Interesting Tactic From Agencies...

[Andy Hallett]

There are good agents, there are bad agents.

There are good contractors, there are bad contractors.

i suspect the 'new tactic' is because contractors are committing and then welching when they get offered £20 per day more.

[PerfectStorm]

Just tell them what they want to hear, this side of signing your contract. It feels terrible, but they'd drop if you in a moments notice if you have to. You are, after all, a contractor, and beholden to no one before you've signed one.