Agencies Lie

[SlipTheJab]

Not necessarily; you don't know for certain what the client has told the agent. It could be the good old "market rate" which means "as little as they can get away with". If the client thinks they should be paying less then they'll try it on, without the agency's involvement/agreement. If the client ask the agency to put on "expected day rate", then that's seen as a negotiation.

In either case it can't hurt to make the client aware why you're not accepting the role. If its the client trying it on then nothing has been gained or lost. If its the agent trying to pull a fast one however...

[LondonManc]

In either case it can't hurt to make the client aware why you're not accepting the role. If its the client trying it on then nothing has been gained or lost. If its the agent trying to pull a fast one however...

Agreed.

[Bee]

Yes I know this must be shocking news for you.

Role advertised for up to £500. Agree agency will forward me at £475 thought that may give me some advantage on the competition, not to go in at the max. But hadn't confirmed it in email (stupid, stupid mistake I know)
End client now wants me on board
Agency now says it pays up to £425, told agency that's not what I expected. Said we agreed on 475 and I even sent them screenshot of ad saying up to £500. But ok I really want the contract so I said can we agree on £450. Agency pretends they are talking to endclient and comes back 1/2 hour later saying no £425 is highest.
So I walked away.

You have to improve your negations skills.
The agent always offer less, and you should give your daily rate increased.

Example:

Your daily rate is 500 but you put 100 more, 600.
The agent support 600 but they offer 400.

In the negotiations, you decrease your rate while the agent increase the rate until reach an agreement.

Always in mind that the negotiations needs to be good for both parties.

[jmo21]

agent was probably hoping once you for the role you would cave

90% of an agents job!

Maybe drop a line to the client thanking them and explaining why you can't accept their offer?

It's never happened to me before, but I am looking forward to the day someone does that to me.

After interview, you have folks names, so they can be easily looked up on LinkedIn or even guess their email.

[MattZani]

I don't see much point of getting in touch with the client just to make them understand that (maybe) the agent has played it a bit dirty.

If the client get back and complain about the agent, sure as hell the agent is not going to forward you for any other roles because you're a trouble maker. And you never know in the future...there might always be good roles at a rate you'd accept.

It's a game. Just suck it up and move on. Remember that contractors have to use agents as much as agents use contractors.

[WTFH]

I don't see much point of getting in touch with the client just to make them understand that (maybe) the agent has played it a bit dirty.

If the client get back and complain about the agent, sure as hell the agent is not going to forward you for any other roles because you're a trouble maker. And you never know in the future...there might always be good roles at a rate you'd accept.

It's a game. Just suck it up and move on. Remember that contractors have to use agents as much as agents use contractors.

You are judged on your reputation.
If the client is someone you would consider working for in the future then it's a good idea to get the record straight with them. They won't waste their time calling the agent, they'll just stop using them.
And the agent will get over it quickly. They make money from you, they don't have feelings (unless they lose a load of business which they blame on you, then they might try to smear you a bit which then comes back to how good is your reputation)

[LondonManc]

I don't see much point of getting in touch with the client just to make them understand that (maybe) the agent has played it a bit dirty.

If the client get back and complain about the agent, sure as hell the agent is not going to forward you for any other roles because you're a trouble maker. And you never know in the future...there might always be good roles at a rate you'd accept.

It's a game. Just suck it up and move on. Remember that contractors have to use agents as much as agents use contractors.

I see it the other way round.

If you're the right person for the role and the client might think they're losing you because you're the one being the @rse, then you've set the record straight.

[Eirikur]

Update
Became "friends" with the end client on Linkedin sent him a message explaining the situation. 10 minutes later agent calls, accusing me of being unprofessional, contacting the end client directly, told him he was unprofessional in the first place advertising the job at a too high rate and sending me there in the expectation I was going for a higher rate and hung up.

Got another offer on the table, which has other issues (see my post in the opt out thread)

[MarkT]

Sounds like the 475 was always a made up number, agent was probably hoping once you for the role you would cave, good on you for telling him to shove it for wasting your time. Maybe drop a line to the client thanking them and explaining why you can't accept their offer?

I've had this the odd time. Ask what their margin is, if they refuse to tell you or get shirty, you know where the extra £75 has gone.

Sometimes, after talking about their margin, the end client miraculously finds £50 and you get the £475.

[LondonManc]

Update
Became "friends" with the end client on Linkedin sent him a message explaining the situation. 10 minutes later agent calls, accusing me of being unprofessional, contacting the end client directly, told him he was unprofessional in the first place advertising the job at a too high rate and sending me there in the expectation I was going for a higher rate and hung up.

Got another offer on the table, which has other issues (see my post in the opt out thread)

Half a story there pal - what was the actual rate? Had agent BS'd you into applying knowing the rate you wanted wasn't on offer or trying to skim you?