Minimum Wage Cheats - Total Security Replies

17 February 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and Nick Boles MP have published the latest National Minimum Wage offenders list as the government continues with its naming and shaming policy. The top offender is a London security firm - see below for that firm's response.

The list this time around has 92 employers on it. who between them have diddled employees out of £1,873,712 in wages. The firms cover sectors including hairdressing, social care, hospitality and security services.

Since the scheme was introduced in October 2013, 490 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of over £3,000,000 and total penalties of over £1,100,000.

Business Minister Nick Boles said: "We are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it. There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to. Our policy of naming and shaming employers who ignore the law means there are consequences for their reputation as well as their wallets."

The 92 cases named last Friday were thoroughly investigated by HM Revenue and Customs.

TSS (Total Security Services) Limited, London E4, failed to pay £1,742,655.56 to 2,519 employees. (This firm carries a number of credentials such as Investors in People and is a member of the Security Industry Association and is National Security Inspectorate approved. The company was a finalist in the UBM Fire and Security Awards 2015. It uses the promotional phrase 'Always Investing in Our People'.)

Total Security Services have today (Tuesday 16 February) responded to this article with the following statement:

TSS prides itself on being a good employer, placing great emphasis on staff welfare within our business. We are very disappointed to be named as a bad payer by BIS, which represents the company in a misleading light.

We have always paid staff above the minimum wage and only took part in an HMRC-approved Salary Sacrifice Scheme because it benefitted staff, increasing their take-home pay.

We made an inadvertent mistake when a technical rule in this Scheme changed, (after it ran successfully and compliantly for over three years), and which our professional advisors did not pick up on audit. As soon as the mistake came to our attention, we withdrew the scheme in 2014.

We are one of the longest established and most respected security companies in the UK and one of the very few to be Investors-In-People-accredited. We are a family firm and take great pains to look after our staff well. We also hold one of the highest Approved Contractor Scores under the Security Industry Authority grading, because we take staff welfare and compliance seriously.

This is why it is so disappointing to be named in this notification.

On with the list

Richard Lewis Communications plc, Southampton, failed to pay, £8,751.99, to 3 employees.

Kiddy Academy Hunts Cross Ltd, Liverpool, failed to pay £8,297.50 to 2 employees.

Oldham Premier Plumbing Supplies Ltd, Oldham, failed to pay £6,270.28 to 1 employee.

Matt Jenkins, trading as Matt Jenkins Dressage, Chipping Norton, failed to pay £6,184.32 to 1 employee.

Claire Reasons & Vanessa Nimmo-Cameron, trading as Merritime Nursery, Gosport, failed to pay £5,344.48 to 1 employee.

JG’s Hair & Beauty Ltd, Northallerton, failed to pay £3,427.21 to 3 employees.

Seed Event Solutions Ltd, London EC2, failed to pay £3,407.32 to 1 employee.

VP Concessions Ltd, trading as Treadstone, Leicester, failed to pay £3,111.06 to 2 employees.

Saxons PS Ltd, Burnham-on-Sea, failed to pay £3,045.66 to 1 employee.

Ocean Dental Ltd, trading as Ocean Dental Implant & Aesthetic Clinic, Manchester, failed to pay £2,819.01 to 2 employees.

Louisa Horner, trading as The Beauty Specialist, Keighley, failed to pay £2,807.13 to 2 employees.

Woodside Nursery Ltd, trading as Woodside Nursery School, Waterlooville, failed to pay £2,799.03 to 1 employee.

Petersfield Joinery Ltd, Petersfield, failed to pay £2,720.89 to 1 employee.

Helping Hands Day Nursery Ltd, Tilbury, failed to pay £2,629.58 to 1 employee.

Care One 2 One Ltd, Caerphilly, failed to pay £2,441.00 to 1 employee.

Quattro Recruitment Ltd, Norwich, failed to pay £2,239.00 to 431 employees.

Umberto Giannini Hair Cosmetics Ltd, Birmingham, failed to pay £2,172.53 to 2 employees.

