To be upset I've paid £66 for nothing?

[holly49582]

I had an interview for a care agency and was accepted but needed to pay for my CRB and uniform (£66) and also attend 3 days training. I wasn't paid for this.

I have received NO work

I'm worried and stressed.

When were you interviewed and when did you pay?

6 weeks ago.

Keep phoning them and asking if they have anything.

Has your DBS come back yet?

Have you contacted them and asked if there will be work in the next 2 weeks, if not, can you return the uniform?

If they won't then I'd contact trading standards/watchdog, it sounds like a rip off...

That's awful. I would call and ask them how long you are expected to wait. That is not acceptable.

Yes, my DBS came back weeks ago. I have rang them but they just keep saying the company has only just started (it's a national agency but only just opened in this area.) I understand this but in that case it would have been so much fairer to have signed me up then paid the £66 back when earning. It just seems awful companies can do this.

I wonder how many other people have bought a uniform from them? What sort of profit they are making on that. I would ask for your uniform costs to be reimbursed unless they can find you work in the next 2 weeks.

I doubt that would get me anywhere to be honest, as I did sign a zero hours contract although I was assured I'd never have zero hours. Plus I'd be shooting myself in the foot if work DID subsequently come up.

I wish I knew what to do for the best. I just want to work!

At least you have a new up to date crb.

Check online if you can sign up for the subscription- it's £14 on top, payable yearly, but it's always up to date and you won't need to apply again, so you can give prospective agencies a link to check.

This happened to someone I know too. The company kept stringing her along and saying they weren't quite ready yet. This was February and she gave up last week and has started job hunting elsewhere.
Sounds like the same people from what you have said.
Sorry op

Hate companies like this. Crb are linked to jobs or companies as I have 5 of them. Has the rules changed in which case good about time! Sorry op I can't offer any advice but surprised you had to pay for the uniform as try forcing you to wear it. It should get provided free surely.

Coffee I've yet to know a company use those £14 subscriptions, to be honest; they all SAY 'if you fork out X amount with us AND £14 you'll never have to pay this again.' It's so annoying. I guess CRB money brings in a fair amount for companies

To be fair, it's a well established company elsewhere in the UK. I'm just unlucky that it's new here. But knowing that I do feel my CRB costs should have been waived.

Why did you pay for the uniform?

Surely.it's.common practice not to?

Tbh I don't think your.gonna.get.any where with this.and.I would start job hunting again,

Have you phoned them?

I didn't mean.that to sound quite so harsh.

It sucks and.I feel for you, but ibthink.they.are.just mucking you around.

I hope it works, I just did the suscription.
I keep having to get a fresh one and it's adding au!

I can sympathise- the current agency I work for did the same thing- charging for DBS (at an inflated rate) and although they provide one tunic, if you want any more you have to pay for them (non refundable) on leaving the company, if you fail to return it you have to pay again! I do get work but my hours are all over the place and it's very hard to plan your life as they seem to expect you are sitting at home available for them to use at any time. Travel time doesn't get paid either so I can work 12hrs a day but not get paid for the full amount. Oh and I never got paid for training either as it was 'part of the interview process' apparently. It is written in my contract that if I leave within 2yrs I'm supposed to pay for my training...hmm!

Can I be honest OP? Walk away and never look back. You'll never earn enough to make it worth your while and judging from first impressions of your company, you are not going to get treated well. The job itself is ok, the agencies themselves are the problem. If community care is what you would like to do then see if you have any nhs teams recruiting in your area- they pay per shift, set hours and gives you a much more predictable income.

Good luck.

I paid for the uniform because I was told I had to.

The problem with a lot of agencies, including NHS, is that you need recent experience and/or qualifications, neither of which I have. One of the reasons I signed up with this agency was because I didn't need either as they provide the training. I've had the training but no work. I can understand this to a point - if there isn't work there they can't give it to me - but the problem is I'm £66 out of pocket which is a LOT of money just now.

I'm just feeling a bit upset and anxious as I'm going to keep clashing against this, and I can't afford to. It's as if I need to spend money to get work but the work isn't guaranteed so I don't know if I'll even get my money back or make a profit.

I would write to the head office and ask to return the uniform as there is clearly no work for you.

I don't really want to return the uniform, I want to work. Scratch that, I need to work - I'm living on fresh air as it is!

I do see what you mean but the bulk of that money was the CRB. The uniform money was about £18 which to be honest would, genuinely pay for itself with about 4/5 hours work. Once I've got a bit of recent experience I can hopefully apply to one of the other care agencies which are a bit busier, but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place just at the moment.

Try contacting the tax people, you may be able to get the money for this back as 'expenses' whether or not you have worked.

Wondering My Mum had to pay for her uniform and she's with a "real" care agency. It's not that unusual.

We'll, honestly it is "real", it's a national agency, just not much work in my area. Trust me

I wish I knew what to do!

i thought the companies shoudl pay for your CRB, not you? obviously I am wrong but i am surprised,
is it your CRB for workign with them or working anywhere?

I worked for an NHS team for a year Holly, I had no previous care experience at that point. It will depend on the different trusts. Regardless of experience everyone had to be trained anyway to be up to date, you'll find that whether you are with an agency, care home or NHS. I know how stressful it is to be out of work or struggling to afford to live, but from the sounds of it this agency is not the answer. There are better agencies (you'll still come across some of the issues but you'll at least get work) and the majority don't necessarily need care experience (obviously it's desirable) have you talked to others, or is it just from what you've read on their job adverts?