Owed over £2,000 in locum Fees, what now?

[DavidS]

I've been told by a friend to contact the co-ordinator and they can sort it out.

Best time to do that is when working at their store. Refuse to be phoned back if the promise has been broken before: just tell them it doesn't happen.

[WindsorLR]

Gave up locum work some two years ago. Here is how I dealt with my Boots bookings:

1. Insisted that bookings are done through an agency. Firstly this gave me some backing with double bookings, which was the plague of my locum days. Secondly, I did also get the agencies to help chace the monies if and when they were overdue.

2. They also expected the locum to phone the relevant store a day or two ahead of the booking. During these conversation I got the name of the person who would be processing my claim. I also inquired where this individual would like me to leave my claim, and when I could expect it to be processed. I made it clear that if they expect me to keep my side of the contract, the least they could do would be to process my claim in a timely manner.

3. Get the name and number of the person who is responsible for the bookings in a specific area. Get the name from the agency, and then while you are in store, just casually ask for this person's telephone number. Do not scruple to contact them. Do not phone them from your mobile. They get to know your name and number and will then not pick up - phone from a land line, preferably from in store.

4. As mentioned above, join the PDA and use them. It is cheaper than a debt collector.

5. The ultimate is to get regular locums at a store where you are comfortable and they are happy with your work. Then sit them down and get them to process the claim before end of day and then give you a printout. Be polite but firm about it.

Once the claim was processed in store, I never had a delayed payment from any of the companies. You need to get the store staff on your side.

Strangely enough it has been two years now and the only company that still owes me money is Tesco. I have long since written the monies off and wished the Company well, for I know that the money they took from me will become like a rotten apple in their basket! In reality it is nothing other than theft! The problem is, who is to blame? Is it Tesco the company, or is it a staff member that needed a proverbial kick up the behind? We shall never know.

phamer7, I hope you succeed in getting your monies back, but in the mean time I hope that the advice in this thread will minimize/eliminate your losses in the future.

[thadon]

Go in, lift 10* lipitor10, 10*lipitor 20, 10 zyprexa 10 n walk out n flog them

[pharmer7]

Go in, lift 10* lipitor10, 10*lipitor 20, 10 zyprexa 10 n walk out n flog them

Lol. In all seriousness though, being a Boots manager must be one of the best jobs around. Everyone time I phone they are in meetings, on holiday, its their day-off,etc. When is anyone actually able to get hold of them?

[tinx25388]

Lol. In all seriousness though, being a Boots manager must be one of the best jobs around. Everyone time I phone they are in meetings, on holiday, its their day-off,etc. When is anyone actually able to get hold of them?

I know! I think they have meetings about meetings, and then another meeting about that one. Lost track how many messages I've left on my Team Managers desk today. I have trouble getting hold of them, and they are supposed to work in the same room as me...

[pharmer7]

Almost there anyway. Only got 2 which have not been payed. No suprise that these where the ones which either had no manager/manager was away for few weeks and of the most chaotic I've been in. By the way, posting a letter to the branch manager giving your details and explaining how you have not been paid does NOT work, in case anybody thought that would work.

[Pharmanaut]

Almost there anyway. Only got 2 which have not been payed. No suprise that these where the ones which either had no manager/manager was away for few weeks and of the most chaotic I've been in. By the way, posting a letter to the branch manager giving your details and explaining how you have not been paid does NOT work, in case anybody thought that would work.

Serve a winding up order on the company <g>

[Fleegle]

Pharmer 7...

I know for a fact that Boots monitor this forum..just keep talking and you WILL be paid...believe me. This has to be the worst P.R. they've had in years..(apart from the potentially suicidal video one of their employees posted on you-tube a couple of months ago showing the true picture of their operation in the UK).

PM me if you still have trouble with payment..I may be able to help.

Fleeg.

[BrianA]

Look to work elsewhere, why are you puting up with this?
Consider using an agency and then they can chase payments for you
Let other pharmacist s know what in your opinion are the specific problems, supply and demand will soon change attitudes

[pharmer7]

Thought this problem would get fixed once I started annoying them for ages last time. Suprise, suprise, having problems with Boots AGAIN. And this must be a coincidence, but nearly every single one of them is their ridiculously layed out and disorganised, short-staffed..(ok you get the idea) Health & Beauty stores. I am getting fed up with this, and as if it wasn't bad enough to work in these hell holes with (some) depressed, work-shy staff I have the added pleasure of working without getting paid! One of my payments is short by at least £50 since I think they deducted money for lunch hours or too much from petrol, but god knows how they would be able to change this now and its not even worth chasing up with all the added hassle. Co-op and Lloyds have seperate departments who can deal with payments, and if it doesn't processed in-store for whatever reason, I can just send off or fax them something, and the payment gets put through. Maybe Boots should take a leaf out of their book and learn how to keep locums on their side...