Client won't sign timesheet

[Crossroads]

If you want to keep it amicable...

How much money are we talking about? If you were to re-do your timesheet for just the standard hours, how much would you lose?

Can you come to an agreement with the client, on the understanding that you won't be doing any more overtime?

[LegendsWear7]

How much money are we talking about?

About 4000 quid difference over 2 months. I could live without it, but so could a bank with literally billions in the vault.

And that shouldn't be the point. If they win this then what comes next ? I'm going to invoice the agency in the next wee while and wait for their reaction.

[Crossroads]

About 4000 quid difference over 2 months. I could live without it, but so could a bank with literally billions in the vault.

And that shouldn't be the point. If they win this then what comes next ? I'm going to invoice the agency in the next wee while and wait for their reaction.

You are correct, it should not be about the amount, but...

Would you rather come to an agreement with the client and write some / all of the £4k off and continue in the role with an agreed way forward in terms of working hours, or do you want to risk the relationship breaking down and you being terminated?

If it was £40k then it might be different, but for £4k I'd be looking to discuss things with the client. That said, I wouldn't be doing any further work in the meantime...

Rather than just invoicing the agency, have you tried speaking to them first?

[DBA_bloke]

If I was working in the City, then that's exactly what I would have done weeks ago without hestitation and found another contract nearby. Quitting a London job doesn't mean quitting apartment / country / tax system etc. Working out here means there is a bit of inertia due to the effort involved and I'd like to resolve it amicably if possible before packing my bags. At least I'd like to leave when it suits me rather than due to being messed around.

Hmmmm... I suspect you may end up losing out, then. Bad luck.

[chris79]

Well think of the options here:-

1. Burn your bridges and sue them for what you think is rightfully yours.

2. Keep things amicable and negotiate a resolution for perhaps less money, but keep the situation workable but on the basis you won't work overtime in future?

If as you say the situation is comfortable for you then ask yourself the question is it worth getting my own way for £4000 but having the end expense of relocation, new job contract, uncertainty, etc for the sake of £4000?

It's not a nice situation to find yourself in, but given the situation grabbing the gold now might not be in your best interests?

[RightLaugh]

just ask them if they think 75% is reasonanble. Start there and you may end up with between 50-60% of your money. I don't think you should write it off completely. Sounds like they weren't happy with the rate not the actual charging of overtime.

[Epiphone]

It seems to me you're up tulip creek. Your contract is with the agency so if that contract has been amended to show the new rate then charge the agency.

If the agent hasn't updated his contract with the client then the client aren't going to pay the new rates.

The verbal agreement with the line manager means nothing unless you can back it up with anything in writing or a witness etc.

Can you get the client to sign off on the work done and not necessarily the price? If your timehseet has some weasal worded "the client signs this and accepts all invoices" you might be fecked. But you might just be able to get the client to agree the work then hit the agent for the pay.

At least that way you don't damage the relationship with the client.

[shoes]

You could try to come to an arrangement with the line manager where they sign your timesheets as though you worked normal hours (removing the overtime/on call component). In the future take a couple of days off and have the line manager sign the timesheet as though you were there, so the total number of hours paid for matches the number worked. If your overtime/on call rate was higher than the usual rate you lose the difference. In future don't do any overtime for them.

[LegendsWear7]

Update

Thanks for these responses. I think it is worth putting this on a forum in case others run into the same.

So a few days ago the client manager agreed to sign the timesheets and we agreed no more overtime from me. I faxed and sent invoice to the agency just minutes later. I thought that was the end.

Now the agency is refusing to honour the invoice until the client pays them. The client is not returning calls/emails to agency to confirm they will pay and haven't started processing the payments. I have verbal confirmation from the client that invoices from agency will be paid.

How do I deal with this ? I have drafted a response to the agency along the lines that my relationship is with the agency and my invoices are not dependent on payment from the end-client to the agency. I have fulfilled all my contractual obligations to the agency. Is it my job to get the client to pay the agent ?? Real man in the middle here.

Of course I want the client to pay up but in the end I don't think the agency can withhold money because they haven't been paid.

Thoughts ?

[Bluebird]

your contract is with the agency, as such unless the contract stipulates that they will withhold payment until they are paid they will have to pay within the terms of the contract - which could be 7,14,28 days.

If they don't pay warn them you will take proceedings against them, also that as they are in breach of contract you'll find another agency to replce them for the same gig, and that you will advise the client of their actions.