Advice needed - Green Stewards

[jump]

Seems fine to me, you are giving them every reasonable chance to respond.

If they fail to respond to an application to the small claims court within 14 days it will automatically result in a judgement in your favour, so don't forget to add costs incurred in the process.

[grumpyhack]

Can't help any of the people above but as a contrast I've just come back from the Croissant Neuf Summer Party in Usk. Along with all the stewards I was paid back my deposit after completing my final shift on the Monday morning IN CASH.

OK it's a much smaller festival, but I can't fault it as a well planned and delightful event run by decent people.

[Katster]

Your letter sounds fine to me kaosmark. Let us know how you get on! My deposit refund is still 'pending'...

[Katster]

By the way, green stewards are on Facebook, have you tried contacting them there? Just thinking it might get an answer when everyone can see it!!

[kaosmark2]

Received this e-mail from them today:

Hi,

Apologies for the recent email sent to you instructing you that your bond

had been withheld, as that email contained inaccurate information.

Although our prior admin investigation shows that you may not have

completed all of your shifts, we would like to look into the matter

further for you.

If you believe you completed all of your shifts, all you need to do is let

us know that you think there has been a mistake and give us any details

you can remember i.e

Shift pattern

Times and places worked

Who you were partnered with etc.

If there has been an error then we'll tell you what happened and fast

track your deposit return.

Kind regards

Green Stewards

[russycarps]

what a bunch of useless twats, and what is the excuse for them ignoring all your previous attempts to contact them?

[jump]

what a bunch of useless twats, and what is the excuse for them ignoring all your previous attempts to contact them?

[kaosmark2]

Presumably. I'm pretty sure it's the small claims court threat that's triggered it.

[russycarps]

I wonder how many people just meekly accepted the loss of their deposit. What a scam

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I wonder how many people just meekly accepted the loss of their deposit. What a scam

[kaosmark2]

Same with renting. Lots of people - particularly students - get told by a landlord or agency they're not getting it returned and then don't have the balls/inclination to contest and fight for it. It's disgraceful how many try things like that on.

Edited August 21, 2013 by kaosmark2

[russycarps]

aye, I lost a deposit when I was at university. At that age you are just too young to be very assertive, plus you just assume that's just the way things are. Or are just too lazy to care

tossers (the landlords and students )

[Katster]

Thing is, if you'd had one tiny little naughtiness on shift (for example a mouthful of lager off a pal, a toke on what you thought was a roll-up from the person you worked with) you might accept that as misconduct!! I know why they do what they do but it's hard for either side to prove whether you behaved completely throughout the whole of your three shifts.

[russycarps]

Thing is, if you'd had one tiny little naughtiness on shift (for example a mouthful of lager off a pal, a toke on what you thought was a roll-up from the person you worked with) you might accept that as misconduct!! I know why they do what they do but it's hard for either side to prove whether you behaved completely throughout the whole of your three shifts.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

You're right mate. It's like our HR dept sending out hundreds of redundancy letters without franking them in an "admin oversight" so everyone had to go pick them up from sorting office and pay 50p postage plus £1 admin fee. I wonder how many people actually tried to claim that £1.50 back or just thought "can't be arsed."

And I work in public sector.

Also a fast food outlet near me is always running out of pennies, even though nearly everything on their menu is £xx.99. The staff are all trained to say "we have no pennies, is that ok." For years I let it go, I dunno why. I now say, "have you 2p or 5p then?"

[Katster]

why do they do what they do? just to rip people off or am i missing something??

[Rufus Gwertigan]

The whole deposit thing really pisses me off and for some companies it is nothing but a money spinner. Firstly you have to remember that the festival is paying them to provide the stewards. Then they will take a deposit often for £200 and hold it for up to 6 months. It seems standard practice now to take an admin fee off when it is refunded which is often over £20. Any deposit held back is kept by the company not given to the festival. Essentially the workers end up paying for the running costs of the company.

I have seen some dodgy practices. One company relies on the deposits to help with the running costs to set up for the season and once did not get paid by the festival on time so was unable to refund. When I cancelled at short notice they kept the deposit. They claimed it was in the T&C of our contract. When I took it to court I won as the judge said the only way they could hold the deposit was if they had given be a pass, which they didn't. Hell I once saw one girl turn up for work pissed. They not only said they were keeping her deposit shut cut off her wristband and had her escorted off site. Kerching!!

[warley_annabel]

Has anybody who has had their deposit withheld managed to get it back yet?

I am still having trouble getting in contact with Green Stewards despite numerous emails via their email and Facebook, as well as contacting Lucia Dubova, who was in charge of the volunteering side of SGP.

Please tell me if any of you have any luck!

Bella

[kaosmark2]

Has anybody who has had their deposit withheld managed to get it back yet?

I am still having trouble getting in contact with Green Stewards despite numerous emails via their email and Facebook, as well as contacting Lucia Dubova, who was in charge of the volunteering side of SGP.

Please tell me if any of you have any luck!

Bella

[feral chile]

I haven't got it back yet, but if you see /topic/178455-advice-needed-green-stewards/?p=4127934">this post then you can see I've got some response. I think the trigger there was a snail mail letter referencing Small Claims Court.

[MyNameIs]

I have now recieved the e-mail that acknowledges the mistake. It annoys me that they're still asking for information regarding my shifts but I've sent them the details anyway. People keep mentioning that there was some snail mail sent to them - I would be grateful if anyone could provide their address as I'm thinking of paying them a visit. Cheers

[russycarps]

HAMILTON HOUSE

80 STOKES CROFT

BRISTOL

UNITED KINGDOM

BS1 3QY

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/green-stewards

[eFestivals]

HAMILTON HOUSE

80 STOKES CROFT

BRISTOL

UNITED KINGDOM

BS1 3QY

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/green-stewards

lol .... another festie business run out of Hamilton House.

(Boomtown and Shambala are run from there too).

It's a horrible horrible deggy place ... the sort of place where the local deggy types stand outside to discuss who they've robbed, where they can get their next fix, and who they can sell their 'scripts to. As heard by me when having a fag outside.

[Katster]

Nochex have emailed me to say my deposit has been refunded. Will be checking the bank.

[MyNameIs]

Thankyou very much for the address. @Katster were you originally told you would not be getting your deposit back?