Extension, but agency refuses rate increase

[gables]

If one of those comes off and you start with a two week gap between contracts, how much higher does the rate need to be to counter the downtime?

And more importantly (IMHO), which role do you want to do more? Pick the one that you will enjoy.

Defo need to consider downtime and rate increase, in the OPs case I would also be considering how much the commute is reduced, if only from a time a perspective it may be worth breaking even\losing a little to get it below 190 miles

[SimonMac]

FYI I'm finding this IPSE adverting tedious.

[Eirikur]

Agency just called saying they want to extend me for 6 months in stead of 3. Told them it doesn't mean anything, as my contract is as long as my notice period (one week for them)
Tomorrow is last day on current contract, I'm holding back accepting renewal until at least 4PM hoping one of my other prospects may come back to me, have chased them today and there's still a slim chance.... .

[garnet]

Got an extension on my contract, but I asked the agency for a small increase due to increased responsibilities and tax burden.
End client refused and agency refuses to pay it from their 15% slice, which they enjoyed for 5 months, it would still leave them with 10% for which all they have to do is pay me once a month.
Have a few promising things in the pipeline but nothing concrete so far, higher rates and closer by (now commute 190 miles per day)
Should I call the agencies bluff and say I will decline?

No day rate is worth if you commute 190 miles per day.
If they don't agree, you quit.

[NotAllThere]

No day rate is worth if you commute 190 miles per day.
If they don't agree, you quit.

I worked as a permie for 2 years with a 120 mile a day commute. You might not like it, but for some people it's perfectly doable - depends on the route. Literally, YMMV.

[garnet]

I worked as a permie for 2 years with a 120 mile a day commute. You might not like it, but for some people it's perfectly doable - depends on the route. Literally, YMMV.

Doable if you have second life to spend in the car/train. I have one only.

[WordIsBond]

Doable if you have second life to spend in the car/train. I have one only.

Everything's negotiable. I WFH, but for enough money I'd commute every week to Timbuktu for six months.

(It would have to be enough to take the next five years off , but everything's negotiable. You just set your price on what you value.)

[Eirikur]

I worked as a permie for 2 years with a 120 mile a day commute. You might not like it, but for some people it's perfectly doable - depends on the route. Literally, YMMV.

Agree the 95 mile (one way) car trip for me takes not as long as a 45 mile trip into London (car or train)

[NotAllThere]

Though when faced with the kind of distance as a contractor, I'd stay overnight twice a week, and adjust my hours to suit.

[yasockie]

Have a few promising things in the pipeline but nothing concrete so far, higher rates and closer by (now commute 190 miles per day)
Should I call the agencies bluff and say I will decline?

I'd say you're the one bluffing as you have nothing concrete lined up. 99% you'll waste more time/between contracts than you would have 'lost' sticking with the current one.
Assuming that you get extended for 12 months, ans assuming you can find a contract that actually pays 5% more, all it takes is to be out of contract for two weeks to be worse off in the new contract. In other words unless you are certain that you can get a 5% better paying contract in the next two wooks, you are better off financially sticking with the existing contract.
Simple?