Agency not reissuing a new contract

[P3rcyp]

Hi All,

I have searched the forums but can't find a question like mine. It's a strange situation I am in.

Completed a 6 month contract and now on monthly contracts with same client for valid reasons. It's all been fine but agent I was dealing with has left and the agency are not responding to communication. My contract ended last week (so been out of work for a week) however the client told the agency two weeks ago they wanted to renew the contract for another month.

So legally there is no contract but the client is expecting me to continue working as they have agreed a renewal. I explained the situation and have done a small amount t of work to appeas them but they have said that if it is not sorted out in the next couple of days they will have to get a new contractor in. We have all tried contacting the agency but get no response.

I could go direct but the agency have me tied in to their contract so I am unable to go with another agency or direct with this client for 12 months.

I am going to seek legal advice as there is something in the back of my head that says if the agency are stopping me working then there is a breach of some law. If so this would mean I could contest their contract and go direct. I am more than happy to stay with an agency rather than go direct but I am not happy about not being able to work.

Any advise greatly appreciated.

[SueEllen]

Did you phone the agency, then emailed them saying you phoned at xxx times on yyy days, AND finally sent them a registered post next day delivery letter stating all the times you contacted them both by phone and email?

Do all that first. In the letter give them 7 days to respond.

If they then don't respond to the registered letter in 7 days sort it out with the client directly.

Lots of times on here people just use one method of trying to communicate with agents when there are plenty including going to see the agency face to face as a last resort.

There is no law as such but in any dispute you are going to have to be able to show you did everything possible to contact them. Hence emails and the registered letter.

You need to judge yourself whether it's worth continuing to work but if you do get something in writing from the client (make sure it is sent to your own business email address) with a full company signature in case you have to enforce payment in a court.

[northernladuk]

I am finding it hard to believe you get no response from the agency. Like zip, zero, nadda? The phone doesn't pick up at all? You sure they haven't gone bust? Doesn't sound right.

[P3rcyp]

I haven't done the registered letter yet and didn't actually think about that, thanks for the suggestion. I have phoned the agency and mailed the generic email and also the email of the person who took over from the recruiter who first sorted out the contract.

When I phone them I get the usual "he is in a meeting and will call you back". I have even told the person who answers the situation. It is all very bizarre.

[P3rcyp]

I am finding it hard to believe you get no response from the agency. Like zip, zero, nadda? The phone doesn't pick up at all? You sure they haven't gone bust? Doesn't sound right.

The phone does pick up but as said in my post below, I just get the standard response. Even trying to escalate gets no response.

Believe me after 10 years contracting, I am amazed that the recruiter is so blasé as to not respond. It's annoying as the client hates them too and will never use them again, they now use another agency to acquire contractors but contracts dictate unless they buy me out at a silly cost then I am stuck in a bizzare situation.

[WTFH]

Care to name the agent?

[BlueSharp]

Is the agency trying to renegotiate the rates with the client?

[perplexed]

Surprised any agency would want to leave money on the table.

Got to be more to this?

[SueEllen]

Surprised any agency would want to leave money on the table.

Got to be more to this?

The actual agent has probably left and the idiots in the office haven't bothered to pick up their emails.

Normally there is a director who will deal with this if the agent isn't around.

[P3rcyp]

Care to name the agent?

To be honest I don't as in my experience, that can cause a lot more issues than its worth.