I work freelance and I am signed up to a recruitment agency. I found myself in the unusual situation that I was without work for 8 weeks. Unfortunately during this time I had a number of unexpected bills and found myself having to borrow a total of £2000 from my bank. This needs to be paid back monthly.
I wasn’t concerned about this loan as I had a decent 2 month contract lined up and confirmed. I’d passed the interview and just needed to wait for my dbs to come through and I’d be done. I got the notification that my dbs had come through and my recruitment consultant told me I’d be starting in 4 days time.
As the contract was out of area and not commutable I did what I always do and spend the first week in a hotel with the plan to get a short term contract for a room somewhere near to my work within the first week. My pay after tax and bills is £500 a week so I can afford to do this.
However a day before I was due to start I got a message from the consultant saying he was still waiting for my University to confirm the dates I was there! I was surprised as he’d never mentioned this before. I was told the job was confirmed and I’d be starting on the Monday. I put him in contact with my tutor but have heard nothing. The consultant told me there’s some ‘odds and ends’ needing doing before I can start work but I should be started next week.
I’m technically currently unemployed, I’m £2000 in debt. I have a maximum of £300 a month to keep me ticking over until I start work. I can afford another week in the hotel if I’m definitely going to start the contract but I’m starting to have my doubts now. If I pay for another week in the hotel it will leave me without enough to sustain myself if the contract doesn’t happen. There’s no new start date in sight.
I’ve been a freelance worker for 7 years and never had a problem before. My booking is non refundable so if I leave earlier than this week I don’t save anything. I could go back But this wouldn’t help me as if I don’t start by next week I won’t have enough to pay for accommodation the week before I get paid. I can’t take out anymore loans either.
AIBU to go home next week if they haven’t sorted my contract by then?