Reply to: Palm Mason

[EscapeKey]

I know this thread is a year old, but I wonder if anyone has any more up to date info on Palm Mason?
My last contract was through them. Every invoice was paid on exactly time, albeit their terms were to pay four weeks in arrears on monthly invoice.
However, the invoice for my final month of the contract, August, has not yet been paid. It was due 20th September, so now a month overdue.
My initial contacts via email and voicemail were not responded to. I have made further calls to the consultant, and have been told "the Finance Director is on long term sick" - why should that impact payments? - and "we have changed banks" - if that takes more than a month to sort then you have gone to the wrong bank! The real issue has been lack of communication explaining the problem/s.
I know of another contractor who also has not been paid for the same period. Anyone know anything more?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Hovartm - similar ongoing problems here. Please private message me.

[DirtyDog]

It's not unheard of for an agency to delay paying the final invoice - it's gone on for years now, but seems to be happening more frequently these days.

Get chasing now - www.payontime.co.uk

[administrator]

Same as what everyone else has said. Accept no more excuses and follow the correct procedures. While the excuses you are being told may well be true they are also the classic signs of a company struggling. Make sure you get what you are owed in case they are having problems. Act fast, you will kick yourself if you don't.

[Wanderer]

email and voicemail were not responded to."the Finance Director is on long term sick"
"we have changed banks"
lack of communication explaining the problem/s.

These are all bulltulip excuses. Pay them a visit and don't leave until you have a payment either arranged electronically or a cheque.

[eek]

I hate to sound negative, but all of the bolded bits start massive alarm bells in my book, they're stalling tactics and in your position I would be writing formal demands with the statutory warnings and get the dunning process running.
If the debtor is in trouble and the warning signs are there from what you said you need to get in early and look after number 1, get formal and don't allow them to make excuses.

Rule 1: Look after yourself
Rule 2: Chase now if its late. Not paying them is your problem and you should accept NO excuses....

[TykeMerc]

My initial contacts via email and voicemail were not responded to. I have made further calls to the consultant, and have been told "the Finance Director is on long term sick" - why should that impact payments? - and "we have changed banks" - if that takes more than a month to sort then you have gone to the wrong bank! The real issue has been lack of communication explaining the problem/s.
I know of another contractor who also has not been paid for the same period. Anyone know anything more?

Thanks in advance for any info.

I hate to sound negative, but all of the bolded bits start massive alarm bells in my book, they're stalling tactics and in your position I would be writing formal demands with the statutory warnings and get the dunning process running.
If the debtor is in trouble and the warning signs are there from what you said you need to get in early and look after number 1, get formal and don't allow them to make excuses.

[hovartm]

Palm Mason

I know this thread is a year old, but I wonder if anyone has any more up to date info on Palm Mason?
My last contract was through them. Every invoice was paid on exactly time, albeit their terms were to pay four weeks in arrears on monthly invoice.
However, the invoice for my final month of the contract, August, has not yet been paid. It was due 20th September, so now a month overdue.
My initial contacts via email and voicemail were not responded to. I have made further calls to the consultant, and have been told "the Finance Director is on long term sick" - why should that impact payments? - and "we have changed banks" - if that takes more than a month to sort then you have gone to the wrong bank! The real issue has been lack of communication explaining the problem/s.
I know of another contractor who also has not been paid for the same period. Anyone know anything more?

Thanks in advance for any info.

[Bluenose]

I know peeps who have done work in the past via Palm Mason - no problems.

They have been repeat offenders for posting fake job adverts on jobserve though, I accept that they are not the only ones that do this.

[BolshieBastard]

A small recruitment firm, get paid weekly.
Their 2011 accounts show £23k in the bank

Doesn't mean much. TBH I found they paid on the due date although made you wait 10 days before paying by faster payments. Original payment terms were 60 days but I laughed at them at that and said I'd look elsewhere.

They caved in.

I've come across far worse agents notably project partners. Wouldn't touch PP even with yours. Jibbed them off over an ltsb role earlier this year.

[Tarantula]

A small recruitment firm, get paid weekly.
Their 2011 accounts show £23k in the bank

[Slayer]

Any update on these guys?

Hey just been trawling for any reviews on palm mason......any good or bad news since Jan anyone? Thanks

[BolshieBastard]

Meditate on this I will.

Yoda ah, be then you.

[Freamon]

Reading that some good research would be

Meditate on this I will.

[Scrag Meister]

Never worked through them although have been contacted re roles and there approach seemed valid, non-intrusive, no "2 refs please" etc.... Roles sounded ok and matched my skillset.

From my impression on the phone and infrequently, they seemed ok.

[BolshieBastard]

Thanks all!

Yep, that 2009 thread is an eye opener. I've already told them I want weekly billing (mainly as I've never heard of them before), I've also contacted one of my linked in colleagues as he appears to have had contact with them.

Had a look around their web site which tbh isnt much more than a couple of splash screens showing offices in a couple of locations other than UK Canary Wharf.

The recruiter seems to check out on linked in but having said that, it doesnt take a lot of effort to create the illusion of credibility.

Looks like I'll have to stick out for weekly billing and no doubt get Danny at B&C to review the T&C's!