Still waiting for first block of furlough funds

[Deleted User]

Hi everybody. I will try and keep this short. I was a supply teacher before the pandemic. My agency outsourced pursuit and payment processing of furlough to a payment outsourcing Co. Since then, it has been a nightmare. I agreed to furlough with them on 23rd April. They keep promising funds will be available on a set date, then in the next call to them, they say they are still awaiting grant approval from HMRC. They are cagey and manipulate information, sometimes even saying you weren't told what you know you were. I am owed 5 payslips. I wondered if anybody else had been in this situation? 

sharpe106

Not much you can do if the agency has outsourced it. They have to do the chasing unfortunately, all you can really do is keep chasing the agency.

poppy12345

Yes quite a few posts on here are still waiting for wages from their employer after them saying they would be furloughed.

I see you work for an agency. There's been a lot of posts on here stating that their agency is refusing to furlough them and i'm wondering if yours is the same and they are just tell you they will furlough you when they may not. Have they sent you an agreement or anything? You have to agree to be furloughed.

[Deleted User]

Thanks. Yes, it is frustrating because of the way they are dealing with the situation. You can have a text from them saying the funds will be in our account by this week just gone then another later to say they have just submitted the claim and it will take 6 working days. Yesterday, I was told they are chasing grant approval. You get told something different by every single operator. 

[Deleted User]

Yes Poppy, I signed an agreement on 23rd April. Since then, I have received 5 payslips for tax weeks 1 to 6. I just don't understand why it is taking so long. However, it is their attitude that is wrong. I've decided not to call them again because it's hopeless. Misinformation, contradictory message etc. They even said that the message saying we would receive money this week was sent in error!

poppy12345

WFranklin71 said:

Yes Poppy, I signed an agreement on 23rd April. Since then, I have received 5 payslips for tax weeks 1 to 6.

You can check on gov.uk (HMRC) to see if it says you've received any wages. If you don't have an account then you can sign up for one.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Poppy. I will do that

pleasedelete

It is voluntary, they don't have to furlough you or pay up anything. Some agencies didn't. 
It has a cost to them (accrued holiday-although for teaching staff that may already be built into rate) and their staff needed to process  claims, payroll, talk to clients (so cant be furloughed)

[Deleted User]

well it gets more interesting. I've just checked my tax account and it says this company has made 5 payments to me since 24th April and it shows the exact amounts. I have received no funds. 

[Deleted User]

pleasedelete said:

It is voluntary, they don't have to furlough you or pay up anything. Some agencies didn't. 
It has a cost to them (accrued holiday-although for teaching staff that may already be built into rate) and their staff needed to process  claims, payroll, talk to clients (so cant be furloughed)

I have already been advised I am eligible for furlough by this company and have signed the contract agreeing to be furloughed. If I wasn't advised that, I would have accepted it. However, I am being given on line payslips AND now they are showing on my personal tax account (HMRC) as having being paid, but I've never received the funds.

SXX

WFranklin71 said:

pleasedelete said:

It is voluntary, they don't have to furlough you or pay up anything. Some agencies didn't. 
It has a cost to them (accrued holiday-although for teaching staff that may already be built into rate) and their staff needed to process  claims, payroll, talk to clients (so cant be furloughed)

I have already been advised I am eligible for furlough by this company and have signed the contract agreeing to be furloughed. If I wasn't advised that, I would have accepted it. However, I am being given on line payslips AND now they are showing on my personal tax account (HMRC) as having being paid, but I've never received the funds.

You need to report them.  Here is the wording from the guidance and link to report fraud.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              If you’re concerned that your employer is abusing the scheme you should report them. This could include your employer claiming on your behalf and not paying you what you’re entitled to, being asked to work whilst on furlough, or making a backdated claim that includes times when you were working.