Boss Won't Pay Me

[medsecslave]

Hi I type reports for a doctor who provides medical reports for insurance companies. Usually as soon as I have typed the report, he will pay me. Now he's decided he won't be paying me until he gets paid which could be literally years when the case has settled. Is he within his rights to do this? Surely because I work for him I shouldn't need to wait until he is paid? We don't have a written contract as it's a job I do in addition to my NHS post and has always worked ok up until now. Can he withhold payment like this? Thanks.

[MallyJ]

Surely you can withhold your labour....or is that not an option?

[brainiac]

I would have thought the insurance company would pay the doctor for his/her report soon after it is submitted, irrespective of when the case is or isn't settled. I think you should be paid as soon as you have done the typing.
Do you know anyone else who does similar work? Are they paid promptly?

[NellieMay]

Are you doing this as a paid employee or as self employed.

[davebro]

Invoice him monthly for work done & tell him to pay within 30 days. No pay - no reports.

[hc4361]

I am sure that specialists don't wait until the case is settled before receiving their payments, if this doctor does he is in the minority.

Talk to him and tell him that you are not happy and need to be paid promptly.

[medsecslave]

I work for a few Consultants doing this, all of them pay me as soon as I've done the work. Unfortunately because these are road traffic claims some firms don't pay until the case is settled and it can be years. I've told him I can't work like this i.e. working without having a clue when I'll get payment when I have bills to pay and Christmas coming up and he reckons he's in the same situation (NHS practice and private practice I don't think so). So now I'm making him wait weeks rather than days for his work, hoping he'll get the message but I feel so insulted, I can't really afford to let the work go but I think he's really taking the mick.

[ToraToraTora]

yes he can but I doubt he'll get anyone to work for him under those terms.

[medsecslave]

What I'm thinking of doing is telling him I'm calling it a day and I want all my outstanding bills settled regardless. I already know he will say ok we'll keep in touch and I'll let you know when I've been paid. I'm then thinking of going through the small claims court. However does anyone know legally whether he can withhold my money like this? This is self employed work by the way. Thanks.

[NellieMay]

Are you declaring your earnings as a self employed person?

[Maydup]

You've told him you cant work like this, which you cant, so you'll either have to invoice him and then take him to small claims for the money, or stop doing the work.

Its of no consequence to you what he is doing with the reports or when he gets paid for them, you have provided the service to him and he needs to pay for that. Tight ***!

[Maydup]

Its irrelevant whether you are declaring the earnings by the way, none of our business.

[NellieMay]

It's none of our business, but it could affect whether the OP wants to make a claim. I used to do similar work myself. I was trying to be helpful, not nosey!

[Maydup]

Yes sorry Nellie, its just that OP is unlike to reply in the negative and didnt want it to feel any less supportive because of it.

[jennyjoan]

been there, done it bought the T-shirt. Always found after the work was typed up - they were "reluctant" to pay.

I typed for authors in my hey-day but as above. But stand your ground and demand payment.

[NellieMay]

Personally, I would stop working for him as you have work from others, but politely keep chasing him for payment for what he owes.

[NellieMay]

Ok Maydup . No hard feelings.

[medsecslave]

Hi thanks for all the responses. I do actually declare these earnings so haven't got any worries there. NellieMay - did your Consultant pay you or did you have to wait also?

[NellieMay]

It was a uni professor and he paid me cash straight away. Private agreement. I also used to type student theses for free!

[theprof]

Well, I'm a uni prof and although I have a PA and two secretaries, I still sometimes need someone outside the uni to type up journal articles, book chapters and reports etc for me for various reasons. I have always paid up front for these services and I think anyone with with a spark of decency should do likewise. Payment postponement for this type of work is totally unacceptable.