Bayliss Commercial Builders Ltd, Tamworth, failed to pay £2,086.30 to 1 employee.

Connells Residential, trading as Connells Estate Agents, Leighton Buzzard, failed to pay £2,049.14 to 1 employee.

Holly Tree Maintenance Ltd, Bacup, failed to pay £1,839.63 to 1 employee.

Floorbrite Cleaning Contractors Ltd, Manchester, failed to pay £1,703.26 to 248 employees.

Childcare Directory Ltd, trading as Whiz Kids Day Nursery, Peterborough, failed to pay £1,698.02 to 1 employee.

Hard Hat Logistics Ltd, Liverpool, failed to pay £1,695.15 to 1 employee.

Elaine Harvie & S J Kirkbride trading as Shades, Stevenage, failed to pay £1,527.40 to 1 employee.

Grove Reed Joinery Ltd, Bishop Auckland, failed to pay £1,514.20 to 1 employee.

Centra Link Ltd, Calne, failed to pay £1,483.14 to 1 employee.

Hayes Freight Ltd, Walsall, failed to pay £1,465.46 to 1 employee.

Stage London Ltd, trading as Stage Hair & Beauty Salon, London SW6, failed to pay £1,433.26 to 2 employees.

Poplars Equestrian Ltd, Bridgwater, failed to pay £1,372.93 to 1 employee.

Hearns Coaches Ltd, Harrow, failed to pay £1,347.50 to 1 employee.

E & C Joinery Ltd, Doncaster, failed to pay £1,283.33 to 1 employee.

A & G Garages Ltd, Manchester M11, failed to pay £1,197.39 to 2 employees.

Park Resorts Ltd, trading as Brynowen Holiday Park, Dyfed, failed to pay £1,184.78 to 2 employees.

Spinnaker Ltd, trading as Heaven Sent, Rhyl, failed to pay £1,165.70 to 1 employee.

Century24 Limited, London E10, failed to pay £945.11 to 1 employee.

Fulford News Ltd, trading as K P News & Fulford Road Post Office, Bristol, failed to pay £913.14 to 1 employee.

Compass Services (UK) Ltd, Swanley, failed to pay £859.20 to 1 employee.

Golden Financial Solutions Ltd, Bradford, failed to pay £852.15 to 6 employees.

Dee Set Confectionery Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent, failed to pay £838.95 to 1 employee.

Sara Buchanan, trading as Guys and Dolls, Holywell, failed to pay £781.28 to 1 employee.

Oltec Group Holding Ltd, Wigan, failed to pay £774.04 to 4 employees.

Priory Park Hair Salon Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent, failed to pay £766.93 to 1 employee.

Christopher J Sargeant Ltd, Camberley, failed to pay £729.34 to 2 employees.

USUK Ltd, trading as Urban Style, Peterlee, failed to pay £712.05 to 4 employees.

Ipsum Contracts Ltd, Worcester, failed to pay £689.00 to 1 employee.

Parkem Chemists Ltd, Leicester, failed to pay £687.89 to 4 employees.

Ultra Furniture Ltd, Kingswinford, failed to pay £599.39 to 5 employees.

Into The Blue (SW) Ltd, trading as Into The Blue, Barnstaple, failed to pay £589.96 to 1 employees.

Cormorant Survey (UK) Ltd, Doncaster, failed to pay £585.00 to 1 employee.

Earthgrass Ltd, trading as Khushi’s, Edinburgh, failed to pay £564.00 to 1 employee.

Hurnfield Hargate Ltd, trading as The Farm Café, Spalding, failed to pay £558.99 to 1 employee.

Carefree Communications Ltd, Rochester, failed to pay £556.61 to 1 employee.

The Ship Inn (Pub & Kitchen) Ltd (previous tenant), Chester, failed to pay £529.80 to 1 employee.

Charlie Miller Hairdressing Ltd, trading as Charlie Miller, Edinburgh EH3, failed to pay £529.68 to 1 employee.

