References on confirming contract

[dropcliffsnotbombs]

I have just verbally accepted a contract and got the contract and other paperwork through from the agency along with a list of all the stuff they need from me before I start the contract or can be paid. This includes contact details of referees covering last 3 years and a character reference. I have never supplied these to an agency before - only to the client and then only when required for security clearance. I'm presuming that they want these so they can harass them for leads and not really for references at all. Should I tell them that I will provide them to the client if they require them but not to the agency or is it reasonable for them to expect me to provide the referees at this stage when I have accepted a contract?

Thanks

[TykeMerc]

There are 2 typical responses (well 3 if you include telling the agent to go and boil his head or suggest something else appropriate to display your annoyance).

1. Politely inform the agent that you will provide them directly to the client if they request them.

2. Ignore the request completely.

[kingmob]

hmmmmmmm

I had this on my current contract - for a large Outsourcer

didn't really have a choice if I wasnt on the bench I wouldn't have given up the info, I did give them two people who I knew no longer worked at the Companies though and warned the other one that there may be a call or a salesman visit. It was either that or not get paid

Still three months in and they haven't bothered them yet, except to confirm I worked there.

Is the agency in Bristol by any chance?

[see]

I always just give the name of the agent I was working through, and I'm quite happy for them to call each other to check that I've worked where I say I have.

[The Agents View]

I have just verbally accepted a contract and got the contract and other paperwork through from the agency along with a list of all the stuff they need from me before I start the contract or can be paid. This includes contact details of referees covering last 3 years and a character reference. I have never supplied these to an agency before - only to the client and then only when required for security clearance. I'm presuming that they want these so they can harass them for leads and not really for references at all. Should I tell them that I will provide them to the client if they require them but not to the agency or is it reasonable for them to expect me to provide the referees at this stage when I have accepted a contract?

Thanks

This is the exact requirement my company would have of you if you started through us. When we say we won't pay until your references are through, we mean it. I have a guy who hasn't been paid for 9 weeks (at £750 p.d. too). His contract states that references have to be present for his limited company to be paid - until he gets those details to me, I won't be paying him.

Maybe not a total market view - just our business really - but can you afford to risk the revenue, for the sake of a couple of people getting a phone call, to check that you've done what you say you've done??

[kingmob]

I always just give the name of the agent I was working through, and I'm quite happy for them to call each other to check that I've worked where I say I have.

tried that and it didn't work!

[TestMangler]

Maybe not a total market view - just our business really - but can you afford to risk the revenue, for the sake of a couple of people getting a phone call, to check that you've done what you say you've done??

Maybe if that was what you used the information for, the OP wouldn't be so worried.

The more likely scenario is that some second-hand car salesman wide-boy will phone the references up and say something like "I was talking to xxxx xxxxxxxx the other day and he said you were looking for .net programmers. We've got just the people blah blah. You can take out an extended warranty and have you got any old gold to sell ?"

The reason people are suspicious of agents is simple really. It's because, you are mostly *****.

[The Agents View]

Maybe if that was what you used the information for, the OP wouldn't be so worried.

The more likely scenario is that some second-hand car salesman wide-boy will phone the references up and say something like "I was talking to xxxx xxxxxxxx the other day and he said you were looking for .net programmers. We've got just the people blah blah. You can take out an extended warranty and have you got any old gold to sell ?"

The reason people are suspicious of agents is simple really. It's because, you are mostly *****.

If it was up-front, you could argue that was the case. As this agent has secured the contract for the OP, send the references - they have a duty to check them before placement.

[Brussels Slumdog]

Do you have something to hide?

You have been for the interview and you have the contract , now give the agent the references
What most contractors object to is Agents that they have never heard of before asking for references even before you are aware that a genuine contract exist
Now that you have secured the contract,why do you care if they use your references to find futher leads. The lead will probabily lead nowhere as work has dried up which is why your contract ended

[b0redom]

I always just give the name of the agent I was working through, and I'm quite happy for them to call each other to check that I've worked where I say I have.

This. The agencies you are working through are your clients. I also have a stack of endorsements on LinkedIn, and most agencies are happy with these as a character reference.