Reply to: can they not sign last invoice ?

[psychocandy]

Blimey, you don't have much luck with clients do you.

This was many years ago mind....

[northernladuk]

Of course, your contract is with the agent. But, in the past, I have had this where client contacts agent to kick off etc then agent is not so keen to pay contractor because client says they aint paying them.

Didn't last long mind when I pointed out I did have a signed timesheet and they did pay me without too much fuss.

Blimey, you don't have much luck with clients do you.

[psychocandy]

Is this right? Isn't it the agent that doesn't pay you. The client pays the agent. Much more likely for the agent to pull this trick but am surprised if it is a client.

Of course, your contract is with the agent. But, in the past, I have had this where client contacts agent to kick off etc then agent is not so keen to pay contractor because client says they aint paying them.

Didn't last long mind when I pointed out I did have a signed timesheet and they did pay me without too much fuss.

[Wanderer]

Disorganised Client (one day before end date): We forgot about this and its urgent. Can you stay another week to do x,y,z?
Contractor: Sorry got another gig starting monday.
Annoyed client: Grrr! thats not fair you're going to leave now and leave us in the lurch! We're not paying you for last month now because you let us down.

The Agency Conduct regulations make it clear that the agency are legally obliged to pay up front and then deal with the client's non payment. Of course I would do my best to keep the client happy one way or another, it's got to be good for business at the end of the day. However, I wouldn't entertain any suggestion that the agency would withhold fees which were legally due so long as I'd done the work.

Alternatively, say "sure, I'll come in Monday", get the timesheets signed and then don't turn up.

[northernladuk]

Sometimes easier said than done in my experience. Sometimes what happens is (if you're lucky 3 weeks before renewal).

Money-saving Client: Sorry we're not renewing but can you document/handover a,b,c please.
Contractor: OK. Fair enough. Will do.
Disorganised Client (one day before end date): We forgot about this and its urgent. Can you stay another week to do x,y,z?
Contractor: Sorry got another gig starting monday.
Annoyed client: Grrr! thats not fair you're going to leave now and leave us in the lurch! We're not paying you for last month now because you let us down.

Nobody else ever get this or similar?

Is this right? Isn't it the agent that doesn't pay you. The client pays the agent. Much more likely for the agent to pull this trick but am surprised if it is a client.

[psychocandy]

Smart contractors make sure the last timesheet is signed and everything is handed over to the client's satisfaction. Also Keep copies of emails sent over your last couple of weeks prompting the client to say if there is anything that needs rectifying before the end of the contract.

Sometimes easier said than done in my experience. Sometimes what happens is (if you're lucky 3 weeks before renewal).

Money-saving Client: Sorry we're not renewing but can you document/handover a,b,c please.
Contractor: OK. Fair enough. Will do.
Disorganised Client (one day before end date): We forgot about this and its urgent. Can you stay another week to do x,y,z?
Contractor: Sorry got another gig starting monday.
Annoyed client: Grrr! thats not fair you're going to leave now and leave us in the lurch! We're not paying you for last month now because you let us down.

Nobody else ever get this or similar?

[GillsMan]

... you must be really bored reading thru other threads and linking them !!!

This should clarify your doubt…
i started a contract ...2 weeks later i was asked about crb for first time .. i was then forced to change my address on drving license and other documents which took another 2 weeks and asked to gather couple of other documents which I didn’t have ready and whole thing got delayed by weeks …
It was about 10week after start of contract that i was actually given forms to sign
I was very uncertain about this contract from moment I was told about it , so I looked for a new contract all way thru ….. I couldn’t sleep for weeks
I think clients must tell candidates in advance to avoid this happening again
its poor communication

Mr Pot, meet Mr Kettle...

[northernladuk]

... you must be really bored reading thru other threads and linking them !!!

