Dodgy Agent- please advice

[newbee]

Agent calls me about a gig tells me its at £X /day , i decided to go for it.

Agent calls me 3hrs later says client likes my Cv and thought I am bit over qualified and also decided they don't want to go with intial £X pounds but
now its £60 less. Which rate is not bad, but I am bit annoyed

So shall I go thru with this(been on bench since dec, so bit desperate) or shall say kick that agent in the back.

[miffy]

The agent is almost certainly trying it on with you and will pocket that extra cash should you accept the deal.

Have you been for an interview yet?

[newbee]

The agent is almost certainly trying it on with you and will pocket that extra cash should you accept the deal.

Have you been for an interview yet?

No not yet, this just the 'CV show' yet with client

[BrilloPad]

The agent is almost certainly trying it on with you and will pocket that extra cash should you accept the deal.

Have you been for an interview yet?

I agree. I would go for it and see if you get the job - if you get it then say you have another job elsewhere for more money...

[KevinS]

No not yet, this just the 'CV show' yet with client

Don't fight about it now, wait until the client has decided you are the person for the job, then tell the agent what rate is acceptable..

They want to place you - if they don't, no dosh for them!!

[miffy]

Getting to a point of offer always puts you in a much better bargaining position with the agency.

If it's not too far for you to travel I'd say to the agent lets talk about the rate after an interview with a view to them meeting you no less than half way (ie. lose £30 instead of £60). Then come renewal time up the rate or you pack up and go!

I'd adopt that tactic.

[Dow Jones]

Be sensible

Not wanting to be devil's advocate, agents go by what the client specs are. We normally give them a rate with a tolerance of +/-10% or a range (within £50 of high/low). If the market is good (which was up until Xmas), then you look at the top end of the rate, otherwise the low one. Supply exceeds demand atm plus the 'recession' excuse, clients can be choosier than ever. If you accept a rate, you can't always improve on it, unless you are a special case, as there will be 2nd/3rd choice candidate to fall back. Don't cut your nose to spite your face, esp. if you need it badly, as you say you do. Lots of newbies/aussies/kiwis get a foot in the ladder and then start whingeing about the low rate. This is why it was offered it to you in the 1st place and not to a more experienced/better candidate.

[Cheshire Cat]

i agree with some of the advice above, be as vague as you can about the rate, go to the interview, if they want you then play tough on the rate, but only you can judge how flexible to be, depending on the attitude of the agent. don't just automatically accept a £60 cut though.

[DodgyAgent]

Agent calls me about a gig tells me its at £X /day , i decided to go for it.

Agent calls me 3hrs later says client likes my Cv and thought I am bit over qualified and also decided they don't want to go with intial £X pounds but
now its £60 less. Which rate is not bad, but I am bit annoyed

So shall I go thru with this(been on bench since dec, so bit desperate) or shall say kick that agent in the back.

It happens all the time. The question is, is it the agency trying to widen the margin or is it the client negotiating, or is it both? You could try asking the agent who may lie to you anyway. It is unlikely that if the client likes you that they are going to turn you away for say £30 per day. Agents often get target fees and if a contractor is a bit above they still put him in, and negotiate later. after all as an agent you never know what the client and contractor are going to think of the job or each other.

The dynamics are quite complex and are very hard for the contractor to follow when he doesnt have a clue about what is actually going on. Push the agent as hard as you can, and then when you start work make it your business to find out what your margin is and maybe push your rate up when you are in a stronger position.

You could also clarify what the margins policy is between the agency and the client. The PSL usually have fixed margins so it is likely that it is the client who is doing pushing. If there is no PSL then the agent will be squeezing every penny he can get.

Agency commission thresholds play a huge part in all this. A one percentage point miss on one contractor on an agents margin can make the difference of several thousand pounds, and the difference between the agent being promoted or sacked.

Good luck

[BlasterBates]

Basically the choice is:

1 £0
2 rate being offered.

If the rate being is offered is greater than 0 then accept it.

You're only in a position to kick agents when you have a choice of contracts.

Just think carefully, if you reject this you might have to wait another 2 months fo the next, and I'm noticing an increasing number of posts with the words "bench" "desperate".