Commission only work, client wanting more and more work for free

[Frustratedfreelancer]

Hi all

I've started recently doing telesales on a freelance basis from home. One client pays me an hourly wage + commission and the other is on a commission only basis, which I am fine about, but obviously the only way I can make money is by doing calls, so anything else doesn't make me any money. At first I was just working through a database, phoning companies, which was fine. Then the client started wanting me to fill out information sheets about every call I make, which takes me 3 or 4 minutes per call. So, say a call is 5 minutes long, I can really only get just over half done per hour that I used to, and so less chance of making a sale as less time to do calls (my youngest is at nursery so obviously I need to use the time as efficiently as possible).

Now the client has said they want me to start doing reports for them every Friday, compiling statistics about my calls, analysing the calls, etc, which will be 3 hours or so of unpaid work again. Also I made it clear from the outset I could only do 6-8 hours per week for the company and they agreed and said it would be fine. I cannot do anymore. But now they seem to be expecting me to work full time for them as if they don't hear from me for an hour or two during the day with a lead, they start emailing and asking how I'm getting on and can I try to get some more leads.

I don't know what to do really. I've not received any payment yet as its something that will require a lot of initial groundwork, and relation-ship building to get big orders, but I think in time it could be a decent earner. But I really don't want to get saddled with unpaid admin work really.

Charge the admin at an hourly rate if they wont pay don't do - Your are self employed so YOU need to set the ground rules

Not received any payment yet? How long have you been working for free?!

I think you should mention the national minimum wage to them. They sound a bunch of chancers. While a bit of give and take might be expected in the beginning with regards to hours (you finding your feet, them expecting you to get up to speed without actually doing much training which takes a little time) this just looks wrong.

How much commission do you get and how much time/expense (ie phone calls) do you put in? It sounds like they are expecting you to work for free which is illegal.

I am assuming you're not an employee either? Tbh I'd probably tell them to get lost, bill then for my time at nmw and take them to a tribunal if they failed to cough up.

Thanks to you both for your replies.

Katie, I think the main problem is they've never had any telesales staff/freelancers before so it's all new to them, and they literally think that within hours of me starting I will orders and orders of thousands of products, which hasnt been the case at all. I think also that their product is something that won't be purchased without a sample; the minimum price for a case of the items is around the £200 mark, and customers won't order it without a sample yet they are reluctant to send samples out. Hence I think they've got a bit huffy and that's why they're demanding this data. I find it annoying too that after agreeing that I would be very part time, they are expecting me to be at their beck and call day in day out and are constantly contacting me. The reason I started working for myself was so that I could work from home and fit around the DC. When they phone, sometimes my youngest is at home, I usually work when he's at nursery or with my mum, or on the rare occasion DH is home during the day. So then they start questioning me on why is he home etc (he is obviously noisy in the background), and that they hope he isn't there when I make my calls, and I have to explain yet again that no, of course he is out, but I'm not actually making calls at that time.

I've been working for them for about 3 weeks so far. I anticipate it will be 6 weeks or so before I get any payment at all.

I've woken up this morning feeling really fed up about it and am thinking of finishing with this client, billing them for the time Ive spent making calls, and finding a client that is prepared to pay an hourly rate.

Also to add, I've had no training at all from them. It was up to me to write the script etc.

And now I've had an email saying they're going to set me weekly targets

I think your plan of finishing, billing them for time spent and moving on sounds sensible. They are unlikely to pay such a bill though...

This company is bad news. I would quit immediately: they are not taking their responsibilities seriously, and companies which are like this are just playing at business, really. Proper businesses ensure that their new ventures are resourced, their set up budgeted for, and that all legsl requirements are met (employment law, etc.). This lot is not even willing to send samples out.

You should not be paying to work, and if you continue, you will lose money and lose time for the client which actually pays you the hourly wage plus commission!

Sorry to sound so harsh, but this sounds like the sort of think I have seen before (personally - both in the situation, and having it proposed to me as a "job", whereupon I refused!)