Agency saying "made a mistake on the rate", dropping it, wont pay invoice.

[jmo21]

Why jeopardise your relationship with the client by being bolshie when it's not necessarily their fault? If the client has given the agency a figure and the agency has made an error with that, it's up to the agency to somehow explain this honestly () to both client and contractor.

It's easy enough for the agency to communicate the error with a placeholder of £x rather than an actual number. If the client and contractor then want to check that they both have x as the same value, that's a separate conversation.

I certainly didn't say it was the clients fault and I'm not implying being bolshie with them or implying it is their fault.

More of a "look, the agent is messing about with the rate, and I'm sorry, but they might leave me with no choice" type conversation. "I agreed a rate I was happy with, but I cannot stay if they try to reduce it by 20%".

It's about getting ahead of the agent, so that the client is crystal clear it is not you who has caused an issue over the rate.

[Anoncoward]

Well, appears I've been sh*t on. Have been told by the client and agent to like it or lump it, and it's a big drop (about 25% - and the higher rate wasn't great). Probably going to stick it out for a bit, see how things go - I've got some family commitments that mean having to work away is out of the question at the moment.

Pretty unhappy about the whole situation - counter productive too, I was happy to work a reasonable amount of extra hours, but not now. Somewhat demotivated too, I'm sure I'll get back to my usual self in a few days though.

Thanks all for your replies, they're much appreciated. Only thing to do now is have the argument about this being debt that I'm writing off, rather than as they claim, the payment never having been due, and not offering them a credit note so they can feel better about it and claim to not be in breach.

If it wasn't for agents and clients, my job would be great.

[SueEllen]

I would have walked out. Then chased the agency for the full amount as per written in my contract.

Then again I'm old and mean.....

[SlipTheJab]

I would have walked out. Then chased the agency for the full amount as per written in my contract.

Then again I'm old and mean.....

+1 What the OP has just stated would make the role untenable for me, walk and go legal for what they owe you.

[Chuck]

+1 What the OP has just stated would make the role untenable for me, walk and go legal for what they owe you.

+ another 1

How can you show your face to the client when they are so ready to dump on you? They own you now. They know you won't walk, no matter what they do.

Having said that, it's easy to say this from behind a keyboard a million miles away from you without any knowledge whatsoever of your financial situation. Good luck with it.

[gables]

+ another 1

How can you show your face to the client when they are so ready to dump on you? They own you now. They know you won't walk, no matter what they do.

Having said that, it's easy to say this from behind a keyboard a million miles away from you without any knowledge whatsoever of your financial situation. Good luck with it.

Yup, there are times to walk, this is one. Caveated as above regards your financial position. At the very least I'd be looking for a new gig and leaving with as little notice as possible without breaching.

[VillageContractor]

Well, appears I've been sh*t on. Have been told by the client and agent to like it or lump it, and it's a big drop (about 25% - and the higher rate wasn't great). Probably going to stick it out for a bit, see how things go - I've got some family commitments that mean having to work away is out of the question at the moment.

Pretty unhappy about the whole situation - counter productive too, I was happy to work a reasonable amount of extra hours, but not now. Somewhat demotivated too, I'm sure I'll get back to my usual self in a few days though.

Thanks all for your replies, they're much appreciated. Only thing to do now is have the argument about this being debt that I'm writing off, rather than as they claim, the payment never having been due, and not offering them a credit note so they can feel better about it and claim to not be in breach.

If it wasn't for agents and clients, my job would be great.

+1 - As s**t as it is, I'd suck it up in the short for the sake of family/invoicing. We'd all love to walk away from this but sometimes we financially can't.

But I'd get looking sharpish and would be leaving as soon as possible

[LondonManc]

Well, appears I've been sh*t on. Have been told by the client and agent to like it or lump it, and it's a big drop (about 25% - and the higher rate wasn't great). Probably going to stick it out for a bit, see how things go - I've got some family commitments that mean having to work away is out of the question at the moment.

Pretty unhappy about the whole situation - counter productive too, I was happy to work a reasonable amount of extra hours, but not now. Somewhat demotivated too, I'm sure I'll get back to my usual self in a few days though.

Thanks all for your replies, they're much appreciated. Only thing to do now is have the argument about this being debt that I'm writing off, rather than as they claim, the payment never having been due, and not offering them a credit note so they can feel better about it and claim to not be in breach.

If it wasn't for agents and clients, my job would be great.

Both through the agent or separately?

Tell them that you accept that they made a mistake but the contract you signed must be honoured and paid in full for days already worked at the rate agreed in the original contract. If they now want to terminate that contract and issue you with a new one, then get them to draft a new one (that you will need to have checked by QDOS or similar). Suggest that you work up to the end of this week on the current contract while having the new one checked. In the meantime, get your cv out there and get something else, leaving them in the lurch.

Who should we be avoiding by the way?

[northernladuk]

+ another 1

How can you show your face to the client when they are so ready to dump on you? They own you now. They know you won't walk, no matter what they do.

What a load of crap. Where is the client dumping on him? Client pays a rate to agent for a contractor, agent messes rate and client not willing to make up the difference is dumping on him?

I can't imagine for one minute the client is pleased with this situation either.

[psychocandy]

Why jeopardise your relationship with the client by being bolshie when it's not necessarily their fault? If the client has given the agency a figure and the agency has made an error with that, it's up to the agency to somehow explain this honestly () to both client and contractor.

It's easy enough for the agency to communicate the error with a placeholder of £x rather than an actual number. If the client and contractor then want to check that they both have x as the same value, that's a separate conversation.

I agree. IF the agency has made a genuine mistake its up to them to sort this out amicably.

Would suggest that the agency dont come over as bolshie if it was they're mistake and try and come to compromise with the contractor.

If it was me and agency came over heavy handed I'd be more tempted to tell them do one. If they admitted their mistake, took a hit themselves on their cut I'd possibly be more willing to agree to a rate cut.