Being Ripped off!

[wifigeek2]

Hi Guys,

Iam new to contracting and started up as self-employed.

I got my first contract as a CMS developer, initially for 6weeks at a (very poor) rate of 75/day - all that was required of me was to copy and paste content from word documents into a CMS system, so the rate was agreed.

The contract has now spun out of control to the point where I am now doing IT support, developing a new bespoke CMS system and extra work here and there. I also do not get paid travel time/expenses and it takes 4hours/day to get there and back.

the company also expect me to be on site 9-5 mon-fri to do this.

the problem is that the contract is wooly and vague, it states my daily rate is 75/day or "part thereof" - I dont know if this means 75quid for working part of a day or if it means part of 75quid depending on how long I work.

The contract also does not state what I am doing for the company - I asked at the time for this to be rectified and to state exactly what I was doing - however they refused to do so.

I have now asked for an increase as 75/day is rediculous to provide IT support, Consultancy on buying new kit, new CMS dev etc and they have refused.

any suggestions on what I should do here?

[cojak]

Yes. You're paying them for the priviledge of working for them.

Look for another contract and dump this one.

[Moscow Mule]

any suggestions on what I should do here?

Walk.

[thunderlizard]

Cojak is right. It's pretty common to have a couple of awful contracts at the start, so don't worry. They're a chance to make some mistakes (like signing a contract you didn't understand) before they get too expensive. Just tell them you're moving on because you can easily 4 times the rate elsewhere.

the problem is that the contract is wooly and vague, it states my daily rate is 75/day or "part thereof" - I dont know if this means 75quid for working part of a day or if it means part of 75quid depending on how long I work.

That means you get £75 every day you turn up, regardless of how long you spend working. Think of it as a call-out fee. Actually, £75 is reasonable as a call-out fee, but ordinarily it would be accompanied by some kind of time-and-materials remuneration as well.

[Fred Bloggs]

Land a new gig then dump this one. HTH.

[Wanderer]

I got my first contract as a CMS developer, initially for 6weeks at a (very poor) rate of 75/day - all that was required of me was to copy and paste content from word documents into a CMS system, so the rate was agreed.

Are you serious? I pay my housekeeper more than than...

[SofaKingdom]

Are you serious? I pay my housekeeper more than than...

Yep, me too.

[Support Monkey]

£75 a day and 4 hours travel, don't make me laugh, its not your fault but they saw you coming and are taking you for a ride

This was fine if you were just doing what they initially asked for but anything after that is a joke. they are taking advantage and once they got you through the door thought they could get away with it, if you need the money and want the experience keep going and get out the minute you find somehting better, if not; straight on the phone to the agent Monday morning tell him what there asking you to do and what you origionally agreed tell him your happy to carry on doing the role you were taken on to do and anything extra will need to be negotiated if they say no then walk away

[wifigeek2]

"That means you get £75 every day you turn up, regardless of how long you spend working"

So I can, in theory, turn up for an hour, and go home? sounds good to me... might start taking advantage of that given how much im being ripped off.. surely they *know* im being ripped off. ive already told them that even graduates on IT contracting jobs get approx 150-200/day minimum.

at the mo im doing 12hours per day inc travel.. works out far less than NMW.

the company itself is a HR and Health & safety consultancy.. so they are well aware of 'consultant' rates, bit worried about being screwed over and forced to accept work I dont want..

im now in the position where I dont really need the money, but having the experience as a grad would be fairly good..

Think it would be possible to go back to them and say, 250-300/day or I will go work for some other clients that are willing to pay me what my skillset is worth?

[BolshieBastard]

Yes. You're paying them for the priviledge of working for them.

Look for another contract and dump this one.

WSS.

Oh and have any contract reviewed by the likes of Bauer & Cotterill next time. 200 quid well spent imo.