Should I bill for days I was told not to attend?

[No2politics]

I've got a reassuringly expensive consultancy booked in to do some work. If I need to change the booking for some reason I need to give them the required notice. If I don't give the proper notice then I still have to pay them even if they can't do any work. They have expenses and they can't have people cancelling bookings willy nilly.

You lot are supposed to be running a business. Start thinking like one rather than being a bunch of bed wetters running scared of the IR35 bogeyman at every turn.

I'm guessing the required notice would be stipulated in the contract between the reassuringly expensive consultancy and the client.
I'm also guessing that there is no such stipulation in the OP's contract.

[malvolio]

Wrong. It's based upon precedent. And I can assure you that many legal precedents are far from being "reasonable".

I can define precedent perfectly well, thanks, all by myself. And I can define "nonsense".

But on what basis are the judgements that create the precendent based? Go back far enough and you will find someone making a reasonble decision.

[Old Greg]

I'm guessing the required notice would be stipulated in the contract between the reassuringly expensive consultancy and the client.
I'm also guessing that there is no such stipulation in the OP's contract.

Exactamundo. If you want those terms, negotiate the clause into the contract.

[Mich the Tester]

In answer to thread title.....

No

Do some work, invoice; don't do any, don't invoice - the reality is that this is how it should be; now, I agree that this is often not ideal, but that is par for the course in our chosen line of work. As for Loss of Opportunity or similar, a whole different ball game IMHO

(count the cliches in that lot )

whs; one reason you can earn more as a contractor than a permie is that you're taking the risk of not working away from the client. They have to pay their permies whether they have work for them or not; in your case you charge a premium for extra flexibility. I'd say that if it's a day or so here and there, don't make a fuss but keep the client on board. If it becomes a structural problem of weeks, then you have to discuss with the client to see if you can pick up other work or get a retainer for lost time.

[TheFaQQer]

I've got a reassuringly expensive consultancy booked in to do some work. If I need to change the booking for some reason I need to give them the required notice. If I don't give the proper notice then I still have to pay them even if they can't do any work. They have expenses and they can't have people cancelling bookings willy nilly.

You lot are supposed to be running a business. Start thinking like one rather than being a bunch of bed wetters running scared of the IR35 bogeyman at every turn.

Presumably, there is something in the contract with the consultancy regarding payment for work and requiring you to give them notice.

If there is a clause in the contract which says that there should be payment, then bill for it. If there isn't, then don't bill for it. It's quite simple really.

[TheFaQQer]

Ask yourself what would a barrister do if you lined him up for a day then told him to jog on at the last minute?

He would refer back to the contract and bill accordingly. Which is what the OP should do.

[Old Greg]

He would refer back to the contract and bill accordingly. Which is what the OP should do.

Do you think, perhaps, that the OP forgot to negotiate the late cancellation charge clause into his contract.

[TheFaQQer]

Do you think, perhaps, that the OP forgot to negotiate the late cancellation charge clause into his contract.

I suspect that might be the case.

[Old Greg]

I suspect that might be the case.

Lesson learnt. Next time, insist on that clause.

[b0redom]

In response to the OP (assuming that they're not a sockie), you bill for the Thursday and not the Friday. In the extreme case mentioned where you turned up every day and were sent home again, I personally would invoice.

I'm paid a day rate. Whether that day is 5 minutes, or 10 hours I get paid the same. IF, however, I'm told there is no work - ie. furlough, then I'll take the time off and print off the email saying 'all contractors are not required to attend site as there is no work.', and stick it in my IR35 defence file. Might not be a defining point, but it's a pointer non-the-less.