Agency paying less than agreed client rate (skimming off top)

[MrMarkyMark]

I can't frigging believe all these "rotten behaviour apologists". Half of you are probably agents fake posting as contractors (you're pretty used to fake posts in job boards, so no surprise there).
What makes me really sick, though, are the genuine contractors that apologise completely rotten agency tricks - spineless maggots!

It is partly your fault that so many of them try to get away with this crap - because the likes of you have, not only let them, but are moronically defending them!

I once had a moron Agency CEO who asked me not to tell the client that he was actually paying me less than the rate they were under contract with the client to pay.

NATURALLY I discussed this with the client first thing and the fraudulent agency (yes! it is fraud to lie about circumstances in a negotiation that creates a gain for the perpetrator and a loss for the victim! - and the contract can very easily be declared null and void!) got stricken off the PSL faster than they could spell "contract breach"!

Clients are reasonable most of the times and consider YOU - as the provider of crucial tech services that their business depend upon - as much more important then the easily replaceable agency - of which there exists way too many already, and none really supply any important service at all. If one is shown to engage in doubtful practices - that may give the end client a bad rep. - then chances are high that the client want nothing further to do with them.

<mod snip>

To you apologists - No, you have got it all wrong: accepting to be lied straight into your face by a shady middle man is NOT "business". Not at all...it is what it is - e.g. really in-professional, rotten and rogue and should be stamped out where ever it shows itself, so that the two parties of importance can complete their business. THAT is business!

And business in other areas where an agent is involved is not downright shady?
Football, acting?
+ no one is in possession of full definite facts in this instance

[LondonManc]

Agency called me up about a job, said they put me forward at £250/day. I said I had another potential job paying more. Agency said the most the client will pay is £275/day so I said fair enough and signed contract.

Since working at the client I have seen the budget for my project and the client is paying £300/day +15% commission. Now, I don't care about the 15% commission, that's none of my business, but what I do care about is that the client thinks they are paying me £300/day but in fact the sneaky recruiter is taking £25 of this.

Has anyone else been in this situation?
Do I have any recourse?
I've signed a contract that has no day rate specified on it, just an email from the recruiter confirming the rate, along with start times and notice period.

I am assuming the recruiter will say tough, you signed the contract. But can I alert the client about this, or what is the protocol for discussing day rates with client?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Okay, so you've seen the budget. Have you seen the actuals?

It may be that the agency has been asked to hardball you down because they've had to pay an extra £25 a day to someone else.

[northernladuk]

I can't frigging believe all these "rotten behaviour apologists". Half of you are probably agents fake posting as contractors (you're pretty used to fake posts in job boards, so no surprise there).
What makes me really sick, though, are the genuine contractors that apologise completely rotten agency tricks - spineless maggots!

It is partly your fault that so many of them try to get away with this crap - because the likes of you have, not only let them, but are moronically defending them!

I once had a moron Agency CEO who asked me not to tell the client that he was actually paying me less than the rate they were under contract with the client to pay.

NATURALLY I discussed this with the client first thing and the fraudulent agency (yes! it is fraud to lie about circumstances in a negotiation that creates a gain for the perpetrator and a loss for the victim! - and the contract can very easily be declared null and void!) got stricken off the PSL faster than they could spell "contract breach"!

Clients are reasonable most of the times and consider YOU - as the provider of crucial tech services that their business depend upon - as much more important then the easily replaceable agency - of which there exists way too many already, and none really supply any important service at all. If one is shown to engage in doubtful practices - that may give the end client a bad rep. - then chances are high that the client want nothing further to do with them.

<mod snip>

To you apologists - No, you have got it all wrong: accepting to be lied straight into your face by a shady middle man is NOT "business". Not at all...it is what it is - e.g. really in-professional, rotten and rogue and should be stamped out where ever it shows itself, so that the two parties of importance can complete their business. THAT is business!

Is this like a De Ja Vu? I would have thought after 3 years you might have gotten over it a little.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ml#post1799727

but then again... maybe not..

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ml#post2313218

You really do hate agents don't you. Someone got burned?

[missinggreenfields]

I can't frigging believe all these "rotten behaviour apologists". Half of you are probably agents fake posting as contractors (you're pretty used to fake posts in job boards, so no surprise there).
What makes me really sick, though, are the genuine contractors that apologise completely rotten agency tricks - spineless maggots!

