Possibly daft question

[Dzaster]

Hi All

First time posting here but have been a lurker for several months, I have a question which may seem obvious to the initiated but for a fairly new contractor it does seem quite daunting...

I have been within a contract for a support desk role for the last 5 weeks on a 2 month cotract, the company has offered an extension of 3 months with immediate effect, however a contract I approached before taking this one on has come back to me with the offer of a start date next week.

After looking at the contracts and extension, I would like to take the new contract on but dont know if I am obliged to cotinue in my current contract until the original end date.

The extension for the current contract states it supercedes all previous contracts and has yet to be signed - does this mean I am currently out of contract and therefor free to go or does it mean unless I sign I am tied to the original contract???

a few details about the contracts -

The current contract is a lower paid and lower skilled job with no overtime rate but overtime is expected to be worked as and when
the extension contains the same details

The proposed contract is approx 25% more with an overtime rate and is also about 30 mins closer to home.

Looking forward to receiving some good advice from those who may have faced the same circumstances

Thanks

Dz

[kirk]

It sounds like your original contract still applies, and you need to complete it, unless you have a notice period (on your side) which you can invoke.

[Sockpuppet]

A contract isnt worth tulip untill its signed (or you do something like start working they start paying you).

So it wont superceed the previous contract until one of these happens.

[Dzaster]

When i said has yet to be signed, I meant I had not signed it but the client has

[Cowboy Bob]

When i said has yet to be signed, I meant I had not signed it but the client has

Then it isn't signed. If the original contract has run to term then you have no obligation to sign the new one and can change contracts should you so wish. If the original contract has time left on it, then you need to finish that one first before you can change.

[MarillionFan]

Argggggggggahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Every day a new poster, who never replies.

AndyW stop it!!! You're killing me!!!!

[Dzaster]

????

i did reply and the responses I got confirmed my own thoughts, its just I was told differently by the 2 agencies involved

I will be staying with the original contract but will be trying to get a rate increase to match the new offer

[cojak]

I think that MF meant that a 'Thank You' would be nice, or even a PS as to what you did in the end (which you did but had to be prodded into it...)

It's just a matter of politeness on your part mixed with nosiness on ours...

[Dzaster]

I had not finished the discussions with the employer, so did not think to say thanks.

Anyway just so everyone knows I really appreciate the advice and after explaining the situation with my current contract and letting him know I am happy but struggling financially, they have looked again at the extension and made me a better offer.

So I have decided to stay with my current contract and have accepted the 6mth extension they offered

So again a big thanks to all who gave me the invaluable advice.