Employer won't pay- self-employed mean no rights?

SunriseSunset_2

:)Hello,

My dad is self-employed but does work for different companies. Last week, one refused to pay him the full amount owed. He did £800 of work and they said they'd only pay £300! The manager has always scrutinised my dad's invoices, even though my dad doesn't overcharge and always works darn hard.

I was wondering if there's anything we could do? My parents want to let it go, but I don't want to.:mad: My dad was working hard 8 hrs a day for 6 days last week and he deserves what he's owed.

Does he have rights despite being self-employed?
Is there anything to do without getting lawyers involved? We can't afford one.
Can anything be done to get the wages he's owed?

Thank you in advance.

Googlewhacker

why have they refused to pay the full amount?

Googlewhacker

also if he is self employed then are they invoices and not wages?

SunriseSunset_2

Invoices.

They pay a set amount for 8 hrs and more for over time. When my dad kept doing over time, which was necessary because they want jobs done quickly- not necessarily properly- they didn't like it. They wanted him to work set hours and stop before over time kicked in, but then he couldn't finish the jobs PROPERLY in time. Others cut corners, but my dad doesn't which is why clients usually don't want anyone else but him to do the work.

Gertie_Walker

if he is truely self employed, then he has no employment rights, so he would have to take the company to the Samll Claims Court to get his money, in the same way as any other trader.

Hammyman

Firstly, he's not owed any wages because he wasn't an employee. He is owed an outstanding invoice. Being self employed has tax advantages but at the expense of employment rights. If someone doesn't pay you, your only recourse of action is to either write it off as bad debt and offset it against your tax or to pursue them through county court.

getmore4less

SunriseSunset wrote: »

Invoices.

They pay a set amount for 8 hrs and more for over time. When my dad kept doing over time, which was necessary because they want jobs done quickly- not necessarily properly- they didn't like it. They wanted him to work set hours and stop before over time kicked in, but then he couldn't finish the jobs PROPERLY in time. Others cut corners, but my dad doesn't which is why clients usually don't want anyone else but him to do the work.

So this client will not be asking for any more work,

If they do then it is an easy call,

PAYMENT IN ADVANCE after outstanding invoices are paid.

Also the rate goes up because you are too busy.

serious_saver

I suspect that as he's self employed this probably isn't the first time he's come across something like this. If he wanted he could persue them through small claims. BUT as more4forless says he will know not to do business with them again and can insist on a higher daily rate in future.

paulwf

SunriseSunset wrote: »

Invoices.

They pay a set amount for 8 hrs and more for over time. When my dad kept doing over time, which was necessary because they want jobs done quickly- not necessarily properly- they didn't like it. They wanted him to work set hours and stop before over time kicked in, but then he couldn't finish the jobs PROPERLY in time. Others cut corners, but my dad doesn't which is why clients usually don't want anyone else but him to do the work.

Were any terms and conditions agreed to and signed before work was started for the first time?

Can you break down the disputed invoice for us? Did the company only pay £300 because they are paying others £300 for the job but your father has also claimed £500 overtime? Or something different?