Agency not forwarding payment to umbrella company - anyone had this?

[ITCrowd]

In April I started a contract with the newly fashionable client -> agency -> umbrella company sandwich.

The client has been paying the agency, but the agency has not even delivered a contract to the umbrella company and has not responded to chasing.

It seems that this sort of arrangement is wide open to abuse.

Any thoughts?

[hobnob]

Presumably the client has a contract with the agency. Do you have a contract with your umbrella? If so, what does that say?

In my experience, the umbrella would send me details of the current assignment (e.g. when a contract gets extended) then I have to accept those terms. In one case, I took a couple of days off while I was waiting for the client/agency to sort out the paperwork for the extension.

If you haven't been paid for 2-3 months then I recommend that you stop working for that client immediately. That should get the agency's attention, and persuade them to start talking to you (or your umbrella).

[northernladuk]

In April I started a contract with the newly fashionable client -> agency -> umbrella company sandwich.

The client has been paying the agency, but the agency has not even delivered a contract to the umbrella company and has not responded to chasing.

It seems that this sort of arrangement is wide open to abuse.

Any thoughts?

You forgot you in that chain so it's a four party chain not three.

Why are you on site without a contract?
What did the Umbrella say about the contract between them and the agent?
Why can you not contact the agent? What type of chasing? Surely you can get someone on the phone? Has it just been done by email? I suggest this is where you focus your efforts right now. Shouldn't be you chasing them but if you haven't been paid for so long you've every right to be ringing everyone.

It's not really open to abuse if it's done properly. It's complex but rach party has a contract between them which sets out the details of the engagement and they stick to it. If there is no contract between agent and umbrella there has been a major failing somewhere and it needs sorting quick.