Reply to: Contracted start date missed by 2 weeks and counting - where do I stand?

[TheFaQQer]

So since a contract is effectively worthless until you have turned up on site and are actually working, would it not be better to cover your bases and accept both contracts (assuming of course they do not both start on the same day). Then at least if the first one gets canned at the last minute you have a fallback option.

Providing you can fulfil both contracts, then that's a good strategy to follow. The danger of this is that you are relying on one to get canned, or being in breach of contract if you cannot fulfil it.

[sartois]

So since a contract is effectively worthless until you have turned up on site and are actually working, would it not be better to cover your bases and accept both contracts (assuming of course they do not both start on the same day). Then at least if the first one gets canned at the last minute you have a fallback option.

[Batcher]

Bolshie, an interesting take.

"Unless you're desperate for work, I don't see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed" !!!??

The most obvious problem is that I am several thousand pounds out of pocket, as I should have been working, and declined another job on the basis of the assurances that the pimp gave that we were just awaiting one final signature.!!

This was blatantly not the case - just an outright lie in order to dissuade me from going elsewhere. Or misrepresentation, to give it its legal name. It is a case of a pimp giving false information to achieve a certain end that satisfied his own purposes, namely increase his chances of him doing his numbers for the month. It is strongly linked with mis-selling, and is kind of frowned on in the financial services industry at the moment.

I have called the pimp last week, but was told by his senior manager that he was away on holiday for a few days, and that the senior manager himself was now in charge of the case and would liaise with the client and gave me his personal assurance that he would get an answer on the start date, and phone me with an update the following day (Thursday) Guess what. I heard nothing at all.

This week I have phoned their HR department and was promised on Tuesday that it would be escalated by HR and the VP would call to apologise. Guess what...

You refer to your agent as a pimp and yet you believed what he told you?

[psychocandy]

Bolshie, an interesting take.

"Unless you're desperate for work, I don't see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed" !!!??

The most obvious problem is that I am several thousand pounds out of pocket, as I should have been working, and declined another job on the basis of the assurances that the pimp gave that we were just awaiting one final signature.!!

This was blatantly not the case - just an outright lie in order to dissuade me from going elsewhere. Or misrepresentation, to give it its legal name. It is a case of a pimp giving false information to achieve a certain end that satisfied his own purposes, namely increase his chances of him doing his numbers for the month. It is strongly linked with mis-selling, and is kind of frowned on in the financial services industry at the moment.

I have called the pimp last week, but was told by his senior manager that he was away on holiday for a few days, and that the senior manager himself was now in charge of the case and would liaise with the client and gave me his personal assurance that he would get an answer on the start date, and phone me with an update the following day (Thursday) Guess what. I heard nothing at all.

This week I have phoned their HR department and was promised on Tuesday that it would be escalated by HR and the VP would call to apologise. Guess what...

Oh dear. I think the gig has gone unfortunately.
Sounds like the agent did indeed oversell it as you said.

I would be well pissed off too mind. Like you said, it is borderline fraudulent.
Alas, though, even escalating it through the company probably wont do anything.

[d000hg]

Start looking for another gig. Maybe you could pursue the other bank in case they're still interested in more contractors?

Bad luck but that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes

[malvolio]

You're not out of pocket because you havent done any work. You're not a permie who gets paid for doing nothing although clearly your mindset is. So you turned down another role, what's that got to do with it? That other role could have got canned the day you started.

If you want to sit around waiting for the start date to materialise, go ahead. You'll more likely than not find yourself waiting.

As almost everyone has said, move on and start looking for another role. tulip happens in this contracting game.

aka WIS...

[BolshieBastard]

Bolshie, an interesting take.

"Unless you're desperate for work, I don't see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed" !!!??

The most obvious problem is that I am several thousand pounds out of pocket, as I should have been working, and declined another job on the basis of the assurances that the pimp gave that we were just awaiting one final signature.!!

This was blatantly not the case - just an outright lie in order to dissuade me from going elsewhere. Or misrepresentation, to give it its legal name. It is a case of a pimp giving false information to achieve a certain end that satisfied his own purposes, namely increase his chances of him doing his numbers for the month. It is strongly linked with mis-selling, and is kind of frowned on in the financial services industry at the moment.

I have called the pimp last week, but was told by his senior manager that he was away on holiday for a few days, and that the senior manager himself was now in charge of the case and would liaise with the client and gave me his personal assurance that he would get an answer on the start date, and phone me with an update the following day (Thursday) Guess what. I heard nothing at all.

