Morgan McKinley cut my rate 3 times after Microsoft made an offer

[Frank Big Bird]

Hello,

I am new to the country and need some advice. Here is a brief summary:

I responded to any ad placed by Morgan McKinley (MM) for a contract position, stating that the rate would be GBP400-450/day. I applied for the position and stated that my rate would be GBP450. I was given 2 interviews and the Microsoft staff offered me the job. After that MM then said that the rate would be GBP410. A few days later they said there was a mistake and the rate would be GBP350. A few days later they said that the rate would be GBP300. Then a few days later the job was not available anymore.

I have issues with this kind of behavior. First, this is utterly unprofessional, second, is this false advertising?

What can I do?

[stek]

Hello,

I am new to the country and need some advice. Here is a brief summary:

I responded to any ad placed by Morgan McKinley (MM) for a contract position, stating that the rate would be GBP400-450/day. I applied for the position and stated that my rate would be GBP450. I was given 2 interviews and the Microsoft staff offered me the job. After that MM then said that the rate would be GBP410. A few days later they said there was a mistake and the rate would be GBP350. A few days later they said that the rate would be GBP300. Then a few days later the job was not available anymore.

I have issues with this kind of behavior. First, this is utterly unprofessional, second, is this false advertising?

What can I do?

Nothing.

[eek]

Nothing.

Not quite true. He can post about it (which he has) and whine about it which no doubt he has elsewhere but apart from that and as you say he can't do anything else.

I will however add them to my list of agents to be wary off...

[Scruff]

@Frank

Have you signed a contract yet? If your contract has already been signed, you will need to check the terms of the contract surrounding the "Daily Rate" (or similar). More than likely there will be a clause allowing a variation by mutual consent.

If you haven't signed the contract yet, but have an email with an agreed rate, then the contract is potentially valid, but you are going to have a very difficult time enforcing it...

Seeing as though it appears that you haven't started the role as yet, there is nothing that you can actually do, to be frank, since no work has been performed.

Your choices:

If you have a signed contract at the higher rate, you can either accept the variation at the lower rate, or give notice in terms of the contract.

If you have no signed contract, then you can accept the contract at the lower rate and sign it off on that basis

If you have no signed contract, you can decline the acceptance and look for another role.

[TheFaQQer]

What can I do?

Look for a new contract and avoid this agency in future.

[BlasterBates]

The question is who is being unprofessional?

The agency?

I suspect (almost 100% certain) this is from Microsoft. They've probably found an offshore resource and the PM was haggling with the purchasing to get you on board, even though it was a totally desperate attempt.

I don't think specifically avoiding the agency would have prevented this.

If the agency was trying to push you're rate down he wouldn't go for such a huge rate cut and then pull the job.

This is after all the company that released Windows 8.

[CloudWalker]

they probably found someone cheeper

[Frank Big Bird]

It's Morgan McKinleg

The question is who is being unprofessional?

The agency?

I suspect (almost 100% certain) this is from Microsoft. They've probably found an offshore resource and the PM was haggling with the purchasing to get you on board, even though it was a totally desperate attempt.

I don't think specifically avoiding the agency would have prevented this.

If the agency was trying to push you're rate down he wouldn't go for such a huge rate cut and then pull the job.

This is after all the company that released Windows 8.

A Microsoft representative has issued the following statement:

We have already spoken with Morgan McKinley regarding this once we became aware and we do not sanction their actions in any way. This has never happened before with any other agency we have worked with.


So it looks like it is 100% Morgan McKinley's own wrongdoings.

[MyUserName]

Forget it and keep looking. It is nothing personal and even if it was let it go.

[Spartacus]

Forget it and keep looking. It is nothing personal and even if it was let it go.

No way. Find out the address of the head honcho at the agency then do the old bag of flaming dog poo on the doorstep trick to him.