Confusion and anger surrounded the apparent collapse of Veritas IT last week, as members of staff were sent home, contractors chased payment and the industry waited for an administrator to be appointed.

Rumours that the company had gone into administration emerged on 21 September and later that day a Veritas employee confirmed to Recruiter that the company had gone into administration and that the management were meeting with administrators.

Last week the company sent home all its members of staff. One consultant told the Contractor UK forum: "Up until Wednesday I was a consultant at Veritas; it has come as a big shock to the majority of us, we're not getting paid either! I have been trying to get information from the directors as to whether it's administration or liquidation but have been unable to get hold of them — surprise, surprise."

Another said: "We were told to leave the building. No letter, no ability to access the database, print details or send emails. We still have not been contacted since."

Meanwhile, Veritas' contractors have been desperately trying to find out whether they are to be paid. The Professional Contractors Group told Recruiter that it has been contacted by several contractors but it, too, is unsure of what was going on at the company.

One contractor told the Contractor UK forum: "The information I was given is that the sum involved is roughly £2.5m in debts that were called in by creditors."

And another told the forum he was owed £10,000.

"I wonder if Jason Giller [managing director] will sell his Maserati to help compensate some of the contractors out there that are owed money," said another.

Sources close to the case say that BDO Stoy Hayward is in the process of being appointed as administrator. However, a spokeswoman for the company told Recruiter that she could not comment because they had not been appointed as administrator.

Several recruitment agencies have contacted Recruiter wanting the administrators' details because they were interested in acquiring Veritas' assets.