Network Omni Language Services - Multilingual Service 2nd Largest language service in the U.S is not paying it's interpreters Westlake Village California

I was contacted by network Omni recruiter end of Dec 2007 to be a telephone interpreter after I posted my resume on Monster.com. I was interested to become an interpreter for what it offered me. I accepted to take English proficiency test with their Quality Assurance person 2 weeks later. Mean time I researched about Network Omni and found nothing but good information. I am not certified in any form as an interpreter and I was also interested to see my English proficiency since it is my second language.

Network Omni gave me 2 proficiency tests. The Quality Assurance person, Nathalie Brun, who administered my tests, informed me that she will contact within 3 to 4 days after each tests. I was sure that I would not be contacted. I did not expect that I would receive any calls, but I did, and they were within hours each time. She offered me shifts and hourly rates for the position. Also, she was sending me an orientation package with other necessary papers though emails. All of the arrangement conversation took place over the phone.

After receiving and reading through all the paperwork, it stated I will be paid within 60 days of my invoice submission for each month. I was not too excited to read that I basically will not be paid for 90 days, however, I needed income and believed it would work out. So, after some serious thought, I concluded that I would take this position.

Two and half months after I started working, I was reviewing an interpreters forum and saw some posts about a class action against Network Omni for a non payment issue. Then I also found an unpaid interpreters forum on Topix Westlake Village.

I patiently waited, wanting to believe that I would get paid in accordance with the contract. I contacted the invoice department by phone, but no one answered. When the time past 80 days from submitting my invoice, I called and emailed politely asking about my pay, hoping to get some sort of an explanation at least. The contract states that the invoice must be submitted by 10th day of each month for prior month. I am and have been submitting my invoices on the last day of each month worked. However, I gave the the benefit of doubt and counted from the 10th Day for calculating the number of days that had passed. When I finally received an email, instead of getting a polite answer, it required me to tell where that number of dates were counted from, after waiting 3 weeks for a respond. When my call finally went through I left message and asked someone to return my call. It took 2 weeks for them to call back. I was very disappointed at how I was treated by this company, on top not receiving the money that I was due to receive over 20 days earlier. I did finally receive my first and only check to date on April 29th 2008.

Network Omni is not providing any apologies or acknowledging the issue, or taking any actions that I am aware of to correct this injustice. Network Omni expects all contracted interpreters to wait patiently, while Network Omni employees are getting appropriate pay on time. There is no information as to when Interpreters get paid. I feel very used and discriminated against by Network Omni, while working for their company as a Multilanguage speaker.

This will be last month I work for them. However, I still do not know when I am going to get paid for all the work I did. Including the current month, Network Omni owes me $8,211.75, that I am hoping will eventually come in.

Wakaran
Havelock, North Carolina
U.S.A.