Ridiculous Agency

[Mrbob2]

I actually just started through Max20 on the NHS and had all the problems mentioned here.

I sent the documents back unsigned and told them, the wording and any reference to being an employee had to be removed and reminded them I am a service company not a person, they replied with “this is unusual and no one complains about it normally” but begrudgingly made the changes in my request.

What worried me most was the amount of effort to force you to OPT OUT of Company’s regulations 2003, in the contract I counted no less than 6 affirmations of the fact I want to OPT OUT….

I also read the Terms on their web site and again the amount of times they reference you to OPT OUT (with no OPT IN option, that’s illegal right?)

I am in no doubt had I not already met the client and knew the client wanted me they would have refused me the role If I had pushed staying opted IN.

That also happened with Senitor IT, basically forced me to OPT OUT, I wouldn’t get the contract (carefully worded without actually saying that) was the terms, again I knew enough to know I had already met the client so legally was opted in,
But Senitor pushed almost daily while I worked at the gig to OPT OUT, to the point I was told they would hold future payments if I did not OPT OUT on the website form!

This forcing to OPT OUT is starting to become more common to me and what the hell can we do? I got lucky so far with the agents not knowing quite enough about the situation with opt in or out all they know is they have to get us to opt out.

[Don Tomlinson]

Good point but not 100% correct (as most things in life )

Mod note: Don is the MD of Max20.

Hi Greg - Full ID, proof of address, right to work confirmation is becoming increasingly asked for within public sector accounts including the NHS (which is where we specialise). You certainly would have been asked to provide such information BUT unless you said you would NEVER supply this information this would not have prevented you going forward for the job. Once we have submitted your CV then we would work with you to get the appropriate documents in at the right time so everything is in place at time of interview, offer and placement. This is how we work - we never "fish" as the majority of our NHS clients have worked with us for over 10 years now so we do have plenty of real jobs to fill.

Best regards

Don Tomlinson
Managing Director

Hi Guys,

I would like to just put this out there. I was contacted last week by an agency called Max20. Having been a contractor for quite some time I have come across my fair share of "rules" agencies work by. This, however, really took the biscuit. They refused to put me forward for a role because I wouldn't supply them with my passport and 2 references. This is before supplying the client with my CV. Some agencies I know try this but never enforce it as it isn't a legal requirement until a role is offered. I made the recruiter aware that I would submit this to several contracting boards as the attitude and language I got from them was atrocious. After all do you want your private details just floating around? Just a heads up and I hope people are as reluctant as I am to support these guys snooping around prior to putting you forward. Thanks. G

[SueEllen]

Mod note: Don is the MD of Max20.

Hi Greg - Full ID, proof of address, right to work confirmation is becoming increasingly asked for within public sector accounts including the NHS (which is where we specialise). You certainly would have been asked to provide such information BUT unless you said you would NEVER supply this information this would not have prevented you going forward for the job. Once we have submitted your CV then we would work with you to get the appropriate documents in at the right time so everything is in place at time of interview, offer and placement. This is how we work - we never "fish" as the majority of our NHS clients have worked with us for over 10 years now so we do have plenty of real jobs to fill.

Best regards

Don Tomlinson
Managing Director

Don you haven't answered the full post - what are the references needed for?

If you want to check if someone is safe around vulnerable people then you force them to undergo a CRB check. For that the references you need aren't previous agencies or clients as they won't have known the contractor long enough.

[b0redom]

Looks like business is bad if the MD of an agency has the time and inclination to bump a 12 month+ year old thread.

[expat]

Don you haven't answered the full post - what are the references needed for?

If you want to check if someone is safe around vulnerable people then you force them to undergo a CRB check. For that the references you need aren't previous agencies or clients as they won't have known the contractor long enough.

You don't need any references at all for a CRB check (now DBS Disclosure check).

[cojak]

He has the right to reply.

(Just not the right to advertise his latest venture...)

[SueEllen]

You don't need any references at all for a CRB check (now DBS Disclosure check).

To be fair my most recent check was a Scottish one - no references required.

Prior to that I had English ones for charity work and to be honest every time I've ever volunteered properly they have always taken references even before the checks were in force.