Premier Posting Services Ltd, Birmingham, failed to pay £504.80 to 1 employee.

New Homeworld Ltd, Glasgow, failed to pay £468.00 to 1 employee.

Loungers Ltd, trading as Bonzo Lounge, Bristol, failed to pay £459.88 to 1 employee.

Zucca Bistro Ltd, East Kilbride, failed to pay £454.74 to 1 employee.

Linell Precision Engineering Ltd, Johnstone, failed to pay £425.67 to 1 employee.

Clear the Red Ltd, Manchester, failed to pay £408.33 to 2 employees.

Tates Travel Ltd, Barnsley, failed to pay £384.94 to 1 employee.

Jadruti Parekh, trading as Park Farm Centre Post Office, Allestree, failed to pay £383.98 to 1 employee.

The Fresh Food Company (2007) Ltd, Glasgow, failed to pay £361.79 to 1 employee.

Crispy Crust Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut, Edinburgh EH12, failed to pay £309.02 to 13 employees.

Harknss Ltd, trading as Delight Coffee House, Gloucester, failed to pay £299.00 to 1 employee.

Free Spirit Automotive Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, failed to pay £288.69 to 1 employee.

Nattrav Ltd, Bishop Auckland, failed to pay £287.93 to 1 employee.

Sentricare East Mids Ltd, Derby, failed to pay £265.03 to 1 employee.

Mini Max Tyres Ltd, Stockport, failed to pay £256.56 to 1 employee.

Andrea of Wembley (Watford) Ltd, Watford, failed to pay £245.38 to 3 employees.

Peter Limb, trading as The Interior Design Bureau, Mansfield failed to pay £215.75 to 1 employee.

Goldex Investments (Surrey) Ltd, trading as Costa Coffee, Oxted, failed to pay £212.88 to 1 employee.

Thackerays Restaurants Ltd, trading as Thackeray’s, Tunbridge Wells, failed to pay £211.70 to 1 employee.

Mark Andrew Development (MAD) Ltd, trading as The Fitzgerald, Manchester, failed to pay £197.01 to 1 employee.

Broch Tandoori Ltd, trading as Broch Tandoori, Fraserburgh, failed to pay £193.46 to 5 employees.

Lorraine’s Care Home Ltd, trading as Lorraine’s Care Home, Swadlincote, failed to pay £183.35 to 1 employee.

P&S Foods Ltd, trading as Sam’s Chicken, London NW5, failed to pay £182.00 to 2 employees.

Social Health Care Ltd trading as Caremark Luton & Beds, Luton, failed to pay £176.11 to 1 employee.

Hair Heroes Ltd, Inverness, failed to pay £173.63 to 1 employee.

Autovets Sussex Ltd, Brighton, failed to pay £161.81 to 1 employee.

Paul Mason, trading as Bassett Tea Rooms, Southampton, failed to pay £159.26 to 1 employee.

Paul Blaney & Elaine Blaney, trading as Craftsman Cleaners, Belfast, failed to pay £149.81 to 2 employees.

Emin Markets Ltd, Sheffield, failed to pay £148.77 to 1 employee.

The Welbeck Bakehouse Ltd, Worksop, failed to pay £133.40 to 1 employee.

Derek Jones, trading as Re’Lec, Northampton, failed to pay £129.36 to 1 employee.

Sunamgonj Spice Ltd, trading as Cinnamon Spice, Sheffield, failed to pay £123.85 to 1 employee.

DMR Electrical (Norfolk & Suffolk) Ltd, Halesworth, failed to pay £117.68 to 1 employee.

Organic Warehouse (Chelsea) Ltd, trading as Here, London SW3, failed to pay £117.50 to 1 employee.

Elizabeth House Ltd, Kirkcaldy, failed to pay £117.00 to 1 employee.

Illingworth Moor Retail Ltd, trading as Subway, Peterlee, failed to pay £102.96 to 2 employees.

People: Total Security Solutions has been deemed guilty of not always investing in its people but the company refutes this

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 17 February 2016

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