Clients requesting evidence of rate

[SimonMac]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! It helps to know I wasn't alone in my thinking.

In this case, there isn't an agent so it is actually the client asking straight. This is baffling but I don't see why I should furnish any documentation at all.

Odds are then the client doesn't know the going market rate!

Its your call, but there is no scenario that I can think off where the client knowing your old rate will leave you with anything near the offer you may or may not already have

[SimonMac]

Eh?? So client is asking what they pay you? This doesn't make sense.

I assume he is in the process of getting a gig, new client wants evidence of what old client was paying

[sravs]

Eh?? So client is asking what they pay you? This doesn't make sense.

Ah sorry, I see where this went wrong. This is a prospective client asking about evidence of current rate the contractor is on!

[sravs]

I assume he is in the process of getting a gig, new client wants evidence of what old client was paying

Yes. I should have been clearer in my original post and subject.

[BlasterBates]

Some banks require this so HR can sign off on the agreed rate.

Either politely decline or tell the truth.

They will check and kick you out if they find it's not what you told them. It may be a requirement imposed by HR so there might be no way round giving the rate.

[NotAllThere]

...
Of course, an accidental slip in a casual conversation of which no formal record is kept is just one of those unfortunate things that can happen…

Or leaving one of your invoices 'accidentally' on your desk.

[gables]

Boils my piss this, why does my current rate have a bearing on my next rate? Surely it's up to HR\client to find out what the market rate is or decide what rate they want to pay, if we agree a rate acceptable to both parties then great, if this means I'm paid 50% more so what?

[sravs]

Boils my piss this, why does my current rate have a bearing on my next rate? Surely it's up to HR\client to find out what the market rate is or decide what rate they want to pay, if we agree a rate acceptable to both parties then great, if this means I'm paid 50% more so what?

This is exactly my point. Apparently I'm too simplistic.

[NickFitz]

Boils my piss this, why does my current rate have a bearing on my next rate? Surely it's up to HR\client to find out what the market rate is or decide what rate they want to pay, if we agree a rate acceptable to both parties then great, if this means I'm paid 50% more so what?

Furthermore, you may have accepted a rate at one's present client because the gig gave you the opportunity to gain additional knowledge of some specific technology that the new client now wants to take advantage of. The present client has paid less because they needed to allow for you taking time to get up to speed; the new client gets full-blown expertise right from the start, so naturally they have to pay more.

[BrilloPad]

Hello,

I thought I best to ask this question here as it is more about legal understanding than anything else. If it has been asked before, please do direct me to the post.

Is it usual for clients to request or demand evidence of your current contractor rate? Even if it is the case (I guess clients may ask what your rate is anyhow), does one have to provide this considering any documentation is likely confidential and certainly something one may not wish to make public?

Many thanks.

Have you asked why they want to know?

Back in 2000 I was working through Modis at Goldmine Sachs. I was 2nd person in on the "40 hour interview".

My agent said some weird stuff. My BS metre was ticking - I could not work out why.

So I spoke to HR and asked what rate they were paying Modis and to compare against what I was getting.

Modis were taking 27% as opposed to the 12% they should be taking.

After major arguments around 40 contractors(including myself) got a 15% pay rise.

So it might be in your benefit to provide the rate.

Why not ask them?

<BP in lets communicate instead of asking random stranger mode>