Agency commission

[BrilloPad]

I've just asked my agent to take out a clause in a pre-interview agreement that states:

if they arrange an interview and I don't attend, I owe them 2000 Euros (don't like that one, but can accept).

AND

if I attend and interview and they offer me the role BUT I turn it down I owe them 2000 Euros.

Did they ask you to sign that?

I have never heard of a pre-interview agreement before.....

[bennyhedgehog]

WHS.

I only accept a rate that I am happy with - after that, I don't care what the agent is taking. The problem here is that the OP took a rate that he wasn't happy with, and relied on the agent not making the most of it.

Not at all ... You are mis-reading surely, there is a difference between making the most of a situation and taking the client for a ride. Capitalism you may wish to call it... I call it rank opportunism. I was happy to take the original rate, but there is a disparity in the client and contractor expectations when the agent is creaming quite so much, don't you think?

Not all clients are savvy of it contracting and rates and as such rely on the relationship with the agent to ensure they get the required skillset for the right price, plus the usual 10 odd percent... In my experience 15+ is cheeky and 40+ is plain short-sighted and piss-taking. Isn't it?

[d000hg]

The agent's role is to get their client to pay what they consider fair, and the contractor to accept a rate he considers fair. They make their living from whatever the gap is. It's probably your responsibility to push hard on the agent to get the highest rate. I am new to that side of things... but it does seem you can push really quite hard without getting laughed out of the door.

Let's turn it around... if you were the agency and both your client and contractor were happy, would you really turn down all that money? Would you tell the contractor "actually, I know you want £425 but let's make it £500"? Really?

[Another Dodgy Agent]

Let's turn it around... if you were the agency and both your client and contractor were happy, would you really turn down all that money? Would you tell the contractor "actually, I know you want £425 but let's make it £500"? Really?

Ermm, actually yeah. I am on pre agreed fixed margin's i.e. everyone on a particular PSL is charging out 15% (which has been stipulated by the end client). If I know the role is paying £500 per day and your looking £425 per day, then it is in both our interests that you get £500 per day.

[TheFaQQer]

Ermm, actually yeah. I am on pre agreed fixed margin's i.e. everyone on a particular PSL is charging out 15% (which has been stipulated by the end client). If I know the role is paying £500 per day and your looking £425 per day, then it is in both our interests that you get £500 per day.

Which is fine if you are on a fixed margin, as you say that you are. The more you can get for the contractor, the better off you are.

If, however, the client has given you a budget of £500 a day total to them, and you found a contractor who would work for £300 a day, are you really telling us that you would say "oh, no - that's too low, we'll pay you £450 a day instead"???

[d000hg]

Which is fine if you are on a fixed margin, as you say that you are. The more you can get for the contractor, the better off you are.

If, however, the client has given you a budget of £500 a day total to them, and you found a contractor who would work for £300 a day, are you really telling us that you would say "oh, no - that's too low, we'll pay you £450 a day instead"???

Which seems more normal. Every agent I've spoken to about contracts I am properly interested in has shown room for movement in rate. Not massively... maybe 10% more on what they say. Alternatively when I mention a rate first, every time it just happens that the client is hoping to spend the same +/- £25/day... obviously I need to revise my strategy.

[dmini]

Yes, I have had an agency come back and tell me the rate has gone UP, post interview - and the contract length at the same time.
I was quite happy to accept the adjustment!

[TykeMerc]

Yes, I have had an agency come back and tell me the rate has gone UP, post interview - and the contract length at the same time.
I was quite happy to accept the adjustment!

Has happened to me too, the Agent was up front, told me he was on a fixed margin and that the client had a larger budget available off than they originally planned as they needed one less on the headcount, was a surprise to both of us.