fellow contractor on higher rate then me

[NickNick]

Big moral - NEVER discuss you rate with anyone else, unless you are speaking with an agent then tell them what you want, not waht you are on and never in public.

Nah, I'd disagree with this. Contractors talking to each other is the best way to ensure that everyone gets the best rate they can.

[Brussels Slumdog]

No two contractors are the same

[QUOTE=hammerip;823115]Hi,

I started my current contract 2 months ago and a couple of other guys started at the same time, one with the same agent. The guy with the same agent as me let it slip that he is on £50 per day more than me which I'm obviously a bit miffed about.

1 Does he have the same travel expenses as you?
I will quote £50 less a day to work in Brussels than you as I have no travel
or accommodation expenses.
I will quote £50 more than you to work near where you live as I have travel expenses.

2 You maybe an IT wizard but the other guy is a negotiation wizard.

3 Timing . He was taken on before the client realised it was a buyers market

4 He has worked for the agent before

And so on..........................;;

[Pogle]

I'm on £150 a day more than the chap sat next to me.

I've made a mental note not to deal with his agency.

[thelace]

In permiedom, there's a rate for the job.

In contracting, there's an agreed rate.

You took the agreed rate, stop bitching!

[sal626]

In my current contract, my rate is £50 less then the guy who sits next to me (I found out as I was helping PM with Business Case). But I'm also getting £50 more then I was on my previous contract. I'm happy. Be content with what you have.....there will always be someone else with a better rate/bigger house/nicer car - just like there will be someone else worse off then you.

Saying that, nothing wrong with asking for rate increase at renewal time. But if you dont get it...I wouldn't advise in walking as you were happy with the rate you are on before you found out about other contractor.

[BrilloPad]

If it was me, I'd have told you £100 - just before your renewal.

I once did that. Fellow contractor I hated and wanted rid of.

Clientco paid up!

[DodgyAgent]

Nah, I'd disagree with this. Contractors talking to each other is the best way to ensure that everyone gets the best rate they can.

In todays market if the client finds out he may just decide to pay everyone the lowest.

Everyone takes contracts for a series of different reasons, some more important than others and those reasons will probably change from day to day.
They include, length of contract (long or short may be the preference), location, interest of the work, quality of totty sitting at reception, working hours, canteen and money. These components are always moving in their list of priority.
So when some littly commie pric** comes along with his nose into everyone elses pay rate, perhaps he should be made to measure his situation in the full context.
Believe it or not some people are better at their jobs than others (no matter how many years they have been doing it), which is why having non conformity of rates is no bad thing.. it is usually the ones that know they are s**t that create the most fuss.

[DodgyAgent]

[QUOTE=Brussels Slumdog;823334]

Hi,

I started my current contract 2 months ago and a couple of other guys started at the same time, one with the same agent. The guy with the same agent as me let it slip that he is on £50 per day more than me which I'm obviously a bit miffed about.

1 Does he have the same travel expenses as you?
I will quote £50 less a day to work in Brussels than you as I have no travel
or accommodation expenses.
I will quote £50 more than you to work near where you live as I have travel expenses.

2 You maybe an IT wizard but the other guy is a negotiation wizard.

3 Timing . He was taken on before the client realised it was a buyers market

4 He has worked for the agent before

And so on..........................;;

Someone with a brain

[oracleslave]

[quote=DodgyAgent;823455]

Someone with a brain

Go on DA. Make the 5000th a good un. A contractor rant would be perfect

[tino]

Hi,

I started my current contract 2 months ago and a couple of other guys started at the same time, one with the same agent. The guy with the same agent as me let it slip that he is on £50 per day more than me which I'm obviously a bit miffed about.

I am planning to challenge the agent as the guy is less experienced than me and I'm pretty sure the agent has increased his margin rather than the client offered less as the permies told me I was the best candidate they interviewed. The other guy was on a higher rate in his previous contract and I suspect this is why the agent offered me less - becuase he though I'd go for it and I did - what a mug!

I'd just like some of advice on how to handle this situation. The contract has 4 weeks left to run but I'm expecting a renewal. My first instinct is to tell the agent to up my rate immediately or I'll walk ...

Be thankful you have a contract at all - it's grim out there.

or:

Call the agent and demand parity or you'll walk off site.