Barratt Mercia pay row rages

Disgruntled ex-Barratt Mercia managers have pledged to stick up for subcontractors as their row over pay rumbles on.

Subcontractors had walked off site, claiming Barratt Mercia is refusing to talk to them over payment owed for work completed at the Shires development in Nuneaton (CJ 10 November).

The move follows a similar walkout by managers who cited the poor treatment of subcontractors as the reason for leaving.

One ex-manager told CJ: “I was on first-name terms with the subbies, but the company treated them like dirt. The way it has behaved is disgusting.”

He added that the firm gave managers conflicting orders on whether they could sign off invoices. “The site managers were told to tell subcontractors it’s sorted, but they would be back in the office the next week saying they hadn’t received it.”

Paul Merricks, director of subcontractor Topps Landscapes, served seven-days’ notice on work for Barratt Mercia after becoming owed £139,000.

Another ex-Barrett Mercia manager said: “I left because I was fed up. A lot of the subbies are my friends. If Paul was to go to court I would stand up for him.”

Barratt Mercia claims to have “a policy of prompt payment”. A group spokesman said: “In a limited number of cases where there are queries on invoices, part payments have been made on account to assist subcontractors’ cash flow.”