Introduction-only agency

[Eirikur]

OP is very naive and has not a real understanding of what an agency actually does. Especially finding the new contracts bit and engaging with clients. This costs a lot of time and effort, find the right people, build a relation ship and maintain the relationship.
Another important advantage of using an agency are your payment terms. Some pay me within 7 days some bit longer but never longer then 30 days.
I had direct contracts with 90 days payment terms and in most cases they didn't even meet that criteria, so had to chase and in some cases threaten with legal action

It doesn't mean I like agencies (some are good though) but it's a necessary evil.

[hgllgh]

Another important advantage of using an agency are your payment terms. Some pay me within 7 days some bit longer but never longer then 30 days.
I had direct contracts with 90 days payment terms and in most cases they didn't even meet that criteria, so had to chase and in some cases threaten with legal action

It doesn't mean I like agencies (some are good though) but it's a necessary evil.

True dat, but on the flip side they can also go bust leaving work unpaid.

OP still makes a good point IMHO. Agencies by and large are placing bums on seats, providing an "IR35 Compliant" contract and washing their hands of it all. But if I get direct contract (through an Intro agency) whereby I get a 'supplier contract' with the end client with all the IR35 issues (contract, working practices etc) sorted out up front I would opt for that arrangement over the current standard. Chasing the client for payment then becomes the necessary evil.

[northernladuk]

As can a client so not unique to agents.

[Cirrus]

Don't shoot the messenger

But if I get direct contract (through an Intro agency) whereby I get a 'supplier contract' with the end client with all the IR35 issues (contract, working practices etc) sorted out up front I would opt for that arrangement over the current standard.

Put aside for one moment this Brexit-like concept that you can wave a magic wand and all bad things get replaced with wonderful new things and everyone lives happily ever after. CloudContractor was blaming the world of agencies for preventing him from attaining this nirvana. My suspicion is that generally it is end clients who want things the way they are (for a whole host of reasons). Possibly if you can't have what you want in life it's because it's not on offer.

[northernladuk]

There is of course the saying that if all agents are the problem then maybe they aren't the problem.

[cloudcontractor]

Put aside for one moment this Brexit-like concept that you can wave a magic wand and all bad things get replaced with wonderful new things and everyone lives happily ever after. CloudContractor was blaming the world of agencies for preventing him from attaining this nirvana. My suspicion is that generally it is end clients who want things the way they are (for a whole host of reasons). Possibly if you can't have what you want in life it's because it's not on offer.

Not what I said at all. Did I talk about magic wands? My entire post was a discussion-starter about what better would look like - not demanding everything my own way. But you're clearly a rollover who doesn't believe anyone can make any meaningful change for the better when issues are clearly demonstrable. Worse, because you clearly don't have the kind of mentality to ever try to make changes, you're dismissive of others that do.

What's more likely is that I'll end up with exactly the contract I want, under the terms I want, and you'll keep eating the dung pies as they've served to you all the while insisting they taste just fine.

A very Remainer-like mentality indeed. As myopic as the other Remoaner on this thread trying to call me naive. Just because you're too feeble to challenge a status quo doesn't mean it can't change - but thank Christ not everyone thinks as you do.

[Paralytic]

Not what I said at all. Did I talk about magic wands? My entire post was a discussion-starter about what better would look like - not demanding everything my own way. But you're clearly a rollover who doesn't believe anyone can make any meaningful change for the better when issues are clearly demonstrable. Worse, because you clearly don't have the kind of mentality to ever try to make changes, you're dismissive of others that do.

What's more likely is that I'll end up with exactly the contract I want, under the terms I want, and you'll keep eating the dung pies as they've served to you all the while insisting they taste just fine.

Meaningful change doesn't happen by someone posting a discussion to randomers on the internet - it happens through the action of proactive people. What have you actually DONE to change the things you are unhappy with? That's assuming you are unhappy with something - its not entirely clear from your posts so far.

A very Remainer-like mentality indeed. As myopic as the other Remoaner on this thread trying to call me naive. Just because you're too feeble to challenge a status quo doesn't mean it can't change - but thank Christ not everyone thinks as you do.

You should prorogue your agency.

[cloudcontractor]

What have you actually DONE to change the things you are unhappy with?

I speak to clients and agents continuously about the need to properly comply with regulations - pointing out that this sudden arse-clenching over the April 2020 change is just the shifting of an existing liability - one that currently just sits on the contractors neck. These agencies, inexplicably beloved by the hapless sheep here, couldn't care less if they deliver you into an inside IR35 contract on a lie because they'll never be any comeback onto them - right now. The majority of contractors fail to appreciate this, and just want a job and to keep their head down, hoping the taxman never comes knocking. Might actually work too but I don't have any sympathy if you get caught clearly operating as a pseudo-employee and haven't done your due diligence on every engagement.

I do this because I'm lucky enough to be highly technically specialised and I'm never short of work. Agencies will bend to accommodate me and probably won't fill their requirement if they don't. If they're taught to get their act together for me that'll only benefit someone else next time.

So I hold them to account, make them change their contracts, educate the dopey cretins that work for them who have heard of this 'IR35' thing but don't know what it means. I attempt to start discussions on places like this to refine what a good agency would look like - and surely if I could work that out there would be a clear business opportunity there.

Cheerfully I'd had some PMs on here from people that agree with me but can't be arsed putting their opinion in front of the miserable naysayers here who think they know it all and are highly motivated, with post-counts in the 10s of thousands, to tell you just why you're wrong. Doesn't really matter - some forums transpire not to be good places to have such a discussion - particularly those with an ingrained kind of monoculture that doesn't like any hint of change - I suspect a lot of them will be accepting nice little permie roles sometime soon.

[Paralytic]

I speak to clients and agents continuously about the need to properly comply with regulations - pointing out that this sudden arse-clenching over the April 2020 change is just the shifting of an existing liability - one that currently just sits on the contractors neck. These agencies, inexplicably beloved by the hapless sheep here <snip>

I stopped reading here as you've obviously fail to comprehend the general feeling towards agencies on this forum (in as much as the entire community here can be grouped into a single entity).

[BR14]

some forums transpire not to be good places to have such a discussion

don't let the door slap your arse on the way out