When I was on agency and turned up at a site to be told I wasn’t needed I was always paid 8/10 hrs pay( if it was agency’s fault/ company’s fault ), i know plenty of mates who have turned up at our place over the years and rubbed there hands together to be told over booked,sheet signed up ( 10 hrs pay ) and sent home after 1/2 hr.
Now last night lad turns up with me and is then told he shouldn’t be there,but eventually they tell him they’d had a issue with a agency driver so had booked him to cover,but had now resolved the issue but had forgot to cancel the lad who turned up at same time as me.
So they said there sorry they’ve nothing for him and he’d have to go home,but as he was booked the next night they’d add him 2 hrs on his next shift( does 8 hrs they’ll pay him 10 hrs) for the inconvenience ( he agrees,shakes on it), but what happened to the shift being paid,they admit there fault,he’s travelled x amount of distance,he could have had a full shift elsewhere,2 hrs doesn’t seem much,so what happened to guaranteed 8/10 hrs 
It hasn’t changed to the best of my knowledge, where I am they pay us 7 hours.(which is ■■■■ as my higher rate starts after 8, but it can be a nice surprise during summer months!)
Sounds like he didn’t know any better so they took advantage of it, you should have told him mr. blue eyes!
I’ve also had to let guys know about this on occasion.
Sounds like they took advantage of his naivety, he should have a word with his agency.
If the company don’t usually sign time sheets, he could get the eight hours for turning up last night and an extra two hours on tonight’s shift if he plays his cards right 
tachograph:
Sounds like they took advantage of his naivety, he should have a word with his agency.If the company don’t usually sign time sheets, he could get the eight hours for turning up last night and an extra two hours on tonight’s shift if he plays his cards right
This ^^^^^
Take the 8hrs pay and put it down to experience, then next time get the detail in writing/email before/upon taking the shift