Reply to: Urgent advice needed

[chineseJohn]

Good luck in your new role

[LJD]

I thought that as well, so I demanded it in writing.

I got confirmation from the end customer straight away.

[SlipTheJab]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the advice. You'll have to forgive my hurried search methods for accomodation while I was trying to figure out which location was more viable. Laterooms, AirBnB and a few other sites were giving me some pretty hefty numbers for places to stay in and around Bracknell.

No the job is not with Fujitsu, the first time I had SC I worked for a company that had some guys contracted out to Fujitsu. After witnessing all of them give up their well paid positions just to not have to deal with Fujitsu again, have no fear I won't be touching them with a barge pole. One of the guys actually had his life span severely shortened by the position.

An update on the situation:

I told the Birmingham position that I needed a start date and some information by close of play on Friday at the latest. I was again told the earliest I could get the information would be next week. I replied to say that if I didn't get an answer by the end of the day I would have to look for other options as it was all taking too long. Within half an hour I was given a start date and told that the project was back on in Birmingham and that I'd be working there starting next Monday.

I've decided to go forward with the Birmingham role as it's the most financially viable one for me at the moment as I am within easy reach of the office and can rebuild my savings quite quickly based on that. I will be watching my back though as I realise I've effectively marked myself as pushy I guess. The terms of the contract state 6 weeks notice of termination so I will be keeping my ear to the ground for other stuff at all times just in case they are keeping me going until they find a replacement. The only thing that's making me feel secure in all of this is the inherent cost of putting someone through SC clearance and that my application was already in progress. Will just have to see how the end customer acts next Monday as it is apparently their end that has been the hold up.

Cheers for all your help and advice folks.

I'm sorry but the cynic in me is saying that the agant is just telling you that to keep you hanging on, whats the betting a last minute delay will arrive once more. Seriously if I was p!ssed about this much by an agent I would have told them to take a running jump a long time ago. Take the other role!

[LJD]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the advice. You'll have to forgive my hurried search methods for accomodation while I was trying to figure out which location was more viable. Laterooms, AirBnB and a few other sites were giving me some pretty hefty numbers for places to stay in and around Bracknell.

No the job is not with Fujitsu, the first time I had SC I worked for a company that had some guys contracted out to Fujitsu. After witnessing all of them give up their well paid positions just to not have to deal with Fujitsu again, have no fear I won't be touching them with a barge pole. One of the guys actually had his life span severely shortened by the position.

An update on the situation:

I told the Birmingham position that I needed a start date and some information by close of play on Friday at the latest. I was again told the earliest I could get the information would be next week. I replied to say that if I didn't get an answer by the end of the day I would have to look for other options as it was all taking too long. Within half an hour I was given a start date and told that the project was back on in Birmingham and that I'd be working there starting next Monday.

I've decided to go forward with the Birmingham role as it's the most financially viable one for me at the moment as I am within easy reach of the office and can rebuild my savings quite quickly based on that. I will be watching my back though as I realise I've effectively marked myself as pushy I guess. The terms of the contract state 6 weeks notice of termination so I will be keeping my ear to the ground for other stuff at all times just in case they are keeping me going until they find a replacement. The only thing that's making me feel secure in all of this is the inherent cost of putting someone through SC clearance and that my application was already in progress. Will just have to see how the end customer acts next Monday as it is apparently their end that has been the hold up.

Cheers for all your help and advice folks.

[Eirikur]

SC+Birmingham+ Bracknell = Fujitsu? Stay away

[TheFaQQer]

I basically need to know where I stand legally. If I take the Sweden job and the original contract comes back to say I would be working in Birmingham as planned, am I going to get sued.

Who knows what action the agency will take? No-one here can answer that question accurately for you.

If you breach the contract, then you can be sued though. Whether you have breached the contract or not, and whether the agency will sue or not are completely different matters though.

[SueEllen]

As everyone states Brackell is not in London. Due to it being in Berkshire the prices are lower.

