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Agent acting dodgy, how would you respond?

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    #11
    Originally posted by LondonManc View Post
    OP will not have access to the agency to client contract.
    I suppose the fact client HR have pulled them up on it, it's unlikely the agency has a 'can bill for full day even if contractor only works a part day (from 1 minute to full professional working day)' clause in their contract with the client, but that would be how the agency could legitimately charge full days when the contractor is submitting part day timesheets.

    Then if the agency has only got a clause with the contractor to pay out for time actually worked they are onto a winner, getting full day payment when contractor gets half day in this instance.

    So best to sit back and see what client is saying and how agency responds. Hopefully not with a terminated contract, unless client willing to allow another agency to takeover due to first agency being in breach of contract or worse.
    Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

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      #12
      Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
      If the agency want to play silly buggers with the client that's their problem.
      Which could very quickly become your problem as the client may decide to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak, then it's bye, bye gig.

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        #13
        Originally posted by billybiro View Post
        Which could very quickly become your problem as the client may decide to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak, then it's bye, bye gig.
        Possibly but we've seen plenty of examples where a client is willing to support a contractor through changes of agency or to bypass handcuffs so this one should be no different. They've got the resource they want so unless the OP is tulip and they wanted rid anyway they'd be cutting their own noses off to lose the contractor as well.
        'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

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          #14
          Originally posted by billybiro View Post
          Which could very quickly become your problem as the client may decide to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak, then it's bye, bye gig.
          Never ceases to amaze me what tricks, like this, agencies will try to pull. I'm sure most are confident they can bulltulip their way out of it.

          Seen it a million times.

          New guy who had the old "£50 rate cut due to budget day before" and it turned out the agency was taking 35% margin even though they told client it was only 15%. Agent blagged his way out of that one.

          I can imagine what went through agents mind here. I'll bill client for full day, nice little earner, in the unlikely event it gets spotted I'll blame it on "system error". Guy willl be confident he can blag it.

          Yeh agencies get caught red handed but their experts at this sort of thievery and its a calculated risk for them. And they dont give a stuff if they screw up a perfectly good gig for the contractor with their antics.
          Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

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            #15
            Originally posted by psychocandy View Post
            Seen it a million times.
            Bet you haven't

            New guy who had the old "£50 rate cut due to budget day before" and it turned out the agency was taking 35% margin even though they told client it was only 15%. Agent blagged his way out of that one.

            I can imagine what went through agents mind here. I'll bill client for full day, nice little earner, in the unlikely event it gets spotted I'll blame it on "system error". Guy willl be confident he can blag it.

            Yeh agencies get caught red handed but their experts at this sort of thievery and its a calculated risk for them. And they dont give a stuff if they screw up a perfectly good gig for the contractor with their antics.
            Yawn. Thanks for that Mr Irrelevant.
            'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

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              #16
              Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
              Possibly but we've seen plenty of examples where a client is willing to support a contractor through changes of agency or to bypass handcuffs so this one should be no different. They've got the resource they want so unless the OP is tulip and they wanted rid anyway they'd be cutting their own noses off to lose the contractor as well.
              I would agree having been in situation (Along with a few other contractors) where agency really pissed off the client with their dodgy dealings. Client didn't want to let go of the resource they had.

              But, sadly, they huffed and puffed a bit and nothing ever happened to the agency. Big company so I guess at another level it was just too much hassle for them to ditch the agency completely. But the agents know this which is why they get away with it.
              Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

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                #17
                It will also depend how many contractors the agency has with the client - they'll not mind losing a client if there's only one contractor but it'd take a braindead agent (6-yard tap in, go for it folks) to jeopardise a sizable account pulling something like the OP has.
                The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist

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                  #18
                  Originally posted by LondonManc View Post
                  It will also depend how many contractors the agency has with the client - they'll not mind losing a client if there's only one contractor but it'd take a braindead agent (6-yard tap in, go for it folks) to jeopardise a sizable account pulling something like the OP has.
                  This is true. A few extra half days claimed is worth it when maybe its just a one contractor deal for 3 months....

                  Saying that, I've had the opposite where the agency was well in with certain managers at a big client, tons of contractors etc and had them eating out of his hand. Thought he was bulletproof and could explain away anything.
                  Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

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                    #19
                    We are of course presuming the client HR aren't being numpties and have checked what their contract says.
                    Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

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                      #20
                      What do Clientco HR propose to do?

                      I was in a vaguely similar situation before. Clientco HR forced the agency to re-imburse all affected contractors. The agent got sacked.

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