Agency Payment Issues

[pmeswani]

I had an interview at the MO 4 weeks' ago. I was told, in the interview, that I would hear back regarding whether I was successful by the end of that week. I was told that they wanted me, but there was 'an issue' regarding my daily rate (they wanted to pay me £65 less per day than they did when I was there before on a contract in the same role...) I am still chasing Pendragon for news after 4 weeks - - - - HERE'S THE INTERESTING BIT - - - - The contract between the Met Office and Pendragon expires this month. I have heard from some inside sources, that they are not having the contract renewed. This would quite possibly explain why I have not heard back regarding the role I went for 4 weeks' ago.

So get in touch with the client direct and see if they can make an exception in your case to go direct.

[0mega]

Off To Work:
Get a solicitor involved, enforceable legal action is all they ever respond to.

PinkPoshRat:
Interesting to hear they may not get a renewal. Considering that Pendragon refuse to lower their percentage when contractors negotiate their own renewals and daily rates... and when it's Pendragon's turn to negotiate a renewal they fail miserably!

I think that's called irony?

[Menelaus]

Hit the press with this; Private Eye would lap it up.

If you want a contact there, let me know.

[SuperZ]

... and when it's Pendragon's turn to negotiate a renewal they fail miserably!
?

Probably it`s a case that contract is not going to be renewed rather than failing to negotiate - similar to how a client would not renew us if we didn`t do a decent job.

I heard that the MO were possibly going to scale back the use of contractors anyway this year, after using quite a few over the previous few years followed by doing a fair bit of permie recruitment more recently. So maybe Pendragon have seen through the most lucrative times anyway

[PinkPoshRat]

The agency are now telling me that the gig will not start until late August at the earliest. Ho hum, yet another waste of time interview.

[Off To Work]

Still no payment

Hit the press with this; Private Eye would lap it up.

If you want a contact there, let me know.

Out of curiosity what are the details of your contact at private eye???

[RichardCranium]

Why Private Eye?

Anyway:

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/pages.php?page=contact&

Editorial
6 Carlisle Street
London
W1D 3BN
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7437 4017
Fax: +44 (0)20 7437 0705
Email: strobes@private-eye.co.uk

[deej]

Interesting. I'm chasing a role through Pendragon at the moment - the only reason I am is because they contacted me first before one of my more usual agencies.

This is all useful information - thank you!

[SuperZ]

Interesting. I'm chasing a role through Pendragon at the moment - the only reason I am is because they contacted me first before one of my more usual agencies.

This is all useful information - thank you!

In a bit of fairness to them, some people have had great experiences with Pendragon. I think when they bag a big client and act as a sole supplier, maybe they push the boundaries of the contract a little (between Pendragon and client) if there are some flaws in it. Or more likely they simply become complacement, taking advantage of the comfortable sole supplier contract they have - which of course they shouldn`t do.

[Janner]

Met Office are still dealing with Pendragon.
An arrangement is being put in place to ensure contractors are paid on time. The Met Office will pay the contractor direct.