Who to chase for Payment.

[mikeyboy]

All sage words of advice.

All of it makes sense. I just need to put my foot down and say enough is enough. I am waiting for a response from Agency A about going direct. I will not accept anymore delays and I will talk to the client today so they understand the situation.

Thanks very much for the good words.

[Malingering BA]

Good lad, you know it makes sense.

Let the client know the score then just be firm and tell agency B (by phone call, email and in writing - you don't want anything to "get lost" now) what you require to happen and when by, and what will happen if that doesn't happen (passed to a debt collection agency, winding up order, small claims court, whatever you feel is most likely to get results).

Agency A won't help you much (definitely don't wait for them to get back to you), neither will your brolly. It's down to you to get those cojones on the table. Stop fretting and start acting!

[mikeyboy]

Are the first 2 letters of Agent B either BI... or CA.... ?

Nope... P O _ _ _ _ _.

I will name and shame them once I get the situation sorted and I am secure again.

[TykeMerc]

Literally speaking your brolly should be chasing payment, they're rarely much use for that though.

Since your client and Agency A seem to understand the situation I would be pursuing getting shot of Agency B asap with letters pointing out that they're breaching the contract terms by late and unreliable payment.
It does sound like Agency B are in financial trouble or are simply inept, either way it's time to get rid of them since they're endangering your ability to maintain your current contract and risking the relationship with the client.

[mikeyboy]

Literally speaking your brolly should be chasing payment, they're rarely much use for that though

Thought so. But as NotAllThere said. There is little incentive for them. They will get their fee (which is trivial in comparison to the sums involved) no matter what. And if payment never arrives, they'll simply chase me for what they've already paid me in good faith.

Total nightmare situation. Just sent e-mail to Client asking them to put pressure on Agency A to get it fixed right away. The Client do not want me to leave as they've just spent 4 months training me on their rather unique setup. So as long as they're fighting my corner I should be ok.

[Malingering BA]

Total nightmare situation. Just sent e-mail to Client asking them to put pressure on Agency A to get it fixed right away.

Speak to them. I can't emphasise this enough, speak to them. Can't beat some face-to-face communication to make sure things get done. Emails are too easily ignored, lost, misunderstood, etc. This is a fairly straight talking board and as a contractor you should have a thick skin, so I'm going to say that you seem to be being somewhat timid about all this.

And did you mean agency A? I thought agency A were doing what is required by their contract, or are you saying agency B is using the excuse "agency A haven't paid us yet"?

[Bob Dalek]

I was with a brolly who, though legally not obliged, etc., did phone the Client and get things moving. In my case, it was a lazy, worthless maggot in Payroll that fooked it all up. They just said pay up now, or else, and it worked. Always better to get a bit of extra muscle in situations like this. Good rates + no payment = crap.

[mikeyboy]

Good rates + no payment = crap.

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

[NotAllThere]

I did a quick look over the umbrella companies advertised on CUK, and NONE of them, (surprise surprise) have any mention of what they'll do if payments are late.

[mikeyboy]

Speak to them. I can't emphasise this enough, speak to them. Can't beat some face-to-face communication to make sure things get done. Emails are too easily ignored, lost, misunderstood, etc. This is a fairly straight talking board and as a contractor you should have a thick skin, so I'm going to say that you seem to be being somewhat timid about all this.

And did you mean agency A? I thought agency A were doing what is required by their contract, or are you saying agency B is using the excuse "agency A haven't paid us yet"?

You're absolutely right. I have been much too timid. Partly because this is only my second contract. Partly because I believed that if I created too many waves the Agency would simply give me the flick. Having spoken face to face with the client I see that I am not so easily replaced and the Agencies need to dance to my tune. I don't want to speak to Agency B as I am sick sore and tired of listening to their bull$hit.
And I did mean Agency A. They have done nothing wrong but it is them that need to get shot of Agency B and start paying my Umbrella Co. directly. Agency B are in clear breach of contract but getting these corporate jelly spines to make a decision is a job in itself.