Agencies asking for previous contracting rates. What is your view?

[siphr]

Hello,

I would occasionally get contacted by an agency (this time it was Parallel Consulting) who is adamant that I disclose my past rates. I find it quite sneaky. I think the only reason they want to know this so that they can negotiate a rate down. They is either the client or an agency who is operating on a margin.
What are your views on this?

Thanks.

[Goosefeather]

Hello,

I would occasionally get contacted by an agency who is adamant that I disclose my past rates. I find it quite sneaky. I think the only reason they want to know this so that they can negotiate a rate down. They is either the client or an agency who is operating on a margin.
What are your views on this?

Thanks.

I always tell them that it is between myself and my client. After all, it is a business to business contract, and is nobodies business but those involved. Usually shuts them up.

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[Hobosapien]

I always tell them a rate in the ballpark I want now. They are not going to be able to verify the rate I was on in a previous contract.

A reason they may want that info is so when they go fishing to previous clients on your CV they have an idea of what the client is willing to pay.

[siphr]

I always tell them a rate in the ballpark I want now. They are not going to be able to verify the rate I was on in a previous contract.

A reason they may want that info is so when they go fishing to previous clients on your CV they have an idea of what the client is willing to pay.

I am aware that one could choose to do this, but why should you have to lie because of someone else's lack of etiquette.

[TwoWolves]

I am aware that one could choose to do this, but why should you have to lie because of someone else's lack of etiquette.

Welcome to the sordid and seedy world of contracting.

[northernladuk]

Been asked and discussed many times already. Try a search to see if a topic has been discussed before. Might save you some time and us to go over it all again.

HTH
agency aski g rate site:forums.contractoruk.com - Google Search

[siphr]

Been asked and discussed many times already. Try a search to see if a topic has been discussed before. Might save you some time and us to go over it all again.

HTH
agency aski g rate site:forums.contractoruk.com - Google Search

You are absolutely right northernladuk. Should've checked.

[Eirikur]

Ask them if they also ask their plumber what they charged their previous customers

[siphr]

Ask them if they also ask their plumber what they charged their previous customers

Exactly my perspective! I operate a business, agency operates a business and the client operates a business. The lady on the phone had a really bad attitude after that, kept saying its our requirement, then said it is how i operate, then changed it to the client has asked for it. To all of this I simply had said earlier on that if you think you cannot proceed without that information then that is reasonable and I'd accept that so let us not proceed. But she just wouldn't put the phone down saying I do not understand why...
Good riddance, I say!

[man]

Sometimes I say that while I can't give rates out for specific contracts the most ever taken on work for is £x and the least I've ever taken on work for is £y, the exact rate depends on the details of the work.
(I say this because the range happens to be pretty big and covers the full range of rates I'd consider working for)

You'd probably expect that I'd get a load of 'offers' at the bottom end of the range, but that doesn't seem to happen.