agency - late payment

[malvolio]

PCGPlus member by any chance? If so, you can use Creditshare's services to find out what's going on, plus you have protection against agency defaults up to £7500. If not, the Pay On Time website is a good place to start.

Then again, if they've been regular payers to date, suspect cock up rather than conspiracy.

[ratewhore]

payontime states 30 days from date of invoice, if your contract doesn't stipulate payment terms. If they are regular late payers, then I would be using the legislation regularly against them. If it's a one off, no point using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I'm sure you'll get a feeling for the type of agency they are.

And credit checking the agency is a very good idea. That check will indicate how much credit the company are good for at any point in time. When I have done this, it has usually come up with a figure of £10K, so, unlike some contractors I know who store up invoices before presenting them, you can use this figure to shape your invoicing schedule...

[vfr_rider]

it's all an unholy mess, and as is usual in this kind of thing, it's the one who actually does the hard work who will likely end up out of work and out of pocket...

just called the 'primary tier' agency - making the direct agent even more pointless - and they're telling me that the last invoice from the 'second tier' (the agents I invoice directly) weren't up to scratch - so that's another months' money on hold.

I can't believe how much time and stress I'm having to expend over this.

I'm going to contact some specialist contract lawyers to clarify some issues in the wording so hopefully I can ditch the agency playing silly buggers. the predictable 'restriction' clause exists, but will it still apply if the other party are in breach?

[ratewhore]

much as you like the gig and the client, you are running a business. If you are having payment problems, you really should be considering withdrawing your services until the issues are resolved.

Clearly this shouldn't be done unless it is a recurring theme with the agent.

Incidentally, if they are over the 30 day limit and are not making any effort to pay you, I would be writing to them citing the legislation (found at payontime) and charging them the appropriate penalty fee and interest, which racks up daily. You may need to take it to a Director of the agency but, as it is the law, they can't ignore it.

It works as I got Alexander Mann to pay the penalties and interest on a couple of occasions.

[PinkPoshRat]

...Pendragon by any chance?

btw 'pay when paid' is illegal in UK.

[vfr_rider]

...Pendragon by any chance?

btw 'pay when paid' is illegal in UK.

no - not pendragon... this agency is quite a bit smaller.

I didn't know about 'pay when paid' - that seems to be exactly what is happening here.

update: strange; ten attempts to call their office, still no answer.

[vfr_rider]

just got off the phone...

finally the agency returned my calls.

my suspicion was indeed correct. they're not paying me because the primary tier agency haven't paid them - this was admitted openly. breach of contract was also admitted. apparently they are owed approx 90 days worth of money - suddenly this becomes my problem.

I am now considering my options.

[ratewhore]

I am now considering my options.

Malvolio has already asked but I didn't see an answer, are you a PCG member?

[vfr_rider]

Malvolio has already asked but I didn't see an answer, are you a PCG member?

no...!

I'll be joining forthwith. can't be dealing with a mess like this again!

[Not So Wise]

finally the agency returned my calls.

my suspicion was indeed correct. they're not paying me because the primary tier agency haven't paid them - this was admitted openly. breach of contract was also admitted. apparently they are owed approx 90 days worth of money - suddenly this becomes my problem.

I am now considering my options.

Client is probably late paying agency, which can be regular in buisness world (hopefully client not likely to go belly up?)

1st Agency is late paying 2nd agency (either because they are too mickey mouse to have the cash without getting paid or just being prats)

2nd Agency is to mickey mouse to be able to pay you without getting paid first

*sigh* Even if you get paid on money owed I would be looking to get out of that whole mess asap if I was you, way to risky, especially with that level of exposure