Between June and October I worked as a Web Developer at a large Software Development company in Yorkshire, UK. I was placed in this role by an individual purporting to be from 'IT Recruitment Solutions'. The client was extremely happy with my work and renewed my contract after the initial 3 months.
Although my contract was on headed paper from 'IT Recruitment Solutions' it turns out it was actually with a company called 'Contract Recruitment Solutions', registered to the same address. My first two payments arrived on time. The following 4 invoices became overdue, with repeated unfulfilled promises of payment. I advised my contact at the company that I was going to request a meeting directly with the client to discuss non-payment, at this point they (the agent) advised me they would pay in a cheque that afternoon - this they did, from the 'IT Recruitment Solutions' bank account.
Unfortunately they again became overdue on 4 invoices, however this time the client was already aware of the situation, and as a result they severed relations with the agent entirely (having paid all due invoices). It turns out the agent factored all invoices and had received my money long before. 4 other contractors were in the same position as me. Following on from this 4 more invoices of mine became overdue and I ceased working at the client altogether at the end of my contracted period. These 8 invoices were never paid, it's now 5 months since the oldest one. They've ripped me off for 13,000, and another 4 contractors up to a total of 60,000 that I know of.
It appears to me that Contract Recruitment Solutions was set up purely to filter contractor payments through. But, having researched them (and indeed simply looked at letterheads on documents supplied to me as well as email addresses) there are numerous names regularly popping up.
IT Recruitment Solutions
Contract Recruitment Solutions
The Recruitment Solutions Group
Engineering Recruitment Solutions
HR Recruitment Solutions
Recsol Holdings Limited All based in the same offices in Altrincham
I must make mention of an individual called 'Steve Dale' / 'Steven D Dale' who describes himself as an 'Outside Consultant' for Contract Recruitment Solutions after initially being introduced as Managing Director. I've since checked the domain name registrations for all of these companies, and the vast majority are regitered to a UK individual called 'Steve Dale', or an individual called 'SD'. I also located a company called Empty Lemon recently registered to this UK Individual at a nearby address in Altrincham. Many of their websites use the same template.
In my opinion all of these companies are absolutely related, I'd advise anyone reading this - do not do business with any of them. Am now in the process (along with 4 other contractors) of taking legal action to recover the money.
0 comments