Reply to: Offer scrapped after 20days of waiting - any legal rights?

[psychocandy]

I did speak to the agent last Friday .. the agent told me today that she got the go-ahead from someone in HR but they weren't in the office this morning and it's all down to poor communication within the organisation.



I think I should bill for today, and the full day at that, even though I was only on the client site for a couple of hours.

Problem is I don't want to upset the applecart or damage my reputation in the future ..... but I agree that's wrong too, contractors should feel confident enough to challenge situations like this.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the feedback !

Ah. Sorry my mistake I thought you hadnt spoken to agent for a week.

I'd be billing for the day too. Agency/Client fault for the mess up and you still had to turn up. Not your fault the cocked it all up.

Just make sure you dont opt out or the agency will play that one.

[suewood27]

If it's a CRB for England you should have got a letter stating you have been cleared. They take anything up to 8 weeks though most people get them quicker.

Yes, I've been told 3-4 weeks but, as you say, could be longer. The agent called me this afternoon to say that the client is checking to see if I can start later this week with 'reduced access' ... not sure how I'd do the job if I can't get to all the data .. and not sure if this is just a way of keeping me out on a limb. I told them that I couldn't afford to mess around any longer and if I didn't get a start by next monday then I would have to consider other options ... not a threat, just explaining my situation and being upfront and honest.

Must admit poor by both client and agent but I think I would have phoned the agent last Friday just to check at least.

Piss poor organisation by clients never ceases to amaze me though.

I did a one-day contract once where the guy was off sick and no-one else had a clue - took them till about lunchtime to decide what they wanted doing. Of course, still billed them for the day regardless - not my problem.

I did speak to the agent last Friday .. the agent told me today that she got the go-ahead from someone in HR but they weren't in the office this morning and it's all down to poor communication within the organisation.

It's a funny one because this is the reality we all accept. But if I got a builder in to build a house from scratch and on the day he turned up there were blank faces, I reckon there would be commercial repercussions.

We are doing something wrong. I suspect it is the power of the agencies that mean we cannot negotiate cancellation charges etc. Hey ho.

I think I should bill for today, and the full day at that, even though I was only on the client site for a couple of hours.

Problem is I don't want to upset the applecart or damage my reputation in the future ..... but I agree that's wrong too, contractors should feel confident enough to challenge situations like this.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the feedback !

[Old Greg]

You do, a wooden box, on which you can stand and shout your case in the high street...That is about as good as it gets IMO. You could try billing the agent for a day if you want but a bust up will begin which you don't really want bearing in mind you are not working right now. Regarding turning down the 3 monther, that is purely your call I am afraid.

Did the no news bit not start ringing alarm bells? Seems you couldn't start without it I would strongly dispute the 'no news is good news' mantra. You should have been on the phone daily until it had IMO. I take it the client still wants you so you are not totally high and dry, just depends on when you can start.

It's a funny one because this is the reality we all accept. But if I got a builder in to build a house from scratch and on the day he turned up there were blank faces, I reckon there would be commercial repercussions.

We are doing something wrong. I suspect it is the power of the agencies that mean we cannot negotiate cancellation charges etc. Hey ho.

[psychocandy]

I interviewed just over 3 weeks ago for a 3 month contract ... I had to be CRB checked before start and agent sent me a contract with start date = TBA ! I refused to sign, of course.

The agent called me just over a week ago to say they wanted me to start on 26th - today, I queried status of CRB but was told that no news was good news (!) and all was ok, so I amended the contract to said start date, signed and sent it back to the agent.

I turned up for first day this morning, nobody there knew who I was or why I was there, the project lead that hired me is off on sick leave ... a lot of blank faces! HR decided to get me to do the induction and security forms etc to save time on the 'real' first day and now I'm home again.

My problem is that I turned down a piece of work for this week in order to start the 3 month one ... surely I have something to stand on???

Must admit poor by both client and agent but I think I would have phoned the agent last Friday just to check at least.

Piss poor organisation by clients never ceases to amaze me though.

I did a one-day contract once where the guy was off sick and no-one else had a clue - took them till about lunchtime to decide what they wanted doing. Of course, still billed them for the day regardless - not my problem.

[SueEllen]

I interviewed just over 3 weeks ago for a 3 month contract ... I had to be CRB checked before start and agent sent me a contract with start date = TBA ! I refused to sign, of course.

