Computer Futures

**chicane** · 31 July 2007, 10:30

You're best off asking about the agent rather than the agency. I've done a gig through Computer Futures during which every aspect was handled professional and efficiently by the agent. Conversely, I've had the misfortune of dealing with other agents within Computer Futures who were less than professional.

**TheFaQQer** · 31 July 2007, 10:35

Originally posted by Mustang

What's everyone's beef with them?

Just had a numpty on the phone from them talking about a gig not a million miles from here. He knew very little about the role and didn't even know the company name. He then asked me questions about "what efforts would MyCo go to keep me"! This was closely followed by "what were my career goals" and then the classic "would I be prepared to relocate. I pointed out that this was a contract role and not a permie one and he said "I am just filling out our sheet".

I was then phoned back by the A/C manager who asked me a few more realistic questions. He gave the big sob story about margins and what the client will pay but still managed to increase the rate by £25 an hour!! However, given my current circumstances, don't want to miss out on the gig - need to get in front of the client.

As a result I have lowered my rate to get the gig. Just not getting positive vibes about the agency.......!!

I wish I could increase my rate by £25 an hour! That's a daily increase of £200, so I'd take the job, regardless of the agency.

**Mustang** · 31 July 2007, 11:37

Originally posted by TheFaqqer

I wish I could increase my rate by £25 an hour!

Oops - I actually meant £25/day.

Now the Account manager is refusing to tell me who the end client is until he has passed over my CV. Apparently he has "been bitten too many times by contrcators who find the company name and then go direct". He says I will "have to trust him".......

The hairs on the back of my neck are rising.....

**Ardesco** · 31 July 2007, 11:51

Prolly looking for somebody cheaper than you. I've done a couple of months for computer futures here and there when nothing else was available and they tend to go for maximum gain on thier side. If it is a choice between you and another guy who is half as qualified but will accept half the rate they will push the other guy every time. They do a roaring trade in indian contractors who are completely fecking clueless but work for peanuts and have everything under the sun on thier cv.....

I belive they are S3 group are they not?

**TheFaQQer** · 31 July 2007, 11:56

Originally posted by Ardesco

I belive they are S3 group are they not?

Yes.

My one dealing with them in the past they sent me a sample contract, but at least acknowledged that it would be IR35 caught and the role probably would be too. They wouldn't negotiate on the contract, either.

**Ardesco** · 31 July 2007, 11:58

I've had a contract from them in the past that wasn't IR35 caught (about 5 years ago I think and it was only for a month) so they used to do them. I suspect they are doing the old OPT Out or we make the contract IR35 caught thing now..

**TheFaQQer** · 31 July 2007, 12:07

Originally posted by Ardesco

I've had a contract from them in the past that wasn't IR35 caught (about 5 years ago I think and it was only for a month) so they used to do them. I suspect they are doing the old OPT Out or we make the contract IR35 caught thing now..

To be fair, they said that the end client had put the restrictions in there, and so they couldn't change them. Once they said that it was IR35 caught, I lost interest, so didn't even read the contract to see what was wrong with it.

**Not So Wise** · 31 July 2007, 14:22

Originally posted by Mustang

Oops - I actually meant £25/day.

If you are currently outside IR35 you would probably find that extra £25 a day actually translates into less that your current rate, among their many downsides CF is notorious for non IR35 friendly contracts.

And if if you get a IR35 friendly contract with them you could virtually bet your house on that fact the the client/agency contract is not IR35 friendly which is just as bad

Only two reasons to take a CF contract as far as I concerned
A) You are very very desperate (aka no money, no credit left, you and family are about to have to live out of the car...until it too gets reposed)
B) The position is so great in name/experience that it means a massive increase in revenue once you complete it

Otherwise avoid them at all costs

Computer Futures