Agency wont send copies of contracts

[Burdock]

My agency wont send me copies of the contracts I've signed despite loads of emails and phone calls. (Their policy is to send me two copies, which I sign and return, and they return one of). Are many agencies lax in this way, or should I be worried? (I had to painfully negotiate some IR35 friendly ammendments, and I'm worried the delay is something to do with that).

[rootsnall]

Take a photocopy before you send it, basics ! They'd normally send two out signed to you and you send one back.

[Burdock]

Take a photocopy before you send it, basics ! They'd normally send two out signed to you and you send one back.

That's what I assumed. But the accompanying letter said 'send them both back for counter-signing'.

I have a photocopy- but I assume it's worthless as they could just claim it's not counter-signed.

[Ardesco]

It is assumed that the contract in place is the one last sent accross with your sig on it if you have started working. Even if they haven't signed it they are bound by it now.

[rootsnall]

That's what I assumed. But the accompanying letter said 'send them both back for counter-signing'.

I have a photocopy- but I assume it's worthless as they could just claim it's not counter-signed.

You're sorted, don't worry about it.

[Burdock]

cheers guys!

[TheFaQQer]

Some agencies seem to be better than others.

My general experience is that the agency sends you two signed copies, you sign both and return one.

I'm in the same boat as you, though - I negotiated some big changes to the contract to make it IR35 friendly (like including a right of substitution clause for a starter!), printed them on my company headed paper and sent two signed copies to them. I then started work, and am still waiting for one of them back - I know they got it, since they rang me to check the bank account details that I included at the same time.

I guess some are just worse than others in that regard!

[Orangutan]

Burdock, My agent does exactly the same thing (same agency perhaps)
My suspicion is that the agency doesn't sign it until my first day in the role.
Fortunately I've not had any trouble, but I must admit I've felt vunerable between returning the contract and starting at the clients, just in case someone decides to terminate the contract.

[TheFaQQer]

Having the signed contract won't protect you against them cancelling it before you started. Most contracts say that you don't get paid if you don't work (unless you're an IR35 caught employee), so notice isn't worth the paper it's written on.