Agency delaying final payment, is there anything I could or should do?

[mhamzahkhan]

So, my contract ended in March some time. The manager at the client site went off on holiday the same day my contract ended, so I wasn't able to get my time sheets signed off in time for Vector's March Invoice cut off date which was something like 5th April.

I finally submitted my invoices on 13th April, which was in time for the April cut-off date which would have been around 5th May, I also emailed them and let them know that it had been submitted, and they responded letting me know it will be processed around 16th May, but on the day, nothing.

I emailed them again and they have informed me that as it is my final invoice, they have to receive payment from the client before they can pay me, and once they have received it, they will pay me on the 16th of June as "we only process one payment run per month and are unable to sanction payments outside of this".

Is it just me, or is this a bit unreasonable? It will have been 62 days after the invoice had been submitted, and even then it "depends" on if they have received funds from the client.

Should I look into legal advice?

[stek]

So, my contract ended in March some time. The manager at the client site went off on holiday the same day my contract ended, so I wasn't able to get my time sheets signed off in time for Vector's March Invoice cut off date which was something like 5th April.

I finally submitted my invoices on 13th April, which was in time for the April cut-off date which would have been around 5th May, I also emailed them and let them know that it had been submitted, and they responded letting me know it will be processed around 16th May, but on the day, nothing.

I emailed them again and they have informed me that as it is my final invoice, they have to receive payment from the client before they can pay me, and once they have received it, they will pay me on the 16th of June as "we only process one payment run per month and are unable to sanction payments outside of this".

Is it just me, or is this a bit unreasonable? It will have been 62 days after the invoice had been submitted, and even then it "depends" on if they have received funds from the client.

Should I look into legal advice?

Opted-in or opted-out?

[Scruff]

What does your contract say?

[SueEllen]

Should I look into legal advice?

If you went legal you wouldn't get your money any quicker.

[northernladuk]

Not uncommon for agents to only run payments once a month. Been caught by this plenty of times over the years for one reason or another. In all the cases I can remember there was never a chance of the money not turning up but cash in bank was healthy so wasn't an issue.

I don't see anything to say you are not going to get paid here but you will know better. Don't forget to factor in that you were late with the timesheet when you are working out how late it is. You can't blame them for that. It's not really your fault either but it is what it is.

Your Opt in/out status should make a big difference here. If you are in (which I doubt by the fact you've not mentioned it) they have to pay you regardless of the situation with client payment or timesheets. If you are opted out that's irrelevant.

I'd say you are in for the ride for the moment. Legal advice isn't going to help but you could check your contract to see if there is anything in there about last payment being paid by client. That sounds like a crock of tulip to me. If it's not in the contract it's not your problem. You both agreed when you'd get paid and they have to stick to it. I'd be looking in to that.

I think in your situation I'd vent your frustration a little, sort out this client paying rubbish and get some written confirmation the payment will appear on the date they said. I'd also drop them a couple of notes closer to the time to make sure and see what happens. If the payment doesn't arrive then it's time to open a can of whupass on them.

Have a look on payontime.com and find out your rights about charging interest on late payments and let the agent know you are aware of the legislation and rights. They often sit up and take notice if it looks like you know what you are doing. They maybe more complacent if you sound like you have no teeth.

[northernladuk]

Should I look into legal advice?

Just on a side note this does irk me. When people encounter a problem and start threating to sue at the first hurdle. Kind tells me off the bat they don't know what they are doing. Am sure agents think the same as well. Nearly all disputes with agents/clients get sorted out through some hard nosed discussions. Find your rights, make it clear to them you know what you are talking about, do a bit of 'dunning', pick the phone up (I can never understand why people don't do this when there is a problem. Mailed him.. Jeez) and so on. That's how you get most things sorted. Not going legal or suing. That takes a lot of time and a lot of money and no one wins.