Rates

[Flopsy]

I can see your point and have been treated in a similar way in the past. Keep any eye out for actual invoices as sometimes people pay power games and lie about their rate.

When does your contract end?

[gingerjedi]

I can see your point and have been treated in a similar way in the past. Keep any eye out for actual invoices as sometimes people pay power games and lie about their rate.

When does your contract end?

New year’s eve, they've been next to useless in the last 2 renewals leaving it up to every individual to chase on the last day rather than securing our services in advance.

They think they're being clever as they know there's little work about, one day it will bite them on the arse when no-one renews.

The permies are all seasoned contractor haters so they like to watch us squirm, petty little bastards they are.

[Fred Bloggs]

Fact is, the OP shouldn't worry himself because I know myself if I'm talking to agencies/clients I always exaggerate my rate. And if I'm talking to other contractors I would undercut my rate depending on circumstances if it suited my agenda. Certainly, my agreement is nobody else's concern and I have no issues telling porkies to suit my own ends. I fully expect everyone else to do the same.

In fact, I have recently been awarded a new gig where I told porkers about rates to get what I wanted. What's it matter? Both parties are happy now. Clientco think they beat me down by ~11%, but from an artificially high "current rate". And I got what I wanted.

[Zippy]

They think they're being clever as they know there's little work about, one day it will bite them on the arse when no-one renews.

It will happen and on that happy day we will all celebrate with you.

I really hope you find something better soon.

[MaryPoppins]

It will happen and on that happy day we will all celebrate with you.

I really hope you find something better soon.

Ditto. How effing frustrating, if it's true. Chin up, and good on you for taking a poop role just to keep something coming in for your family.

[SuperZ]

Take your investors cap off and stick the contractor one on, this isn't ruthlessinvestorUK FFS.

I've got a modest house, a modest car, a wife and a kid to feed. My rate is comparable to a permy without any of the perks and I'm slipping further into debt, **** the market.

You say **** the market, but are you willing to walk? . THat can make a difference between whether you get a raise or not.

Companies often do it, times changes (rates can change month to month). Back in Jan 2005 I never really pushed the rate much as I was in my second contract after starting my first one in June 2003. The company needed more contractors four months after I started so I kept an eye on the rates advertised by the agencies and they were between 50 and 100 a day more than I was on. So at renewel time and via the agency I told them what I had learned, what I thought I was worth minimum and they can either choose to stump up or I leave. However, I didn`t get greedy though, I still ONLY asked for the minimum which to me meant a £50 a day raise. And yes they stumped up the cash.

Right now I`ve taken over a 20% pay cut and I`m sure the others are on a bit more but I choose not to ask for a raise yet especially as many have been leaving the project

So are you willing to take the risk in walking?

[gingerjedi]

So are you willing to take the risk in walking?

Not without a fallback position... I'm working on that!!

It's a odd situation as I'm on a large government site that I really like but the private client is utter crap to work for, I guess I'm only hanging on because I can see the possibility of a better opportunity coming up with a different client as projects start to gather pace. I had a much better role on the same site previously BTW.

[MPwannadecentincome]

If you can point to evidence that the market has picked up then ask for a rate rise - now.