Employers clawback of course fees.

Bigw2069 · 04-08-2008, 01:19

Is it fully legal?

Small print in my contract said if I left within two years of completing a course I was liable to pay back my fees for that course that the employers had paid for me?

Guess what they have just written to me asking for

Bigw2069 · 04-08-2008, 01:57

Just found the answer, looks like I'm pretty liable, ahh well, going down fighting it is

RobClubley · 04-08-2008, 04:38

It's something I had in a couple of my UK contracts - can't blame the company I guess given the cost of training.

The general opinion over here is that it's not enforceable but I wouldn't really want to test it unless it was a lot of money.

devonutopia · 04-08-2008, 07:28

I think I am in a similar scenario with my accountancy firm, but then I saw one of the invoices for my courses once.

They're pumping about £4k a year into me.

Dr Zoidberg · 04-08-2008, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigw2069

Is it fully legal?

Small print in my contract said if I left within two years of completing a course I was liable to pay back my fees for that course that the employers had paid for me?

Guess what they have just written to me asking for

Yes , it is enforcable providing they enforce this clause consistently.

If nobody that's left for years has ever been asked to pay them back then you might have grounds for complaint but otherwise it's likely you'll have to pay

ap0gee · 04-08-2008, 08:24

If you do end up getting sent a bill by your former employers, try talking to the HR department of your new one - they may be able to help out, because after all, the skills the course gave you will presumably have been one of the reasons they wanted to employ you?

Aspman · 04-08-2008, 10:38

Do you have to pay the whole lot? It's common enough to have to pay back something but I thought it was a sliding scale depending on how long you've been employed by them after the course.

Might be worth speaking to the CAB.

cheezemonkhai · 04-08-2008, 12:57

Send them an offer for a proportion of the course costs.

Eg Course = £1k, I stayed 1 year so I'll pay you 50% of the cost and I'll add 5% for admin.

I doubt they would turn a sensible offer down as it costs to get legal, but if they do you have lost nothing.

Bigw2069 · 04-08-2008, 13:01

A possible couple of getouts are the wording on the contract says "Upon completion of the course..." Well its not actually completed yet, my new employers are continuing it.

And during the time of my employment the company have been in breech of their terms and conditions, otherwise I would still be there.

We'll see, just about to phone the new employers in a mo to see if they want to help me.

daiking · 04-08-2008, 13:07

Are you member of a union?

Bigw2069 · 04-08-2008, 13:26

I was a member of unison but after some recent poor performance on their behalf I withdrew as a protest.

Starting with prospect in my new job though.

carly2237 · 04-08-2008, 14:18

its not uncommon for a new employer to pick up the 'tab' on this (certainly in accountancy anyway).... it is certainly worth raising with them. Good luck !!

nbr_uk · 04-08-2008, 19:41

I've heard of this being written into contracts/people being asked to sign an agreement before taking the course but never actually heard of it being enforced. Are they asking for much?

Bigw2069 · 04-08-2008, 22:30

They are after just short of £1k

04-08-2008, 01:19	#1
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,665 Members Car: Noddy Car Thanks: 211 Thanked 230 Times in 191 Posts	Employers clawback of course fees. Is it fully legal? Small print in my contract said if I left within two years of completing a course I was liable to pay back my fees for that course that the employers had paid for me? Guess what they have just written to me asking for __________________

04-08-2008, 01:57	#2
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,665 Members Car: Noddy Car Thanks: 211 Thanked 230 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. Just found the answer, looks like I'm pretty liable, ahh well, going down fighting it is __________________

04-08-2008, 04:38	#3
RobClubley Ta moko! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud Posts: 6,998 Members Car: 2004 Octavia vRS Estate Images: 1 Thanks: 155 Thanked 160 Times in 133 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. It's something I had in a couple of my UK contracts - can't blame the company I guess given the cost of training. The general opinion over here is that it's not enforceable but I wouldn't really want to test it unless it was a lot of money. __________________ Corrida Red 2004 Octavia vRS Estate - It's the bestest Skoda in New Zealand! Whaia te mātauranga, whaia te māramatanga - Pursue knowledge, pursue the wisdom of knowledge www.pimpmyskoda.co.uk www.clubley.org Facebook

04-08-2008, 07:28	#4
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,081 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 352 Times in 295 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. I think I am in a similar scenario with my accountancy firm, but then I saw one of the invoices for my courses once. They're pumping about £4k a year into me. __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

04-08-2008, 08:24	#6
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,862 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 346 Thanked 366 Times in 317 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. If you do end up getting sent a bill by your former employers, try talking to the HR department of your new one - they may be able to help out, because after all, the skills the course gave you will presumably have been one of the reasons they wanted to employ you? __________________

04-08-2008, 10:38	#7
Aspman Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,050 Members Car: Octavia VRS TFSI Thanks: 10 Thanked 59 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. Do you have to pay the whole lot? It's common enough to have to pay back something but I thought it was a sliding scale depending on how long you've been employed by them after the course. Might be worth speaking to the CAB. __________________ The TazZone Forums

04-08-2008, 12:57	#8
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,575 Members Car: Thanks: 111 Thanked 512 Times in 475 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. Send them an offer for a proportion of the course costs. Eg Course = £1k, I stayed 1 year so I'll pay you 50% of the cost and I'll add 5% for admin. I doubt they would turn a sensible offer down as it costs to get legal, but if they do you have lost nothing. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

04-08-2008, 13:01	#9
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,665 Members Car: Noddy Car Thanks: 211 Thanked 230 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. A possible couple of getouts are the wording on the contract says "Upon completion of the course..." Well its not actually completed yet, my new employers are continuing it. And during the time of my employment the company have been in breech of their terms and conditions, otherwise I would still be there. We'll see, just about to phone the new employers in a mo to see if they want to help me. __________________

04-08-2008, 13:07	#10
daiking DILLIGAF? Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: manchester Posts: 2,573 Members Car: Mazda 3 1.6 Thanks: 69 Thanked 96 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. Are you member of a union?

04-08-2008, 13:26	#11
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,665 Members Car: Noddy Car Thanks: 211 Thanked 230 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. I was a member of unison but after some recent poor performance on their behalf I withdrew as a protest. Starting with prospect in my new job though. __________________

04-08-2008, 14:18	#12
carly2237 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North East UK Posts: 153 Members Car: Octavia VRS MkII Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. its not uncommon for a new employer to pick up the 'tab' on this (certainly in accountancy anyway).... it is certainly worth raising with them. Good luck !! __________________ Fabia VRS Black Magic ... no mods

04-08-2008, 19:41	#13
nbr_uk Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 312 Members Car: Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. I've heard of this being written into contracts/people being asked to sign an agreement before taking the course but never actually heard of it being enforced. Are they asking for much? __________________ Mods so far: Performance Torque Remap, Forge 007p, PiperX Panel Filter, Jetex Cat-back Exhaust, Whiteline Adjustable ARB. Who knows what the future brings...

04-08-2008, 22:30	#14
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,665 Members Car: Noddy Car Thanks: 211 Thanked 230 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Employers clawback of course fees. They are after just short of £1k __________________

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