Contract - Early Termination

[Lewis]

but the agency has acted inappropriately (and possibly illegally).

Welcome to contracting!

[pmeswani]

Welcome to contracting!

Thanks. I am sure I'll live and learn.

[sammy]

but the contract stated Robin Reliant! as contractors we are assumed to have taken legal advice - we are not talking consumer law here.

Sometimes I agree with Mal that certain contractors give the rest of us a bad name.

The contract didn't state Robin Reliant it actually says 6 months. 3 months wasn't mentioned until I started work yesterday and the client told me it was only 3 months.

I was in a permanent job and I only accepted the contract because it was 6 months, because it wasn't worth it for only 3 months.

Does going permanent with a client break the clause in the agency contract that says you can't work for the client directly within 6 months of the contract ending?

[expat]

This subject winds me up and some of us are at odds on what out response should be.

I base my rate on a number of things, term of contract being one of them. I am cheaper for a 12 monther than a 6, 6 than a 3 and so on down to being very expensive for 1 day. Much of this is based on set up costs and expected losses on rent and travel.

I have wondered about that: many agents plug a long contract as an advantage that offsets a lower rate (I do contracting for variety so I'm happy with change; and I see a long one as being locked in to a lower rate for longer).

But it is true that there are setup and wind-down costs: the first few flights cost more because you have less notice; hotels cost more until you do the research in situ; you are liable to end up with some costs at the end paid but not used. So maybe I should put a premium price on shorter contracts.

[Lewis]

Thanks. I am sure I'll live and learn.

I've been contracting for 10 years. 90% all good. But in that time I've been told by an agency they are taking 10% commission but discovered they were taking 25%. An agency accepted a job I declined and I had to write letter to the (important) client explaining why I wasn't taking the role they thought I had accepted. I've had my CV modified by an agency without my knowledge. I've had my CV sent out without my agreement. The weirdest by far was getting a call saying I had passed the interview with flying colours and they wanted to make me an offer even though I was on holiday, mid contract and had never heard of the agency or the client. I've been told I will never work in the city again if I don't accept a contract. I've been told one rate but at the interview it is clear the client would never pay that much. Had my 'referees' harrassed by agencies. I could go on and on all day ....

This is the game. Take what you are told with a pinch of salt. Know your worth and don't undersell yourself. Don't trust anything that is not in writing and don't assume you will last the length of your contract.

That said .... I love contracting and would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a permanent role.

[pmeswani]

I've been contracting for 10 years. 90% all good. But in that time I've been told by an agency they are taking 10% commission but discovered they were taking 25%. An agency accepted a job I declined and I had to write letter to the (important) client explaining why I wasn't taking the role they thought I had accepted. I've had my CV modified by an agency without my knowledge. I've had my CV sent out without my agreement. The weirdest by far was getting a call saying I had passed the interview with flying colours and they wanted to make me an offer even though I was on holiday, mid contract and had never heard of the agency or the client. I've been told I will never work in the city again if I don't accept a contract. I've been told one rate but at the interview it is clear the client would never pay that much. Had my 'referees' harrassed by agencies. I could go on and on all day ....

This is the game. Take what you are told with a pinch of salt. Know your worth and don't undersell yourself. Don't trust anything that is not in writing and don't assume you will last the length of your contract.

That said .... I love contracting and would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a permanent role.

Most of what you have said I have come to expect in Permie Roles. I haven't had my referees harrassed (as far as I know), haven't been told that I would never work in the city again but one of my managers in one of my previous employment told me that I would never work in IT again... and this was at the point he was made redundant for screwing up several things more times than the Western World has had hot dinners.

I understand where you are coming from....

[RichardCranium]

I have just started what i thought was a 6 month contract...

However, on starting the contract the client has informed me that it is a 3 month contract

Have a look in the Independent or Gruadain or Times at senior-ish local government jobs. Many of them will say 12 or 24 month fixed term. They are permie jobs on permie pay with contractor's benefits (i.e. none!)

But ... and this is the really tulipty bit ... those roles are often really only for three or six months.

They are recruiting someone to fix a broken department, close facilities, do redundancies or some other nasty work. Once complete, they will be dismissed. Rather than pay £2k per day for a good interim manager, they'll take a middle-management hopeful on £40k and rip them off.

Nasty business, innit? And that's in the permie world. At least as a contractor you're prepared and paid for that kind of unpredictability ... or should be since you're running a business.