Larian Studios Forums General Chat Former employer using pirate s/ware report yes/no?

I was dismissed from a company around 3 years ago as the company was having financial difficulties and did not pay my wages for three months. The boss one day (Friday) took me into his office and told me that as of tonight the company will cease trading. He then dumped a 40 page legal document on me that he insisted I signed immediatley as it was around 30 mins before close of business.

I stated that I needed to read it first but he wanted it signing there and then. To put a long story short I was pressured into signing. The company agreed to pay me two months wages of the three months owed.

The following week I noticed the business was still trading. When I called in I was told by my ex boss "you signed the document so you are released from your employment contract" then he went to answer the phone. I waited and then I pointed out that he said he was bust as of last week but yet still trading he became irritated and would not answer my question. I pressed further and asked about the money he still owed me but my former boss became violent and physically removed me from the building.

I went to see a solicitor who went through the document with me and to cut a long story short said that I should be entitled to redundancy pay and one month's wages. The document that I signed waived this however but it was buried away in pages and pages of legal guff and terms and conditions. The solicitor said I could argue the case it was signed under protest and my signature is therefore invalid.

The legal costs to take this to court etc would almost equal what I was owed in one months wage so I decided not to proceed. After seeing a program on the BBC this morning about debt recovery sheriffs I realized I could have taken my former employer to court for a fraction of the price. It's too late now to do anything about it.

I know that the company might have used illegal software through various means and I could report them for investigation but it was a small business and my former employer would guess it was me. He knows some nasty people one of which who has been in prison before and released so I'm reluctant to report them.

The BSA offers a reward for shopping pirates and I thought it would be a way of getting back at my former employer (it WOULD make them go bust if fined) and my way of getting back some of the money owed.

As of today the company still trades under it's original name and was verified by companies house. I feel shafted by this guy and I was wondering if this is a good idea or not.

One former employee still works there and I don't want to see him loose his job as he is a decent guy - another dilemma.

Thought I'd ask it here as it's unlikley my former boss will see it and recognize me.