agency wont pay because client wont sign timesheet after work completed

[GLEKA]

Hi all,

cool site!

Ive just finished an assignment, but agency wont pay the final invoice my company submitted to them, because their client wont sign the final timesheet I submitted. And no one will give me an answer why they wont sign the timesheet.

Where do i stand on this? It seems a structural contract thing to me
- my contract is with the agency
- but the link is then to their client, who i dont think I have any sort of contractual arrangement with?.

It has been over a month now. Should i appoint a debt collection firm against the agency?

All advice gratefully recieved...

[pmeswani]

Hi all,

cool site!

Ive just finished an assignment, but agency wont pay the final invoice my company submitted to them, because their client wont sign the final timesheet I submitted. And no one will give me an answer why they wont sign the timesheet.

Where do i stand on this? It seems a structural contract thing to me
- my contract is with the agency
- but the link is then to their client, who i dont think I have any sort of contractual arrangement with?.

It has been over a month now. Should i appoint a debt collection firm against the agency?

All advice gratefully recieved...

Have you approached the end client directly? Call them up and ask them if they have signed your timesheet and if they can offer you an explanation to why they won't sign the timesheet. If they fob you off, there is very little you can do in terms of getting the money unless you can prove that you have provided a satisfactory service. If they have signed your timesheet, get them to send you a copy (registered post, etc) and send a copy to your agency by registered / recorded delivery with a 14 day (or whatever is considered reasonable) payment deadline.

Could well be easier to write the thing off as bad debt and move on. Every day you waste chasing this up is a day wasted in finding new opportunities (assuming you are not working at the moment).

[TykeMerc]

Well the client can refuse to sign off a timesheet for many reasons, if the timesheet/worksheet isn't signed off there's no proof that the work was completed to the customers satisfaction if at all.

Assuming you maintained good relations with the client and completed the tasks contracted, surely it's just a matter of contacting the client and getting the sheet signed or a statement in writing that the job was done.

If the client won't sign off the work then I'm not surprised that the agency won't entertain your invoice.

[Recruitment Agent]

If the client is a huge company the line mangager sometimes likes playing god and decide the contractors financial fate this is an indication when the contractor offens or upsets some one in the permanant world.. an the agency canoot do nothing about it . if the cleint is small they may want to save money on the last months invoice because it is not small money we are talking about. with my expereince its normally the first one.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

I would definitely approach you old line manager (or whoever used to sign your timesheets off), explain to them the situation and that your agency will not honour your invoice without the signed timesheet and would they mind providing you with a signed timesheet for your last work.

[Hex]

Did you opt out of the Agency Regulations? If not then they cannot withold payment for non production of timesheets.

If you did then it will be more difficult to get payment, but I would start by reading the stuff here: www.payontime.co.uk

If you can get a signed timesheet then that obviously make it much easier for you.

Are you a member of the PCG? There are quite a lot of posts on their boards about agency regulations and non-paying agents being taken to court.

[Epiphone]

Are you opted in or out? What are the payment terms in your contract?

[malvolio]

Did you opt out of the Agency Regulations? If not then they cannot withold payment for non production of timesheets.

If you did then it will be more difficult to get payment, but I would start by reading the stuff here: www.payontime.co.uk

If you can get a signed timesheet then that obviously make it much easier for you.

Are you a member of the PCG? There are quite a lot of posts on their boards about agency regulations and non-paying agents being taken to court.

Snag is, the contracted payment will be dependent on the work being done. No signed timesheet = no work done, so the Agency Regs won't apply.

[Sausage Surprise]

If the client is a huge company the line mangager sometimes likes playing god and decide the contractors financial fate this is an indication when the contractor offens or upsets some one in the permanant world.. an the agency canoot do nothing about it . if the cleint is small they may want to save money on the last months invoice because it is not small money we are talking about. with my expereince its normally the first one.

Nail on the head

[Jubber]

because their client wont sign the final timesheet I submitted. And no one will give me an answer why they wont sign the timesheet.

Call me old fashioned, but why didn't you get it signed/approved before you left? This is probably the top of my leaving list....... in fact, I probably wouldn't have left without it being signed by someone.