A KINGSWINFORD woman, who claims she earned less than the minimum wage while working as a mobile carer, is finally set to receive more than £800 in compensation after a two-year fight.

HMRC concluded Debra Claridge, aged 55, was owed £851.13 by Completelink Ltd, owners of Stourbridge-based Prestwood Home Care, after she complained that she had not been paid for shifts that overran or time taken to travel from client to client.

Robert Hunter, director of Completelink, denies any wrongdoing but on Wednesday he confirmed the company would pay the underpayment notice.

Mrs Claridge said: “National minimum wage is payable for working time and that means the actual time you have worked. But when you are dealing with elderly and ill people sometimes it takes longer.

“I was not getting paid for time overrunning and I received no travel time pay at all.

“When I first started working for Prestwood I was paid around £6 an hour, but I quickly fell below that figure, and at one pay period it was calculated that I was being paid as low as £4.41 an hour.”

Mrs Claridge, who worked as a care worker for the company between May 2011 and November 2012, made her first complaint to HMRC regarding underpayment of wages in early 2013.

She has been fighting for compensation for over two years and she also claims more than 70 other workers employed by Completelink have been underpaid but are afraid to speak out.

Robert Hunter, director of Completelink, refutes her claims and said details for more than 300 employees and their associated records were provided to HMRC.

He told the News the firm was “complimented” by HMRC for its “open and honest approach during the process” and he added: “In early 2014, HMRC concluded the inspection would not involve any employees other than Mrs Claridge, as they concluded that our records confirmed that we were otherwise compliant with legislation.”

He continued: “Whilst the company had the option to take this to an employment tribunal, the legal costs involved with this would have been very substantial and were viewed by us as prohibitive.

“In light of this, whilst not accepting the validity of the notice received from HMRC, we chose to pay the underpayment notice.

“It remains our opinion that the conclusion reached by HMRC was an incorrect one in the circumstances of this case and we remain in discussion with HMRC about it.”

Mrs Claridge, who has been campaigning nationally for care workers to receive the pay they are entitled to, said HMRC was not taking the issue seriously.

She said: “It’s a national scandal. We already know about 220,000 care workers who aren’t paid the hours they are working or for travel time.

“They are letting the companies get away with it and I would go as far as saying HMRC are going out of their way to protect rogue employers.”

The News contacted HMRC regarding Mrs Claridge’s case. A spokesman said the organisation cannot comment on individual cases and can only proceed with further cases if approached by individuals involved.

Prestwood Home Care formerly carried out care services on behalf of Dudley Council but the contract has come to an end.