Timesheet Issue

[Wobblyheed]

You won't lose pay because of a technicality. If you don't get access to the timesheet system then you just need to submit it to the agency with an explanation. They will then be obliged to pay your invoice.

Definitely this....I had a similar situation recently working remote for a Danish agency for a Danish client alongside an Indian consultancy. Sent in a timesheet that was rejected only to be told by the Indian guy that I had been finished the previous week...errr...then why didn't someone tell me this? The client and agent were horrified at my treatment (said they had no right to do it) Ended up with the client/agent telling me to invoice for the week plus the week's notice that was in my contract. Happy days all round.

[BlasterBates]

You won't lose pay because of a technicality. If you don't get access to the timesheet system then you just need to submit it to the agency with an explanation. They will then be obliged to pay your invoice.

[PerfectStorm]

In my experience an agent will lie about a lot of things: when a gig starts, how long it’s for, what the client will pay, et cetera... but the material fact of whether you’ll be paid or not tends to not be one of them.

[ladymuck]

Very likely to be TCS. From time to time they have these issues but got paid on time. Let your 3-letter consultancy's Account Manager know.

Ah. HCL also have a dire timesheet system and some nonsense with internal emails that you can't access. Maybe they both use the same system

[BigDataPro]

HCL by any chance?

Very likely to be TCS. From time to time they have these issues but got paid on time.

OP, let your 3-letter consultancy's Account Manager know that you are having trouble accessing. Send the timesheet by email to them and get it approved.

[BillHicksRIP]

It's a really frustrating situation. Have had no problems getting paid so far by the agency and my gut says it's just a mistake on the consultancy's end and you have to go through the quagmire of forwarded emails to get it resolved. The person who hired me is long gone from the account so all's that's left is the people from the consultancy I'm doing knowledge transfer to them I'm out. It's annoying me I could lose 2 month's invoices due to the technicality that I must enter time into a system I can't access.

[ladymuck]

I rarely have any contact with the end client as I'm a resource of the Indian 3-letter-acronym consultancy. As I'm working on the end client account, I don't have instant messaging capabilities to hassle anyone in the consultancy and all their support seems to be based around sending mails to your consultancy email account, which I don't have access to as I can't log on to them.

That's a shame. I would always look to leverage the client on this type of thing. Hopefully the agency is right but do you want to wait until the invoice is due to find out? Maybe your initial hunch, and Mal's, is to down tools until it's resolved.

I always feel that's a bit nuclear in a situation where there isn't yet a default on payment.

[Lance]

I would get the client to agree the days worked, maybe in an email or something they're willing to sign and keep that to hand in case the consultancy kicks up a fuss. Also keep the evidence of your attempts to get your access resolved.

^^^^ THIS + your contract + an invoice issued = right to be paid
You need all 3 if it ends up in court.

[BillHicksRIP]

I rarely have any contact with the end client as I'm a resource of the Indian 3-letter-acronym consultancy. As I'm working on the end client account, I don't have instant messaging capabilities to hassle anyone in the consultancy and all their support seems to be based around sending mails to your consultancy email account, which I don't have access to as I can't log on to them.

[Fraidycat]

Fire an email to the consultancy, CC all the managers and the Agent as well.

Tell them you worked X days last month but have not been able to enter it into their Timesheet system.

Tell them that this email is your formal alternative notification mechanism.

[ladymuck]

HCL by any chance?

I would get the client to agree the days worked, maybe in an email or something they're willing to sign and keep that to hand in case the consultancy kicks up a fuss. Also keep the evidence of your attempts to get your access resolved.

I'm sure you've already thought of that but that's what I would do in the circumstances.

If you get on well with the client, I'd ask them if they'd be willing to email their contact at the agency and escalate the access issue. Something like, the consultancy's reports will be off because you can't record your time in their system or some such so the client understands the potential impact.

[malvolio]

You don't work for free. Walk away, and tell the end client why...

[BillHicksRIP]

Thought I'd canvass some opinions as I'm really brassed off with a timesheet issue I'm having. I'm working through a German agency supplied to a large Indian consultancy and on to a German customer. Contract finishes at the end of this month and invoices are to be paid within 30 days. Contract states time worked must be entered on the Indian consultancy's timesheet system. On the first of this month, my entire access was revoked, maybe down to an oversight, but now I can't access the timesheet from last month or enter this month's worked days. I've submitted last month's invoice and agent keeps saying it's fine and the invoice will be paid but I'm talking his word it will. Being passed from pillar to post within the Indian consultancy but not getting anywhere. I'm still working on the end client's systems and have some things that I need to complete before the end of the month.

Would you keep plugging away or force the issue by downing tools until this is resolved?