Umbrella Skim Detector
Protect yourself from hidden deductions with our Skim Detector — a free, easy-to-use tool that checks your umbrella payslip for accuracy, ensuring transparency and fair treatment.
Why Do You Need a Skim Detector?
Some umbrella companies hide deductions by combining multiple line items on your payslip, making it difficult to verify that your pay is correct. This practice — sometimes called “skimming” — means you could be losing money without realising it.
Our Skim Detector works by calculating what your gross pay should be based on your timesheet income, and comparing it to the gross pay shown on your payslip. If the numbers don’t match, there may be hidden deductions.
We created this tool because we believe in complete transparency. At No Worries Red Umbrella, every deduction on your payslip is clearly itemised — no hidden charges, no surprises.
Add Your Payslip Details
Enter the figures from your payslip and we’ll calculate what your gross pay should be.
Your total timesheet income for the period. For example, if you have a weekly payslip and worked 40 hours at £20 an hour, you would enter £800 here.
If pension deductions are being made from your timesheet income, enter the actual amount here. This usually appears as “Employer’s pension contributions” on your payslip.
The fee charged by the umbrella company for processing each payslip.
Calculated Gross Pay
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This is your total gross pay that should appear on your payslip. From this gross pay will come deductions such as PAYE, employee’s NIC, student loan deductions and employee pension contributions.
Calculation Breakdown
Important Notes
Holiday Pay
Our calculation assumes your umbrella advances holiday pay on each payslip (the most common option). If your umbrella accrues your holiday pay instead, deduct that figure from the value you used for Timesheet Income and recalculate.
Salary Sacrifice
If you have a salary sacrifice arrangement other than employer pension contributions (e.g. Cycle to Work), add the value of the salary sacrifice payment from your payslip to the Employer’s Pension Contribution box and recalculate.
Apprenticeship Levy
Most umbrella companies are required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If your umbrella does not make this deduction, either they are just starting out (which is fine) or they may be a mini-umbrella, which we recommend avoiding.
Expense Reimbursements
If your umbrella reimburses you for chargeable expenses, make sure the value of these expenses is not included in the Timesheet Income box. Only enter income from your actual work.
NI Category Letter
This calculator assumes NI category letter A, which applies to the majority of employees. If your NI category is different — for example M (under 21), H (apprentice under 25), or V (armed forces veteran) — the employer’s NIC figure may differ slightly, as these categories have higher thresholds before employer NIC applies.
How We’re Different
At No Worries Red Umbrella, we never skim. Every deduction on your payslip is clearly itemised so you can see exactly where your money goes. We’re FCSA accredited and independently audited to the highest compliance standards.
FCSA Accredited
Independently audited annually
Full Transparency
Every deduction clearly shown
Since 2014
Trusted for over a decade
Have a Question?
If your payslip doesn’t match our calculations, or if you’re concerned about hidden deductions, get in touch. We’re happy to help you understand your payslip and explore your options.