This week I have phoned their HR department and was promised on Tuesday that it would be escalated by HR and the VP would call to apologise. Guess what...

You're not out of pocket because you havent done any work. You're not a permie who gets paid for doing nothing although clearly your mindset is. So you turned down another role, what's that got to do with it? That other role could have got canned the day you started.

If you want to sit around waiting for the start date to materialise, go ahead. You'll more likely than not find yourself waiting.

As almost everyone has said, move on and start looking for another role. tulip happens in this contracting game.

[malvolio]

Bolshie, an interesting take.

"Unless you're desperate for work, I don't see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed" !!!??

The most obvious problem is that I am several thousand pounds out of pocket, as I should have been working, and declined another job on the basis of the assurances that the pimp gave that we were just awaiting one final signature.!!

This was blatantly not the case - just an outright lie in order to dissuade me from going elsewhere. Or misrepresentation, to give it its legal name. It is a case of a pimp giving false information to achieve a certain end that satisfied his own purposes, namely increase his chances of him doing his numbers for the month. It is strongly linked with mis-selling, and is kind of frowned on in the financial services industry at the moment.

I have called the pimp last week, but was told by his senior manager that he was away on holiday for a few days, and that the senior manager himself was now in charge of the case and would liaise with the client and gave me his personal assurance that he would get an answer on the start date, and phone me with an update the following day (Thursday) Guess what. I heard nothing at all.

This week I have phoned their HR department and was promised on Tuesday that it would be escalated by HR and the VP would call to apologise. Guess what...

You're not out of pocket because of the bank, you are out of pocket because you didn't have an alternative. That's the downside of being an independent business. Nobody gets paid for something that hasn't happened: after all, who's to say the contract you turned down for this one wouldn't have done the same thing

It's hard but it happens. Move on.

[Rob P]

Bolshie, an interesting take.

"Unless you're desperate for work, I don't see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed" !!!??

The most obvious problem is that I am several thousand pounds out of pocket, as I should have been working, and declined another job on the basis of the assurances that the pimp gave that we were just awaiting one final signature.!!

This was blatantly not the case - just an outright lie in order to dissuade me from going elsewhere. Or misrepresentation, to give it its legal name. It is a case of a pimp giving false information to achieve a certain end that satisfied his own purposes, namely increase his chances of him doing his numbers for the month. It is strongly linked with mis-selling, and is kind of frowned on in the financial services industry at the moment.

I have called the pimp last week, but was told by his senior manager that he was away on holiday for a few days, and that the senior manager himself was now in charge of the case and would liaise with the client and gave me his personal assurance that he would get an answer on the start date, and phone me with an update the following day (Thursday) Guess what. I heard nothing at all.

This week I have phoned their HR department and was promised on Tuesday that it would be escalated by HR and the VP would call to apologise. Guess what...

[TheFaQQer]

If you are an IPSE member, you should ring them and find out whether you could claim under the "Failure of the Agency to honour contractual arrangements" protection they offer.

It's only £1000 but better than nothing if you can get it.

[BolshieBastard]

I'm getting the words 'Tough tulip'...

This. Unless the OP is a first timer, everyone knows there's a possibilty this may happen? Unless you're desparate for work, I dont see a problem with a date being pushed back provided a new start date is known and agreed.

In this case, no new start date is agreed so it looks like the client has pulled the plug for whatever reason.

If I was the OP, Id contact the pimp and demand to know what's happening and what the new start date is. I'd also tell the pimp Im back on the market and looking at signing another contract asap. No doubt the pimp wont like that but tough, goes bother ways.

And to the OP, you aint getting paid for not working. Read your contract.

[stek]

I'm getting the words 'Tough tulip'...

[BlasterBates]

Just look for a new contract, effectively you have no contract.

They might ask you to come in and if so that would be fine.

No it isn't worth suing anyone, the agency is simply passing on what they're being told by the bank. Generally it is only worth persuing legal action to get invoices paid, where the position is clear cut, not when contracts are cancelled or there is simply no work, as there are significant costs involved and success is not guaranteed.

[SueEllen]

Also when interviewing for that other contract ask the client at interview the proposed start date of the contract and how long the project is going to last for, that way if the other agency starts playing you around you have some idea of the truth.

[cojak]

Look for another contract. Accept the other contract.

Tell the agent you won't be starting the 1st contract as the date you agreed has not been met.

Start new contract.

As for claiming, if you haven't worked there's nothing to be claimed (look at your contract, I would imagine this has been covered).