passed the interview, got the contract, 5 weeks later still waiting for a start date

[SueEllen]

There is no compensation for not starting.

[uk contractor]

OP this happen's all the time in banking especially. I am waiting on several different 12 month rolling contracts with different banks. No contracts signed yet just the usual interviews, technical tests now the long start date wait. The different agencies I am dealing with all tell me the same thing the bank is the delay they have not got the contract finances approved yet (its a lot of money obviously for 12 months).

Its frustrating as you cannot really earn elsewhere if your confident the contract will go ahead but there is no obligation for the agency/client to pay you until contracts are signed & or your onsite doing billable work. That is the nature of contracting. Either gamble on the start date or find something else.

If its LBG they tend to enforce 2 weeks unpaid leave over xmas time for contractors & or hiring freezes kick in so getting a new contract signoff can become difficult in December.

[TheFaQQer]

I had thought there may be some legal action I could take for recompense/loss of revenue, as the fault is entirely theirs, they have verbally and in email offered a contract.

You can always take legal action. Whether you will ever win is a different question.

[robinhood1]

OP this happen's all the time in banking especially. I am waiting on several different 12 month rolling contracts with different banks. No contracts signed yet just the usual interviews, technical tests now the long start date wait. The different agencies I am dealing with all tell me the same thing the bank is the delay they have not got the contract finances approved yet (its a lot of money obviously for 12 months).

Its frustrating as you cannot really earn elsewhere if your confident the contract will go ahead but there is no obligation for the agency/client to pay you until contracts are signed & or your onsite doing billable work. That is the nature of contracting. Either gamble on the start date or find something else.

If its LBG they tend to enforce 2 weeks unpaid leave over xmas time for contractors & or hiring freezes kick in so getting a new contract signoff can become difficult in December.

Thanks for info and heads up, hadn't realised this was common, the bank is the german variety. This was only for a short 1-3 month contract. I've been contracting for the past 15 years, 12 of those years with one big client - just jumping from one part of the group to another via internal references, so never had to really deal with going for jobs via agencies and the silly games they play.

so moral of story, a contract is not a contract till bum firmly implanted on seat.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I've been contracting for the past 15 years, 12 of those years with one big client

did you stop claiming T&S after you knew you would be there more than 24 months? ;-)

[Draco]

You'll end up getting paid as much as a non-banking role with immediate start. You fell prey to the illusion of big pay.

[northernladuk]

I've been contracting for the past 15 years, 12 of those years with one big client -

So not really a contractor yet

[BrilloPad]

Sounds about right for a bank.

I bet just when you get another role the original contract comes through!

I am a bit surprised that the agent is not more in touch with the bank.

[billybiro]

Shouldn't stop looking for roles until you are sitting at the clients desk with a signed contract. Nothing else to it.

Stuff goes wrong, you've got to look after yourself and keep your ass covered. Simple as that. Valuable, if not a bit expensive lesson learned I am afraid.

Whilst I agree with you here, NLUK, this seems a little contradictory given your stance on contractors who, when in a gig, would leave for a better paying one.

If OP continues to look for other roles, gets one and starts in the new gig then the original client comes back to him with a start date after he's already been in the new role for a week, what does he do? Just tell them "tough tulip"? They'd have spent considerable effort screening him and sorting out the paper work only for the contractor to tell them to effectively "do one".

Doesn't seem all that different (i.e. dropping a client in the tulip) to ditching an existing on-going gig for another?

[northernladuk]

Whilst I agree with you here, NLUK, this seems a little contradictory given your stance on contractors who, when in a gig, would leave for a better paying one.

If OP continues to look for other roles, gets one and starts in the new gig then the original client comes back to him with a start date after he's already been in the new role for a week, what does he do? Just tell them "tough tulip"? They'd have spent considerable effort screening him and sorting out the paper work only for the contractor to tell them to effectively "do one".

Doesn't seem all that different (i.e. dropping a client in the tulip) to ditching an existing on-going gig for another?

I see what you are saying but IMO It's completely different. Until you are sitting at your desk you have nothing. These long waits often end up with nothing. Granted if I got a gig while waiting like the OP I'd have a hard decision to make but that hasn't happened yet.

First come first served is different to dropping a client when the expectations and commitment is there.