Agencies to avoid....

[MikeP]

I don't think that you can ask for more than that and is why I don't really approve of these types of threads.

The value of this type of thread is to aid in selecting who to call when a job is advertised by several agencies. I do my homework before dealing with new agents and any comments on here are just a small part of the picture.

That said, it's as much the agent you're dealing with as the agency. I've had dealings with rubbish agents at good agencies and vice versa.

[BigTime]

... If you are on the bench looking for a gig and any one of the agents on this list have a role advertised would you really avoid them based on feedback from an internet forum?

Yes as the ones to avoid are typically one of many suppliers to the client.

[tractor]

Agree 100%

Had a gig at a Govt department. The agency I was with (good as gold, never any problems) lost the contract, which was then handed over to crapita.

Never have I been so relieved to end a contract

Crapita are hopeless. Completely hopeless.

It's a shame because up until 2000ish, they used to be great, had one of my best contracts through them but I have been offered by them since and their contracts, rates and working practices seem to have really gone to pot!

[MojoDog]

CAPITA

They are just terrible. I would never, ever use them by choice but a lot of companies like them cos they're cheap. Whaddya get if you pay peanuts?

Agree 100%

Had a gig at a Govt department. The agency I was with (good as gold, never any problems) lost the contract, which was then handed over to crapita.

Never have I been so relieved to end a contract

Crapita are hopeless. Completely hopeless.

[xing]

Paying on time and having access to high value contracts are the most important things. The rest is more like a game. You can always learn to play it to your own advantage.

Interesting thread but let me ask all the contributors.... If you are on the bench looking for a gig and any one of the agents on this list have a role advertised would you really avoid them based on feedback from an internet forum?



Purposely keep yourself benched just because one company is a bit aggressive with their lead finding and because the other is a bit rude? Really?

Maybe we should call this thread 'Contractors to avoid'.

[cojak]

I'm with Alexander Mann now. The agent was polite and professional. The support team (based in Eastern Europe) are prompt when dealing with questions and issues and most importantly, they pay on the nose.

I don't think that you can ask for more than that and is why I don't really approve of these types of threads.

[northernladuk]

Interesting thread but let me ask all the contributors.... If you are on the bench looking for a gig and any one of the agents on this list have a role advertised would you really avoid them based on feedback from an internet forum?

ROC Search - One guy has got the same role advertised in almost every city in the UK in his CV trawl. And of course, its the just need two references thing.
Alexander Mann - Same old same old rudeness. After a fast buck rather than building relationships. Hassle you when they can smell blood, ignore phonecalls when its a no. Won't even give answer after interviews. Rude people.

Purposely keep yourself benched just because one company is a bit aggressive with their lead finding and because the other is a bit rude? Really?

Maybe we should call this thread 'Contractors to avoid'.

[BigTime]

And 2 years later I'm still trying to sort out the mess.

Is he still promising he'll pay you?

It looks like he's getting into a new brand name now, http://companycheck.co.uk/director/912619762, Global Technology Consulting and Global Technology Resourcing (already in administration). I can't imagine how much he's taken contractors, banks and hmrc for.

[dty]

Empiric Solutions - just rung them chasing a position they had advertised & I'd submitted CV for. Said they can't discuss it with me until I tell them what other clients I'm currently interviewing with. Just to make sure I heard this correct I asked the pimp to repeat what it had just said, confirmed as suspected, followed by a couple of short words and hung up.

You should have asked him what other clients he was working with.

[blackfriar]

Empiric Solutions - just rung them chasing a position they had advertised & I'd submitted CV for. Said they can't discuss it with me until I tell them what other clients I'm currently interviewing with. Just to make sure I heard this correct I asked the pimp to repeat what it had just said, confirmed as suspected, followed by a couple of short words and hung up.

And directly following that I called FIRST POINT IT RESOURCING again follow up call after submitting CV to an ad. Was told off for making a "speculative" call and that they are far too busy to take "speculative" calls and can't afford to keep wasting 5 minutes talking to candidates. What an attitude!