Agency/client 'standard' terms

**SueEllen** · 4 December 2014, 23:18

Originally posted by paulinefowlersgrowler View Post

Am I being stupid agreeing? Is there such a thing as 'standard' terms or is this just an excuse to stitch up stupid people like me?

There is no such thing as standard terms.

Also when you ask for changes get use to hearing "We have hundreds of other contractors and not one has complained about the contract...blah blah...our contracts have been checked by solicitors and they are IR35 compliant ...blah blah..." Just ignore it.

Anyway what happened with the last contract you were moaning about?

**jmo21** · 5 December 2014, 09:17

All it means is 'we don't want to waste any time going back and forward with every contractor, these are our terms, sign them'.

**SimonMac** · 5 December 2014, 09:20

A contract is a negotiation between two parties, by the sounds of it the agency has the power and can dictate what they want to happen, it is upto you to either agree or walk away

**TheFaQQer** · 5 December 2014, 09:25

Originally posted by paulinefowlersgrowler View Post

One of them was no notice from me and one week from them = bit tight.
I got the contract reviewed and they did change some of the wording (so much for no changes !!!).

Am I being stupid agreeing? Is there such a thing as 'standard' terms or is this just an excuse to stitch up stupid people like me?

There are always standard terms. That just means the normal terms on which they would like to do business. Some of these are more flexible than others - and I would expect the notice period to be one of those. FWIW, I don't see anything wrong / tight with the idea that they expect you to do the work but if they need to get rid of you, then they can give you a short notice period and you leave - sounds like good business to me.

Originally posted by paulinefowlersgrowler View Post

Must admit after being offered the gig and being excited, its tough to say nah I dont like the terms, change them please. Always wonder if at some point agency is going to think, sod this, we'll go with someone less hassle and tell client first choice refused? WOuld be gutted if I lost one like this.

They could do that - if there isn't much between you and the next candidate, then why deal with the "stroppy" one rather than the no hassle one?

**paulinefowlersgrowler** · 8 December 2014, 23:08

Originally posted by TheFaQQer View Post

There are always standard terms. That just means the normal terms on which they would like to do business. Some of these are more flexible than others - and I would expect the notice period to be one of those. FWIW, I don't see anything wrong / tight with the idea that they expect you to do the work but if they need to get rid of you, then they can give you a short notice period and you leave - sounds like good business to me.

They could do that - if there isn't much between you and the next candidate, then why deal with the "stroppy" one rather than the no hassle one?

Aye thats the bit that worries me. Spoken to other contractors and they seem more of a pushover than me.

**cojak** · 9 December 2014, 07:27

So you're refusing a contract where the only sticky is no notice? If the contract duration is 6 months I'd baulk, if it was 3 months I'd take it.

**paulinefowlersgrowler** · 7 February 2015, 11:28

Renewal time now. Client spoke to me directly and said we'd like to offer you three months. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep you this long because the work should be there.
Obviously, well aware that they've got a weeks notice with me.

Agency have contacted me and said same contract same terms? Must admit if there is uncertainty like this I'd rather have my own notice period as well.
Seems fair to me - if they're admitting they might need to get rid of me if it suits then if something longer comes along I dont want to miss out because of no notice period and then get the boot two weeks laer anyway.

Best way to play this?

**northernladuk** · 7 February 2015, 16:30

Originally posted by paulinefowlersgrowler View Post

Renewal time now. Client spoke to me directly and said we'd like to offer you three months. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep you this long because the work should be there.
Obviously, well aware that they've got a weeks notice with me.

Agency have contacted me and said same contract same terms? Must admit if there is uncertainty like this I'd rather have my own notice period as well.
Seems fair to me - if they're admitting they might need to get rid of me if it suits then if something longer comes along I dont want to miss out because of no notice period and then get the boot two weeks laer anyway.

Best way to play this?

IMO if the client is a no notice type then trying to get one in hasn't a hope in hell of working. Once you have one everyone else will want one yadda yadda. Accept the gig, see it to the end and then look for work. Don't be getting all strung up second guessing what might or might not happy. Three months is a pretty normal duration as many clients have three month cycles with their clients. I know my last 3 have. If the agent gave me 6 I would be more worried because I wouldn't believe the upper contract can back that up.

Also they aren't admitting anything. Notice periods are a fact of life in ANY contract. I think you are reading far too much in to all this.

**paulinefowlersgrowler** · 7 February 2015, 22:58

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

IMO if the client is a no notice type then trying to get one in hasn't a hope in hell of working. Once you have one everyone else will want one yadda yadda. Accept the gig, see it to the end and then look for work. Don't be getting all strung up second guessing what might or might not happy. Three months is a pretty normal duration as many clients have three month cycles with their clients. I know my last 3 have. If the agent gave me 6 I would be more worried because I wouldn't believe the upper contract can back that up.

Also they aren't admitting anything. Notice periods are a fact of life in ANY contract. I think you are reading far too much in to all this.

Maybe. Dunno if its the client or the agency with the no notice thing though these days.

Agency/client 'standard' terms