Leaving the agency, keeping the client

[fh9977]

Hi all,

I am in a situation that project run out of money and hasn't been completed, so I received my notice. The team they built to delivery project was just riding the gravy train, no interest at all to deliver anything. (PMs with no clue of software projects earning £1000/day). I sympathize with the customer, I want and I am capable to deliver project for them, and I am willing to negotiate payment terms to give them some confidence I don't come from the same bunch that was here.

I think that if I approach the customer with a statement of work, showing what they need to do, when I will do, and how much I will charge for work there is a chance client will accept it. If I am late I don't receive, if I am early I get the money regardless. Will have lunch with CEO (who did appreciate my work here) next week, so planning to suggest that.

Issue is that I am contracting with an agency, and obviously agency won't be happy (it is a breach of contract to approach client directly) and I think this can only work if I sideline them as unaware of agencies working with any other form of contract that not daily rates. But I don't see any chance of project continuing with current contract arrangements. Agency hasn't been helpful to find me another gig, so I am not happy with them either.

Any one had similar experience (changing from daily rate to statement of work with an agency involved), and how do you suggest I resolve that?

Many thanks.

fh

[fh9977]

You need to assess the risk.

In my experience,

1. Most pimps don't know what you look like
2. Most pimps have never actually been on site, nor will he/she ever be on site
3. If you have done more than six months the pimp will be about to move on to her next job as dental assistant
4. Even the pimps that stick around have probably forgotten your name by the time you get to the end of your contract.
5. The company is probably about to or already chucked the pimp's agency, so there will be no real way for the agency to complain. --> most smaller pimping agencies can't afford the legal fees to challenge a contract.
6. Does the company have a lot of existing contractors from the pimping agency? If so, the CEO can just say I want to do this and if you fancy working with us in the future shut up about it.


So assess the risk, then make a decision.

I think your biggest risk will be the company HR guy who will insist you still use the pimp as he cant be bothered to sort your invoice.

Hi, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately agency is rather big, pimp is still there and has good relationship with CIO.

[northernladuk]

Point 6

I'm betting on the last point that you didn't put a number against. The contactor isn't on the PSL, the agent is and it is a clear breach of contract which the client will not want to get involved with.