Company Problem

fairmorn308

I left my company last month but they sent me a letter saying i had to repay all my training etc if i leave within the 1st year but this wasnt in my contract when i 1st signed it and they only issued it saying it 6 months after the training was done and the company was taken over.

Right here is my problem They have certificates of mine to prove the courses i have done and i urgently need them but i need to know the correct way to go about it.

I got a feeling they will say u wont get them unless you pay for ur training.

Need help

fairmorn308

anyone help me?

iceicebaby

Well I am no expert, however if you did sign the contract with the clause in about the training even if it was 6 months later, you have still signed it and therefore will be bound by it. I know my employer has been bought out by 2 different companies in the 7 years I have been there and new terms and conditions were issued after 1 of the take overs. If you have signed then you will be liable

Thats my first thoughts. However I am sure someone with more experience will be along soon

kelloggs36

What did you contract say at the time of signing it? They can't change the contract afterwards without your consent.

fairmorn308

this is the problem

6th feb 06 i joined the company and did 2 weeks training

1st june 06 company got bought over.

No new contract issued or anything.

10th june 06 they issue this single bit of paper saying if leave in 1st yr will have to pay back training but how can they do this when i did my training under a different companies name and also never got issued with a new contract

iceicebaby

They just changed the relevant terms and conditions and issued an single sheet with the amendments on in my work, not the whole contract. We had the option of not signing it tho as they cant make you sign. However if you have signed it I am not sure where you stand

kelloggs36

What was on the ORIGINAL contract? Presumably you signed one in February?

alyth

ICE, I've worked in many law firms over the years, who have taken on paralegals, put them on the training courses, and whether it's in their contract or not, it's a given that if they leave within I think a year then they will have to pay the price of the training back, and I know of one instance where they did taken the money back, by withholding the person's wages. So i suspect unfortunately that you will have to pay the money back, and depending on how vindictive the company are, they will pursue you for the money, I'm sorry to say. How much do you have to pay back, and can you afford it? If you're planning on working in the same sector than it might be worth biting the bullet and paying the money as I know, especially in law, that word of mouth counts for a lot, and you may find it difficult to work in the same sector.

fairmorn308

i have past there deadline for paying it back but i can just say i have been out the country

to be honest i could call them and say yes i will pay but able to pay installments. think thats the only way i will get my certificates.

iceicebaby

alyth wrote:

ICE, I've worked in many law firms over the years, who have taken on paralegals, put them on the training courses, and whether it's in their contract or not, it's a given that if they leave within I think a year then they will have to pay the price of the training back, and I know of one instance where they did taken the money back, by withholding the person's wages. So i suspect unfortunately that you will have to pay the money back, and depending on how vindictive the company are, they will pursue you for the money, I'm sorry to say. How much do you have to pay back, and can you afford it? If you're planning on working in the same sector than it might be worth biting the bullet and paying the money as I know, especially in law, that word of mouth counts for a lot, and you may find it difficult to work in the same sector.

Alyth it wasnt my question lol.

kelloggs36

What I am trying to get across, is that if you signed a contract which did not state that you will have to refund any training money, and then they changed the contract without your consent, they are in breach of contract and cannot enforce these changes. Did you sign a contract when you first started? If so, what did it say in relation to training fees and leaving within a year? If it did not say anything then they cannot bring in new terms to your contract later on - regardless of the fact that the company changed. You should have been given a new contract.