Reply to: HELP!!! Accused of fraud!

[Moscow Mule]

Yes, keep the timesheets.

[NotAllThere]

Just to make that clear.
KEEP THE TIMESHEETS

[ASB]

JasonC,

Sorry to shout but: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAND THE ORIGINALS TO ANYBODY. DO NOT ALLOW THE AGENCY OR CLIENT SIGHT OF THEM.

This is your evidence as to your innocence. Should the need arise allow your legal team sight of them.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that key pieces of evidence once outside of your control can disappear or become tainted in other ways.

Also try and get the allegation in writing, it is potentially libellous and gives you your counter claim.

[ashleymoran]

I just want to add, to the original poster, please let us know how this turns out. I hate only knowing the beginning of the story.

+1 to this, I'd like to know how this turns out

[thunderlizard]

Get legal advice as to what to do with the original timesheets - e.g. fairest option might be to deposit them with a solicitor and allow the agent to come and look at them there.

Also make a record of the unpaid overtime you did - that'll count in your favour if there are any legal proceedings

[NotAllThere]

...act like you eat these tosspots for lunch and it's all in a days work for you...

---edit----> spooky!

[chris79]

As above ^^

[ruskithebear]

Ok like others have said DO NOT PANIC - inwardly digest those words......

This is a civil matter so the police will not get involved. Think about it, this is a client not wanting to pay (just like 1000's of other businesses), the fact that the word fraud has been mentioned DOES NOT constitute the SFO or CID knocking on your door.

Get legal representation and advice from them. Until then do nothing, not even the timesheets)

Once obtained, direct all matters to them and ONLY speak through them. Get the Pimps name and get the name of the Managing Director, direct ALL matters to him personally, the MD not the pimp.

Stand firm, you've done nothing wrong, act like you eat these tosspots for lunch and its all in a days work for you.

Remember, this is business, this is part of contracting, suck it up (in the nicest way), put some perspective on it and wear your new battle scar with pride.

[Platypus]

You might also like to consider that the agent or client accusing you of fraud is slander. Or libel if it is written.

IIRC, accusing someone of committing a CRIMINAL offence (like fraud) is in fact a CRIMINAL offence in itself, whether the accusation was verbal OR written.

So you might like to bear that in mind, if the agency does accuse you, then you can in fact get the police onto them.

I'm sure the legal advice you're getting will cover this.

[Lewis]

"The client is claiming i forged them and refusing to pay the agency. The agency is now demanding i hand over the original timesheets to them or they will get the police involved."


Fatal mistake, the Police are NOT going to come batting down your door at 6am on the word you -may- have forged a timesheet. Don't hand it over, it sounds like very underhand tactics from the client if you ask me! The fact they are making reference to the Police sounds like they are trying to intimidate you (if they were serious why would they need to tell you this), I really really doubt they would involve the Police, I'm no law expert but they might say it's a civil matter anyway??

Ditto that! I called the Police after someone tried to by a TV from me using a stolen cheque, I said "the bank has confirmed the cheque is stolen, the guy is coming round tonight to collect the TV, you can hide behind my sofas and grab him when he arrives if you like". Their response, sorry we don't have the man power, just tell him he can't have it. They didn't even ask for his name or phone number. A month later I got a letter saying "sorry to hear you were a victim of crime" (I wasn't as I told him to take a running jump) and offering me counselling!

[Lewis]

Surely this is an issue for the agency to work out with the Client? You say that you've already been paid, so my advice (FWIW) is to jsut wait and see what happens. After all, your contract is with the agency.

Just my 2p.

Ah! I missed that very important point. He's been paid already! D'errr.

[NotAllThere]

Surely this is an issue for the agency to work out with the Client? You say that you've already been paid, so my advice (FWIW) is to jsut wait and see what happens. After all, your contract is with the agency.

Just my 2p.

Oh yes. I didn't spot that.

So my revised advice can be summarised: let them stew, move on. The aforementioned little pipsqueak is obviously in a big panic, cos if he can't get the client to pay, then he'll lose his job. But still get some legal advice, just to set your mind at rest.

[chris79]

"The client is claiming i forged them and refusing to pay the agency. The agency is now demanding i hand over the original timesheets to them or they will get the police involved."


Fatal mistake, the Police are NOT going to come batting down your door at 6am on the word you -may- have forged a timesheet. Don't hand it over, it sounds like very underhand tactics from the client if you ask me! The fact they are making reference to the Police sounds like they are trying to intimidate you (if they were serious why would they need to tell you this), I really really doubt they would involve the Police, I'm no law expert but they might say it's a civil matter anyway??

[NickNick]

Surely this is an issue for the agency to work out with the Client? You say that you've already been paid, so my advice (FWIW) is to jsut wait and see what happens. After all, your contract is with the agency.

Just my 2p.

[NotAllThere]

I just want to add, to the original poster, please let us know how this turns out. I hate only knowing the beginning of the story.