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Original poster

Should I ring the Head Office of DP's work?

28 replies

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 11:32

DP works for Nightfreight. He has been there 7 months. He still hasn't had his contract through and every month they mess up his wages. Usually it's overtime they mess up and don't pay. Last month it was his whole wage - they paid him £25 for the month Anyway, after he kicked up they transferred £900 to his bank. Still way short. His boss admitted last week that he was owed another 40 hours plus 3 saturdays (£75 per sat so a fair bit!) He was told at the beginning of the week they were sending a cheque down for him. This morning he still hasn't got it. We aren't exactly rolling in it as it is but we really need this money sooner rather than later, as most people would.

DP has asked me to ring Head Office as obviously he is driving all day... should I?

OP posts:

IvortheEngine · 07/12/2006 11:38

I would ring, yes. I'd write down clearly on a piece of paper all the info, the dates, the amounts received against the correct amount and I'd ask for the payroll dept. Make sure you have his payroll number to hand, his date of birth, etc. They may not talk to you if you're his dp, possibly as it's confidential info. Perhaps they'd insist on ringing him to confirm that they have permission to discuss it with you and then they could ring you back. Hth.

chocolaterobin · 07/12/2006 11:39

Yes you should, he has worked hard for that money and they should not expect him to just make do with what they have given him. If he didnt need the money he wouldnt be going to work. Give em hell, sometimes its the only way.

chocolaterobin · 07/12/2006 11:39

chocolaterobin · 07/12/2006 11:42

Sorry about the treble post computer went funn.

Also as it will be a cheque you will have to wait for it to clear, i would push for another bank transfer as had they sent it when they said they were going to chances are it would be clear for the weekend.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 11:44

I did wonder about the bank transfer - can companies do bacs/bank transfers at any time? dp thinks they can only do it when they do all the wages... I think he's being fobbed off.

Also should I say he's my husband instread of partner to make them a bit more likely to talk to me?

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Ladymuck · 07/12/2006 11:46

I'd refer to myself as dp's "legal adviser".

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 11:49

lol I did actually think about that too!!!

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knittingtinsel · 07/12/2006 11:50

I think you should be considering an interest charge on the amounts outstanding as wages should be paid on an agreed date and your dp should have a contract which states when that date is.

the hr department appears to be totally crap and it's very poor not to have an efficient wages calculation and payment system in place.

perhaps they need an inspection visit from the inland revenue to sort them out.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 11:55

Totally agree with that knittingtinsel.

So what should I specifically say to them to give them a huge kick up the backside?

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IvortheEngine · 07/12/2006 11:58

I don't think you should say he's your husband if he isn't. They should have his details i.e. next of kin etc on his records and if they don't match what you're saying, they're unlikely to trust you on the money front and it weakens your case. Sorry if I sound a bit harsh.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 12:00

No, good point Ivor...

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Hideehi · 07/12/2006 12:01

I don't think it matters weather you're his wife or not you are authorised to speak on his bahalf and they might not talk to you until they can clarify that, by which time he might as well have called them himself.
I wouldn't discuss an employees wages with their partner.

knittingtinsel · 07/12/2006 12:43

perhaps you could draft a letter for your dp to sign setting out that he has been advised that he should have received a contract by now and that it is only reasonable to expect to receive wages on time and correctly calculated and including any overtime payments due, to do otherwise is causing his family undue hardship and worry

the letter could also state that you are authorised to contact them on his behalf until further notice and stating a date by which he will take the matter further if he has not received a reply.

he could also ask whether the hr/payroll department staff regularly receive their wages late or not at all ? Why do they expect drivers to put up with their lack of professional standards if they are not subject to it themselves.

knittingtinsel · 07/12/2006 12:45

you could point out that not paying him is saving the company on bank interest (assuming they run an overdraft like most larger businesses do) but you are incurring the bank interest charges instead and you will be seeking re-imbursement thereof.

It's easy enough to calculate a bit of interest based on the current bank rate and time delay on the wages payment.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 12:49

I've just rung them...got through to a really arsey cow which got my back up so she put me through to a manager who was nice. She said the cheque is there on her desk so I said I want it paid into his account, now!

Also discovered that he is on basic tax code so he has been paying hundreds in tax that he shouldn't so she is now going to sort that too .

I forgot to mention his contract although he is intending to stay to the end of this month and has another job lined up for the start of January. We can't afford for them tomess us about like this every month, it's really not worth it.

Thanks for all the advice though... I still might write that letter becuase even though dp is leaving, all the other drivers are in the same boat and it's not on!

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FestiveFrex · 07/12/2006 12:49

I wouldn't ring. I would write. Set out all dates and hours worked, overtime, etc., and payments received. Ask them to pay the money owed as otherwise this is unauthorised deduction of wages - a phrase they won't want to hear as it is an automatic breach of your dh's statutory rights and employment tribunals frown on that pretty heavily.

If they still don't comply, your dh could raise a grievance, although, as he has only worked there for 7 months, he might want to tread carefully if he still wants the job.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 12:52

Could we do that knittingtinsel? That's the kind of thing I'd like to base a letter on. I'm not sure how many charges he's had but we are behind with rent and just about every bill just no because of their cock-ups and I think they need to know it...

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Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 12:55

that's interesting to hear festivefrex.... last month he was going to leave because of a whole string of non-payment/no contract/no uniform/treating him like crap issues and when they paid him, they paid him about £200 and deducted £175 for god knows what and paid him £25 for the month.

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nuttygirl · 07/12/2006 13:30

If the company do not pay on time (as per contract, which would possibly be hard for you to prove as they haven't sent one) then your DP is entitled to any charges he incurs as a result. e.g. If you go overdrawn at the bank the company has to reimburse you for the charge made by the bank. Unfortunately, I don't know what will happen with your DPs situation as he doesn't have a contrat. He's also entitled to have the money transferred same day by bacs....they company can do this AT ANY TIME but they pay a charge so that's probably why they're trying to fobb him off.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 13:37

She's just this second rung me back and said that they are transferring it into his account today.

Why couldn't they have just done that in the first place?? Why does it always take me to ring up and have a go to sort out the mess of dithering men??!!

Can't wait til he's out of there tbh.

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FestiveFrex · 07/12/2006 19:34

Oh he does have a contract. He just doesn't have a written copy of it. And that's another breach of his statutory rights. Employers are supposed to provide employees with a written statement of their terms and conditions within 2 months of their starting.

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 19:50

Is there anything that's worth him doing about it or is there not much point as he's going at the end of this month?

Thank you for your help frex...again!

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FestiveFrex · 07/12/2006 19:53

Well, if he's going anyway, he could raise a grievance about all the issues, especially if the money going into his account turns out to be less than all outstanding sums. At least that way, he's likely to get everything owing to him. I assume he won't be looking to his current employers to provide him with a reference??

Original poster

onzephyrstdayofchristmas · 07/12/2006 19:55

I don't know... he has already got another job lined up for new year. What's the thing with references? Is it that they can refuse to give one but they can't give a bad one? Not that they should anyway, dp has worked his arse off for these gits!!

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