Agencies to avoid....

[SueEllen]

I suppose many of the pimp "consultants" get told from upon high from senior/managers 'on no account should you let a contractor start with client until they have signed the opt out'

Yep they are told that.

I have had to deal with directors because I either:
1. refuse to sign it, or,
2. point out that the opt-out has to be separate from the contract to be valid.

I can imagine many don't have a clue what it means to them but they've been told. Maybe some are told this but ignore it, they want the money to start rolling in quicker?

Maybe it's like the PPI scam where they "sign" the opt out for us but we don't get to know. Who knows?

Until a case gets a full court hearing we will never know and no agency is going to let a contractor take them to court over such an issue with the likes of the internet around.

[quackhandle]

I suppose many of the pimp "consultants" get told from upon high from senior/managers 'on no account should you let a contractor start with client until they have signed the opt out'

I can imagine many don't have a clue what it means to them but they've been told. Maybe some are told this but ignore it, they want the money to start rolling in quicker?

Maybe it's like the PPI scam where they "sign" the opt out for us but we don't get to know. Who knows?

qh

[northernladuk]

Oh yes they do get it, Agencies know exactly what the opt out means. Otherwise why would the be so hell bent on bullying you into signing it? They are just playing dumb to try and bulltulip you into signing your rights away.

Myself and BolshieBastard have had dealings with Lorien as well and I can tell you the person I dealt with didn't know. Tried selling me a load of guff and it wasn't until I proved I knew plenty about it did they start sending me forwarded mails from someone that did. Saying that they still wouldn't budge but the agent I dealt with had obviously been told not to accept opt in without knowing why. Their main line of attack is that the client didn't wanted opt in contractors in case they fell liable for taxes...

[Wanderer]

Would agree Lorien are very heavy on the opt out idea - they just dont get it.

Oh yes they do get it, Agencies know exactly what the opt out means. Otherwise why would the be so hell bent on bullying you into signing it? They are just playing dumb to try and bulltulip you into signing your rights away.

[SueEllen]

You will run out of agencies if you follow that policy. They are all pretty much the same. I personally avoid any Bob agencies as they are more hassle than they are worth and some of the more roguish fly by nighters.

The interaction you have just described is pretty much standard fare and I strongly suggest you develop a much thicker skin.

I agree.

I've had individual tulip consultants from some agencies but good ones from the same agency.

[psychocandy]

LORIEN were awful. they got heavy about the Opt Out I told them they could not legally force me to Opt Out and they backed off.
Also they have a crap online timesheet system which timed out so you were continually chasing the client manager to resign. Ridiculous and a waste of everyone's time. They took 8 wks to pay me my final invoice and only paid up after I threatened legal action - as I had OPTED IN and therefore even if the the client hadn't paid them, they still had to pay me.
Best avoided.

Would agree Lorien are very heavy on the opt out idea - they just dont get it.

[DirtyDog]

Agreed, i did not have a good experience with this agency at all, they only care for the business, they are not at all interest looking after the worker.

- agency acts like an agency shocker.

Agencies are there for the clients, they aren't here to look after the worker - the quicker you work that out, the better.

[icstemp]

Progressive

Agreed, i did not have a good experience with this agency at all, they only care for the business, they are not at all interest looking after the worker.

[northernladuk]

I've been with Procura for 2 years now, I had some initial issues over the contract, mainly being that they had no notice period for me on a 6 month contract, which obviously didn't fly. To give them credit they did change it, but if I hadn't read the contract, well you know.

What is wrong with that? It isn't uncommon to have contracts with no notice period. All the Barclays ones are like that. It was in, you negotiated it out. Business as normal.

They refused to invoice weekly, but demanded weekly timesheets and subsequently found out that they were invoicing the client weekly. I often work remotely from the managers that sign off the timesheets, but when I hadn't gotten one in by 2 pm Monday you'd think the world had ended and no matter how many times I explained that I'd get them in by invoice day at the latest they still hassled me. They also required that expenses be submitted on a separate invoice (this is contrary to the Client's working practices) which is a bit of a hassle.

My main gripe though it that they were 'overly' friendly, calling at least 1-2 times a month and pumping you unashamedly for info on the client. As I was working on NDA projects for an FS client this was extremely uncomfortable and at times I had to be firm, bordering on rude about it. When my agency contact was giving my name to his colleagues to pump info for potential roles in other business areas of the client that I was working with I got really fed up!

I also know that the client refuses to work with them any longer and would not take any CVs from them, this was due to their pumping of contractors for info, constantly hassling managers in the client company and also that they had one of the highest agency percentages of the agencies working with the client and their 'bullish' attitude over getting their invoices paid.

My contract is finally up at the end of the month and I'm told they have re-focused their model so it is unlikely that they'll be able to find me a new role. I was a good cash cow, but now the well has run dry they're not actively looking to fit me elsewhere. Though to be honest, I would prefer not to work with them again.

Have to say I don't see anything untoward or unmanageable here, certainly not enough avoid them. I would go as far as to say this mostly standard agancy fare, particularly if it is a new small set up.

[Wealie]

Procura

I've been with Procura for 2 years now, I had some initial issues over the contract, mainly being that they had no notice period for me on a 6 month contract, which obviously didn't fly. To give them credit they did change it, but if I hadn't read the contract, well you know.

They refused to invoice weekly, but demanded weekly timesheets and subsequently found out that they were invoicing the client weekly. I often work remotely from the managers that sign off the timesheets, but when I hadn't gotten one in by 2 pm Monday you'd think the world had ended and no matter how many times I explained that I'd get them in by invoice day at the latest they still hassled me. They also required that expenses be submitted on a separate invoice (this is contrary to the Client's working practices) which is a bit of a hassle.

My main gripe though it that they were 'overly' friendly, calling at least 1-2 times a month and pumping you unashamedly for info on the client. As I was working on NDA projects for an FS client this was extremely uncomfortable and at times I had to be firm, bordering on rude about it. When my agency contact was giving my name to his colleagues to pump info for potential roles in other business areas of the client that I was working with I got really fed up!

I also know that the client refuses to work with them any longer and would not take any CVs from them, this was due to their pumping of contractors for info, constantly hassling managers in the client company and also that they had one of the highest agency percentages of the agencies working with the client and their 'bullish' attitude over getting their invoices paid.

My contract is finally up at the end of the month and I'm told they have re-focused their model so it is unlikely that they'll be able to find me a new role. I was a good cash cow, but now the well has run dry they're not actively looking to fit me elsewhere. Though to be honest, I would prefer not to work with them again.