Offer accepted 2 months ago - still no start date. What should I do?

OhPeanuts

Hi there, I am looking for some advice please.

I was offered a job about 2 months ago. At the time I was undertaking an unpaid internship and I got offered a good job with the firm where I was interning, and could have started right away. I was also offered 2 other jobs. I chose to accept one - despite the fact that they said it was subject to various checks - because it was an good job with good prospects (a graduate role in a respected firm).

I signed a contract, etc etc. I was told that the checks could take about 3 weeks.

So I continued to intern at my current firm and awaited a start date. Two months on I still havnt heard anything!! I emailed last week and my HR contact said they were still conducting checks! reading between the lines - i think it could be weeks longer (which is not an option for me).

The firm they use to conduct the checks are a joke, and keep telling my *touch wood* future employer that I haven't sent them various documents that they need - which I have sent about 10 times! First class post the first 9 or so times and then recorded delivery. They still claimed not to have got them, so i faxed them and asked that that they confirm receipt - which they did. They even continued to tell the employer that I hadn't sent them anything for a week or so after they had confirmed receipt of them to me. They've made me look totally incompetent to my prospective employer.

Anyway - my main problem is now that I can't pay my rent or bills and will probably have to move back to my mums - 5 hours away from the location of this job.

Waiting these 2 months, Ive got myself in increasing debt, promising myself that soon I will be on a good wage so it will be okay. It's now got to a point where it is not okay!

A credit check is also part of the checks they require - so I am also really worrying that, as I have been unpaid for 2 months where I would have otherwise been paid, my credit score will be substantially lower that it would have been 2 months ago.

I feel as though I am in a ridiculous 'catch 22' situation.

I don't want to email HR and unload my problems on them, but the reality is - I wont be able to take up the position soon as I will be living at my mums 5 hours away.

I had 5 intense interviews and various exams to get this job. I was ecstatic when I got it, but now I feel as though it has ruined everything, and I wish I had just accepted the other job.

What should I do? Please help

Thank you

AP007

Ask for a start date?

OhPeanuts

I have done and HR said they are still waiting fir the checks to come back.

AP007

OhPeanuts wrote: »

I have done and HR said they are still waiting fir the checks to come back.

So you are not signing on?

OhPeanuts

No, I can't sign on because I'm on an internship 'full-time'.

OhPeanuts

I guess my question is really - is it okay to email HR and tell them that the company they use for these checks are incompetent and that they keep lying about not having received things and they are putting my in a terrible financial situation and that they need to give me a start date.

Or should I just keep asking politely, and risk having to give up my flat, life, and any job prospects by moving back in with my mum.

AP007

OhPeanuts wrote: »

No, I can't sign on because I'm on an internship 'full-time'.

are you being paid for that?

AP007

OhPeanuts wrote: »

I guess my question is really - is it okay to email HR and tell them that the company they use for these checks are incompetent and that they keep lying about not having received things and they are putting my in a terrible financial situation and that they need to give me a start date.

Or should I just keep asking politely, and risk having to give up my flat, life, and any job prospects by moving back in with my mum.

Why are they putting you in a financial crisis?

Hence my signing on question etc

If you demand a start date and accuse people you may not get a start at all

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Not everything should be done by email...

Pick the phone up, call your HR contact and ask
'What check seems to be the problem?
What can I do to facilitate getting a start date?'

And take it from there.

Also ask if the intern job is still available, you should have accepted this anyway as you were working there; pending the checks on the other job.

And

if it isn't, stop interning and sign on - at least you will have some income then.

OhPeanuts

No. The internship is paid expenses only - travel and lunch etc. (although they offered me a salaried job 2 months ago).
They are putting me in a bad financial situation as:

1) I am living independently and not with family - bills and rent to pay etc.

2) I was offered the internship on the basis that it was unpaid but if they were happy with my performance after 3 months they would offer me a job - which they did after 2 months.

3) I decided to take up the internship as I had some inheritance from my brother and decided to use it to live off frugally for 3 months whilst working my !!! off so I was sure to be offered the job.

4) I was offered the job after 2 months, as well as the job that I accepted. However I accepted the other job (as it had better prospects), on the understanding that the checks would take around 3 weeks

5)its been 2 months and the checks are not complete. my inheritance has run out and I racked up an overdraft trying to pay bills and rent.

6) I am at the bottom of my overdraft, cant pay my phone bill. I may be able to afford this months rent, but certainly not next.

7) hence I am in a bad finincial situation, which I would not have been in if the checks had taken 3 weeks.

8) more worryingly - I may not now pass the checks as it involves a credit check which is now bound to be terrible!

AP007

OhPeanuts wrote: »

No. The internship is paid expenses only - travel and lunch etc. (although they offered me a salaried job 2 months ago).
They are putting me in a bad financial situation as:

1) I am living independently and not with family - bills and rent to pay etc.

2) I was offered the internship on the basis that it was unpaid but if they were happy with my performance after 3 months they would offer me a job - which they did after 2 months.

3) I decided to take up the internship as I had some inheritance from my brother and decided to use it to live off frugally for 3 months whilst working my !!! off so I was sure to be offered the job.

4) I was offered the job after 2 months, as well as the job that I accepted. However I accepted the other job (as it had better prospects), on the understanding that the checks would take around 3 weeks

5)its been 2 months and the checks are not complete. my inheritance has run out and I racked up an overdraft trying to pay bills and rent.

6) I am at the bottom of my overdraft, cant pay my phone bill. I may be able to afford this months rent, but certainly not next.

7) hence I am in a bad finincial situation, which I would not have been in if the checks had taken 3 weeks.

8) more worryingly - I may not now pass the checks as it involves a credit check which is now bound to be terrible!

so why are you working for NOTHING at an internship? I don't get that?

I would have left the internship and signed on to get your rent paid and at least some £ to help you out till the start date comes through or acted quicker and took the paying job where you are