fellow contractor on higher rate then me

[DodgyAgent]

[QUOTE=oracleslave;823475]

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

I am getting ready OS

[BlueElise]

rate tip

Something I have learnt from experience to do at renewal time is to tell the client if you are asking for a raise (or in my case keeping the same rate). I once had the comment "we would love to keep you on but we cant afford the rate increase you have asked for" - I hadn't asked for one, the agent was just trying to get more money for himself.

Agents - shoes so shiny you can see both their faces in the reflection.

[hammerip]

Information is power

Now you are also in the know, so use this information at renewal time to your advantage

How would you approach this? Be straight about what I know or pretend that I have a better offer? I'd rather be straight but in the current market if he just says no dice I haven't got a lot of options.

[tino]

How would you approach this? Be straight about what I know or pretend that I have a better offer? I'd rather be straight but in the current market if he just says no dice I haven't got a lot of options.

Depends if you would actually walk. Lets be clear here, he knows the current market situation as well as you do. He may call your bluff with the intention of giving you the uplift at the very last minute, he may not.

Personally I'd suck it up and learn for the next time.

Summary

I'd only go looking for it if I was genuinely prepared to walk if I didn't get it

[BlasterBates]

I would take this up with the shop steward.

[Ruprect]

Perhaps his/her english is better?

[Mustang]

My first instinct is to tell the agent to up my rate immediately or I'll walk ...

In this current economic climate?! Are you mad???!!!

Stay put and learnt to negotiate better next time!!

[Mustang]

Like any buying & selling its all about the price you are willing to accept/pay and what consequences you are willing to accept if it doesn't go your way.

In the current climate and having been on the bench a while, I would rather than have a contract than be on the bench therefore my negotiating stand point is weaker. Once the war chest has been restored I will push harder on rate even if the economy has not picked up.

HTH

[tino]

Like any buying & selling its all about the price you are willing to accept/pay and what consequences you are willing to accept if it doesn't go your way.

In the current climate and having been on the bench a while, I would rather than have a contract than be on the bench therefore my negotiating stand point is weaker. Once the war chest has been restored I will push harder on rate even if the economy has not picked up.

HTH

My personal tactic is to get in the door, do a great job and then pitch for 1 or 2 days a week from home (not possible in all roles I know) but whilst working away it's like an extra days cash in your pocket

[Flopsy]

I dealt with this before. Checked the other contractors timesheets and invoices. It easy to do when they leave them on the fax/photocopier etc.

Ensured that the client was very happy with my work. Then waited for my contract to end. Asked for a wage raise (but didn't give a reason) and when the agent said no suggested that he cut his margin and hinted. The client wanted to keep me and I won in the end.

It's business and everything that you know helps. I wouldn't have walked if I didn't get the raise but it did work and it was worth the hassle.

The important bit is the happy client as the agent didn't want to explain to them.

Hope this helps.