It is partly your fault that so many of them try to get away with this crap - because the likes of you have, not only let them, but are moronically defending them!

I once had a moron Agency CEO who asked me not to tell the client that he was actually paying me less than the rate they were under contract with the client to pay.

NATURALLY I discussed this with the client first thing and the fraudulent agency (yes! it is fraud to lie about circumstances in a negotiation that creates a gain for the perpetrator and a loss for the victim! - and the contract can very easily be declared null and void!) got stricken off the PSL faster than they could spell "contract breach"!

Clients are reasonable most of the times and consider YOU - as the provider of crucial tech services that their business depend upon - as much more important then the easily replaceable agency - of which there exists way too many already, and none really supply any important service at all. If one is shown to engage in doubtful practices - that may give the end client a bad rep. - then chances are high that the client want nothing further to do with them.

<mod snip>

To you apologists - No, you have got it all wrong: accepting to be lied straight into your face by a shady middle man is NOT "business". Not at all...it is what it is - e.g. really in-professional, rotten and rogue and should be stamped out where ever it shows itself, so that the two parties of importance can complete their business. THAT is business!

If you can't negotiate your own contract without needing to go bleating to your customers about how life isn't fair, you should probably not be in contracting. THAT is the advice you should be given!

To you crying whingers - No, you have got it all wrong: accepting a contract rate and then whining about it is NOT "business". Not at all...it is what it is - e.g. really unprofessional, rotten and rogue and should be stamped out where ever it shows itself, so that real professionals can complete their business. THAT is business!

[MrMarkyMark]

If you can't negotiate your own contract without needing to go bleating to your customers about how life isn't fair, you should probably not be in contracting. THAT is the advice you should be given!

To you crying whingers - No, you have got it all wrong: accepting a contract rate and then whining about it is NOT "business". Not at all...it is what it is - e.g. really unprofessional, rotten and rogue and should be stamped out where ever it shows itself, so that real professionals can complete their business. THAT is business!

[SlipTheJab]

...

So rather than ask the Agent CEO why he was doing that you went on site on your first day and complained to the client instead, I find that hard to believe... no one forced you to take the contract did they?

[Lance]

I once had a moron Agency CEO who asked me not to tell the client that he was actually paying me less than the rate they were under contract with the client to pay.

NATURALLY I discussed this with the client first thing and the fraudulent agency (yes! it is fraud to lie about circumstances in a negotiation that creates a gain for the perpetrator and a loss for the victim! - and the contract can very easily be declared null and void!) got stricken off the PSL faster than they could spell "contract breach"!

So you breached your contract by discussing company confidential information with the client?
It's not FRAUD. Lying about the margin you're making definitely is not fraud. Good luck trying to declare a breach by the agent when you have information you are not entitled to.
I think you are talking tulip when you claim that you had them struck off the PSL. They may have been struck off but not because one contractor whinged.

[eek]

So you breached your contract by discussing company confidential information with the client?
It's not FRAUD. Lying about the margin you're making definitely is not fraud. Good luck trying to declare a breach by the agent when you have information you are not entitled to.
I think you are talking tulip when you claim that you had them struck off the PSL. They may have been struck off but not because one contractor whinged.

It wouldn't surprise me if caught like that that they were just struck off for a bit. It would depend on the end client but most would take a very fixed dim view on their fixed margins PSL contracts being broken by profiteering....

[Lance]

It wouldn't surprise me if caught like that that they were just struck off for a bit. It would depend on the end client but most would take a very fixed dim view on their fixed margins PSL contracts being broken by profiteering....

Only if they are repeat offenders. The agency would claim one errant agent and/or admin error if it's just one contractor. It takes quite some time to negotiate a PSL contract with an agency so they'll not drop it over one error.

[MrMarkyMark]

Only if they are repeat offenders. The agency would claim one errant agent and/or admin error if it's just one contractor. It takes quite some time to negotiate a PSL contract with an agency so they'll not drop it over one error.

When I was a mere grasshopper contractor, although I still am at least in my eyes , I found out the agent was making 20%.

No fuss, but it has never happened again, consultancies are a completely different story, they have made big £££ out of me.