Being mucked about by temp agency

Vickisaver

I'm looking for a bit of advice. My partner works through a temp agency and has been in the same role for 5 months, it's meant to be going permanent shortly. The problem is that during August, his payslip twice said he'd been paid his usual, but they deposited £50 less into his bank, and advised him they knew of the problem and were trying to sort it. Then last week they didn't pay him at all, and the same has happened this week :mad: , so we are now £500 down, which we really can't afford as we struggle normally.
My partner doesn't want to create too much fuss, or threaten further action in case his position 'disappears', but I think these guys need something to make them sort this out. Has anyone any experience of this sort of thing, or any advice on how to get the money?
Thanks

GeorgeUK

Have a read of this site
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10027514

What to do if you haven't been paid in full
If you haven't received your full pay (or any pay) try these simple steps:

Check your payslip to see if it tells you why you haven't been fully paid
Check your contract to see if there is anything that allows your employer to make deductions from your pay
Speak to your employer to see if you can sort the problem out with them
If you have an employee representative (for example, a trade union official) you can ask for their help.
If this doesn't work, you have the right to go to an Employment Tribunal to get your money. You can also try and reclaim money you've lost (including the extra losses caused by you not receiving the money on time, for example, bank charges) by making a breach of contract claim.

Edit - What i would do:
1. WRITE to the agency stating your grievance and request an explanation of what has happened and how they intend to resolve it (and when)
2. Phone them and ask if they can make a cash payment to you as you have not yet been paid.
If they refuse, as to be sent a copy of their official complaints procedure.
3. Inform them you intend to take them to an employment tribunal.

SunderlandBlackCat

GeorgeUK wrote: »

Have a read of this site
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10027514



Edit - What i would do:
1. WRITE to the agency stating your grievance and request an explanation of what has happened and how they intend to resolve it (and when)
2. Phone them and ask if they can make a cash payment to you as you have not yet been paid.
If they refuse, as to be sent a copy of their official complaints procedure.
3. Inform them you intend to take them to an employment tribunal.

Indeed - I've had this problem in the past & they promised to get things sorted over the phone but did nothing until I got fed up & complained in writing.

Horace

As said previously put things in writing to them, they will ignore phone calls. Also register with several agencies rather than just the one, that way you can have more work, more money and better prospects.

Vickisaver

Thanks, We wrote at the start but they never responded. I'll get on to this now, I knew I'd get an answer on here!

GeorgeUK

Possibly worth sending the letter by recorded delivery so that they can't say it was never received.

good luck

slow72

I work in Recruitment, and the first thing to say is it is illegall for an agency not to pay him on the expected pay date! What job is he doing as different bodies govern different sectors - quickest way to get them to pay you is to threaten them with the appropriate governing body. Have you tried contacting the agency's Head Office, any complaints received there should be accelerated.

urg123

GeorgeUK wrote: »

Possibly worth sending the letter by recorded delivery so that they can't say it was never received.

good luck

Oh What a 'mare!!!!

Or hand deliver it and try to hand it to the manager of the agency. If not ask for them to provide you with a receipt. It shows you mean business. Also ask for a payment in advance as this is their fault not yours!

Let us know how you get on.

URG x

Barneysmom

It might be worth mentioning it to the people he is working with, they might not be aware of it, and might be able to help.

oscar52

I had this problem with an agency a few years ago, who were for want of a better word, useless.

Not sure if this is still produced, but the job centre at the time had a booklet on the "Agencies Emloyment Act 1968) - that had the addresses to write to if your agency didnt take you seriously, mine didnt - and duly got the books looked at by the Department of Trade and Industry, who at the time were the regulatory body - all for about £80.

I know someone else that took the same agency to ACAS when they didnt pay him (he was a foreigh student) they came up with a hole host of excuses - pay role, bank rejection, admin error, and then finally settled on his "invalid temporary NI number" - he got all his money pretty quickly after making a complaint.

Hope this helps