Who to pursue for unpaid time when working via an umbrella?

[Mercury]

Stuff the agent. It's about the relationship between you and the client. A year from now, you want to be able to contact the client directly and still be on good terms. It won't matter which agent you're with, it's the client that counts.

Actually this particular client has a reputation for being, to put it politely, odd. I work in a vert specialist area and am more concerned about their behaviour towards contractors than avoiding ruffling their feathers.

[NotAllThere]

It could be argued that the fact that you weren't authorised to work at home is not grounds for withholding payment for work actually done (IANAL!). Two wrongs don't make a right.

If you were ltd, I'd suggest dunning letters to the agent and eventually small claims court, on the grounds that, signed timesheets notwithstanding, if you worked, you expect to be paid, and (conversely) the client can't not expect to pay if the work has been done (Even if in an unauthorised location).

I guess as you are through a brolly, you'd need to get them to do the dunning and claims on your behalf.

[Mercury]

If you're not angry, then maybe drop the false claims that you are making about them. They did not accuse you of fraud, or of falsifying your time sheets or of dishonesty. They accused you of working from home against their wishes and without proper authorisation.

Maybe I'm not being clear. They knew I was working from home. I am not making false claims, quite the opposite- I am having payment withheld on no basis other than the clients' discretion.

[LondonManc]

Maybe I'm not being clear. They knew I was working from home. I am not making false claims, quite the opposite- I am having payment withheld on no basis other than the clients' discretion.

Have you got a good working relationship with your immediate clientco manager?

[Mercury]

It could be argued that the fact that you weren't authorised to work at home is not grounds for withholding payment for work actually done (IANAL!). Two wrongs don't make a right.

If you were ltd, I'd suggest dunning letters to the agent and eventually small claims court, on the grounds that, signed timesheets notwithstanding, if you worked, you expect to be paid, and (conversely) the client can't not expect to pay if the work has been done (Even if in an unauthorised location).

I guess as you are through a brolly, you'd need to get them to do the dunning and claims on your behalf.

I'm minded to just drop it, as it'll annoy both the umbrella, the client and the agency. But I'mm not a charity, I worked the hours I signed for, and having it questioned is not on.

[WTFH]

Maybe I'm not being clear. They knew I was working from home. I am not making false claims, quite the opposite- I am having payment withheld on no basis other than the clients' discretion.

OK, did they accuse you of fraud?
Did they accuse you of falsifying your time sheets?
Did they accuse you of being dishonest?

[eek]

Maybe I'm not being clear. They knew I was working from home. I am not making false claims, quite the opposite- I am having payment withheld on no basis other than the clients' discretion.

It's not client discretion, it's the client disputing whether they need to pay or not. Given that you then throw your dummy out of the pram I really don't think you are going to win this one as you cannot do anything about it - only the umbrella company you use(d) can...

Personally I would give it up as a bad job and start finding another contract asap... Wasting time on this lost cause is not going to help your bank account..

[Mercury]

Have you got a good working relationship with your immediate clientco manager?

If you mean the company I was working for, no- if you mean the agency, yes- have had a relationship with them for over ten years.

[VillageContractor]

I'm minded to just drop it, as it'll annoy both the umbrella, the client and the agency. But I'mm not a charity, I worked the hours I signed for, and having it questioned is not on.

How much are we talking about? a few hours? days? weeks?

[Mercury]

It's not client discretion, it's the client disputing whether they need to pay or not. Given that you then throw your dummy out of the pram I really don't think you are going to win this one as you cannot do anything about it - only the umbrella company you use(d) can...

Personally I would give it up as a bad job and start finding another contract asap... Wasting time on this lost cause is not going to help your bank account..

There's a difference between throwing ones' toys out of the pram and expecting to be paid for work done. A huge difference.

I'm not short of work, so it's not about the money. It's a simple case of me doing work for which I am not being paid for.