At the best of times it can take ages to get budgets agreed, POs raised etc although some companies are better than others. Given there could still be people on leave and the agency haven't signed the contract, i'd be off to that other opportunity unless you can get something concrete in writing today.
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Turned up, budget not agreed
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Good luck with the plan B job.Public Service Posting by the BBC - Bloggs Bulls**t Corp.
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Originally posted by javadude View PostI signed a contract with an agent for a contract starting today. I turned up at the customer site, waited for half an hour in reception and then got a call from the agent saying that the customer had not yet agreed the budget and I might start next week instead. The customer contact knew I was there but did not speak to me. I turned down two other contracts starting today to take this one so I loose four days income. I'm not too impressed!
If you have a plan B I'd take it as the customer contact didn't have the courtesy to speak to you, despite knowing you were there. What do you think they'd be like to work with?+50 Xeno Geek Points
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Originally posted by ascender View PostAt the best of times it can take ages to get budgets agreed, POs raised etc although some companies are better than others. Given there could still be people on leave and the agency haven't signed the contract, i'd be off to that other opportunity unless you can get something concrete in writing today.
People mau still be off til Monday, maybe take a day or so to remember what they were doing before the hols, maybe another couple of days to arrange a meeting to discuss the budget etc etcComment
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Originally posted by Zippy View PostBad start to the year and sorry to hear it.
If you have a plan B I'd take it as the customer contact didn't have the courtesy to speak to you, despite knowing you were there. What do you think they'd be like to work with?Comment
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Originally posted by northernladuk View PostIt happens. Be prepared for it to go belly up though. Wouldn't be the first time someone has been messed about like this and then the whole contract get's canned.
Generally people just have to take this on the chin, you are paid to do work, if there is no work there is no pay but there have been a few instances on here where people have argued with their agent and got themselves paid for the delay. Could be worth trying it with them but until you have yourself a place I wouldn't ruffle too many feathers. If they are unsure what to do and then you steam in with demands it may tip the balance the wrong way.
I'd look for something else and play very hard ball with agent \ client if they did eventually come back wanting me to start.I couldn't give two fornicators! Yes, really!Comment
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Originally posted by MarillionFan View PostI'd be checking that contract and telling the agent that you're invoicing them anyway. You've spent out to get there and you're contract is with the agency.Free advice and opinions - refunds are available if you are not 100% satisfied.Comment
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mavster07mavster07
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I think there's some pretty mixed advice here.
The agent has given you a signed contract. If they have done that they can only (or should) have done so with a signed back to back contract and/or purchase order from the client.
If the agent gave you approval to be onsite that day, then the contract is binding and you should invoice. Its the agent's problem to bottom that out with their client. If they don't, report them to the REC because that's gross misconduct bordering on misrepresentation - and at law its illegal.
You won't stomp out stupid or reckless behaviour if you simply tolerate rubbish agent practices like this. Too many agents don't manage the client properly and its the poor old contractor that ends up screwed over but in any other commercial environment this wouldn't be tolerated.
Invoice the agent, find another gig and put this agent on your 'no way would I do business with them' list. Just absolute rubbish.Comment
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Originally posted by mavster07 View PostThe agent has given you a signed contract.
Anyway... I just thought I'd add a bit of feedback on how it went.
Tuesday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back but doesn't.
Wednesday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back first thing the next day but doesn't.
Thursday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back. At this point my usually large supply of patience is exhausted. I pointed out that as I'd turned down two other contracts starting this week I'd lost 4 days income. Also as one offer was still available I was going to take it unless they did tie things up by the end of the day. This seemed to focus the mind of the customer and the budget, purchase etc was sorted out and I was told that they were signing contract with agent. I let plan B offer know that I was no longer available.
Friday: I get contract with revised start date for Monday but instead of a 3 month contract it's now just 2 months. Apparently they could only get agreement for a PO of that size at such short notice. Short notice?! It's been a month! Sigh. Oh well at least I have some income generating work starting from Monday. The contract sounds really interesting. I probably just need to camoflage myself as a potted plant and shuffle past reception to make sure I get in this time.Comment
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Originally posted by javadude View PostSadly not. I'd signed the contract but not received a copy back signed by the agent. As the agent had not said that there was a problem I assumed that everything was ok and that the customer was just a bit slow with the paperwork (as they often are).
Anyway... I just thought I'd add a bit of feedback on how it went.
Tuesday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back but doesn't.
Wednesday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back first thing the next day but doesn't.
Thursday: Agent says that customer will sort out budget, purchase order etc by the end of the day and the agent will phone me back. At this point my usually large supply of patience is exhausted. I pointed out that as I'd turned down two other contracts starting this week I'd lost 4 days income. Also as one offer was still available I was going to take it unless they did tie things up by the end of the day. This seemed to focus the mind of the customer and the budget, purchase etc was sorted out and I was told that they were signing contract with agent. I let plan B offer know that I was no longer available.
Friday: I get contract with revised start date for Monday but instead of a 3 month contract it's now just 2 months. Apparently they could only get agreement for a PO of that size at such short notice. Short notice?! It's been a month! Sigh. Oh well at least I have some income generating work starting from Monday. The contract sounds really interesting. I probably just need to camoflage myself as a potted plant and shuffle past reception to make sure I get in this time.
I'd recommend you ignore that and make yourself invaluable if you really want to get your money out of them. Document nothing in a place that they can access. Hold everything close in. Stall them if they start asking for handover meetings. Sell yourself blatantly to the highest ranking stakeholder you know and make it clear that you're being hampered in your job of doing the work you were contracted to do by bean counters. If you're good enough and play the permie politics well enough, you'll get an extension quite quickly. If they do kick you out and ask for transfer of documentation, you don't have it but would happily create it at a handsome daily rate. It's rarely worth playing permie politics but sometimes if you're being screwed you can easily run rings round those trying to stiff you.Comment
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