Temp Agency Problems

[studentbum]

Ok well I signed up to this temp agency about a month ago. First place they sent me liked me so much they took my number themselves so they could contact me directly.
Since then my temp agency have been **** and I've been working for this other place a lot.
Was on the phone today to my temp agency and it slipped out that i'd worked at this other place yesterday.
Woman on the end went mental, saying i shouldn't be working for them directly as they made the introduction. Took names of the managers who had taken my number, wanted the number of hours i had worked the amount i had been paid. Basically being a right idiot.
I was not told i could only work for the temp agency and could not work direct for this other place as the agency had made the introduction.
Is it not allowed or are the agency just bluffing as they are losing money?
Anyone know of any rights acts that i can use to back myself up?
Cheers

[Sidewinder]

I would check the contract which you signed with the agency to see whether you have agreed to any restrictions as to who you might and might not be able to work for. It is likely that either you, the company you are working for, or both have agreed that you may not be engaged directly for a certain period.

Essentially they are losing money. If we use temps, we have to pay the agency £9.50 and hour, from which they pass on say £6.50 per hour. If we engage the person directly then we only have to pay them our standard hourly rate of £7.00 per hour - consequently there are various agreements between agency, employee and employer that protect the contract with the agency for a specific period of time.

[Ell-enn]

Sidewinder is right, the company you worked for will have an agreement with the temp agency that they cannot employ you directly until after a specified period of time. The agency I use for temporary workers allows me to employ them direct after they have been working via the agency for 16 weeks.

Ell-enn

[TETSUO]

I also work for an agency, and we would have a valid case to charge the employer for taking you directly once we had made the introduction.

[jewels267]

I also work for an agency and have been at the same placement for just over a year now, the employer says they want to take me on permantly but the agencies want to charge an larger finders fee is that right??, I also have been paying for for my own holiday pay out of my wage since January 2008 which is caluclated on the hours of work per week is that correct or do the agency have a duty to pay for my holiday entitlement.

[elche]

Originally Posted by jewels267

I also have been paying for for my own holiday pay out of my wage since January 2008 which is caluclated on the hours of work per week is that correct or do the agency have a duty to pay for my holiday entitlement.

Sounds to me like this could be 'rolled up holiday pay' If so this was categorically declared illegal in 2006.

More info please