You can actually commute to Brackell from a variety of places in Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and London. However as you have cash flow problems staying in somewhere like Aldershot, Camberley and parts of Reading would be cheaper especially if you drive. Be aware that unless you can start early or late you will be stuck in traffic anyway you get into Bracknell.

I would look for being a lodger in a house/flat where you have your own bathroom. It would be much cheaper than a hotel and nicer than a B&B.

Sweden and all the Nordic countries are very expensive. Rents tend to be quite similar to London prices and food is far more expensive. Buying food is like buying all your food from a 7-11 in Central London. Buying alcohol is like buying it from a Central London hotel.

[BlasterBates]

I basically need to know where I stand legally. If I take the Sweden job and the original contract comes back to say I would be working in Birmingham as planned, am I going to get sued.

The contract you signed has no start date and no end date, therefore you can inform the agency that you will proceed with the contract after you have finished the Sweden contract.

[tractor]

...

As far as accommodation goes, OP is comparing apples with go karts. AirBnB Bracknell is around 650/month.

And it's Coppid Beech!

[mudskipper]

Having done some work where I needed to go to Bracknell for a few days a month, I can assure you that you can get decent Bed and Breakfast hotel accommodation there for considerably less than £400 a week, as a contractor shopping around is a skill you need.

I hope the Sweden contract works out well, but please be prepared for your budget to take a kicking. It's one of the most expensive places on the planet to eat and drink, the rate needs to be seriously attractive to make it worth while even though it's a very nice country to spend time in.

WHS - Bracknell isn't London prices.

If you go with Sweden, speak to an expert to make absolutely sure you understand the tax implications. Have you asked if Bracknell + an extra £40 a day (say) to cover your extra expense is an option?

But I agree with the others - don't hold out for a start date weeks in the future - too often they don't come good.

Good luck!

[stek]

To give some context, the toss up for Sweden vs Bracknell came down to the first month's outlay.

Sweden I can get 30 nights in a room on AirBnB for 750 pounds. A hotel in Bracknell was going to cost 400+ for 5 nights.

Flights to Sweden also worked out less than mileage to and from Bracknell. And the Sweden job has a better day rate.

Thanks everyone for the support and reassurance.

Cheers.

Look at the 183 day rule too if contract is over 6 months, Swedish taxes are the highest in Europe.

[TykeMerc]

Having done some work where I needed to go to Bracknell for a few days a month, I can assure you that you can get decent Bed and Breakfast hotel accommodation there for considerably less than £400 a week, as a contractor shopping around is a skill you need.

I hope the Sweden contract works out well, but please be prepared for your budget to take a kicking. It's one of the most expensive places on the planet to eat and drink, the rate needs to be seriously attractive to make it worth while even though it's a very nice country to spend time in.

[LJD]

To give some context, the toss up for Sweden vs Bracknell came down to the first month's outlay.

Sweden I can get 30 nights in a room on AirBnB for 750 pounds. A hotel in Bracknell was going to cost 400+ for 5 nights.

Flights to Sweden also worked out less than mileage to and from Bracknell. And the Sweden job has a better day rate.

Thanks everyone for the support and reassurance.

Cheers.

[Pherlopolus]

To be honest he/she probably doesn't fancy the idea of the coppid beach. I wouldn't have thought Bracknell would have been too expensive in reality though...

[BolshieBastard]

First of all, the OP doesnt have a contract for 12 months. The contract is as long as the notice period and even then, if they use MOO, you're offsite as soon as they say you're gone.

Second, never put up with a situation where the start date is 6 or so weeks in the future. The future start date frequently slips and you're just left signed up but frightened to go for something else that might be a quicker start.

Third, I find it weird a newbie can turn down the contract in Bracknell but jump at the one in Sweden when they seemingly have no idea of local costs.

Fourth, some contracts contain a clause that if you sign and then jump ship, you will have to pay the agency a stated amount. It depends whats in the contract so people saying he wont be 'sued' might not strictly be right.