 Self employment - what rights have I got?
Hi
Hope someone can help.
Where can you go to get help if you are working through an agency but paying own tax and national insurance etc when money you are owed has been stopped for a job you have completed and done.
I contacted ACAS, twice now, and have been told two different stories. I did a job for an agency on a Saturday, received the cheque on the following Wednesday, however, on Thursday received a phone call saying job for coming Saturday was cancelled as they had had a complaint about previous job.
They cancelled the upcoming job even without listening ie, cancel job, until you defend yourself against complaint of other ie, guilty until proven innocent.
I was told until complaint dealt with, job for Saturday coming had been cancelled and cheque STOPPED for previous Saturday - I have all the paperwork.
When I rang ACAS, I was told stopping payment to me was illegal despite complaint, I had done the job! and could go to Employment Tribunal. But when I called back a day later, was told that as I was self employed, ie just signed a contract from job to job, could not go to tribunal but could try going through the courts.
I am now a little confused. Who can a self employed person go to for help on this issue?
The agency demanded a response to the "complaint" which I gave, (please remember they had cancelled cheque and forthcoming job, where I lost money). I replied with what I thought was a sufficient answer.
Today, they have replied saying I have not answered sufficiently so they are NOW CANCELLING ANOTHER JOB for this coming weekend, more money lost!!
Surely there must be some organisation who can help, as I think they are trying to get out of paying me. They say that I breached one of the contract rules, however, there is nothing to say payment will be stopped. Regarding cancellation of a job, if something is cancelled (ie does not go ahead) person will be informed, other work will attempt to be found etc, but no payment in any other case. I know these jobs are not cancelled, I have only been taken out of them.
Another question, the money lost, can I go through the courts for it? Remember, I was not given time to submit a defence before jobs taken away, and current job cancellation - No 2 - because they say my response not good enough!
Any advice appreciated as I don't know where to go from here. I am contracted to other jobs with them, and don't want to pull out to be accused of breaching contracts. However as you can appreciate, if they cancel them at last minute, I'm out of pocket again!!
Many thanks. | 
