Hi,
First post here and I need some advice urgently.
I decided to make the jump to contracting back in April. Had set aside 3 months cash in hand to cover the transition and did everything by the numbers.
I got offered my first position in Birmingham at a lower day rate than I was hoping for but it was a 12 month contract and I had a friend with a spare room in Coventry (20 mintue train ride to the office) so it looked like a good way to get started.
I was due to start work on the 24th of May pending SC clearance which was due to take 6 weeks from the date I signed the contract.
The 24th of May came and went and I was not able to start work as the clearance had not been completed. This was to be expected. By the time we hit the 6 week mark I was starting to panic. I have now been contacting my agency daily with the same answer of "we should know next week". About 8 weeks after the first contract came out I finally got my actual SC forms, discovering that the initial information pack I had submitted was just pre screening from the end customer.
My SC application is now in progress.
2 weeks ago I then received another email saying that they would now like me to work in Bracknell instead of Birmingham. I cannot afford my flat and the hotel costs in a London priced area at the day rate they are paying so I have pushed back and said that I cannot accept the new contract. I have only been told that the project will not be supported from Birmingham but will now be supported from Bracknell, but I have not received an answer to my refusal to sign the new agreement.
I have now been offered another contract in Sweden who need me to start ASAP. I have also been told that if the project is supported from Birmingham my original contract stands, but I have not received a countersigned copy of the contract I submitted.
I basically need to know where I stand legally. If I take the Sweden job and the original contract comes back to say I would be working in Birmingham as planned, am I going to get sued.
I'm in a really tough situation as the money I had put aside is now all gone and I need to start working yesterday to make ends meet.
Should I take the Sweden job and sack off this other one? The Sweden job need an answer ideally this weekend.
Sorry for the long post, it's just a stream of consciousness coming out of me and I've doubtless missed some details.
I'm grateful for any advice you can offer.
Cheers.
First post here and I need some advice urgently.
I decided to make the jump to contracting back in April. Had set aside 3 months cash in hand to cover the transition and did everything by the numbers.
I got offered my first position in Birmingham at a lower day rate than I was hoping for but it was a 12 month contract and I had a friend with a spare room in Coventry (20 mintue train ride to the office) so it looked like a good way to get started.
I was due to start work on the 24th of May pending SC clearance which was due to take 6 weeks from the date I signed the contract.
The 24th of May came and went and I was not able to start work as the clearance had not been completed. This was to be expected. By the time we hit the 6 week mark I was starting to panic. I have now been contacting my agency daily with the same answer of "we should know next week". About 8 weeks after the first contract came out I finally got my actual SC forms, discovering that the initial information pack I had submitted was just pre screening from the end customer.
My SC application is now in progress.
2 weeks ago I then received another email saying that they would now like me to work in Bracknell instead of Birmingham. I cannot afford my flat and the hotel costs in a London priced area at the day rate they are paying so I have pushed back and said that I cannot accept the new contract. I have only been told that the project will not be supported from Birmingham but will now be supported from Bracknell, but I have not received an answer to my refusal to sign the new agreement.
I have now been offered another contract in Sweden who need me to start ASAP. I have also been told that if the project is supported from Birmingham my original contract stands, but I have not received a countersigned copy of the contract I submitted.
I basically need to know where I stand legally. If I take the Sweden job and the original contract comes back to say I would be working in Birmingham as planned, am I going to get sued.
I'm in a really tough situation as the money I had put aside is now all gone and I need to start working yesterday to make ends meet.
Should I take the Sweden job and sack off this other one? The Sweden job need an answer ideally this weekend.
Sorry for the long post, it's just a stream of consciousness coming out of me and I've doubtless missed some details.
I'm grateful for any advice you can offer.
Cheers.
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