uk Work & employment crises

What to do if…
a recruiter asks you to start work before you have a signed contract

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 28 April 2026 Last reviewed: 17 July 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Pause before doing any work and get the essentials in writing first. If you will be an employee or worker, your employer should usually give you the principal written statement of main terms on or before your first day.

Do not do these things

Do not do a “quick task”, “trial day”, first shift, training shift, or handover unless pay, hours, duties, and who you work for are clear in writing.
Do not send passport scans, right-to-work documents, National Insurance number, or bank details through an unverified link, chat message, or personal email address.
Do not pay an upfront fee to secure the job, release equipment, access training, complete checks, or unlock higher pay.
Do not resign from your current job or stop other applications only because someone says the contract will arrive later.
Do not accept “we’ll sort the paperwork later” as a reason to start without the basic terms.

What to do now

Ask for the essentials in writing before you do any work.
Send: “I’m ready to start once the main terms are confirmed in writing. Please send the legal employer name, start date, job title or duties, pay, pay frequency, hours, location, holiday position, notice basics, and who will pay me.”
If this is through an agency, ask who you are actually working for.
Ask: “Am I employed by the agency, the end client, or an umbrella company?” and “Who pays me, what deductions will be taken, and who gives day-to-day instructions?”
If it is agency work, ask for the key information document before agreeing to start.
It should set out basic information about the type of contract and pay. If they do not provide it, ask them in writing why it does not apply and do not agree to start until that is clear.
Check the organisation using details you find yourself.
Search Companies House for a company. Contact the organisation through its official website or switchboard, not only through the recruiter’s link or chat thread.
Check for scam warning signs before sending documents or money.
Pause if the offer came out of the blue, the contact uses only a personal email or messaging app, the pay sounds unusually high for vague work, you are asked to pay fees, or the documents contain mismatched names, domains, or addresses.
If they keep pushing, keep your reply calm and written.
Use: “I cannot start work or send sensitive documents until the employer, pay, hours, and start terms are confirmed in writing.”
If you have already done work, protect the record now.
Write down the dates, times, who instructed you, what you did, agreed pay, and where the work went. Save messages, emails, adverts, screenshots, call logs, and any work product.
Get practical help before taking the next step.
Contact Acas on 0300 123 1100 if you need help checking what written terms you should receive or how to respond.

What can wait

You do not need to decide today whether to accept the job long-term.
You do not need to negotiate every detailed clause now; focus on employer, pay, hours, start date, location, duties, and notice.
You do not need to accuse anyone of fraud. If you suspect a scam, you can stop contact, secure your information, contact your bank if money or bank details were shared, and report it through Report Fraud.
You do not need to send extra documents just because the recruiter says onboarding is urgent.

Important reassurance

It is normal to feel panicked when someone pushes you to start immediately, especially if you need the income. A genuine employer or agency should still be able to confirm the basics in writing, and asking for that is reasonable.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to help you avoid unpaid work, unclear agency arrangements, identity risk, or a bait-and-switch. Later decisions about signing, withdrawing, complaining, or claiming pay may need specialist employment advice.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, employment, or professional advice. Employment status and agency arrangements vary, so get the core terms confirmed in writing before doing work or handing over sensitive documents.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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