LisaP Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Yesterday my OH took a day off from his contract job to attend an interview in Cheltenham. We were hopeful because this was his first interview more or less since being made redundant nearly a year ago, but instead we've been left livid fed up and in OHs case, in pain too He was sent for the i/v by an agency but when he got there - a two hour drive from here - not only were the company not even expecting him but the HR Mgr wasn't even there Then in some kind of sick twist of fate, as he was leaving he stepped on a stone, wrenching his ankle, fell and broke his ankle He then drove himself home and I took him hospital We have to go back on Tuesday for him to have a proper cast put on - his ankle was too swollen last night, so he just had a semi cast Anyway I am absolutely livid and would like to get my hands on the so called recruitment consultant who sent him on this wild goose chase I personally think OH is entitled to at least reimbursement of his travelling expenses, let alone the fact that he lost one day's contract pay and now can't work because of his ankle We're very fed up because this was just another in a long line of bad luck we've had this past year. His contract job finishes at the end of this month too and once again we'll have the school hols with no job and no money coming in. Thank you all for letting me sound off, always helps to 'tell' someone and I've rambled again. Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Oh my goodness, Lisa. You have every right to be angry. What a terrible waste of your OH's time, let alone the cost of the journey all for nothing and to then have broken his ankle just makes things utterly miserable for you both. Hope he's soon running around again and that your luck changes for the better soon. Big hugs and loads of positive thoughts coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I wish your hubby a speedy recovery - the pain he must have had for the long trip home. I think this should top any bad luck and hopefully that will be the end of it - sounds like you have had more than your fair share. And by sounding off, it is good to relieve stress, so don't worry about that at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 That's awful - I think he should definitely complain to the recruitment consultant, however they have made themselves look pretty stupid to the company - I wonder if they will be used again. The broken ankle is just really bad luck - hope things pick up for you soon, it always seems as if everything comes at once, doesn't it, but I hope a run of good luck is round the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keanie Bean Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Oh dear what an absolutly dreadful day to have had. I hope things look up for you in the not too distant future. You have my thoughts and best wishes. sarah.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Thats rough. You are right to be angry about the situation. I would feel the same. I hope your hubbie has a speedy recovery and you get some compensation from the recrutment company. Lots of hugsx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 What a complete nightmare . Your poor OH . That recruitment agency should be made to cough up for expenses at least . Is there any chance he can attend another interview there (if you took him there )? Or would he rather never set foot there again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Oh Lisa, I am so sorry for you both. What a terrible thing to happen! You must feel so terribly thwarted and I don't blame you in the least for feeling angry. You'll remember that my DH was also out of work until a month ago. He too got a job interview, turned up and found that he was not expected at all. He had cancelled an evening appointment the night before in order to prepare for the Intelligence tests the agent told him he would be doing as well as the interview. He ended up sitting in reception filling in an application form. The only redeeming factor was that the company was only 10 minutes' drive away. I am appalled at the way some companies behave. DH had another ionterview in London whichj went really well. he was invited back the same week for a second interview and told to expect a phone call the next day. It never came. Absolutely no communication whatsoever. My daughter applied for a job with Costa Coffee and they asked her to work a 4-hour shift so they could try her out. She did really well because she was already experienced but heard nothing at all about the job. I think this is just plain rude and totally unacceptable from a professional company. I really hope something makes you smile soon. I know how hard it is not to have money, especially in the holidays. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'm so sorry....first of all for the disappointment re the job. Someone needs a rocket for that. I would definitely bill them for your travelling expenses. Secondly, very sorry to hear about the accident. I hope he soon recovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 What an awful time! - I hope things soon start to go right for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Recruitment agencies are nearly all awful. I remember one rang my husband once to see if he was interested in going for an internview, as he started to explain it wasn't his area they put the phone down on him as they hadn't introduced themselves and he was registered with more than one agency he didn't know which one it was... Bad news about the ankle, hope it heals up quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Sorry to hear about your OH The recruitment agency should definitely do something by way of apology My OH is currently looking for work as he was made redundant a few weeks ago. The recruitment companies keep sending him really unsuitable vacancies then sounding annoyed when he explains why he thinks he won't stand a chance so doesn't want to take it further. Minor things such as job advert saying a certain qualification is absolutely essential and he hasn't got one! He also turned up for an interview and when it came to discussing salary it was several thousand less than the agency had told him....so he couldn't accept the job as it wasn't enough to cover mortgage, bills, travel etc. Agencies work on behalf of the employers as that is where they get the ££££ from so the job hunters always come second and this is why they are often messed around. One agency wants OH to work for them and they have explained how it all works, how commission is earned etc - quite an eye opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Thank you all so much - I really don't know what I did before I had chickens and found Omlet Ginette I hope your OHs new job is going well and Looney I hope yours finds something soon too Before we had children I worked in HR and I knew which agencies to trust or not but now it would seem none of them are trustworthy - just too cut-throat now I suppose We did have one situation where I came across a practically perfect vacancy on an agency site and as it happened, my husband knew of the company it was for so he contacted them direct. They told him that they had received a couple of calls but did not have such a vacancy and would be taking it up with that agency Oh well fingers crossed for us and everyone in the same boat Thanks again. Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Sorry to hear of your husbands experience Lisa. We have had dealings with the agencies recently also. OH is now installed in a job but we still keep getting calls from the agencies - when I explained that he was now sorted thank you, one asked if he was settled or was he looking to move again. He's only been there a week! "no problem" they said, "but this one is for so much more money with X company" I explained that he had already been to that interview and the salary was 10K below what they were telling people. I got hung upon as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Oh well fingers crossed for us and everyone in the same boat Lisa P Lisa, my fingers are crossed for you too. I understand completely. My hubbie was made redundant out of the blue after 17 years last April (exactly 2 weeks after the chickens arrived and I had the Omlet visa bill to pay.......typical). Exactly 1 year later the right job came along. Lots of other stuff out there including job offers but miles and miles away and we just didn't want to relocate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Poor you! Recruitment agencies can be apalling, but that is completley disgusting behaviour. They are really just glorified, legalised p*mps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 Some good news at last, well better than it was Took my OH back to the hospital yesterday and the Dr said that his ankle isn't broken In the Dr's opinion he has done severe tendon damage, and has an elastic support bandage now instead of plaster but still has to use crutches for 6 weeks and rest it. A work colleague has kindly offered to give him a lift and so at least he can complete the last 3 weeks of his contract job Now just fingers crossed that a permanent job turns up Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Good news (ish) about his ankle. Hope things start looking up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Glad your OH wasn't as badly hurt as you thought at first. I'd still seek some compensation from the agency though. That is so shoddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 I'm not really surprised as had lots of shoddy experiences on a smaller scale. The one to watch out for is when agencies set up an interview and it sounds like a formality as usually they send several people along and just don't tell you. One employer told me the agency had promised everyone knew there were several people going for that job. Bad luck with the ankle too, that must have really topped it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Sorry you are having such a run of bad luck, I hope things pick up soon. Some recruitment agencies are just useless, I used to work in HR and got so annoyed with agencies that would send CVs of everyone they had on their books whenever we put a vacancy in the paper. I used to tell them that I'd thrown them all in the bin because 1. We weren't going to pay for an advert and then pay agency fees as well and 2. if they sent more than 2 or 3 CVs they clearly weren't sifting for a suitable candidate and I wasn't going to pay them and then do their work myself. Oh I was so much more assertive in them days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
