Illegal for recruitment agency to ask for money?

MrSnuggles

For a job application being processed by a recruitment agency on behalf of their client, I was asked to pay for a 'guide book' giving information on the company's history and industry it's in. Well I refused to pay and said it's illegal. Now the recruitment agency is still offering me the numeracy and verbal reasoning online tests but said there's 23 applicants and only the top 4 scorers will make it to the next stage. Think they'll make an excuse to get rid of me because I didn't pay up?

*Scarlett

I certainly would not be paying the recruitment agency. It sounds very dodgy to me.

The employer is the one who pays the agency for recruiting a suitable candidate.

Numeracy and verbal reasoning clearly have nothing to do with the company's history that the "guide book" would supply.

Surely you can look for any information that you would need on the company online?

You may be correct that they will discount your application but I don't know if there's a lot you can do about this. I don't know if it's legal or not, but I definitely don't agree with it.

sammyroser

Recruitment agencies can charge customers for any 'training' they give them.

Would I pay them? Absolutely not but they are allowed to do it.

bevanuk

There are some agencies out there you have to pay for them to represent you. If it's just for a book you can probably do the research yourself.
You may as well do the tests anyhow - nothing to lose.

LittleVoice

bevanuk wrote: »

There are some agencies out there you have to pay for them to represent you. If it's just for a book you can probably do the research yourself.
You may as well do the tests anyhow - nothing to lose.

Theatricals pay agencies - that's an exception to the rule.

No normal recruitment agency is allowed to charge the candidate for finding them work. They can, however, try to lure people into paying for CV writing or other services which would supposedly help in securing work.