Advice needed - Green Stewards

[kaosmark2]

So I worked for green stewards at secret garden party last week. I paid my deposit, did all my shifts sober, no incidents, and they're accusing me of misconduct. I received this email on wednesday:

"I regret to inform you that you deposit has bee withheld due to misconduct at an event. If you have any queries about this decision then please feel free to contact us on 01179 422 353 or you can simply reply to this email address.

The Green Stewards Team"

The email was sent out to a mailing list, not just directly to me. I've checked on the website logging into my account and it says deposit withheld and blacklisted. I tried phoning that number, but apparently it's invalid. I then sent a reply asking them to contact me with details of what caused this, but haven't yet received a reply.

Does anyone else know how to contact them, or have any advice about pursuing this? I'm prepared to go all the way to small claims court if needed, but I'd obviously prefer to resolve this quickly and easily. Thoughts?

Edited August 2, 2013 by kaosmark2

[jump]

That's suck, the 1st thing I would do is look at the contract/terms & conditions you signed to see about an appeal prcoess and what counts as a "misconduct" in their terms.

[kaosmark2]

I read them before signing up, they were very basic

http://greenstewards.com/stewards/terms-and-conditions.html

Nothing in it that was particularly harsh or obvious.

[russycarps]

surely if you'd done something at the festival to warrant losing your deposit you'd have been escorted off the site at the time.

You sure it's not a scam email?

[kaosmark2]

That was my thought. I suspect it's a mistake, but my green stewards account says I've been blacklisted (not accessed via any emaillinks), so yeah, pretty sure.

[warley_annabel]

Hello, I am actually in the exact same situation as you are. Having just worked 30 hours (completely sober as well) at Secret Garden Party, I have received an email telling me that my deposit has been witheld due to 'misconduct at an event'. An attempt to log in told me that my account has been blacklisted. The weird thing is that the email I was sent was timed at 4.40 pm on Wednesday afternoon before I had even finished my last shift. I signed off with Lewis at 5pm, who gave me no indication that there were any problems.

I would also very much like to be able to get hold of GREEN STEWARDS and sort this all out! As you say, the phone number given in the email comes up as 'number unobtainable', and GREEN STEWARDS have not replied to two emails sent to different GREEN STEWARDS email accounts.

I have also tried contacting someone called Lucia with whom I corresponded a few times before the festival but she does not answer her phone and she has not yet responded to a text.

Hopefully this is some sort of electronic mistake, but I, too, will seek redress through the courts if this is not sorted out.

Let's keep in touch.

[TheGayTent]

Is this company a well established outfit that do many festivals and/or a company you've worked at before on previous occasions?

[Spindles]

I had seen them advertise in threads on these forums but was under the impression that they had a proven track record of providing festival stewarding services.

Would be sad for those affected if this is anything other than an administrative error.

[kaosmark2]

Is this company a well established outfit that do many festivals and/or a company you've worked at before on previous occasions?

[viberunner]

Does anyone else know how to contact them, or have any advice about pursuing this? I'm prepared to go all the way to small claims court if needed, but I'd obviously prefer to resolve this quickly and easily. Thoughts?

[Guest]

I'd get in touch with the festival organisers, Secret Garden themselves. They must have some responsibility over the people they 'sub-contract' to, no?

[kaosmark2]

I'd get in touch with the festival organisers, Secret Garden themselves. They must have some responsibility over the people they 'sub-contract' to, no?

[themuel]

They always seem like a cool company, hopefully it's just an error.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I have worked for Green Stewards on a number of occasions and not had an issue. Are they the ones doing the 2 stewards for the price of 1 offer? Anyway that is by the by.

1st off write to them stating the hours you worked and how you completed all shifts with no repremands. Give them notice that you are entitled to payment for said shifts under Minimum Wage Legislation so either pay me or return my deposit.

Actions are 2 fold. You can make a claim to the small claims court. The only issue with that is if they defend it as it will be transferred to the court closest to them. Option 2 is contact the HMRC minimum wage unit. Don't be palmed off. Even though these companys claim you are a volunteer you are not. You can only be a volunteer for charity or fundraising body or a statutory body like a hospital or school. Your wage is payment in kind in the form of a festival ticket.

I have been to court in the past and won. In fact the judge was quite incredulous at the whole deposit scheme.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Rufus Gwertigan

[viberunner]

That's a good idea, I'll try that.

