Care company claiming crb

EL123_3

I have just had a letter from a private care company that I worked for stating that as I have not given them 30 days notice then I am liable to pay back the full cost of my CRB check and the cost of all training provided. (And a form I signed at the beginning says this cost £51 but I don't think its that much!!)
I worked here from January to top up my teaching job hours and about May time I handed in my notice but after going in to see them decided I would become a 'bank worker' based on two set evenings when I could and any other extra - so basically I'd text in my availability a week in advance.
Then I let them know by text that I would not be able to work for a few weeks as I had to go back to Chester (my 'home') which was basically to get full time hours better paid work in my old job as I dont get paid for my teaching job in the summer and didn't want to do full time care work. I didnt say why I went back to them though. Then I got about 3 texts while I was on holiday (id already said id get in touch after holiday) asking me to let them know what hours I could do. I ignored them as I was annoyed they were hassling me as I only did two evening when I could anyway and so I decided I would text them when I got back that I was going to be in Chester for a few weeks and that I could not work there any more. But by the time I got back from holiday I'd had a letter asking me to get in touch so I decided to write them a letter saying that because I was in Chester I felt I could not work there anymore.
I know I was a bit mean BUT I was only bank work and I had originally handed my notice in before and I suppose I should have let them know properly. but the company is a typical private care one, pays badly, you have to pay for phoning the office and its a 0845 number, post your timesheets in and they didnt provide stamps and I just think they really took the p out of the full time staff and the main boss has upset loads of people i.e. saying to one girl 'you've just used us' because she wanted to go and train as a nurse. There is a very high turnover of staff and it was very easy to get a job there which I think says a lot.
I was just wondering basically whether its worth me ignoring this letter and hoping that they don't pursue it? I worked for a good six months for them and I could argue I did actually hand my notice in in June and was 'helping out'.
Thanks.xx

EL123_3

We never actually 're-did' a contract as a bank worker. it was left as it was and was only a verbal agreement....while I actually have a copy of the letter when I handed in my notice in May time.

BigPhil

Judas wrote: »

You did have a contract; you dont need to sign anything; by continuing to work for them you accepted these terms.

Accept this and stop trying to scam.

A little harsh perhaps?

Did your agreement with them actually say that you had to give 30 days notice?

This is one of the perils of unwritten agreements. In order to know whether it is possible to argue against repaying the CRB fee, you firstly need to know the conditions under which you 'agreed' (either in writing or by working without complaint) to do so.

You cannot argue that you had given notice in June, for what you did was to effectively change the terms of your contract, not sever it altogether, so would still be bound by the conditions that you did not vary.

You are entitled to query the contract and request a copy of it in order to verify that you had agreed to repay the fee in the event that you left either within a specified period, or did not give the required notice.

EL123_3

BigPhil wrote: »

A little harsh perhaps?

Yes, I think so. Nevermind, I think he's trying to help but sometimes people like to add a little opinion thats unecessary.

Thanks for your reply.