Are these agencies trustworthy?

[Taita]

Anybody here had experience working with either of the two agencies below?

Networkers Plc Networkers International Plc
Net Consulting International: Welcome to Net Consulting International Limited

Cheers!

The first one is listed on AIM and seems sound enough. The second does not appear to have a bricks & mortar address on its website - the Company Acts require a company's registered address on the website although I would be happy enough with a verifiable physical address - and is pretty small.

Be careful about entrusting a month or two fees in credit to anybody without checking them out is my motto. That is not to question their honesty or good faith, merely a caution.

[Leijona]

Be careful about entrusting a month or two fees in credit to anybody without checking them out is my motto.

Taita, that's exactly what I am doing
Although if the circumstances allow, I'll just try to stick with the agency I already worked for (the devil you know..)

[Wanderer]

the words Agency and Trustworthy never appear in the same sentence ever

What he said ^^^^^

None of them are much good in my opinion. Treat them all with caution.

[Leijona]

None of them are much good in my opinion.

Yep, otherwise this thread wouldn't be here
Is this from personal experience or just a blanket statement for all agencies?
So far we discovered that networkers plc are slightly less dodgy comparing to net consulting? (not that I am running to work with either to be honest.. )

[bless 'em all]

I've been with Networkers for some time now. No complaints, payments correct and on time. I don't think I've ever had reason to complain or be concerned.

[Leijona]

I've been with Networkers for some time now. No complaints, payments correct and on time. I don't think I've ever had reason to complain or be concerned.

2 points to Networkers so far! thanks

[Wanderer]

Yep, otherwise this thread wouldn't be here
Is this from personal experience or just a blanket statement for all agencies?
So far we discovered that networkers plc are slightly less dodgy comparing to net consulting? (not that I am running to work with either to be honest.. )

It's pretty much a blanket statement from years of experience.

There are a few good individual agents out there but ultimately they usually work for a larger agency and it's the agency directors who call the shots. They should all be treated with extreme caution because they are cut throat business people who do this stuff all day every day and they will turn on you as quick as anything. It's nothing personal, just business.

A recommendation of a "good" or "bad" agency doesn't mean much in my opinion. Generally how good or bad they are is determined by their contract with the client. If the client insists on transparent terms of business where the agency takes a fixed margin and pays contractors on a reasonable timescale then the agency are perceived as being good and they'll sell this to the contractor as look at us aren't we all so sweet and nice. However, another client with the same agency may not have such a strong relationship and the agency will be free to screw whatever margin they can get off the contractor and attempt to force draconian contract terms and payment conditions on them.

[Zippy]

Just for balance - there have been a few threads (a couple of which I have contributed to) asking for opinions on agents.
Obviously you call it as you see it, but do a search and you'll find some info on agencies that don't appear to give you any BS and (more importantly) pay up on time.

[Leijona]

It's pretty much a blanket statement from years of experience.

There are a few good individual agents out there but ultimately they usually work for a larger agency and it's the agency directors who call the shots. They should all be treated with extreme caution because they are cut throat business people who do this stuff all day every day and they will turn on you as quick as anything. It's nothing personal, just business.

A recommendation of a "good" or "bad" agency doesn't mean much in my opinion. Generally how good or bad they are is determined by their contract with the client. If the client insists on transparent terms of business where the agency takes a fixed margin and pays contractors on a reasonable timescale then the agency are perceived as being good and they'll sell this to the contractor as look at us aren't we all so sweet and nice. However, another client with the same agency may not have such a strong relationship and the agency will be free to screw whatever margin they can get off the contractor and attempt to force draconian contract terms and payment conditions on them.

Wanderer, so it's basically "not what you deserve, but what you negotiate" approach
The agency-client relation is a good insight (thanks!), but I'd at least like to believe that a good reputation is worth something and the agencies would try to keep it. Another corollary would be to choose good clients?
Also e.g. Net Consulting, which doesn't seem to have an address in UK, can't be compared directly to other agencies, as it would be impossible to put any pressure on them if need be (and I am not familiar with Indian court system)

= so, read the contract and negotiate for all you're worth

[Leijona]

Just for balance - there have been a few threads (a couple of which I have contributed to) asking for opinions on agents.
Obviously you call it as you see it, but do a search and you'll find some info on agencies that don't appear to give you any BS and (more importantly) pay up on time.

And that's all you really want from an agency, to pay on time!
I thought the rule was only to bitch and moan, and if an agency is actually good, there's not a squeak about it? I'll do a search on the forum for "good reliable trustworthy agencies" and see what I come up with