This should clarify your doubt…
i started a contract ...2 weeks later i was asked about crb for first time .. i was then forced to change my address on drving license and other documents which took another 2 weeks and asked to gather couple of other documents which I didn’t have ready and whole thing got delayed by weeks …
It was about 10week after start of contract that i was actually given forms to sign
I was very uncertain about this contract from moment I was told about it , so I looked for a new contract all way thru ….. I couldn’t sleep for weeks
I think clients must tell candidates in advance to avoid this happening again
its poor communication

Didn't clarrify most of what I asked to be honest but there you go.

[contractor0118]

Just a couple of questions based on the other thread about you not being able to work because of the CRB problem.

You did have a clause in your contract saying you can give notice?

I presume you haven't been working since you got walked off site... You are not expecting to get paid for the time you have not worked or paid for your notice if you still are not working are you?

If you have only been working 2 weeks you will only get paid 2 weeks.

You also say you have terminated it halfway through but reading the post you did 2 weeks, got walked off and a couple of days later got told you can carry on working.. lets say 3 weeks total and you are halfway through? You have a 6 week contract?

... you must be really bored reading thru other threads and linking them !!!

This should clarify your doubt…
i started a contract ...2 weeks later i was asked about crb for first time .. i was then forced to change my address on drving license and other documents which took another 2 weeks and asked to gather couple of other documents which I didn’t have ready and whole thing got delayed by weeks …
It was about 10week after start of contract that i was actually given forms to sign
I was very uncertain about this contract from moment I was told about it , so I looked for a new contract all way thru ….. I couldn’t sleep for weeks
I think clients must tell candidates in advance to avoid this happening again
its poor communication

[SueEllen]

I think in your original post you mean "timesheet".

The client will sign your timesheet for any work you have done. A lot of mine also want non-working days added on the timesheet to make it clear what I'm invoicing for.

The agency won't pay your invoice if:
1. Your work is of a bad standard and you were warned about it but didn't put it right. This is because the client won't pay the agency's invoice.
2. If the days you actually worked don't match the timesheet

The agency will try and get out of paying the invoice if you breached any other contract clauses. However if they do you go after them with a proper threat of legal action and they will pay up.

[BolshieBastard]

Been contracting 15 years. Never had an issue getting my 'last' timesheet for a contract signed.

[northernladuk]

Just a couple of questions based on the other thread about you not being able to work because of the CRB problem.

You did have a clause in your contract saying you can give notice?

I presume you haven't been working since you got walked off site... You are not expecting to get paid for the time you have not worked or paid for your notice if you still are not working are you?

If you have only been working 2 weeks you will only get paid 2 weeks.

You also say you have terminated it halfway through but reading the post you did 2 weeks, got walked off and a couple of days later got told you can carry on working.. lets say 3 weeks total and you are halfway through? You have a 6 week contract?

[contractor0118]

Happens often enough.

Smart contractors make sure the last timesheet is signed and everything is handed over to the client's satisfaction. Also Keep copies of emails sent over your last couple of weeks prompting the client to say if there is anything that needs rectifying before the end of the contract.

If they wait until you have left to find something wrong with what you did then they are going to have a much harder time justifying not paying your last invoice.

If they don't pay then follow the standard procedure to recover the money (search here for "dunning").

thanks thats very helpful i keep copy of meetings and emails for last month

[contractor0118]

Hi

I am serving my notice period, how can a contractor protect himself against client not signing last invoice?
Does it happen often?

What are preventive measures I can take in advance to avoid such situations?
Thanks

im newbie

[Wanderer]

I am serving my notice period, how can a contractor protect himself against client not signing last invoice? Does it happen often?

Happens often enough.

Smart contractors make sure the last timesheet is signed and everything is handed over to the client's satisfaction. Also Keep copies of emails sent over your last couple of weeks prompting the client to say if there is anything that needs rectifying before the end of the contract.

If they wait until you have left to find something wrong with what you did then they are going to have a much harder time justifying not paying your last invoice.

If they don't pay then follow the standard procedure to recover the money (search here for "dunning").