Backing out of a verbally (and via email) agreed contract.

[northernladuk]

Yes just say because they couldn't provide a start date you had to accept another offer. They won't like it but that's life

Huh. It was up to the OP to provide the date so he's gonna look a bit daft if he says that.

[Eirikur]

Huh. It was up to the OP to provide the date so he's gonna look a bit daft if he says that.

Oops misread that, yeah that is daft

[NotAllThere]

So I got an offer at a new client that I accepted verbally and via email

I've updated your thread title, to reflect this.

Tell them as soon as possible that you won't be persuing the contract further, as you've had a better offer. Since you've not got a confirmed start date, you are not breaching any agreement.

[LondonManc]

You've agreed it but not signed it. That's exactly what Roy Keane's situation was with Blackburn before he moved to United. He'd verbally agreed a move with Dalglish but Fergie managed to get in touch with him and persuade him to go to Old Trafford instead. Without a signed contract, it just means that you've got an angry agent. Win-win some would say.

[psychocandy]

So confused. Did client/agent give you a start date or are they waiting for you to confirm the date?

Different. I'd have said, if you were waiting for the its different and all bets are off.

Either way agent and client are going to be pissed off but they'll get over it.

[jmo21]

So confused. Did client/agent give you a start date or are they waiting for you to confirm the date?

Different. I'd have said, if you were waiting for the its different and all bets are off.

Either way agent and client are going to be pissed off but they'll get over it.

it's pretty clear if you read the OP, someone else has even misunderstood, AND been corrected before you posted

[billybiro]

if you have agreed everything but start date, and want to back out, simply push for a start date of say April 2035... they will be unlikely to hold you to the contract even if they could enforce it

This is the best answer. It is technically correct, the best kind of correct.