Contract Acceptance Advice (Help!!)

[Hot_stepper]

Right, I have a bit of a quandry and was hoping some of you may be able to point me in the right direction!

I am a newb contractor having worked as an employed consultant for the last 5yrs but the firm I was working for are strapped for cash and contracting looks like a good option for my life right now.

I needed to start a contract fairly rapidly as I still have wages outstanding from the old firm and I have my CV with several pimps. I had a telephone interview on Tuesday which was meant to follow on with a face to face, however, they called back late Tuesday to offer an immediate start. I stated I would be able to start on Thursday (not weds as they asked) as I had another interview lined up for this morning which I decided to attend for posterities sake.

So, the problem is - I am supposed to start contract A tomorrow but contract B (which pays slightly more & is a little closer) have decided that they will cancel the remaining interviews they have for tom. and have asked if I will start on Monday. I have not given a categoric yes to contract B yet. What to do??

How annoyed is a pimp likely to be if I don't start contract A.... Is it worth accepting contract B for Monday - starting contract A tomorrow and then saying it isn't the right role for me... or do I find a severe enough excuse... or (shock, horror), be honest??

Answers on a postcard please!!

[kirk]

Have you signed a contract with "A" ?

I was in the same position back in October but had to take "A" as I was too hasty in signing the contract!

I've put that down to experience

[Hot_stepper]

No contract's have been signed at all as of yet, only my verbal acceptance.

[freakydancer]

No contract's have been signed at all as of yet, only my verbal acceptance.

Is contract A through a big agency?

[Flubster]

Verbal is as good as written. How p*ssed off would you be if client verbally agreed for you to start then the Monday morning you turn up to be told, "Sorry, but we found someone cheaper and closer. Goodbye."

If you've made the jump to leave the safety/security of permiedom, you need to act like a busines pretty damn quickly.

[Hot_stepper]

Yes - Contract A is through a big agency and b through a small one.

Flubster - My gut tells me you are spot on and I should have cancelled the interview for B and you raise a very good point well made! It wouldn't be the most appropriate start for a business!

[freakydancer]

Yes - Contract A is through a big agency and b through a small one.

Flubster - My gut tells me you are spot on and I should have cancelled the interview for B and you raise a very good point well made! It wouldn't be the most appropriate start for a business!

Go with A - bite the bullet, take the money and get the big wedge on your next one...

[XLMonkey]

You can get away with it, and the memory of the average agent is hilariously short. But the point is whether you think, having given your word, that your word is worth anything (or at least, worth the difference in the rates).

Listen to your conscience.

[TheFaQQer]

Find someone else that can do contract A for you, and exercise your right of substitution clause.

You do one contract, they do the other, you act as a business, and everything is hunky-dory.

Faqqer

[lukemg]

Agent would drop you in a second if he had someone going in there who could make him more money. If the client said either would be fine, he would tell you the job had been withdrawn (after ducking your calls for a couple of weeks) and tell the client you had a nervous breakdown etc.
In other words, it's every man/woman for themselves, take the job you want regardless of what you have said.