The hell that is representation emails.....

**Lance** · 7 October 2021, 08:36

where have you been for the last 20 years?

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

I know NLUK got bitten with this in the past..... i.e. two agencies fighting over who's representing you then the client just drops you.
I thought I had this yesterday.

So did you have this or not? If not then what do you want?

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

<boring> SNIP

It all got a bit confusing because another agency called me about the same role saying they had sole rights to this contract and the first agency was just punting my CV on an off chance. Glad to say it turned out ok and I got the offer (from 1st place). Whats going on here? Buggered if I know.

Got me to thinking. In theory ANY agency could get a sniff of a contract, get a contractor to give representation rights.

Yup. They can and they do.

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

Quite possibly you're never ever going to get the gig because agency is not on the PSL.

Not always the case. The agency who found you will try and place you with the agency who is on the PSL.

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

Of course, other agencies, even ones on the PSL are too scared to go anywhere near you now.....

No they're not. If the PSL agency wants a resource for £500 a day, and the next agency wants £50 a day for it, then the contractor won't get more than £450 a day.
Neither agency care if they're getting their slice of the pie.

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

Surely this is not right. I can't see how an agency can tie you to something like this (i.e. you're agreement to represent you) when they've not even got the rights to be in the position to represent you in the first place?

It's business. You might not like it but it is what it is. Best bet is to make sure you're with the agency at the top table.

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

And also, can permission to represent be withdrawn?

yes. Sure. Neither the permission, nor any subsequent withdrawal are worth anything other than embarrassment. but that embarrassment might cost you the gig.

**northernladuk** · 7 October 2021, 10:28

It all got a bit confusing because another agency called me about the same role saying they had sole rights to this contract and the first agency was just punting my CV on an off chance. Glad to say it turned out ok and I got the offer (from 1st place). Whats going on here? Buggered if I know.

Got me to thinking. In theory ANY agency could get a sniff of a contract, get a contractor to give representation rights. Quite possibly you're never ever going to get the gig because agency is not on the PSL. Of course, other agencies, even ones on the PSL are too scared to go anywhere near you now.....

They can't give representation rights if they don't have the ability to submit you so can't be a bun fight if they physically can't submit so that generally won't happen. They'll pull your plonker over the sole rights for sure so get them to put that in writing as that could be your out later if need be.

Also, you are right I have had the two agencies thing when I've been sat in the car park but I've had two other instances with an agent supplying when a master agent is in place and neither went well just as you say

UKARs in Bradford has a master agent but other agents can supply names via the master. So agents just getting other agents to do the work and getting a cut of the money for doing nothing. Kind of just selling their roles out to other agents. Interview and everything went right and got offer via 2nd agent, master agent OK so seemed to work but turned gig down. Problem was when applying again. Master agent claimed dibs on me for second role as I am already known to them so caused an issue the second time I applied via a 2nd agent. Really stupid carry on that seemed to suit no one but the agents. Pulled out of the role due to the carry on so not sure how it would have turned out.

The other one in Manchester was a case an agent had done a great sell on a hiring manager, got me lined up for the role, got offered the gig and Alexander Mann got wind and pull rank as the sole supplier. Complete cock up at the client end. Client wanted me, I wanted them but AM wouldn't represent me because 2nd agent had representation rights but they were blocking them. Had some very heated calls with AM about the stupidity of the situation and lost the gig. I suspect they either had a cheaper resource or take a bigger cut so wouldn't honour the rate. Client very unhappy. Again, lost a role down to agents stupidity. Had some very heated calls with the 2nd agent as well, totally their fault for kidding me and the client in this case.

So yes, everytime there is a 2nd agent in a chain, be it a main/sub agency agreement, cheeky 2nd agent whatever... it always ends in tears. I'm always careful to check the agents situation I'm dealing with so it's not me piling in blindly.

I'd say you've dodged a bullet there.

**SimonMac** · 7 October 2021, 11:33

Very, very few agencies have a sole provider master agreement, those that do won't ask you for a representation email as they don't need one.

**SimonMac** · 7 October 2021, 11:38

What I try to do is in representation emails state its for a fixed period of 7 days and if a CV is not submitted it becomes void, no idea how much clout it carries but makes me feel a bit better

**ladymuck** · 7 October 2021, 12:33

Originally posted by SimonMac View Post

What I try to do is in representation emails state its for a fixed period of 7 days and if a CV is not submitted it becomes void, no idea how much clout it carries but makes me feel a bit better

That's a good suggestion.

Thinking about it further, you could ask the agent when they will be submitting CVs and then when doing the email set the expiry to the day after that date, on the assumption that your CV should have been submitted by then.

"I agree to Fleecing Recruitment Ltd to have sole representation on the proviso that my CV will be presented to the client on or before 11 October 2021. This agreement will end on 12 October 2021 if confirmation of CV submission is not received."

**northernladuk** · 7 October 2021, 12:42

Originally posted by ladymuck View Post

That's a good suggestion.

Thinking about it further, you could ask the agent when they will be submitting CVs and then when doing the email set the expiry to the day after that date, on the assumption that your CV should have been submitted by then.

"I agree to Fleecing Recruitment Ltd to have sole representation on the proviso that my CV will be presented to the client on or before 11 October 2021. This agreement will end on 12 October 2021 if confirmation of CV submission is not received."

It's a good idea, problem is agents can be such slimey tossers it won't make a bean of difference if they want to screw it up for you. Legally and procedurally a great idea, make a difference with a low life agent chasing their own commission? I doubt it. Still worth doing of course.

**ladymuck** · 7 October 2021, 12:44

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

It's a good idea, problem is agents can be such slimey tossers it won't make a bean of difference if they want to screw it up for you. Legally and procedurally a great idea, make a different with a low life agent chasing their own commission? I doubt it. Still worth doing of course.

I might give it a try next time I'm asked to do such a thing and see how it goes.

It's good for a laugh at the very least.

**Eirikur** · 7 October 2021, 13:02

In at least 80% of cases where the agency says they have sole rights, they lie. Why would an agency who have no rights do any work at all if they know it will be very likely all for nothing.
There are a handful of cases where the agencies have the sole rights, you can sometimes recognize them when the pimp is embedded in the client organisation

**FMCG** · 9 October 2021, 04:04

Also an advocate of stating duration period of consent on the authorisation email.

If ever you get into a multi-agency bidding war.......... candidate generally gets scorched.

There is also a tactic that recruiters use - sign you up, in order to block your application! (Ask me how I know).

The hell that is representation emails.....