Thanks for your responses here. The problem and all this conflicting situation is with the recruitment agency and the recruiter itself. I also think that he is mad because like you said he will loose his placing fees and of course was in a bad position with his customer. I just sent them a short email like sidewinder winder suggested and I hope this ends here. The actual hiring company can sue me if they want to proceed? In what basis since the contract has not even started.

Hi Sidewinder, thank you so much for your response and details. I will write a short email as you said without giving any additional info and sticking just to the facts. The thing that worries me its that I just received an SMS (like 11 pm) from the recruiter stating "I want to make you aware that I will be speaking with our lawyers first thing Monday morning as I believe there are grounds too" I don't wanna get on any trouble I understand that of course the recruiter may lost his commission but I don't know what does he want to get with it.

Hi There! I wanted to let you know the good news. I finally got the contract that I wanted today and I just signed it I'm so so happy! Its really my dream job. The issue is that I called the other company that I signed the contract before, explained the situation, they were really comprehensive but 10 minutes later the recruiter called me back TOTALLY mad, yelling and even I gave him the same responses he told me that he will seek advice and check if he can sue me for this or ask his customer to do so. I explained him the same thing, that it's a chance that I cannot let go, more than 40% salary, managing people, huge company, career, etc even so he just hanged the phone and told me that he might sue me. I told him that I was going to also write a formal email explaining this situation and why I won't be able to join them on Monday to avoid to put the recruiter in a difficult situation in front of his client. My question is what should I put into the mail?, I mean what are the legal implications if I write that I had a better option/salary/career elsewhere. This is my first job here on the UK and I don't want to mess it up and cannot afford to have any legal implications. I would appreciate your help here.

Thank you for your comments and help on this! In this case the employer didn't pay for any costs as visa, etc. The issue is that I just been told that I will get my other contract (the one I want and have been waiting) by Friday that will be only one working day before the one that I have signed is supposed to start so I will let them know this Friday. Besides calling them, explaining the situation, etc do I need to send a formal letter or with an Email will be enough? Thanks for your support!

Hi becky2585, Thanks for your response! They made me read and sign the contract at their office (its a small company only 20 employees) and they will send me a copy by post. The notice period is the same under the probationary period

Hi there, I have recently relocated to the UK and I just signed a contract to join a company that was not my first option (I had several interviews) I am due to start the role within one Week, even the working hours were more than I expected and the salary is not that good. The thing is that last week I just got confirmation from the role that I was waiting where the conditions and salary are way better. The question is what the implications would be of not starting the role that I signed (ie, breaking the contract and besides the moral implications), and whether there is any other way to limit the consequences (eg, I understand that not starting a job leaves me in better stead than turning up on day one and telling them that I'm leaving.) The contract states that I have to give them 2 month notices before quitting but since the contract has not started yet I wanted to know what are the implications. My contract states that I will be on a "probationary" period for 3 months. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks Luke