Have you had luck with striking out handcuff clauses from contracts before signing?

[eek]

But that's where agency regulations come in, no? There is only 8 weeks allowed

Only on the worker agency side - never on the agency end-client side of things so again it makes no actual difference

[NotAllThere]

I know someone who edited the PDF that had been sent them, removed the clauses, signed it. And received a copy back (complete with changes) signed by the agent.

[jamesbrown]

I know someone who edited the PDF that had been sent them, removed the clauses, signed it. And received a copy back (complete with changes) signed by the agent.

Probably wouldn't stand-up unless the change were flagged to the counterparty, so probably pointless, although an interesting anecdote.

[northernladuk]

Probably wouldn't stand-up unless the change were flagged to the counterparty, so probably pointless, although an interesting anecdote.

I'd say this as well. Minor issues can be changed by hand, initialled and dated but a major change or removal of an entire clause would usually require the person to discuss the change in contract. At best what he did will be seen as sly and underhand and courts don't like that. The first document is the one the agent is agreeing to be bound by, the editted one is the one the contractor is agreeing to be bound by. There is no mutual agreement of the contract to be signed which is fundamental to the reason a contract is created, to mutually agree to the terms. Yes the agent is probably an idiot for accepting it without reading it but fundamentally a contract of mutal agreement has not been created so won't stand up. Obviously has to go legal to prove. It's gonna be a proper bun fight up to that point so the contractor making the change hasn't really won anything.

[jamesbrown]

Exactly and, while there may be no loss/damage in this instance, it's a bad idea in general - false representation or concealment of material fact is probably opening you up to a claim of civil fraud. Classic scenario of someone thinking they're being clever when really they're being a moron.

[NotAllThere]

I wasn't recommending it!

[TheDude]

Complete aside, but I'm not sure why you're bothering with agencies if you have niche skills that are in-demand - just go direct.

Many large companies will not engage contractors directly.

[jamesbrown]

I wasn't recommending it!

Sure, I didn’t think you were!

[jamesbrown]

Many large companies will not engage contractors directly.

Many will. I dare say all will, depending on your skillset and how screwed they are. Either way, you should build a network. Takes time, but works.

[Paralytic]

Many large companies will not engage contractors directly.

It's amazing how many large companies with such rules can find work-arounds if that is the only way to get a skill is to engage directly. I guess this is the one way for contractors to truly test if they have rare niche skills or are just kidding themselves.

But, most such companies will just go back to the agency and find someone else.