This isn’t the first time I have encountered this doing agency work, but placement today wanted me to ring them after every job, so the next job could be arranged. Looked in cab and couldn’t find cabphone, so goes back into transport office and ask them where phone is. Appears only their employed people have a company phone and agency people have to use their own phones.
I pointed out (politely) mine is Pay as you go at 30p minute and the only outbound calls I make are if the truck has broken down, as the agency doesn’t reimburse any phone calls. Conversation went downhill when dude became insistent I had to ring them and how I should have a contract phone with free minutes usage (WTF). Decided at this stage to give them their keys back and (still being polite) informed them that I don’t run up expenses out of my own pocket, for other people. Was only one days work and did explain situation to agency, who weren’t overly happy, till I pointed out they had explicitly said last time they wouldn’t reimburse cost of phone calls. Their policy and their problem, as told them before I wouldn’t be making any more outbound calls.
What is it with some people nowadays, expecting people to pay out of their own pocket, to do a days work? If it’s not agencies with their ‘umbrella’ schemes, or ‘supply your own ppe’ rhetoric etc, its clients expecting you to be out of pocket for their benefit. As far as clients are concerned I don’t have a phone, nor do I want to tie myself to a contract, for something I seldom use.
Despite my hatred of the client using my phone for their business.
If your low on credit (or at least lie to them), tell them that & you could’ve rung them (1-2 rings) and hung up. Then hopefully they’ll ring you back.
The most sensible option is to add 15 mins per call to the timesheet to cover the cost of calls, up to let say 30-60mins. Just speak to the client and ask if they’re willing to do this compromise, you may actually make a profit on the deal. That way you wouldn’t have to flounce off site without earning penny 1
I used to have a pre-typed out form for the client sign stating that any calls I nake on their behalf would be charged at £1/min, with a minimum £5 call fee. But I never successfully got anyone to sign it.
I can see your point… you don’t by a mobile for someone else’s benefit, if the agency was aware of there clients requirements to call at each delivery they should have supplied a phone or not even sent you.
But playing devils advocate…do you get free texts with would have sorted this situation or are you of that age all fingers and thumbs…lol
Now wait for all the batch comments from all the company guys slagging of the agencies drivers practices…
Swampey2418:
But playing devils advocate…do you get free texts with would have sorted this situation or are you of that age all fingers and thumbs…lol.
peirre:
There’s no such thing as free minutes and text with a Mobile phone contract
You get an allowance for your £10, £20, £30 per month
The agency only have to supply a tradesman (the driver) who is suitably equipped to do the job. Exactly what equipment the driver should have is debatable.
I’ve had the (mobile phone t-shirt), flounced off site etc.
in the end the driver looses … Unless you learn how to play the game.
Sitting in a layby for an additional hour would make LG enough to cover his costs.
If the truck is on a tracker, sitting in the pick up yard doing nowt would hide his activities
Swampey2418:
I can see your point… you don’t by a mobile for someone else’s benefit, if the agency was aware of there clients requirements to call at each delivery they should have supplied a phone or not even sent you.
But playing devils advocate…do you get free texts with would have sorted this situation or are you of that age all fingers and thumbs…lol
Now wait for all the batch comments from all the company guys slagging of the agencies drivers practices…
Nope no free texts and no free calls, just a regular Pay as you go contract. Thing is, had this discussion with the agency just three weeks ago when they wouldn’t reimburse my phone costs then. It is me that directly ends up out of pocket, not the agency and certainly not the client. Simply not going down that route again…
I have been in a similar situation many years ago when mobiles werent an expected standard item, just told em it was incoming calls only but I could send a text which was 10p if they didnt mind reimbursing me via time at the end of shift. Seen as quite a good idea and unusual for an agency driver to come up with this.
Anyway the cheeky buggers even took me on full time, less money but a proper job till I left and made my fotune on the internet then shortly after lossed it again.
Nowdays my company pays £1 per call but i only make about 20 a month as theres also a company phone. By some weird coincidence £20 is my monthly contract cost.
Swampey2418:
I can see your point… you don’t by a mobile for someone else’s benefit, if the agency was aware of there clients requirements to call at each delivery they should have supplied a phone or not even sent you.
But playing devils advocate…do you get free texts with would have sorted this situation or are you of that age all fingers and thumbs…lol
Now wait for all the batch comments from all the company guys slagging of the agencies drivers practices…
Nope no free texts and no free calls, just a regular Pay as you go contract. Thing is, had this discussion with the agency just three weeks ago when they wouldn’t reimburse my phone costs then. It is me that directly ends up out of pocket, not the agency and certainly not the client. Simply not going down that route again…
for the sake of a quid or 2 why wouldn’t the agency pay for a couple of calls jesus, mind you if your on pay as you go I would as suggested maybe look at going onto one with free texts etc.
to be fair LG either way I have never really minded using my own phone unless it became a ■■■■ take, could you not just have said I will ask each drop if I can use their phone to check in if not I will call if I have any issues? most firms don’t want to look tight arses in front of a customer so maybe would have ‘found’ a spare phone.
