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Switching supplier agents, the consequences

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    Switching supplier agents, the consequences

    Hi all,

    I'm very new to this forum. I want to give you some context to my situation but the long and short of it is that I want to switch supplier agents and would like to know what the consequences of doing so are.

    Context:
    I'm currently working in the public sector realm. Some of you may already be aware of this but Public sector contracting is different to private sector contracting in the sense that public sector agents can subcontract the fetching of candidates to other agencies. In my story, the subcontractor agency has been a bit... well, let's say not great! I won't go into details as this is still ongoing.

    So, as I've said, the public sector is different, and these subcontractor agencies can effectively be chopped and changed (without being able to demand a finder's fee) and the contractor can even go direct with the agent (some do).

    Having said all that, this is the first time I've worked under/with the subcontractor agency and it hasn't been a good experience. The efforts in rectifying problems are less than satisfactory.

    If I make the choice and leave them to go with another agency (I still remain in the contract, nothing changes; I just go through a process of a switch), what are the potential consequences in the near or far future from the sub-agency when this current contract is done and dusted?

    I have every reason to switch but the reason I pose the question is that the process of switching requires me to write an official complaint documenting all the points I'm unhappy with and it will paint a really bad picture of the recruiter. I've written it but after reading it over (without clicking send), it does make him/her look really bad and the whole agency overall. If I was the recruiter, I would hate me.... for life!

    So, switch or no? Any takers?

    #2
    Have you spoken to the sub agent about your complaints? Its amazing how many times contractors behave badly then expect agents to suck it all up. Actually it probably isn't amazing at all.

    Personally I SPEAK directly to the person I am unhappy with as soon as an issue arises. If I am still dissatisfied, I put it in writing.

    Until you have a catalog of written complaints, which are no responded to, you are opening up a can of worms.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by theronin View Post
      Some of you may already be aware of this but Public sector contracting is different to private sector contracting in the sense that public sector agents can subcontract the fetching of candidates to other agencies.
      Happens in private sector too.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by theronin View Post
        Context:
        I'm currently working in the public sector realm. Some of you may already be aware of this but Public sector contracting is different to private sector contracting in the sense that public sector agents can subcontract the fetching of candidates to other agencies. In my story, the subcontractor agency has been a bit... well, let's say not great! I won't go into details as this is still ongoing.
        Happens in private sector too :P

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by jmo21 View Post
          Happens in private sector too.
          GREAT

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by BrilloPad View Post
            Have you spoken to the sub agent about your complaints? Its amazing how many times contractors behave badly then expect agents to suck it all up. Actually it probably isn't amazing at all.

            Personally I SPEAK directly to the person I am unhappy with as soon as an issue arises. If I am still dissatisfied, I put it in writing.

            Until you have a catalog of written complaints, which are no responded to, you are opening up a can of worms.
            Let's put some these to bed so we can get to answering the question I actually want to be answered:
            - Yes, I've spoken to the agent DIRECTLY as soon as the issues arose (including his manager when it went on for too long).

            - Yes, I've written to the agent as well, my emails went unanswered until (some weeks later), senior personnel at my current post asked if I had resolved one of the ongoing issues I had raised and told them "no" so they called up the agency. Why should it be like that? They are the agent, they should resolve things, not the other way around and certainly not from the client side.

            - So yes these things have been written down. The procedure into kicking off the switch is by writing the complaint letter which I have already written but I haven't sent yet and you already know why I haven't sent it yet.

            So back to the matter at hand, what could be the possible blowbacks of switching, please? What are these "opening up a can of worms"?

            Comment


              #7
              What does it say in your contract? I expect there will be some form of handcuff in there, probably mentioning 12 months so not a very good one but it's there to protect the agencies revenue stream. If you swap agencies the old one will lose it's revenue so the handcuff will play.

              The new one is unlikely to want to touch you if you've breached contract with the old one, the old one will kick up a right stink with the new one and the client and potentially go legal. The bun fight between agents could get to the point the client doesn't want to know and get's rid of you for an easy life.

              Swapping agents because you don't like them might sound good to you but it won't to the agency who is going to lose income and is sitting there quite content their handcuff will stick, which it will. The only way you could do it without consequence is if the agency is in breach of contract. Poor service and some late payments isn't breach I am afraid.

              We get a lot of questions about handcuffs and in a majority of cases that do get resolved it's done through negotiation. If they don't want to negotiate you are probably stuffed.
              'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
                What does it say in your contract? I expect there will be some form of handcuff in there, probably mentioning 12 months so not a very good one but it's there to protect the agencies revenue stream. If you swap agencies the old one will lose it's revenue so the handcuff will play.
                Last public sector contract I had there was no handcuff. Previous ones with singular smaller departments the handcuff was 3 months.

                So I would be careful generalising. You are much better to tell the OP to read and understand the contract s/he signed.

                Oh and the other way to get away from the agency is for the engager to complain about the sub-agency so they are dumped. However this doesn't give the OP a choice of sub-agency as the main agent will choose it for them.
                "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by SueEllen View Post
                  Last public sector contract I had there was no handcuff. Previous ones with singular smaller departments the handcuff was 3 months.

                  So I would be careful generalising. You are much better to tell the OP to read and understand the contract s/he signed..
                  How can we give any advice if we don't generalise or give further information? We get so few facts and poor information what else can we do? Handcuffs are very common and be happy to guess they are there much more often than not. So it might not be there but might save the OP coming back and having to ask another question.
                  'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
                    What does it say in your contract? I expect there will be some form of handcuff in there, probably mentioning 12 months so not a very good one but it's there to protect the agencies revenue stream. If you swap agencies the old one will lose it's revenue so the handcuff will play.

                    The new one is unlikely to want to touch you if you've breached contract with the old one, the old one will kick up a right stink with the new one and the client and potentially go legal. The bun fight between agents could get to the point the client doesn't want to know and get's rid of you for an easy life.

                    Swapping agents because you don't like them might sound good to you but it won't to the agency who is going to lose income and is sitting there quite content their handcuff will stick, which it will. The only way you could do it without consequence is if the agency is in breach of contract. Poor service and some late payments isn't breach I am afraid.

                    We get a lot of questions about handcuffs and in a majority of cases that do get resolved it's done through negotiation. If they don't want to negotiate you are probably stuffed.
                    Thanks for replying northerladuk. Much appreciated. Interesting points you raise there. I did the homework. The contract doesn't say any of the handcuff stuff you mentioned and I even double-checked to make sure it was something people do at this place. Turns out it is possible. The current agency is in breach and they know it especially with the stuff they did. The client has a number of suppliers they work with and I (assume) can choose to go with one of their other existing suppliers (one already expressed interest).

                    I guess what I REALLY want to know is what blowback IN THE FUTURE in other contracting roles with said agency can I expect? My fault for not being clear from the outset. With regards to the current role/contract, I've got them dead to rights, they are in breach and they messed up royally. I guess I'm asking, do agencies "talk" and "target" individuals like in the wild west... you know "you'll never work in this here town again, son!"
                    That kind of thing
                    Last edited by theronin; 27 June 2017, 14:04.

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