they wouldn't count HmmHmm

I have several years of accounts showing steady earnings and a maximum credit rating.

Luckily I got the loan instantly with my other bank and I've never had an issue getting a mortgage with dh who is employed.

I take my business to people who treat me well. Luckily for those companies I do a lot of business and make a lot of money for them.

FairNotFair · 30/10/2017 13:46

You earn tonnes and pay minimal tax. What's the problem?

Depends how you're set up. I operate as a sole trader, and I pay exactly the same tax that I'd pay if I was employed.

MistressDeeCee · 30/10/2017 13:46

Im self-employed I don't pay minimal tax - I pay my way like anyone else who is working. We aren't allowed to get away with paying tax simply due to being self-employed, you know.

Lazy?! To make an income from self-employment it is IMPOSSIBLE to be lazy

Some of the uninformed comments on here prove OPs point. Being self-employed means being viewed with suspicion, being asked to provide triple the information PAYE workers are asked to, and even when providing full information of finances I find there is still suspicion, and being asked to provide even more information that often repeats what you've already sent in. Its ridiculous.

Why should it matter how we earn money, as long as it isn't illegal? I don't get the "well you knew it would be like that" either. As if we aren't allowed to be exasperated.

Never mind the glossy articles etc, entrepreneurs/self-employed are frowned upon. If you're not a PAYE employee aka "the norm" there's an underlying disrespect, as if you are "supposed to" fit the work pattern that most people do, and if you don't work 9-5 in an office you are up to something

iJustReallyLikeIt · 30/10/2017 13:50

Enjoy the benefits of lower taxation.