Slippery agent behaviour.

[SueEllen]

You were right - see above.

[ladymuck]

You can....

[SueEllen]

Yet you can't find work without them?

You can....

[simes]

Happens all the time.

I actually had this happen when I applied directly to a bank - HR phoned, told me an offer would be made in a pay range.

Two days later they call back with an offer that was £15k less.

Counter offer by asking for £15k more...?

[Lance]

I absolutely despise agents, they're all just so disingenuous and unscrupulous.

Yet you can't find work without them?

[ensignia]

I absolutely despise agents, they're all just so disingenuous and unscrupulous.

Recently interviewed for a role (we had agreed on £860 p/d), got a call a few days later saying congratulations they want you, but tried to pretend that the rate they put me forward for was £825, obviously assuming I'd still bite their hand off. I flat out refused and stood my ground, which they were clearly not used to dealing with.

A few members of the agency got involved trying to tell me what a great place it was to "work", but I was having none of it and said it was the original rate or I wasn't accepting. About three days later I get a call saying the "project had been cancelled" and they weren't sure when they would get funding again.

Literally the very next day the role is advertised again using the exact same details, rate range (which they wouldn't accomodate), contact etc

[PCTNN]

I have little doubt the same has happened to me several times. I guess some agents feel they are in the driving set once an offer has been made and some contractors are desperate for work.

Yeah it's like what did the agency expect? That since an offer was on the table I'd be willing to take a 25k cut?

One thing they surely didn't expect was for me to write to the client directly and for the whole thing to backfire as it did.

[TheDude]

Exactly. The hiring manager said they were going to offer X and the agent said sure, the candidate is happy with X without ever telling me about it.

I have little doubt the same has happened to me several times. I guess some agents feel they are in the driving set once an offer has been made and some contractors are desperate for work.

[PCTNN]

Maybe the agent told them they'd accepted the lower rate?

Exactly. The hiring manager said they were going to offer X and the agent said sure, the candidate is happy with X without ever telling me about it.

[ladymuck]

So why did the hiring manager go ahead with the interview and then not bother to bring salary up?

Maybe the agent told them they'd accepted the lower rate?