My husband and I are retired teachers who have become independent travel directors. We also work for meeting planners when they need extra people to handle registration and meetings. We were always paid for our services after the events. I worked for a meeting planning company that promised a cheque would be forthcoming. None of us was paid, but some of the people filed a small claims suit. I decided to wait. When I did file a suit, the official who went to serve the summons was told at the door that the company was no longer in business. The website is still up, and they have started their services under another name. The Florida Attorney General’s Office gave me a number to call at the Labour Department, but it was the wrong section. Is there any way to be compensated?

DON’T give up just because the first number you were given was wrong. The many jokes made about dealing with government agencies are based on people’s frustrating experiences, but with patience, people can connect with the correct section.

Every state has an area for handling wage issues, but some state labour department websites are easier than others to navigate. California, for example, has an extensive website listing “Frequently Asked Questions”, “Wages and Hours”, “Licensing Registration and Certification”, “Child Labour Laws”, and much more to sort through, while New Hampshire has a concise, welcoming and well-organised site that is easy to use. Check out www.StateofFlorida.com, “The Unofficial Public Resource of the American Safety Council for Florida Residents and Visitors”, for information on how to find the various areas of Florida’s Labour Department.

You might also contact www.score.org, a non-profit agency that provides small business counselling. You and your husband can meet with a representative in person or get online advice on what formal actions you should take to establish yourselves as a small private business.

— Creators News Service