A while back, I had an interview for my current ClientCo; got the job, and was offered a good rate. I arranged with the agency to work from home, saying I would be willing to drop the rate if it got me the job (as working at home was the only way I could take the contract). They subsequently sent me a contract with a lower rate than initially offered, without any explanation, so I asked about it in clear terms, and asked about their commission rates. They said they were on a fixed percentage with the client (lower than average), the client had considered the rate reduction, and that this was the new figure. Great, I thought - that's good enough for me. I signed and off I went.
Today I found out that they were lying. The client did not sign off the rate reduction (they expected me to be on the full rate initially quoted), and they're livid about it. This whole thing kicked off because current ClientCo sent all contractors an email asking me if everything was alright with the agency (and if they needed to jump on them for any reason), which prompted another contractor to question something the agency had done... which made me mention the rate reduction to ClientCo, just in passing.
I know agencies lie, the rate I'm on is fine, and I'm happy with everything in the contract... but that's not the point... ClientCo are probably going to raise this with the agency, and I'm not entirely sure what they'll say to them yet - it may mean the end of a very lucrative contract for me, and an inability to work for them via another agency or direct?
I'm considering raising an invoice for the days I've already worked x the rate reduction, and continue to invoice them at the originally quoted rate. There has to be some kind of contract breach here, even if it's at the client's side? I'm waiting to hear if the client has the commission percentage in writing before I act on anything.
One thing to note - I signed an NDA that specifically says I can't talk to the client about rate etc. I'm hoping that's another agency "trick" to scare people... and can be safely ignored.
Today I found out that they were lying. The client did not sign off the rate reduction (they expected me to be on the full rate initially quoted), and they're livid about it. This whole thing kicked off because current ClientCo sent all contractors an email asking me if everything was alright with the agency (and if they needed to jump on them for any reason), which prompted another contractor to question something the agency had done... which made me mention the rate reduction to ClientCo, just in passing.
I know agencies lie, the rate I'm on is fine, and I'm happy with everything in the contract... but that's not the point... ClientCo are probably going to raise this with the agency, and I'm not entirely sure what they'll say to them yet - it may mean the end of a very lucrative contract for me, and an inability to work for them via another agency or direct?
I'm considering raising an invoice for the days I've already worked x the rate reduction, and continue to invoice them at the originally quoted rate. There has to be some kind of contract breach here, even if it's at the client's side? I'm waiting to hear if the client has the commission percentage in writing before I act on anything.
One thing to note - I signed an NDA that specifically says I can't talk to the client about rate etc. I'm hoping that's another agency "trick" to scare people... and can be safely ignored.
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