Employer chasing for relocation expenses HELP

[Danlou8844]

I recently left my employer as the job really wasnt what I had been sold. As part of my package I received international relocation expenses to move to the uk, with my contract stating 75% should be repaid if leaving within 18 months.

 

Upon leaving I owed around £5000, £2500 of which I repaid. I am now being chased for the remaining, I haven't paid this because I dispute around £1000 of these costs. the shipping company the firm used we more than double the highest quote of any other supplier I can find. All of this I explained to the firm and tried to resolve before leaving to no avail.

 

To date I have received two letters from the company and now a letter from a debt collector 'Spratt Endicott' demanding payment within 7 days of they will proceed with legal action.

 

Do I need to pay or are these just scare tactics and I should try to negotiate. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[unclebulgaria67]

If you agreed the contract terms with your previous employers, that you would repay them 75% of the relocation expenses and did not yourself research cheapest possible cost at the time, then yes you will have to pay the amount remainng that you owe.

 

Suggest that you negotiate repayment of the remaining amount due.

 

The only other thing you might consider was whether the job advertised and you a agreed a contract for, was actually different when you started the employment. This is where you might wish to seek legal advice, as you might be able to reclaim expenses back from the employer by issuing a court claim against them. The argument is that had the job been accurately described, you would not have accepted the employment contract and incurred the liability for relocation costs etc.

[Danlou8844]

Thanks for the reply! Agreed I did sign a contract, but i had no view of the supplier or cost at the time as everything was handled by the firm. Who I thought would have a responsibility to choose a supplier at a fair market value

 

The point regarding the advertised job is an interesting one, as it was significantly different, however having reread the contarct 'we reserve the right to change the job at any time' probably negates this

[honeybee13]

Thread moved to the main employment forum.

 

HB

[ericsbrother]

your employer does have a duty to make sure that any cost that impinges upon you is fair so ask tehm for copies of the other quotes they obtained. It then wont matter if soem you found were cheaper, just what was the best of what they found. If they diodnt do thsi they will ahve a problem enforcing the contract for the reason given. Alo the vague we reserve to change the job anytime is also a bit vague as ant changes must fit in with the basic rules for competency. However it doesnt look as though this is being tested by reality so keep away from that argument unless the qualifications, experience etc needed are significantly different