Question relating to employment from QubeGB

Jimmy_Boy

There is a similar post about this on here...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2264039/what-do-people-think-of-this-pay-rate-interview-thur


This is the company
hxttp://qubegb.com/index.htm

This is the job advert
hxttp://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/detailjob.aspx?sessionid=41187498-12e2-4d60-ad10-99b4b1584fa4&pid=4&j=KLB/22396

(Sorry, am not allowed to post links due to being a new user - just remove the "x" from the above links for the proper address)

I have had an invite to a job interview, with an email outlining some aspects of the job


The job would entail working as a self employed Engineer, working over 6 days a week.

You will be given approximately 5-6 jobs per day initially, installing and resolving Broadband service faults.

You will be paid £95 per day for the first 3 months, then £100 per day after.

You will be working as a self employed Engineer so will have to pay for your own fuel.

If you exceed 100 miles throughout the day, 13p per mile will be contributed to your fuel costs.

You will have £120 deducted from your weekly wage for rental of the vehicle, insurance cover (which is done automatically and will be stated on your invoice).

Working as a self employed Engineer you will be responsible for arranging you own income tax which is 18% compared to PAYE which is 33%.



Training:

Training will consist of 2 weeks.

One week within a classroom environment (Stevenage in Hertfordshire for 4 days, and the 5th day will be in out in the field with a current Engineer (within your area)) and the following week will consist of 4 days field training and the 5th you will be collecting your equipment from an allotted site).

Training pay will be £45 a day.



I would just like to know if anyone has had any personal experience with them, as some of the details above dont seem quite right.

I am based in cornwall, and they would want me to cover the EX postcode area which is a pretty huge area, and I could easily be doing over 100 miles per day.

That combined with having to pay £120 per week for vehicle rental (which seems excessively high to me) and also pay my own fuel costs.

Also the "approximately 5-6 jobs per day initially" causes a bit of an alarm, as I dont really know how long each job will take and how far apart (in distance) each job will be.

I could possibly be doing very long days for a flat rate per day pay, rather than a per job pay, which makes me a little hesitant to attend the interview.

If anyone has any advice, that would be greatly appreciated!

rrf494g

Not sure that Inland Revenue would agree with all these clauses,

eg working only for one company may well not entitle you to claim "self employment". You may be judged PAYE.

eg Tax 18% not 33% -eh?- I think the taxman may have something to say about that.

You can do the sums about real earning/losses possibilities.

Good luck
regards

rellubus

so thats £570 over 6 days - £80/£100 a week in fuel - £120 wk for the van = £350 then - tax & insurance & also accountant to do your tax return etc - not a lot left over after all that work. I worked for a company on a similar thing and i was doing 80/100 miles a day easy, cost me a fortune in fuel. Let me know how you get on

moose123

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] I worked for them in London recently, an absolute waste of time, they have to advertise constantly because people will not put up with them, you'll find yourself working from 7 in the morning till late at night for less than the minimum wage! no sick pay, holiday pay etc. £1000 excess on the van insurance [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

ardenastra

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] i worked for them in the north and when work is quiet they give you 2 days work so it will cover £120 for the van leaving you with £80!! bearing in mind you will use that for fuel for the following week , 7am till late is expected covering over 100 miles per day they say they will pay you mileage over 100 its 12p and that's when you get it [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] when they put you up in a hotel (travel lodge, wembley) they put you with another trainee in same room its a farce [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

Rikky

Hi,

I'm looking at joining this company as well; did you resolve your issues with them? Are you now working for them?

flying_bird

Has anyone got anything positive to say about this company as im considering joining them,but after reading what i have so far im having second thoughts....a prompt reply would be appreciated.

