Reply to: agency wont pay because client wont sign timesheet after work completed

[ratewhore]

I’m pretty straight about this; any delaying or screwing around with timesheets or payments and I’m out. If they want credit they should speak to their bank.

WHS. Breach of contract and all that!!

[The Lone Gunman]

I dont think you would get anywhere, but try sending the client a letter stating that as you have not been paid for the work it is still your intellectual property and they do not have permission to use it in any way. Knock up a very expensive licence agreement at least double what they owe you and ongoing. See what a legal bod thinks.

That is assuming you do that kind of work.

[Mich the Tester]

I have only once experienced a client who refused to sign a timesheet; the manager who had to sign was replaced during the month I started working, and the new manager said she wouldn’t sign for the first two weeks as she hadn’t been there to see me at work. I went to her boss, who also refused to sign, saying he’d been on holiday and hadn’t seen me so he couldn’t sign. I then said ‘OK, well I won’t be here next week then, goodbye’ and went home. The CIO then heard that his ‘top priority’ project would be delayed as the only person who knew how to run the migration programs had walked out, and phoned me on Saturday morning to say I should come back on Monday and there would be a signed timesheet on my desk on my return.

I’m pretty straight about this; any delaying or screwing around with timesheets or payments and I’m out. If they want credit they should speak to their bank.

I learned my lesson as a permie working in a company that was going under; I received no salary for two months and then some bailiffs turned up at my front door to take away my company car as the boss hadn’t paid the lease. They advised me not to go to work until I’d been paid and to get a solicitor. I actually cut my losses and found another job quickly, as I should have done earlier, but I was out of pocket for 2 months salary, pension contributions, healthcare premiums and fuel costs; I will not let it reach that point again.

I’d echo what others have said; never leave without a signed timesheet.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Forget any of the 'agency must pay if opted in' stuff you may hear, as they most definitely will not without proof that you delivered the services. Hence you need to get that signed timesheet. Go back to the client and ask them to sign it and make a stink if they don't.

In future, before leaving a gig ensure that you get that TS signed.

Agreed +1

[Turion]

Forget any of the 'agency must pay if opted in' stuff you may hear, as they most definitely will not without proof that you delivered the services. Hence you need to get that signed timesheet. Go back to the client and ask them to sign it and make a stink if they don't.

In future, before leaving a gig ensure that you get that TS signed.

[pmeswani]

oops, my bad, can't read

No probs. It's nearly home time. Let you off. Any other time of day, you wouldn't be as easily forgiven.

[Badger]

Call me old fashioned, but why didn't you get it signed/approved before you left? This is probably the top of my leaving list....... in fact, I probably wouldn't have left without it being signed by someone.

Ditto, I never, ever 'submit' a timesheet for approval, I want a hard copy and will wait until it's signed before leaving any gig.

[lambrini_socialist]

? I was actually agreeing with the the guy who was suggesting what I was thinking. Haven't had any problems with getting my timesheets signed.

oops, my bad, can't read

[pmeswani]

sounds like maybe you had a less-than-great relationship with the client during your time there?

? I was actually agreeing with the the guy who was suggesting what I was thinking. Haven't had any problems with getting my timesheets signed.

[lambrini_socialist]

That same thought occured to me too. Too damned afraid to ask.

sounds like maybe you had a less-than-great relationship with the client during your time there?

[pmeswani]

Call me old fashioned, but why didn't you get it signed/approved before you left? This is probably the top of my leaving list....... in fact, I probably wouldn't have left without it being signed by someone.

That same thought occured to me too. Too damned afraid to ask.

[Jubber]

because their client wont sign the final timesheet I submitted. And no one will give me an answer why they wont sign the timesheet.

Call me old fashioned, but why didn't you get it signed/approved before you left? This is probably the top of my leaving list....... in fact, I probably wouldn't have left without it being signed by someone.

[Sausage Surprise]

If the client is a huge company the line mangager sometimes likes playing god and decide the contractors financial fate this is an indication when the contractor offens or upsets some one in the permanant world.. an the agency canoot do nothing about it . if the cleint is small they may want to save money on the last months invoice because it is not small money we are talking about. with my expereince its normally the first one.

Nail on the head

[malvolio]

Did you opt out of the Agency Regulations? If not then they cannot withold payment for non production of timesheets.

If you did then it will be more difficult to get payment, but I would start by reading the stuff here: www.payontime.co.uk

If you can get a signed timesheet then that obviously make it much easier for you.

Are you a member of the PCG? There are quite a lot of posts on their boards about agency regulations and non-paying agents being taken to court.

Snag is, the contracted payment will be dependent on the work being done. No signed timesheet = no work done, so the Agency Regs won't apply.

[Epiphone]

Are you opted in or out? What are the payment terms in your contract?