I had the self same conversation last week. Bod behind desk asks if I have free texts on my mobile account. I pointed out that it was none of his company’s business what arrangements I had on my mobile account.
This outfit does have some cab phones - some of them work. For hire vehicles they have a number of mobiles also. Obviously not enough to cover all vehicles.
It is not just the cost of calls and / or texts. I bought my mobile, it is the cost of that also, but it is the presumption that they can expect drivers to use their own property that annoys.
I left them my mob number and took of with a ‘call me’.
Unfortunately these days a mobile phone is seen as one of the tools in the drivers toolkit.
No doubt LG did authorise the agency permission to give the client the drivers (LG) phone number.
Surely you did read the small print when you signed up with the agency LG?
As it would’ve been in there somewhere…
IF he was addiment he didn’t want to us his phone to call the client, he could’ve told the client he accidentally left his mobile at home. Then the client might have made an allowance, & found an alternative means of contact. But make sure you switch the phone off or onto silent before getting out the car. As I’ve know smart ■■■ clients (Cantes) try ringing my mobile while I’m in the office to established they have my correct number.
However in the end it will be LG who ultimately looses out on work by taking his anti phone stance
I once worked for a knob who thought I should pay for his calls. I bought a PAYG and gave them the number but they kept ringing my other phone which I ignored.
He called me one day while watching me and I ignored it as usual, he stomped over shouting and balling demanding to know why I didn’t answer, his face was a picture when I showed him I had a missed call from scrooge
He bought my top ups after that.
I use my own phone in this job but don’t always answer it.
war1974:
for the sake of a quid or 2 why wouldn’t the agency pay for a couple of calls jesus, mind you if your on pay as you go I would as suggested maybe look at going onto one with free texts etc.
to be fair LG either way I have never really minded using my own phone unless it became a ■■■■ take, could you not just have said I will ask each drop if I can use their phone to check in if not I will call if I have any issues? most firms don’t want to look tight arses in front of a customer so maybe would have ‘found’ a spare phone.
The last ‘placement’ this agency put me into where I was expected to use my own phone left me nearly £9 out of pocket in phone calls for someone else’s benefit, so just not doing that again. It was the attitude of this company today once I’d politely explained the situation. If it had been ok fair enough driver we’ll sort something, but to say I should have a contract phone with ‘free’ minutes for their benefit and that I’d still GOT to ring them at 30p per minute out of my own pocket, was never going to end well. They were taking the pee big style, but there again so are the agency in also expecting me to take a financial hit again.
Apart from incoming calls for work related stuff, it is very rare I use the phone and outside of work I couldn’t even tell you where it is most of the time. Certainly wouldn’t be shelling out on a contract, as simply couldn’t justify the cost, for how little I use it and certainly not for someone else’s benefit.
andy187:
are you ltd co ar paye LG?
can you not claim expenses for cost of credit when you buy top up voucher?
Strictly PAYE only… Current agency made it clear last time they don’t cover mobile phone costs, so it doesn’t get used for outgoing calls anymore as left me out of pocket. If the client themselves wants to give me cash up front to cover costs then I am cool with that, but that is unlikely to happen. Their truck, their customers, their schedule, their expense I’m afraid.
andy187:
are you ltd co ar paye LG?
can you not claim expenses for cost of credit when you buy top up voucher?
Strictly PAYE only… Current agency made it clear last time they don’t cover mobile phone costs, so it doesn’t get used for outgoing calls anymore as left me out of pocket. If the client themselves wants to give me cash up front to cover costs then I am cool with that, but that is unlikely to happen. Their truck, their customers, their schedule, their expense I’m afraid.
i thought paye there was a gov tax form to claim back expenses? milage etc?
andy187:
are you ltd co ar paye LG?
can you not claim expenses for cost of credit when you buy top up voucher?
Strictly PAYE only… Current agency made it clear last time they don’t cover mobile phone costs, so it doesn’t get used for outgoing calls anymore as left me out of pocket. If the client themselves wants to give me cash up front to cover costs then I am cool with that, but that is unlikely to happen. Their truck, their customers, their schedule, their expense I’m afraid.
i thought paye there was a gov tax form to claim back expenses? milage etc?
Not that I am aware of, otherwise every factory worker and every office worker in the country would be claiming it? You used to be able to claim membership of professional bodies as an expense many years ago, but don’t know if that is tax deductable any more.
I don’t blame you really, it irks me that something that is “expected” of you is not conveyed in black and white, so you know what you are getting in to.
But like all the other posters I agree, at the end of the day you are going to be out of pocket by not working.
Two ways of sorting it out. 1 - Come up with some Dipper Dave style blue sky thinking, or
They were taking the pee big style, but there again so are the agency in also expecting me to take a financial hit again.