Progressive

[malvolio]

If the Agencies are strategically moving to a position in which payment is only made when the End Client pays. This leaves the Contractor especially new ones in a awkward position.

Simple. Opt-in. Your payment cannot then be dependent on the agency's income stream - about the only thing that the Agency Regs are good for, assuming your cashflow is bad enough that it matters.

[Not So Wise]

Carrying out two months work before being paid. If there is any financial difficulties at the Agency, this can be kept hidden for two months perhaps longer?

Take my word for it, in my early days of contracting I learned that it could be kept hidden for 2 months and longer, that was one of the most expensive lessons in my whole life. Since then my rule of has been never more 44 calendar days exposure (monthly invoice, 14 days to pay) with preference for 37 days (monthly invoice with 7 days to pay)

My contracts always state this in the terms, if the agency asks for 30 days on a monthly invoice i do not take the position

Clients direct I give a more leniency (but not much more) but never agencies

personally believe it's time to ensure Contracts are checked by a Contract Lawyers and checked for loop holes and unreasonable terms.

Well to be honest if one has some common sence and comprehensive reading skills they should be able to catch these types of terms even before going to a lawyer. And then it is just a matter of negociating with the agency for more resonable payment terms and and more importantly being willing to walk away if you don't get what you want.

Then again remember some old saying about people who sign contracts without consulting their lawyer and fools

Better still, steer clear of S3 Group and work with smaller Agencies who are willing to pay in 5 days of invoice submission...

One should steer clear of S3 agencys...period

The quicker more contractors stop going to them for contracts and even worse accept the crap they dole out quicker these agencies either change their tunes or go out of business

What is the problem with not getting paid until the end client pays? This is how business works.

Incorrect, the "client" as far as contractor is concerned is the agency.

Agency pays up according to contract terms with the contractor (unless contractor is stupid enough to sign a contract specifing otherwise). If the agencys client pays late/does not pay the agency, agency still owes the contractor regardless (unless, once again, contractor was stupid enough to sign a contract that states otherwise and also opted out of agency regulations)

It's the same as a manufacturer who sells a product to a retailer, retailer has x period of time to pay the manufacturer, when said period is up they have to pay the manufacturer regardless of having sold the product to a "end client" (consumer) (in some cases, new product lines, the manufacturer allows the retailer to return unsold products but this is not possible in our situation)

[r0bly0ns]

Incorrect, the "client" as far as contractor is concerned is the agency.

Suppose you are right there, once you have done your work, you have delivered to your client (agency), it's nowt to do with you if your client's client has paid or not.

I take back my original comment

[ImNoddy]

Folks thank you all for your input /views,

The salient points I'm taking away from this are:

1. Stay clear of the S3 Group period!!!

2. Ensure the terms of payment are clear in your contract and not hidden in a Master Agreement, between the Agency and Payroll company.

3. Ensure all changes to the contract between the Agency and Payroll company which affect you are in writing and your given at minimum a months notice.

4. Don't accept / walk away from payment terms greater than 15 days, after submission of invoices, which allows Agencies to hide their financial difficulties or expose their greed.

5. Finally ensure you have legal cover in place, you never know what the cunning Accountant or unscrupulous Agency may have up their sleeves.

[pippo]

Folks thank you all for your input /views,

The salient points I'm taking away from this are:

...

2. Ensure the terms of payment are clear in your contract and not hidden in a Master Agreement, between the Agency and Payroll company.

...

4. Don't accept / walk away from payment terms greater than 15 days, after submission of invoices, which allows Agencies to hide their financial difficulties or expose their greed.

5. Finally ensure you have legal cover in place, you never know what the cunning Accountant or unscrupulous Agency may have up their sleeves.

I couldn't agree more, especially in regards to the payment terms. I normally try and get the payment terms in writing from the agency before even going to any interview, so that if it turns out that their payment terms are greater than 15 days I will know it before having wasted time in attending the interview.