Can my old company do this?

On the 24th Of august 2005 I started a job at a petrol station.

When I started my manager said I would get a weeks wage the following week
and then its monthly from then. I handed in all my bank details 3-4 days
after I started and all got sent of to relevant departments.

The week I got told about my payment I had no wage and then my manager said
sorry my mistake you got to wait until 30th September. So thats 5 weeks
without pay. I had to travel 14 miles to get there on the trains and buses
and relying on lifts from family.

Travel expenses cost me £20 a week. So based on that with no income I had to
spend £100 on travel before I got paid.

I spoke to my manager about this and perhaps leaving early. She agreed to a
week as my mum was ill and could not pick me up. After a week my mum was
still poorly and could not pick me up still. I once again asked again to
leave early if I started earlier to cover my hours. I got told no. If I left
at normal time I would not be able to get home as the trains and buses would
of stopped running.

I also asked for Saturdays off as I see my daughter. I got told no problem.
But out of the 4 weeks I was there I had to work 2 Saturdays. And one was a
11 hour shift. I never saw my kid.

So I decided not to go back. Because it was so far I never got chance to
take my uniform back just yet and the shop keys. As I have no money just
yet. I also never handed in my notice as I was only there for 3-4 weeks

I suppose my real question is this:

Can they stop my wages that go in some time tonight I hope for the hours I
have worked or would this be against the law?

[Martin]

Walking out of a job is never a wise move! Still having uniform and keys is also a bad move! BUT they would have to pay you for the hours you worked.

I only walked out after i found another job closer to home.

And since i was only there for 3-4 weeks i did not have to give notice

[me283]

It may well be that the payment run had already been done by the time you decided to not go back. But it sounds like you are better off out of there anyway IMO.

If they don't pay you, then you could threaten to take them to court, and let the local press know etc etc. But if you find a similar thing happens in future, it's always an idea to ask for an advance on your wages, just to help with travel expenses.

Good luck in the new job.

Originally Posted by me283

It may well be that the payment run had already been done by the time you decided to not go back. But it sounds like you are better off out of there anyway IMO.

If they don't pay you, then you could threaten to take them to court, and let the local press know etc etc. But if you find a similar thing happens in future, it's always an idea to ask for an advance on your wages, just to help with travel expenses.

Good luck in the new job.

Well they have not paid me

[Paul]

If you still have their keys and uniform you may find you don't receive your owed wages until you return them. I know it sounds harsh but it's not the fault of the company you got a job with, that you are having trouble getting there or that you cannot work your contracted hours as you want to see your daughter. Unless all this was spoken about and a work around agreed upon and stated in your contract you have no real complaint against the company.
On the point of working Saturdays some companys work their rotas out a month in advance so you may have found that the rotas started working in your favour if you had waited a while, you'll never know now that you have left but it's just something to bear in mind.
As to wether they can withold your money I would doubt it but as I said you currently have property of theirs that they wish to have returned and that may be why you didn't receive your wages. I don't suppose you have actually contacted them to explain why you left and why you haven't returned the uniform and key yet?