To just bloody give up on trying to be employed

[Inliverpool1]

I did some freelance work for a company who were then so impressed they offered me a job which I took.
3 months later my invoice for the original work still wasn’t paid so had a gentle word, was promised in writing the money had been paid. A week later nothing. Another word, again promised it had been sent, sat like an idiot pressing refresh on my bank details, still nothing.
I called him out, said you’ve not been honest I’d like payment. Today I’ve been sacked for asking for what I’m owed. I’m absolutely raging. It’s £5000 I can’t pay other people until I get the money through. How can people run businesses like this and sleep at night

That can not be legal. Have you called aces? Can they help?

I will do first thing on Monday morning. It just blows my mind people are out there who behave in such a way

Really poor behaviour on his part. Unless there is discriminatory behaviour or unpaid wages for the employed work you did, not a lot ACAS will be able to recommend you do as you are under the two year qualifying service to claim at an employment tribunal. You certainly should pursue the freelance money owed - that is a civil action. A formal letter demanding payment within five work ing days or you will initiate formal proceedings should be sent. If this doesn't do the trick them you can take to a small claims court, instruct a debt collection service etc.

I know. I had my own business. We supplied a product to a multi million pound business. They had loads of cash and it took a legal letter to get the 15k they owed us.

When I divorced I was happy to be employed and leave all that shit behind. I could never get payment on time of companies. Used to do my head in.

DorisDances - There’s both ... the bastard 😕

Self employed here as well. I'm pretty much in the minority of 'decent' bosses I think. I couldn't sleep at night, if I owed someone that amount of money. Thankfully my contractors are all pretty decent, but the odd one thinks it's ok to leave me hanging for months on end. Boils my piss

It sounds like you were not a PAYE employee. Is that right?
If you weren't then did uyou have a written contract and if not never do any work again without one as they cover all these kinds of things such as minimum notice period etc.

If the money is owed then you can sue on line via moneyclaims on line and as under £10k is a "small claim" (in England) but first try as suggest above a formal letter demanding payment. You can also add 8.75% per annum interest to the debt and a collection charge of £70 in your formal letter. www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery/claim-debt-recovery-costs

I was self employed and then became paye for three months

If you were under PAYE when asked to go they should have given you a week's written notice (or longer if your contract says so). You should also have had written particulars of employment which should set out your notice period.

It sounds like the money owed is from when you were self employed so the small claim court route or threatening to serve a winding up petition may be the best bets to extract the money once they have paid you everything they owe you for wags for the PAYE period and you have got your P45.