Is this normal agent behavoir?

[andyc2000]

I had a couple of telephone interviews.

They went well and I got invited for a face to face for one of them. Then I got called up and got offered the other one, rates were a bit different so I said, 'Can I let you know tomorrow'? He said
'No the client wants an answer now'. I said 'Oh well better leave it, not very professional and not fair on the other guy...'.

After my second interview another agent rings me up and tells me about this great role I'll be a good fit for. This was infact the first role....

Fortunatly I got the second role.

[Mr.Whippy]

I said, 'Can I let you know tomorrow'? He said
'No the client wants an answer now'. I said 'Oh well better leave it, not very professional and not fair on the other guy...'.

If you want to stall an agent for a day or two just tell them you need to see a draft contract to check the T's & C's and also to get it IR35 reviewed.

[The Agents View]

If you want to stall an agent for a day or two just tell them you need to see a draft contract to check the T's & C's and also to get it IR35 reviewed.

There's a saying in this job - "Time Kills All Deals".

That is to say, that the longer someone stews on an offer, or stalls a client, the less likely that placement is to happen.

All the agent is doing, is protecting his business. That said, clients DO sometimes ask for an immediate answer, as it allows them to plan - if you faff about for 4 days, that's potentially 4 days longer that they have to wait for someone - all the time, projects are slipping behind.

Remember - A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush.

[SueEllen]

There's a saying in this job - "Time Kills All Deals".

That is to say, that the longer someone stews on an offer, or stalls a client, the less likely that placement is to happen.

Does it ever occur to you that a few contractors do actually get their contracts reviewed due to the tulip some agents and clients present as the contract?

[BolshieBastard]

Does it ever occur to you that a few contractors do actually get their contracts reviewed due to the tulip some agents and clients present as the contract?

Clearly they (agents) dont!

[norrahe]

If you want to stall an agent for a day or two just tell them you need to see a draft contract to check the T's & C's and also to get it IR35 reviewed.

You can always say "sold subject to contract". It buys you time while they send you the contract etc....

[The Agents View]

Does it ever occur to you that a few contractors do actually get their contracts reviewed due to the tulip some agents and clients present as the contract?

No - Because my standard issue contract has been reviewed by the cowboys who call themselves IR35 specialists about 40 times, and not one of them has come up with a show stopper (despite the fact that there are some potentials in there).

As stated by others, I'm happy with "Subject to contract" acceptance - but when people defer the decision for this reason, the pressure starts to be gently applied.

[SueEllen]

No - Because my standard issue contract has been reviewed by the cowboys who call themselves IR35 specialists about 40 times, and not one of them has come up with a show stopper (despite the fact that there are some potentials in there).

Most IR35 specialists don't claim to be solicitors.

And I've been informed that most contract clauses are up for negotiation.

As stated by others, I'm happy with "Subject to contract" acceptance - but when people defer the decision for this reason, the pressure starts to be gently applied.

Depends how long they are deferring it for.

There is nothing wrong with you asking politely for the name of their reviewing company or solicitor, especially as you have dealt with a lot of the reviewing companies and know they can take 24 hours.

Also most people who do use a solicitor won't have a problem giving the agent their solicitor's details.

[DodgyAgent]

Most IR35 specialists don't claim to be solicitors.

And I've been informed that most contract clauses are up for negotiation.


Depends how long they are deferring it for.

There is nothing wrong with you asking politely for the name of their reviewing company or solicitor, especially as you have dealt with a lot of the reviewing companies and know they can take 24 hours.

Also most people who do use a solicitor won't have a problem giving the agent their solicitor's details.

We agents want an easy life of quick decisions all being made in our favour. If it so happens to suit us to "slow down the process" we will of course moan like f**k when some contractor succeeds in speeding things up.