Eish! London 28 April

Tuesday, 28 April

What did I do in which life? The first and most inefficient agency I applied to called me up with a day of work. They called me late and didn’t tell me that it was an hour and a half trip by train, bus, over ground train and a long walk. All they told me was “Get to get to Uxbridge and call then call me back”, and would it be ok to give me only £100 for the day? I figured £100 was better than nothing, so I agreed. Unfortunately I only had a few Pounds left on my Oyster, a couple of Pounds left in my purse and a bank card without a PIN. The agents had said that they would send me to schools in my area, so I thought I’d have enough money to get to the school they were sending me to and back again. They also said I would be paid on a Tuesday, so I should start getting some money in soon.

How naïve and ignorant I was! I got to Uxbridge, which took forever; then they told me to catch a bus to another station. While I’m on the bus I’m trying to call the pay roll company to find out why I haven’t had any notification of the fact that I have joined them, because I’m due to be paid today, Tuesday. After a lot of holding and handing over information, Angela (the consultant) told me that they had absolutely no documentation or registration of me at all.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “but there is nothing I can do. You need to get in touch with the agency who says they have registered you. Usually you are registered with your first timesheet.”

I can’t believe it! They made me sign with their payroll company (or they couldn’t give me work!), they made me buy a CRB and now they haven’t done anything with my details! I was mad and worried, I had rent to pay in 2 days and I was running out of the money I had brought with me. Lord help me please.

I arrived at the bus stop. Surely the school is here? “No”, they tell me, “You need to catch another train.” I’m now late! I head into the over-ground station to buy a ticket; I breathe a sigh of relief as I have literally the exact number of coins in my purse to buy a return ticket for the day. The train is delayed. I feel lost. The area is not in my A-Z, I have never been on this over-ground train and the set up seems different from a tube station’s set up. I eventually catch the train and exit at Sloughstation where I have no idea what direction I need to walk in and I’m very late! I still have not received a single text (sms) message from the agent who sent me here.

It’s an area I don’t feel very safe in, especially standing there on my own lost and penniless! I call the agency and instead of the guy I originally spoke to, I get a girl who decides to patronizingly tell me I’m late! No shit Sherlock! She was horrible:

“Get into a taxi and get to that school.” She barks at me.

“I don’t have money and I don’t have the schools details or address. You haven’t sent it to me!” I argue.

“I’ll call you back.”

The phone rings again and she gives me the address and tells me to get into a taxi.

“You aren’t listening to me. I don’t have money on me!” I repeat on the razor edge border between anger and tears.

“There should be an ATM there; draw some money and we’ll give it back to you.”

“I don’t have an ATM card.” This is unbelievable.

“We will pay you £150 for the day, just get into the taxi.” She is almost shouting at me now.

“I don’t have money!” I repeat again in fear and desperation.

Horrid noise, phone goes down. I want to throw the phone across the car park. I want to do things to this female that I can’t type about! My phone rings again. I take a VERY deep breath and almost don’t answer, but then I’d be stuck. I answer.

“Get into a taxi and the school will pay you. Give the taxi driver the address and they will take you there. You are late, you need to get there quickly and apologise! If there is a problem, call us.”

If there is a problem? If there is a problem! Yes there’s a problem. You guys sent me to the other end of the world. You guys called me late. You guys have sent me on the most difficult travel route ever and now I must apologise and say it’s my fault? Yes, I have a problem! Stupid cow.

I breathe and get into the taxi thinking: It’s ok Shannan, 150 Pounds, just get somewhere that’s safe right now. I showed the driver the address and we took a fairly long drive to get to the school. I was calming myself down in the back seat. The school was irritated, but understanding and they paid the exorbitant taxi fare. Thank the Lord.

The day was with a Year 2 class and I was once again overwhelmingly grateful for the help of a wonderful T.A., and the simple lessons of numeracy and nursery rhymes. Fortunately the learners had been in assembly for the first lesson, so no damage was done to their day and we all enjoyed singing rhymes and learning our sums. Thankfully at the end of the day the receptionist photocopied a map for me so I could take the long walk back to the station. Thank the Lord for kind receptionists!

I never did see that extra 50 Pounds that female promised, and not a single one of them called at any point in the day to see if I was alright. They were clearly lying; patronizingly rude individuals and I had no desire to work with them ever again. It was my first lesson in the fact that many agents believe you are working for them and not with them. Schools come first and teachers should be at their beck and call. Not a nice lesson to live through.

On my return to Preston Road I went to the internet cafe and went online desperately sending messages to everyone I could think of to try and set up a payroll account so I wouldn’t be penniless.