provident agents [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

firebladechick

Have a read on HMRC.GOV.UK/EMPLOYMENT-STATUS/INDEX
its in small case but had to do it large otherwise it wouldnt let me post a link

scooby088

If you truly are then you as agents should invoice the company with the amount that you have earned, i can never fathom out why my old manager used to call them wage slips. So i would suggest every agent get a invoice book and start writing the company invoices when their commission has been docked.

no_issue

Scooby I take it you mean if we are self-employed then we should invoice the company on a weekly basis, but its now in our interests to be employed by the company.
One of our local agents spoke to a guy at CAB about this and his opinion is that 'as we perform a service for the company on a week to week basis we are employed by the company.'
This means that we are covered by the Employment Act and one of the terms of the EA is that 'Employers shall not make deductions from an Employees wages.' So Provident are breaking the law by making these deductions.
This would then give us the right to sue them (probably in Small Claims Court) but the fly in the ointment here is that EVERY agent who has suffered a loss would have to do this together as the Company would just pay up a few individuals and terminate their contracts (probably for some technical irregularity).
This is the view of CAB but if anyone has access to legal advice would they post on here (we're hoping to talk to a Solicitor later this week but 2/3 opinions better than 1.
Can I just make the point that if it turns out that we are in fact employed by the company they are then responsible for making PAYE and National Insurance deductions, they will also have to give us paid holiday leave and cover the holiday periods themselves. Paid maternity leave is another requirement. These are just some of the benefits of being employed. The company has always said we are self-employed because it suited them to do so but they just used this as a tool to walk all over us, they changed our commission without any consultation with agents and I don't know anyone who is better off under new system. They fine us for mistakes on forms which are bulky, terribly laid-out and time-consuming and now they expect us to recompense them when customers stop paying or when their personal circumstances change. The board of this company have taken advantage of the very lax lending laws in this country and now they also want to take money off the people who work for them. They are immoral and corrupt.

Cantaffordtoquit

Hi Ladies and Gents

I have sat today and read all the posts, one of my customers has read the piece in the daily mail and bless her said she feels sorry for me.
I have worked for Provvi for 3 years and have seen a decline in my weekly income, due to customers paying off accounts and not re-financing due to high interest rates and also due to IVA's etc,
I am in the position of not being able to quit, at least until I find another job. That not so easy as I share the car with my hubby for his work so new employment would have to fit certain hours, am even considering nightshift.
I loved my job, majority of my customers are lovely and sincere, so if one says I really cant afford to pay you this week, I know theres a valid reason.
This makes it hard when I know they have problems but I also know if they dont pay me Im losing £5,£10 or even £15 pound on them for something totally out of my control.
I am watching this forum closely for info on anything which may come to light which will help us all. Thanks peeps good to know your not alone.

no_issue

Has there been an article in Daily Mail - what did it say ?

mixedupagent

Well are we not collecting week 20 ? Lets see how they like it eh, not just sales NO COLLECTING !

bashtheagents

Lozzal wrote: »

I emailed a complaint to head office about the recent changes and how we are being unfairly penalised with these deductions. Thought you may be interested in their reply implying I hadn't undersood these new changes.

Dear xxxx
I would like to thank you for your email below, which I will forward to senior management out in the field.

As part of the Company’s long term plan to deliver quality customer growth, with effect from Thursday 7 April, as you know the Company introduced a number of changes to the existing commission scheme.


These changes represent a balanced approach and support better quality focus for both Managers and Agents. In order to ensure the scheme has been fully explained to you your letter has therefore been forwarded to the Area Manager who will address your concerns.

If your concerns are not resolved and you would like to discuss this matter further then please contact [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] Regional Operations Manager, [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

Yours sincerely


[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]
Agent Services Officer
Provident Financial Management Services Limited
Fair-Responsible-Accessible-Progressive-Straightforward

Not a good idea to reveal your identity ?

demoralised

Re; contacting the inland revenue, you do realise that at least half if not more will lose their jobs, we will be paid minimum wage,and I am sure the majority of us earn more than that, even with these unfair fines, you will be unable to offset petrol, car costs etc. against tax, and will pay higher national insurance,you will also lose what flexability you do have re when you collect, and will probably be expected to go to office daily. Be very careful what you wish for it may come true.We must fight these fines , but not that way.

summer_boy

demoralised wrote: »

Re; contacting the inland revenue, you do realise that at least half if not more will lose their jobs, we will be paid minimum wage,and I am sure the majority of us earn more than that, even with these unfair fines, you will be unable to offset petrol, car costs etc. against tax, and will pay higher national insurance,you will also lose what flexability you do have re when you collect, and will probably be expected to go to office daily. Be very careful what you wish for it may come true.We must fight these fines , but not that way.

That sounds to me to be bradford HQ speak. Be careful what we wish for. Job security - holiday pay - pension benefits - sick pay - employment rights - minimum wage. So we want to give all that up if we have the chance to be self employed with an agency that can be terminated in 7 days if we don't perform ( control again, funny how that word keeps cropping up). Believe me the last thing provident want is for te revenue to explore the status of the agents. Imagine if all 11000 agents were made employed on minimum wage. Now imagine the additional revenue due to increased wages and employers nic. You are talking millions not thousands. We all need to contact the revenue and tell them what it's really like to work for provident. So I'm ur words you said be careful what you wish for, well up to now 95 per cent of reps feel they will be worse off. Agents we need to make crook pay

self_employed???

As well as contacting the Inland Revenue we could also get in touch with Watchdog. Enough emails and maybe they would look into the matter.