billy-boy_4

I was a QubeGB engineer until recently (within the last 4 months), only now can i say what i think about them.
I was with them for quite a few months [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] The "6 days" work you speak of is only 5 days. They were supposed to be going back to working Mondays but that is also true of the last 12 months or so.
I spoke out loud about leaving for a number of reasons and was offered a supervisory position, that never materialised !!
The fuel payments is a VERY hit and miss affair, the slightest error on your part, however caused, is all the excuse they need not to pay you anyway, and you have to submit your claim form by email, period.
Late "wages" payments are frequent and a report to your supervisor or manager (IF you can get them to answer their phone) that you haven't been paid, not only ...ses them off (leaving the dots to your imagination) but they actually make you feel like it is your fault.
Considering you are "self employed", your activities are seriously limited by this company considering the very high cost that you pay for the van (£120 per week anyone ??). This fee is supposed to cover van rental, insurance and tool hire (really???) and the £1000 insurance excess is also amazingly high. I have conducted my own research into insuring the same van privately and i can only find excesses of £300 - £500 being asked for even when offering the maximum and adding it to the compulsory excess. One company asked for £850. Also they all covered windscreen damage which Qube claim that their company does not, so expect a few nasty surprises when that stone gets thrown up at you by that truck on the motorway!!!
When i left Qube, i took a lot of photo's of my clean (washed) and pristine van from every angle ready for a court battle if they desired as i knew that there was no damage and true to form, they have informed me that they have found a couple of small "dents" that of course will have to be paid for.
I have now also instructed a solicitor [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

freethinker1966

I started with them in March 2012 and resigned after 9 weeks. 2 weeks training and 7 weeks on the job. Make sure you fill-out all your forms correctly especially fuel forms.

Impressive at start supplying all new equipment, van and tools etc. They claimed it would be 9 hour shifts, and they encourage their employees to have a healthy balanced lifestyle. 10 miles between jobs.

Look forward to 14 hour days and be available for all 7 days. If you don't mind no other life for 6 months, you will be paid £30k approx pro-rata before tax and expenses.

They use you, to make them look good, you are the face of talktalk and will get all the crap from customers, you will need great people skills and patience. Expect 4 to 5 jobs to start, by your 3rd week on the job, you will be expected to be up to speed, doing seven jobs a day, between 70 and 200 miles a day and virtually running your own franchise in all but name.

Beware of the IR35 tax regs? Management never did answer any of my questions regarding whether it was legal.

plastic-scouse

For some balance, I have worked for Qube in the North West since Feb 2012, and I have to say I haven't had any of the problems that have been posted up on this board, I have had plenty of early finishes and some late ones but I haven't done any 14 hour days, I have always found that sometimes you have take the rough with the smooth as far as job and finish goes. As far as pay goes I have never not been paid on time and I have never had my fuel expenses questioned. Yes there are minor communication issues at times but tell me a company that doesn't have them, I have learnt quickly and been put forward for various different types of jobs, so all in all I am very satisfied with the position I have and would reccomend it to anyone wanting to join a young fast growing company, with scope for progression, as I have done to numerous people.
What did really tickle me, was reading this board reminded me of the trip advisor site telling everyone to avoid the hotel I had booked last year like the plague, we came back telling everyone it was one of the best family holidays we had been on. You get out what you put in, and in todays current climate I think Qube should be applauded for their recruitment drive.

lake-gypsy

I read this thread before i started working for qubegb but i let it go over my head as disgruntled ex employee keyboard warriors often post negative comments. I have read such info before and it has not enough evidence or substance to support it.
I have worked for qubegb for quite a while now as an engineer and i have no problems what so ever. I have always been paid on time and never had problems with expenses either. fair enough you get your good days and your bad days but i have never worked 14hrs in one day i think i have had a couple of 11hr days but you have to take the rough with the smooth like with any job. Qubegb are a rapidly expanding company and i take my hat off too what they are achieving in this current climate. I would also like to say that the training was substantial, but a lot of the job and finer points and knowledge come from actually doing the job itself. You also need common sense and be able to work to routine. Rant over ;-)
So to sum it up the comments on here are from a few disgruntled ex employees and when qube employ over 400 happy people thats not a bad ratio.