For over a year I've been working for a marketing/staffing agency where I go to different retail stores to promote/demonstrate various products. I have had a very good relationship with this agency and it's important to me to maintain it.

The other day I received a call where they urgently needed someone to fill a shift. I agreed and said I could be there in about an hour. My prediction was wrong and I was there in about an hour and half, and I told them this. (This shift was scheduled at a very unusual time, there's a few set times that shifts normally start at but this one was different). The next day payroll informed me I would be paid for one hour less than I had actually worked. This confused me and when I asked why they said it's because I arrived late.

• I showed up closer to 30 minutes late, not a full hour

• With this work there is some flexibility in start/end times but 30 minutes is pushing it. However with urgent last minute bookings where they want someone asap it had been my understanding more flexibility is given

• there was some confusion when I first arrived and the store employees didn't know they had a sampling going on (most of the staff were Indian and had difficulty with English). This caused a bit of a delay getting started.

• for the company that employees me, normally I have one point of contact but for some reason this time I had 3 which, combined with the previous point, complicated things because at first thought I was at the wrong location

• the work itself was not affected by the time of day I was doing it

• no one ever told me to go home so I worked the full length of the shift and want to get paid

Usually the company is very good and this is the first time it's ever happened. What can I do about this and still remain on good terms so they continue to give me work?

I have proof of approximately what time I started and finished. I had called the agency when the store clerk told me (incorrectly) they weren't having a sampling so that's in my call history. When I finished I had to pay for the product used and the time was on the receipt. I replied to the payroll email asking if they wanted to see this and they didn't reply.

Somewhat related, over the phone I was told I would get paid for my travel time and from the payroll email it sounds like I won't. Should I resolve the not getting paid for an hour issue first and then bring this up or should I do both at the same time? At minimum I'd like in writing what exactly the expectations are in situations like this.

For over a year I've been working for a marketing/staffing agency where I go to different retail stores to promote/demonstrate various products. I have had a very good relationship with this agency and it's important to me to maintain it.

The other day I received a call where they urgently needed someone to fill a shift. I agreed and said I could be there in about an hour. My prediction was wrong and I was there in about an hour and half, and I told them this. (This shift was scheduled at a very unusual time, there's a few set times that shifts normally start at but this one was different). The next day payroll informed me I would be paid for one hour less than I had actually worked. This confused me and when I asked why they said it's because I arrived late.

• I showed up closer to 30 minutes late, not a full hour

• With this work there is some flexibility in start/end times but 30 minutes is pushing it. However with urgent last minute bookings where they want someone asap it had been my understanding more flexibility is given

• there was some confusion when I first arrived and the store employees didn't know they had a sampling going on (most of the staff were Indian and had difficulty with English). This caused a bit of a delay getting started.

• for the company that employs me, normally I have one point of contact but for some reason this time I had 3 which, combined with the previous point, complicated things because at first thought I was at the wrong location

• the work itself was not affected by the time of day I was doing it

• no one ever told me to go home so I worked the full length of the shift and want to get paid

Usually the company is very good and this is the first time it's ever happened. What can I do about this and still remain on good terms so they continue to give me work?

I have proof of approximately what time I started and finished. I had called the agency when the store clerk told me (incorrectly) they weren't having a sampling so that's in my call history. When I finished I had to pay for the product used and the time was on the receipt. I replied to the payroll email asking if they wanted to see this and they didn't reply.

Somewhat related, over the phone I was told I would get paid for my travel time and from the payroll email it sounds like I won't. Should I resolve the not getting paid for an hour issue first and then bring this up or should I do both at the same time? At minimum I'd like in writing what exactly the expectations are in situations like this.