Workers of collapsed firm fight for unpaid wages

Scores of Worcestershire cleaners say they feel "robbed" after their employer collapsed into administration without paying their wages.

TTB Contracts had been trading for 20 years, offering cleaning services to schools, but shut in October last year resulting in about 200 people losing their jobs.

Since then, the workers have been trying in vain to get the money owed to them, ranging from several hundred pounds to more than £1,000 in some cases.

The former management said a meeting to discuss the matter was being held on Friday, and was hopeful the workers will get the money owed to them.

The Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), part of the insolvency service, has said it is aware of 200 employees who may be eligible to claim, and to date, 93 claims have been received.

Nicola Stanley, a former employee from Droitwich, showed BBC Hereford and Worcester a letter she received from the insolvency firm stating that she could not be paid because the company was unable to verify her employment details.

The mother-of-two says she is still chasing six weeks' wages, worth £1,200.

"We had just got to pay day on the 13 October and thought everything was OK, but no money went into the bank," she recalled.

"We'd worked, we'd earned the money and we hadn't got paid, I'm absolutely heartbroken.

"I feel like they've pulled the wool over our eyes. It's very stressful, you feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall."

The firm, which was based in Pinvin near Pershore, was owned by Margaret Lee who filed for bankruptcy in September last year.

It shut down a month later after being placed into administration.

Other cleaners who lost their jobs have said the ordeal has negatively affected their mental health.

"It's been a living nightmare to try and get back the money - I have earned approximately £900 for six weeks' pay," said Lisa, who had worked for the firm for five years.

"This has impacted mine and my family's life considerably - not just financially but mentally as well, trying to get answers week in and week out with no joy."

Another added: "I am owed more than £500, I feel sick at the way we've all been treated. All we want is the wages owed, not a penny more. I've tried to plead with them, we are still waiting."

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