Cheers for the link viberunner, I think I'll make a couple more attempts to get in touch through other channels, but it could come to that.

[russycarps]

well I see the company name is green stewards ltd

I wonder if the company is about to go tits up and this is a last ditch attempt to get some cash before the end. Such desperate unpleasant behaviour is not uncommon in those sorts of situations

[atomised]

That was exactly my first thought russycarps. It can either be an admin error or a desperate throw of the dice

[MyNameIs]

I have also recieved the said e-mail after turning up to my three shifts at SGP on time, working and signing off with no problems. I have tried making contact with the greenstewards multiple times with no response - their phone number is non-existent and they don't respond to my e-mails.

Contacting the SGP organisers will be my next step. I expect that the threat of bad publicity may help our cause here. Small claims is also definitely an option but I would rather see it as a last resort.

Its nice to know that a few of us are in the same boat. This issue is most probably a technical error, but we should keep applying the pressure to ensure that they don't try and get away with anything devious.

Any updates to my situation I will post on this thread.

[kaosmark2]

I've sent emails to both the sgp organisers and further ones to green stewards saying that. Once it gets to a full week I'll be sending snail mail. Hopefully we can track them down and get our deposits back.

[howesph.01]

Hey guys. I have also just opened my e-mail account to this wonderful news after completing my shifts at SGP with confirmation from one of the team that all my shifts had been signed off and I would receive my bond back. Same non-existent phone number, just e-mailed them then will try post. Will contact SGP directly as well. Keep us updated.

[Katster]

I worked for them at secret garden party too...no such email as yet? They can be flakey with contact etc and last year it took me three months to get my deposit back but never heard of anything such as above? I do know they had some issues with emails before Glastonbury when people were told they were accepted only to be told they weren't. Hopefully it's just a glitch and I am sure if you argue the case it will get sorted. I must admit I am now worried about if it is an attempt to keep deposits...I know they never got enough stewards applying, not sure of the implications of that?

[Guest]

I worked for them at secret garden party too...no such email as yet? They can be flakey with contact etc and last year it took me three months to get my deposit back but never heard of anything such as above? I do know they had some issues with emails before Glastonbury when people were told they were accepted only to be told they weren't. Hopefully it's just a glitch and I am sure if you argue the case it will get sorted. I must admit I am now worried about if it is an attempt to keep deposits...I know they never got enough stewards applying, not sure of the implications of that?

[Katster]

Their reputation is generally good. Not getting your deposit back for three months is fine when that's what you expect but last year I was in a position were I really needed my £200 back!! I have requested my deposit to be refunded from fears created by hearing the news in this thread - I had planned to just leave it in there for next year to avoid the transaction fee but decided against that now!!

It's not the best paid job but equally it's not the worst. In effect you are working 18 hours for £200, with a free meal provided. I see that as being quite well paid. Plus, it's easy work. The hardest job of the weekend for me was working on a gate scanning tickets out of the festival...the hard part being having to watch security throw people's alcohol away who were over their limit, and those bringing in "extras" being taken off to be searched. I know security are only doing their job but I hated being even a slight part of it! Still, not exactly the most taxing of work...only emotionally.

[kaosmark2]

Still no word from them, so I'm looking to send this letter to them tomorrow:

Dear Sir or Madam

Secret Garden Party: Deposit of £200

I am writing to you regarding my deposit for stewarding with at you Secret Garden Party this year.

My deposit of £200 was accepted and my position confirmed on the 4th May this year. I attended the festival and completed all my shifts on the “AA” shift pattern: Friday 3am - 9am, Saturday 9pm - 3am and Sunday 9pm - 3am without incident. However on 31st July I was shocked to find an e-mail from yourselves informing me that my deposit has been withheld due to ‘misconduct’. There were no issues during any of my shifts and I received no reprimands from the supervisors. I cannot conceive what situation could possibly be deemed as ‘misconduct’ according to either your terms and conditions or those of the Secret Garden Party.

Upon receiving this email I immediately attempted to call the phone number provided. However this number was not recognised. I emailed you on both the 31st July and 5th August regarding the issue and to date have received no reply.

I trust that you will both contact me and return my deposit by 29th August 2013, otherwise I will be forced to seek compensation via the Small Claims Court.

Yours Sincerely

[Spindles]

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.