The agent called me just over a week ago to say they wanted me to start on 26th - today, I queried status of CRB but was told that no news was good news (!) and all was ok, so I amended the contract to said start date, signed and sent it back to the agent.

If it's a CRB for England you should have got a letter stating you have been cleared. They take anything up to 8 weeks though most people get them quicker.

Anyway in future if you have a feeling the agent is dodgy there is nothing stopping you from phoning up and talking to the person(s) who interviewed you.

In fact some clients purposely give you a business card or their details for this reason, and even if they don't be proactive.

[northernladuk]

yep, thought someone would say that .... yes, I do still have the contract so should consider myself lucky but instead of a few bells ringing there are now a million!

But what about the contract? Is it now void as the start date that was agreed didn't happen? Once I've signed a contract I feel that I'm locked in to at least make a start on the job.




(when I grow up I'll be as ruthless and un-conscientious as the agents .... )

Techinically I guess you are but there is also a MOO clause which states they are not obliged to give you work to do and if you do no work you get no pay.

No problem changing the contract to the new date and re-signing if you want to keep it all correct and above board. Should be speaking to your agent to get this one sorted IMO.

[suewood27]

You do, a wooden box, on which you can stand and shout your case in the high street....

yep, thought someone would say that .... yes, I do still have the contract so should consider myself lucky but instead of a few bells ringing there are now a million!

But what about the contract? Is it now void as the start date that was agreed didn't happen? Once I've signed a contract I feel that I'm locked in to at least make a start on the job.




(when I grow up I'll be as ruthless and un-conscientious as the agents .... )

[northernladuk]

My problem is that I turned down a piece of work for this week in order to start the 3 month one ... surely I have something to stand on???

You do, a wooden box, on which you can stand and shout your case in the high street...That is about as good as it gets IMO. You could try billing the agent for a day if you want but a bust up will begin which you don't really want bearing in mind you are not working right now. Regarding turning down the 3 monther, that is purely your call I am afraid.

Did the no news bit not start ringing alarm bells? Seems you couldn't start without it I would strongly dispute the 'no news is good news' mantra. You should have been on the phone daily until it had IMO. I take it the client still wants you so you are not totally high and dry, just depends on when you can start.

[suewood27]

and yet another ....

I interviewed just over 3 weeks ago for a 3 month contract ... I had to be CRB checked before start and agent sent me a contract with start date = TBA ! I refused to sign, of course.

The agent called me just over a week ago to say they wanted me to start on 26th - today, I queried status of CRB but was told that no news was good news (!) and all was ok, so I amended the contract to said start date, signed and sent it back to the agent.

I turned up for first day this morning, nobody there knew who I was or why I was there, the project lead that hired me is off on sick leave ... a lot of blank faces! HR decided to get me to do the induction and security forms etc to save time on the 'real' first day and now I'm home again.

My problem is that I turned down a piece of work for this week in order to start the 3 month one ... surely I have something to stand on???

[Sausage Surprise]

Until you have a signed contract, and are on the client's site, and you are sat down in front of your new computer with a cup of tea (and preferably logged in to CUK), then your contract hasn't started.

and your first invoice has been paid on time....

[Bumfluff]

As per his post only 6 posts above this one... KUATB...

Sorry didn't read the whole threat

I'm in same situation, all paperwork done etc but I have not heard from agent now for over 2 weeks usually they are chasing wanting a start date. Luckily not an issue for me as I wanted to delay things anyway to see if I could find anything better and looks like I have.

[northernladuk]

Was this lloyds by any chance ?

As per his post only 6 posts above this one... KUATB...

[askforsudha]

Was this lloyds by any chance ?

Yes..it is

[Bumfluff]

Hi All,

I received a confirmation of assignment with rate, start date and end date of the contract. Agency said they cannot release the contract unless they complete ref checks and Disclosure Scotland.All this took 15days. Then they came back and said PM ran out of cost codes. He no longer has budget for my role. He is trying to get it from other projects..etc..etc.. bottom line is - the offer stands null and void

Is there any compensation I can claim, from the agency or the employer, in this case?

Thanks

Sudhakar

Was this lloyds by any chance ?

[northernladuk]

FTFY

( Look at the OP name )

Doh!!!I was wondering what Sudha was and why he was asking for it.