I read that thread about the guy who lost his sheets not getting paid but he did lose his sheets...
Anyway, I've couriered before and know it's sketchy at best and a long throw from some trustafarian hipsters imagination but I asked about a company here before and got some spot on answers. Shame I didn't listen to it and had to find out myself how exactly spot on it was but maybe this time...
Uhu...! I should know, used to donkey around his circuit after London & City went tits up and was waiting for an opening at Reuters. I dont' think Churchill was/is as bad as special delivery though, I had some good laughs and reasonnable checks at Church's. Well, maybe there was favoritism involved, or maybe The Fat Controller wasn't such a bad cuntroller...Dunno, seems like so long ago...
remember that Fay been controlling as far as i know and it doesnt get worse than that i guess controller wise. but if you can ignore that and the fact that youll be sitting around a lot and have to start too early and be on time, its not that bad for 275 G.you wont be making much more than that anywhere else these days. also, forget about your deposit cause that asshole Tim will find a way of keeping some of it.
275 garra...ha ha. I just checked my diary for some time in 2004 and I was doing around 85 - 105 per day. typically doing 300+ per week, One date reads - 24x, shit day, went home. and i was usually off on a thursday. Not bad for a four day week! and we still moaned then about flooded circuits and how it was better in the older days.
Living in the South Acton Estate, I'm constantly tempted to do things to Churchill's offices or company vehicles under the cover of darkness. (Best say no more - especially with regard to any plans for their phones - in case I upset someone!) No courier company in London has a greater differential between the palatial residences of it's owners (In Churchill's case, a couple of magnificent mansions down the A3/A4 corridor) and the state of the offices in which staff are expected to work. Did you not look at the offices, Zoidberg? When do you think they last saw a cleaner? 1992? The rates paid to riders and drivers, as a percentage of what the company charges, are pisstakingly low. There was money to be made there on the motorbikes and vans when they became the latest (so far as I'm aware... let me know if anyone's heard differently) firm to rip off a department of BT. BT wised up though and stopped the rip-off. Most of their good riders and drivers have left, fed up with the introduction of a variety of charges and a swingeing cutting of the rates. This is a firm who once attempted to deduct 32p or so for a 1st class stamp from the wages of a controller who was working a lot of unpaid overtime. The controller left as a result. (No!? Really!?!!) I assume they still offer a guarantee. It used to start at £200 and go to £250 after a couple of weeks, but they sting you £25 for the radio. Don't have XDAs for most of their pushies as far as I know - that's a bonus in my book! They'll also probably start you on the phone - regardless of experience - until they have enough of your hard-earned wages to cover the loss of a radio. They will pay you that garra and they don't give you too much shit, but you'll almost certainly not break the garra. Nowhere near the worst firm to work for but you'd be better off starting with Courier Systems, who'll be looking for riders and who don't give pushies anywhere near as much grief as those with engines.
theyll drive u crazy running you everywhere holding every postcode and no having a clue how to control, and tryin to get you to carry shit that not even a motorbike would.and youll never make more than 275. and as far as i know they do have xdas, but they dont have radios anymore, theyll send you text messages on the xda. at least thats what my mate that quit a couple of months ago told me. anyway, good luck and keep on looking for work at other companies
This all sounds a bit like a witch hunt if you ask me. I have worked for churchills on and off for almost 20 years as a cycle courier, motorbike courier and more recently a van driver.
I have always found them to be a fair company to work for, especially compared to most of the other cut throat companies out there. They are a family run business and from my experience they treat their couriers and staff like family.
Every time I go back (when I'm 'resting' I see the same drivers and riders working there and so I wouldn't imagine that they would be staying too if it was that bad would they.....?
also, when I was there last in June, they were still doing the BT work along with a lot of BBC. Think that there's been a bit of chinese whispers going on here (not unusual amongst gossiping couriers!)
Listen I don't love churchills but I have no reason to hate them so I am telling it as I find it. I think that they are a good fair firm so it's up to you if you take my two penneth....