Contract Teminated with immediate effect - HELP!

[Epiphone]

Unless you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that what the client said is lies then you don't have a prayer. You're a contractor and that means you can be binned for any reason at any time.

Rather than trying to find out what the client said put your energy into getting another contract. From the sound of things you know you dicked about anyway so learn the lesson and be more professional next time.

And never, ever, EVER offer to show the female staff your cloth-eared elephant impression. That road leads to a 3-stretch.

[AnthonyQuinn]

That sounds like giving them a blank cheque to end your contract. I wouldnt dream of giving one of my clients such an open ended clause.

Why do you think a client would hesitate to terminate someone just because such a blank cheque wasnt provided?

[Diver]

As an employer, I lay people off as and when it suits me/the company, There does not have to be a reason valid for those being laid off.

If a valid reason is needed, then I can quite easily manufacture one that coincides with the Needs of the company.

I would only cite Behavioural or breach if these were factual and backed by documentary evidence (statements etc.) Any company with half an ounce of common sense would do the same rather than leave themselves wide open to litigation.

[NotAllThere]

...Any company with half an ounce of common sense ...

In may experience, half an ounce of common sense is a super-abundance for most companies.

[Ken Dodd]

your replies

Apologies for the delay, but I have been without internet....

Many thanks for the advice in the earlier replies. I have made an appointment to see a solicitor to get their advice - I certainly think I need it.

I knew that what I posted would raise some further questions regarding 'what really happened' etc but what I posted is all I knew and all I still know. The words 'behaviour to women' came from the agent in a phone call - they were reading selected extracts from the email - and she wouldn't elaborate. I genuinely have no idea what this is all about, but I am sure of some things: The agent was feeding me one line about notice periods etc whilst having conversations with the client about how to avoid it.
The agent has worked with the client to terminate the contract .
I have been shafted.

The product I was delivering was not working out as planned. I wasn't able to deliver but there was not the buy-in from other senior permie staff who refused to provide input into development, and I was expected to sort that out. It has been a learning experience certainly.
A thing to note, for all those claiming there is 'no smoke without fire' is that during the contract, I did not have any conversations (formal or informal) or email exchanges about my behaviour, nor was there any other mention at any time. Nor has there ever been on any other contract to be honest, which is why I am so annoyed.

[NotAllThere]

Re: here http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...d=1#post611804

Similar situation. Perhaps the original poster for this thread has been lied to by his agent. I wonder if the agencies are related?

[eliquant]

Sounds to me like the client may have a hidden agenda and they are engaging in a little 'misdirection' in order to put blame.

Only you know if you were the office pervert ( I have not come accross an office pervert in 14 years .. they just don't exist anymore) .. but if they are complaining about a bit of 'cheeky banter' with women then that is unacceptable.

With regards the lateness of deliverables .. well that happens on any project, why are they being so damned abrupt about it ? why don't they sit down and try and work it out with you ?

I think to my mind it could be an individual on the client side that bears a grudge towards you.

Buy a BT Big Button telephone with speaker phone from Argos, get a recording device ready and call your agent up and try and get them to utter some liablous quotations from the client's daming e-mail then take them to court.

[Gonzo]

Only you know if you were the office pervert ( I have not come accross an office pervert in 14 years .. they just don't exist anymore) .. but if they are complaining about a bit of 'cheeky banter' with women then that is unacceptable.

The women that I chat to where I am working at the moment say that they do still exist.

One PA is delighted that her boss has left because that means she can wear skirts again.

[TykeMerc]

Sounds to me like the client may have a hidden agenda and they are engaging in a little 'misdirection' in order to put blame.

Entirely likely and not at all unusual when a manager thinks someone doesn't fit or their work isn't up to snuff. They often don't realise that they don't need an excuse to dump a contractor.
Of course if the person really doesn't fit at all and the client isn't prepared to pay notice they do fabricate a mythical gross cause unless they have a real one to use.

Only you know if you were the office pervert ( I have not come accross an office pervert in 14 years .. they just don't exist anymore) .. but if they are complaining about a bit of 'cheeky banter' with women then that is unacceptable.

At what point does "cheeky banter" cross the line to the female being bantered? Only the recipient knows and will probably not comment to the banteree, but to their Manager. Never ever run the risk of complaints that's basic protecting your own arse as a contractor since we're so easy to dump.

With regards the lateness of deliverables .. well that happens on any project, why are they being so damned abrupt about it ? why don't they sit down and try and work it out with you ?

That can certainly be the case, but if the client hasn't been made aware that deliverables are likely to be late in reasonable time then it's just a failed deadline. Being late is NOT what we get paid for as contractors, I've dumped contractors for missing deadlines without managing my expectations in the past as it come across as incompetance.

I think to my mind it could be an individual on the client side that bears a grudge towards you.

Possibly in which case that person will probably be senior and his perm colleagues will probably back his word. Pointless fighting that.

Buy a BT Big Button telephone with speaker phone from Argos, get a recording device ready and call your agent up and try and get them to utter some liablous quotations from the client's daming e-mail then take them to court.

Which will be a case of his word against theirs and they can bring statements from staff with complaints and evidence of deadlines missed. This course of action would at best be an expensive folly and at worst could cost a fortune (as the client will go for costs and can hire as expensive a lawyer as they like) and get his name spread about as a pain in the nads.

My advice is cut your losses, mark it down to experience, learn from the experience and forget the whole thing and get a new gig.

Ken of course the agent is working with the client and it's possible you've been shafted, but never forget the agent works for the client and not you as the client has the MONEY. There are almost no circumstances where the agent will act for you over the agent.

[NotAllThere]

...
Buy a BT Big Button telephone with speaker phone from Argos, get a recording device ready and call your agent up and try and get them to utter some liablous quotations from the client's daming e-mail then take them to court.

Good idea. And if it turns out that they're lying about what the client is saying, then the client can sue them too!