Agents commissions

[Belle]

I applied for a contract advertised this morning with an advertised rate of around 450 per day. I received a phone call from the agent pretty immediately who began the conversation by saying “I must let you know that the client’s budget has changed since we placed the advert (an hour before!), and they are now only paying 255 per day”.

As far are I see it, either a) the agent knew the crappy rate and decided to misquote the rate to get people to apply or b) the rate paid by the client is in fact around 450 but the agent is trying to increase their commission amount. When I politely told the agent to stick his contract, I was asked for the minimum I would accept and that he would get back to me if he could not find someone at the 255 rate.

From posts here, this seems like a fairly common practice but I see it as a form stealing – either of my time or my money. . Shouldn’t agents be required to be transparent with their commission amounts so both clients and candidates know how much will be fleeced off the top?

[PAH]

Shouldn’t agents be required to be transparent with their commission amounts so both clients and candidates know how much will be fleeced off the top?

The only people on here who'll say 'no' are the agents!

I don't see why they shouldn't. It could be argued that the only reason they try to keep it secret is so they can take a bigger cut than either the client or the contractor would feel is appropriate.

Unfortunately there are probably many contractors out there who are desperate for work, for one reason or another, so the agent is simply exploiting the situation to the max.

You'll find many posts on this forum where contractors have said they don't care what the agent is taking, as long as they're happy with what they're getting. They fail to realise that from the client's perspective they might be the most expensive contractor on the client's books, so will be amongst the first to go in a downturn, unless they're perceived to be irreplacable, which is unlikely.

[Belle]

They fail to realise that from the client's perspective they might be the most expensive contractor on the client's books, so will be amongst the first to go in a downturn, unless they're perceived to be irreplacable, which is unlikely.

You've hit the nail on the head exactly. Can't understand why people are happy with their lot and who cares what the client actually pays. Not sure how the real estate industry works in the UK but do estate agencies have to be transparent with their fees? If so, why should recruitment agencies be any different?

[simos]

I applied for a contract advertised this morning with an advertised rate of around 450 per day. I received a phone call from the agent pretty immediately who began the conversation by saying “I must let you know that the client’s budget has changed since we placed the advert (an hour before!), and they are now only paying 255 per day”.

As far are I see it, either a) the agent knew the crappy rate and decided to misquote the rate to get people to apply or b) the rate paid by the client is in fact around 450 but the agent is trying to increase their commission amount. When I politely told the agent to stick his contract, I was asked for the minimum I would accept and that he would get back to me if he could not find someone at the 255 rate.

From posts here, this seems like a fairly common practice but I see it as a form stealing – either of my time or my money. . Shouldn’t agents be required to be transparent with their commission amounts so both clients and candidates know how much will be fleeced off the top?

Belle, do u have agents name? I think we have to do it this way!

[Turion]

I applied for a contract advertised this morning with an advertised rate of around 450 per day. I received a phone call from the agent pretty immediately who began the conversation by saying “I must let you know that the client’s budget has changed since we placed the advert (an hour before!), and they are now only paying 255 per day”.

As far are I see it, either a) the agent knew the crappy rate and decided to misquote the rate to get people to apply or b) the rate paid by the client is in fact around 450 but the agent is trying to increase their commission amount. When I politely told the agent to stick his contract, I was asked for the minimum I would accept and that he would get back to me if he could not find someone at the 255 rate.

From posts here, this seems like a fairly common practice but I see it as a form stealing – either of my time or my money. . Shouldn’t agents be required to be transparent with their commission amounts so both clients and candidates know how much will be fleeced off the top?

You're new to this game aren't you. This type of thing is so commonplace no experience con would post about it.

[PAH]

You're new to this game aren't you. This type of thing is so commonplace no experience con would post about it.

Ignoring the issue only makes the agents stronger.

Experience doesn't always bring enlightenment. I'm always getting ripped by the agents yet I never seem to learn from the experience. [mods insert bawling eyes out smilie here please, ta]

[Belle]

You're new to this game aren't you. This type of thing is so commonplace no experience con would post about it.

Not new, contracting for 10 years but obviously in a country where there are laws protecting contractors or agencies with ethics..or contractors that don't bend over.

[Belle]

Ignoring the issue only makes the agents stronger.

Experience doesn't always bring enlightenment. I'm always getting ripped by the agents yet I never seem to learn from the experience. [mods insert bawling eyes out smilie here please, ta]

I think we need to start naming the bad agents...maybe start a "dodgy agent" website where everyone can post their bad experiences! Or is there one already like that?

[Ardesco]

They fail to realise that from the client's perspective they might be the most expensive contractor on the client's books, so will be amongst the first to go in a downturn, unless they're perceived to be irreplacable, which is unlikely.

Unlikely to be true. If the end client is paying that for you, they are likely paying it for every contractor they hire. If they didn't think you were worth it they wouldn't have given you the gig after interview.

You can always let the end client know what you are earning if it's a big worry and they will likely go back to the agency and kick up a stink and either pay less for you or if you are really really lucky you will get a bigger cut (Very unlikely though).

[PAH]

Depends if the client is using one preferred agency, that will be tied down, or have been suckered by the agent into paying more than for other contractors as they were desperate, or any number of other reasons.

Seeing how underhand the agents are with us contractors makes me doubt they don't do the same with the clients. [read it again, the logic's correct!]