Contract Signed but no Job

[NotAllThere]

Because the contract says there's a notice period, which means you should be compensated the amount you would have expected to have made through that period even if they don't want you to work. Otherwise what does a notice period mean?

I agree it's a grey area at best. And IANAL.

I have received payment in these circumstances. But that's cos the agency had a decent contract with the client, so the client had to cough up, and the agent had some integrity. One week's fees I got. The client... Enron. The Agency was McGregor Boyle. This was back in '98.