Client dodging signing timesheet

[marcfielding]

Hi Everyone,

I find myself in a very awkward situation which to be honest is a first for me.

I worked for a client the week before Christmas and ended up doing nearly 88 hours straight on a day rate in an effort to help them get things on track. I submitted my timesheets the following day and noticed today that they were WAY over due to be signed, the end client is now ignoring my phone calls and the agency is saying that unless they can get them to sign a timesheet I can't be paid.

Given that I incurred a large personal cost travelling to the client site this has left me in a complete mess, to be clear I appear to have been opted out and am a Limited Company contractor.

What would be the best approach to get the agency to pay, in my view it's their client, their introduction, their problem?

Kind Regards


Marc

[tomtomagain]

Keep pushing and chasing. It's not been that long.

They are probably still going through their emails.

[tomtomagain]

What would be the best approach to get the agency to pay, in my view it's their client, their introduction, their problem?

Until you get paid it's your problem. But presumably the agent will be wanting to be paid too so .....

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Are you opted out?
If not, do you have other evidence of the hours worked?

If the answer to the above is No and Yes then I'd be thinking about invoicing the agency and let them chase the client to confirm the hours were worked. If they refuse to pay up handle it like any other unpaid invoice.

Are you sure there was anyone around between Christmas and now who could sign your timesheet? Maybe they've only just gone back to work.

[Sausage Surprise]

Had a similar problem a few years back with work done prior to Christmas (then leaving).
Just kept chasing with emails and phone calls and they soon got sick and signed the timesheets.

[psychocandy]

OP - Was this a one-off short term thing or an ongoing gig?

What did you invoice for? Days or hours?
(Buggered if I work 88 hours straight for, Im guessing 3x day rate - especially for a short off-off gig if this is the case).

[northernladuk]

Hi Everyone,

I find myself in a very awkward situation which to be honest is a first for me.

I worked for a client the week before Christmas and ended up doing nearly 88 hours straight on a day rate in an effort to help them get things on track. I submitted my timesheets the following day and noticed today that they were WAY over due to be signed, the end client is now ignoring my phone calls and the agency is saying that unless they can get them to sign a timesheet I can't be paid.

Given that I incurred a large personal cost travelling to the client site this has left me in a complete mess, to be clear I appear to have been opted out and am a Limited Company contractor.

What would be the best approach to get the agency to pay, in my view it's their client, their introduction, their problem?

Kind Regards


Marc

What do you call WAY overdue? I finished work on the 18th and my signing manager still hasn't been back in yet. It might have been worth asking about peoples availability while you were there over a break such as xmas. I wouldn't be surprised if the signing manager has only just got back in and probably doesn't know if he's coming or going first few days back. I certainly don't.

Not sure what incurring a large personal cost has to do with it either. It's part of contracting and you can expense it through the company. Has the company got no money in it to submit the expenses or something? This the first every gig this LTD has done and there is zero cash in the bank? All you've got here is a cash flow issue, not the disaster you are pertaining to.

IMO at this point in time it's not the best situation but it's not what you are making out to be. Someone is late signing/paying in a B2B contract... well there is a first... NOT.

I'd have my invoice in to the agent the day I finished regardless of time sheet situation. It's possible they may pay the agent without a signed timesheet so at least you've got that covered. I'd then be dunning the agent asking about it. Remember he's not been paid as well so for once is actually on your side here. I'd, within reason, keep on at the client as well.

I'd be giving it a week or two before I really start sweating. When it get's to that point I'd then be looking at the payontime.co.uk website and using some of the terminology they use in a letter, such as 'The late payment of commercial debts regulations 2013' and so on to show I mean business and know what I am talking about. That will also make them sit up and take notice.

From what I read in the original mail there is nothing to start getting too upset about just yet. There is a lot more going to up your blood pressure in contracting than timesheets signed a little late, particularly when you've indicated all hell is breaking lose to get back on track.

[MrMarkyMark]

Given that I incurred a large personal cost travelling to the client site this has left me in a complete mess, to be clear I appear to have been opted out and am a Limited Company contractor.

What would be the best approach to get the agency to pay, in my view it's their client, their introduction, their problem?

Kind Regards


Marc

How can this have left you in a complete mess?
You should be getting the agency to help you with this, IMO.

However, I concur, that the time of year, may mean time sheet authorisations, have not been done.
I, also, would not be sweating at this stage, all sorts of things slow down, at this time of year.

[LondonManc]

You're a business; you're not directly on ClientCo's payroll. What were the payment terms in the contract that you signed? Obviously if you've finished your engagement with a particular client, it's nice to get the paperwork all closed off (hindsight is a beautiful think and next time you'll get it signed off as part of the goodbye handshake when you exit the site) asap but you shouldn't worry at the moment. That is, unless you've not told us that they are point blank refusing to sign off the timesheet.

[WTFH]

Are you still working for the client? If not, is there any particular reason why? When did you start working for them?


When you say you worked "88 hours straight", do you mean you were on site for almost 4 days non-stop? If so, how did you run up lots of personal expenses?


When you say the week before Christmas, do you mean the week of the 14th or the 21st?


Is the timesheet system paper based? Is it a timesheet produced by the client or is it something on the agent's system?


Is the person who approves the timesheets back in the office since Christmas?


How many phone calls/emails have you made (successfully or unsuccessfully) to the client?