Professional government job but manager asking for cash upfront from me!!

LittleVoice

Don't give this man untraceable cash, not one penny.

I'm surprised that a sole trader has managed to get a contract with a local authority - especially in the field of security.

Usually firms/companies getting contracts to supply the public sector have to pass pre-qualification tendering processes which should check, amongst other things, that they are operating professionally as employers. A proper employer would give you proper documentation and this doesn't sound like it.

storminbalder

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

1) Watching CCTV is not a "professional" job
2) Its a private sector job
3) If the money is for the qualification then its fair, it may also be to ensure they dont put you through the training then you !!!!!! off to someone else

I was wondering this.

Don't the professions require a minimum of a degree at entry, ie Law, Doctor, Teacher?

I don't think you need a degree to watch telly. Although I note you can have a degree in watching telly - Media Studies anyone!

storminbalder

Beta89 wrote: »

The job is handling security for the entire bourgh though, with the control room officer where we work from being inside 1 of the local councils office complex's.

But no its not for training, i am going to have to pay for my own SIA training too.


He says this is to prove my committment to working there for him,
and since he is investing his time and making the comittment in giving me the opportunity and training me, that this is to to prove my commitment to him.

He says he will give it back to me in 3months...


I wouldnt mind it much if he actually gave me a contract saying why im giving him £500 cash, and when i will get it back..,
or even ATLEAST giving me a receipt about the payment.
Plus if i ALREADY had a contract saying that im guaranteed a job with salary once i get the license.


But he says he does things his own way as this is his department and when you work here your 1 of his boys,
and so he wont do any contracts or receipts for this and that i just have to trust him as my boss.

It sounds to me like he's wanting a "back-hander", or a "bung", as I believe they're called.

If I were you, I'd politely decline his offer, then report him to the police.

Employers are supposed to pay you for your labours rather than vice versa!

Beta89

I have a form about confidentially and that i cant disclose any info about any on-going security operations or anything that ive signed.

But i havent actually been given the 'employment contract' as he says they cant actually employ me until i have the license already.

And yea he wants £500 in cash. :huh:



ANyone else asked this id tell them to !!!! off as itd be a scam,
but this department has handled all the local government security for 9years now, we spend the day/night working with the metropolitan police,
so this woyld be a very very unsual setup for a boss to try scamming someone in.

LittleVoice wrote: »

Asking for "cash"?!!!!!

What do you have in writing? Anything or just the forms for you to fill in with no commitment from them?

Are you actually working for them unpaid at the moment?

Beta89

He doesnt actually own the company that is contracted by the local authority,
he is just the manager of this city's security department.

But the actual company, i looked at them and they are completely faceless.
(they are very very big, but dont like have customer service departments or anything, they merely act as a contractor of staff and units.

LittleVoice wrote: »

Don't give this man untraceable cash, not one penny.

I'm surprised that a sole trader has managed to get a contract with a local authority - especially in the field of security.

Usually firms/companies getting contracts to supply the public sector have to pass pre-qualification tendering processes which should check, amongst other things, that they are operating professionally as employers. A proper employer would give you proper documentation and this doesn't sound like it.

Snakeeyes21

youve hit the nail on the head, its quite common in the security industry to pay to have a job.
its widespread through other markets aswell, maintainance for supermarkets spring to mind.

Beta89

storminbalder wrote: »

It sounds to me like he's wanting a "back-hander", or a "bung", as I believe they're called.

If I were you, I'd politely decline his offer, then report him to the police.QUOTE]


Thats what is even more odd about this though... :huh:

Since he gave me interview over other applicants who already had the sia qualification because of the school i had gone to. (a very small extremely strict old fashioned independant school, st james boys)

And his daughter goes to the girls school of this school, which is also a very high class place and costs over £8,000 per year.


So its not like he is some sort of low life whos just trying to nab a few hundred quid from a quick scam job,
and risking his entire career and repuation on that.

Especially since he can afford to send his daughter to that school, and that he is involved in that school it shows that hes not short of cash or anything.



I just wish i could have a normal job with normal setup.

lynzpower

Hi Beta

I am a SIA holder, and have worked ( not in security though) for a local authority and have worked alongside the private contractors) I have seen Central London CCTV control room, and I personally do think that level of security could be called a profession, certainly as an SIA holder I take great offence to people who run down the profession. I think it is a vital part of civil order ( on egvery level) and its your SIA holder who generally stops crime ( saw this happen) foil people taking weapons on planes, down to throwing idiots out of nightclubs.

The questions I would ask are:

Where was the job advertised and how did you apply for it
Who is the employer, you can PM me the name if you like.

Edit:

Especially since he can afford to send his daughter to that school, and that he is involved in that school it shows that hes not short of cash or anything.

Do you wonder where he gets all his cash from :rolleyes:

Im wondering whether actually, if this is true, there might be a dodgy guy, working in a legitimate company/ gov department. We have of course heard of many a local gov employee with thier hands in the tills, in any organisation there can be bad apples? Not having a direct manager above him is a classic part of ripoffmerchants, they dont have people to modify thier behaviour or even notice.

maninthestreet

I thought the idea was that an employer paid the employer for working for them, not the other way around. To be blunt, this smacks of corruption.

LittleVoice

Beta89 wrote: »

Theres only 1 boss though, and hes very shouty and strict and controls the whole team military strictness style.
And he doesn't actually ahve any manager who he reports to.

But you now say that he is working for a large company.

This means he does have a line manager.



And I find it appalling that apparently someone who is not qualified, CRB checked or whatever is being allowed into premises which are operating CCTV cameras for a local authority. That he is being "trained" on the job but not being paid, that a line manager is wanting payment for offering a job .......

I give up.