Veritas-IT - unpaid invoices.....

[DBA_bloke]

Guys, we're a recrutiment agency (I know,not your favourite breed at the mo) but as an ex IT contractor of long standing you have my comisserations.

If anybody finds out the name of the administrators I would be very grateful if you could drop me a line. We are trying to take people on and could potentially make life easier for the staff over there.

If any of you are moving your contract, please fell free to contact us. However I STRONGLY advise you to take advice from an independent source before making such a move. The PCG is an excellent forum for this.

Stuart Murray MD CandelaMedia Limited

The words "pennies", "eyes" and "stealing" whirl, inexplicably, in my mind.

[knowitall]

I have heard...

that one of the Account Managers at Veritas-IT has already got a new job with Provide IT and all the contractors are being taken over to Provide IT with him. Makes you wonder what they knew!!!!!

[Candela Media]

Blimey you guys are cynical!

We're a small specialist agency and we do valid business. We're taking on recrutiers so I may be able to assist some of the Veritas staff. They don't get paid pots and probably have families/mortgages. Its not their fault the ship sank.

I did offer to assist peeps jump ship but strongly advised them to take advice first. We can get peoples invoices paid pretty damn quick. Now tell how this is a bad thing?

As I said, I spent 15 years as a contractor and was around when the PCG was setup so I know what people are going through.

[Justus3]

I have just spoken to a couple of my ex-colleagues (I worked for Veritas-IT last year as a scheduler) who are completely gutted about whats happened.

Only a select few knew what was going on apparently (hense why a couple managed to jump ship early).

Because I have my time at Veritas listed on my CV I've had 4 agencies call me today asking for information such as clients/projects/PSL's that Veritas-IT had, saying that they wanted to help out and take on the contractors/roles etc etc, I obviously didn't give those vultures any information.

A close friend of mine was working on a recent contract for Veritas-IT (I'd recommended him for the role) and is now owed over £800 that he probably won't ever see. Luckily for him he left the contract he was working on with them and moved to another. But he had been chasing them for 2 weeks for the payments and was fobbed off every time with excuses why the money hadn't been paid even though he knew that the client he was working for had paid the Veritas-IT invoices... does make you wonder?

I'm currently working on a direct contract for one of the clients I had at Veritas-IT and it was that client that informed me yesterday of them going into administration. The information I was given is that the sum involved is approx £2.5m in debts that were called in by creditors.

I wonder if Mr Giller will sell his Maserati or if Greg Lawless will sell his Beemer to help compensate some of the contractors out there that are owed money. Most of my ex-colleagues there were decent (and honest) people and of the ones I've spoken to they are very concerned for the contractors that they have/had out there and are doing their utmost to get into another agency and get the ball rolling again with those contractors and clients.

[Sockpuppet]

I did offer to assist peeps jump ship but strongly advised them to take advice first. We can get peoples invoices paid pretty damn quick. Now tell how this is a bad thing?

I wonder if it is Rec Agents that made us synical.

What I don't get is how you can help.

if you have already submitted an invoice then you are a creditor of Veritas. If you have not sent them in then just go to the client direct and arrange a contract between you and the client.

Problem solved.

Don't see where you fit in.

I wonder what happened more times:

a) Rec Agents phoned Veritas staff to offer condolences and a no-stings interview
b) Rec Agents phoned Veritas staff to offer condolences to offer a string interview (bring client list)
c) Rec Agents phoned Veritas staff and just asked them to give client list as they were out of a job

[thunderlizard]

they wanted to help out and take on the contractors/roles etc etc, I obviously didn't give those vultures any information.

Quite right.

"Hello ClientCorp. I'm from Vulture Recruiting limited. I'd like to supply you with a highly suitable contractor. His name's Bobby Bumonseat. Oh, you've already met? how splendid. That'll be 15% please. See you in 6 months!"

[cheesedoff]

Veritas IT

I feel sorry for you guys - up until Wednesday I was a consultant at Veritas, it has come as a big shock to the majority of us, we're not getting paid either! Have been trying to get information from the directors as to whether its administration or liquidation but have been unable to get hold of them - surprise surprise - if anyone has any information please let me know, TA

[funkyd]

So, with all that's happended whats to be done now?

Where do clients stand with regards to their contracts? Are they now null and void? AFAIK they have clauses about taking people direct - would they still apply?

The client a group of us are with is more than clueless and is waiting for the administrators to contact them before allowing any of us to work direct.

If we don't turn up on Monday then the client is saying we are in breach of contract....I can't see how we can if we are not going to get paid!!

I guess we shouldn't send in our timesheets from last week. One idea was if/when we go direct to charge the client for some of the money owed as a start-up fee. They can take it or leave it, certainly cheaper than hiring five more contractors or permies..

What is everyone else doing with regards to their contracts and what have the clients reaction been to their contracts?

[joyma]

I'm in same position. Client is waiting for receiver to tell them what's planned and won't contemplate a direct contract if Veritas is to be sold on as the 6 month restriction clause then applies. If Veritas is to be liquidated (unlikely) then client will sign a direct contract.

One way out I can see is to give two weeks notice, tell client I'm going on holiday for two weeks (as contract has nothing about holiday & notice for holiday) and start looking for other work. If client wants to take a risk on the restriction clause and sign a direct contract, they will. If client wants to buy out my contract with Veritas, they will. Client has suggested they will come to an arrangement with Veritas that they will pay Veritas invoices only if my invoices are paid, but I have no idea if receivers will agree to that.

Client knows who the receiver is, but won't tell me.

[TheFaQQer]

Where do clients stand with regards to their contracts? Are they now null and void? AFAIK they have clauses about taking people direct - would they still apply?

You still have a contract, unless there is something that says that you can terminate the contract if they enter administration. There is probably a clause that says if they go bust then you can, but they aren't technically bust (yet?). If you go direct, then you will be in breach of contract with the agency, who could sue you.

If we don't turn up on Monday then the client is saying we are in breach of contract....I can't see how we can if we are not going to get paid!!

You are probably in breach of contract between you and the agency - but what does the client know about that contractual relationship? If you are in breach of contract, then you could be sued by the agency.

One idea was if/when we go direct to charge the client for some of the money owed as a start-up fee. They can take it or leave it, certainly cheaper than hiring five more contractors or permies..

If I was the client, in the absence of any legal advice, then I would leave it. The costs of hiring five more contractors will certainly be less than the penalty clause that prohibits them taking you direct.

Take legal advice before you put yourself in a situation where you are even worse - having no contract and being sued for breach.