Offered a contract but need advice on rate differences....

[MikeC1408]

I must have got lucky with my agent then

Got an interview at an agreed rate. Called by agent the next day to say I got the gig, oh and by the way the rate has gone up £30 a day

[Moptop]

That probably means the agency was a preferred supplier on a fixed margin.

[Sockpuppet]

I suspect your end client has exposed a scam by the agency. I think this is more common than you think. On more than one occaision I have seen some shady moves by agencies. I suspect that the agency is telling the client you're getting x+30 a day but really only paying you x. That way he gets his margin AND an extra 30 a day from placing you. The other scenario I've seen is when the agency insists that the client at the very last minute has dropped the rate by 2 an hour. I have always refused the cut and a cut has never been imposed.

Thats why I love being a PM.

I get the invoices from the agency so I know what they are charging for me. I had one pimp bare arsed lie to me about what he was charging for me, even though I was looking at his invoice. I wasn't fussed as I was happy with my rate but I just didn't want him to lie to me. The best he would do was blame a processing error untill I told him that the invoice would remain unpaid then till I had a x+10% invoice the rate that we had agreed.

I love playing with agents - finally happy that I have a few direct clients so I don't have to deal with them too much.

[MikeC1408]

That probably means the agency was a preferred supplier on a fixed margin.

But they could have kept the extra £30 for themselves, but didn't

[chicane]

But they could have kept the extra £30 for themselves, but didn't

You don't quite get this fixed margin business do you?

[thunderlizard]

doesn't that mean that the £30 is the agent's cut? e.g. the client's paying £930/day, you're getting £900/day, everybody's happy?

[Ardesco]

On a PSL the agent will be taking a fixed percentage of the money the client pays them (And the client will usually check that this is happening as well).

So if the agent is taking 10% and the client ups the rate they pay the agent from £300 to £400 your rate will automatically raise from £270 to £360. Wonderful isn't it

[MikeC1408]

On a PSL the agent will be taking a fixed percentage of the money the client pays them (And the client will usually check that this is happening as well).

So if the agent is taking 10% and the client ups the rate they pay the agent from £300 to £400 your rate will automatically raise from £270 to £360. Wonderful isn't it

So how would they check, they've never asked me what I'm getting.

Then again, I try not to worry about the agents cut. If I'm happy with my rate then that's all that matters to me.