Left client due to his conduct towards me, now threatens me

[firehawk]

Thanks. indeed. for all contracts ive always stuck to it and never bailed even at the worst of times. and yes i have evidence of the work done and the "praises" given too.

thanks

[VirtualMonkey]

you'll be fine, don't worry about it

[NotAllThere]

Just a quick point on reputation. Chances are the "boss" is well known through your industry for being an idiot. Even by his "friends". It's unlikely to cause you damage.

[pmeswani]

usually opt out of agency regulations. IR35 and all that. it is a good question though as with this contract, they didnt ask or have anything about opting in or out of the regulations.

Were you introduced to the client before you opted out? If so, then the opt out would be useless.

[firehawk]

thats interesting.

yes, totally was introduced to the client before hand (interview etc...). once offer was placed on the table i accepted and signed the contract and the opt out regulations

[pmeswani]

thats interesting.

yes, totally was introduced to the client before hand (interview etc...). once offer was placed on the table i accepted and signed the contract and the opt out regulations

I hope one of the more seasoned Contractors (esp. NLUK) would confirm if my statement / understanding is correct.

As long as you can prove that the agency introduced you to the client before asking you to opt out, then you may, and I emphasise the word may, have a leg to stand on.

[firehawk]

well of course i have evidence of that.

so in other words i may not have a leg to stand on now given other responses too and that my contract was not directly to him?

[pmeswani]

well of course i have evidence of that.

so in other words i may not have a leg to stand on now given other responses too and that my contract was not directly to him?

Not necessarily. All I am saying is that opting in may not be enough. Also, I am not qualified / experienced to confirm or deny whether you have the right to get paid. This is something that may need some form of legal advice before proceeding with requesting payment.

[firehawk]

completly understand but i said that i am not fussed about the payment. infact i said that i dont want to be paid for the last week.

[Contreras]

You've received great advice here already. Personally I would take it further, the man IS a bully and should be confronted.

He is continuing to bully you by threatening legal action he expects you to roll over without payment so that in his own warped mind he can then feel some kind of 'moral' victory.

If your work was accepted then being opt-out doesn't change the fact that you are due to be paid. So what I would do is continue to blank the end client, and hand the unpaid invoices to a no-win no-fee debt collection agency (such as Creditsafe Ltd) and let them deal with it.

The worst that could happen is they won't recover anything and if you are of the mind to write it off then you have lost nothing. Much more likely you will discover he really is all bull and bluster and you will receive at least some of your money (minus the debt agency's cut) but more important perhaps is the satisfaction you will get from demonstrating that you are not a push over.