Agencies to avoid....

[PerfectStorm]

They won't drag you out, and it's too late by then anyway, but then can refuse to deal with contractors that don't want to opt out. I'm not sure ignoring them is the best option. I certainly wouldn't even think about jeapordising a potential gig over opt in/out status.

I've had so much grief over opting in that I might actually just go out next time. Seems to make 0% difference.

[northernladuk]

Agencies nowadays get very pissy about the whole business of opting in to the point of trying to be a bully on the phone/gaslighting tulip out of you on opting in. I had a similar monkey buisiness awhile back but it says more about the agency how professional they are if they can't handle a simple legal request.

Well it's a bit more than that really isn't it. They have extra obligations to an opted in contract that costs them money so it's not really just a request.

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

I would have told you to whistle. The agent decides who goes forwards to the clients, not you.

Until the client rings you up and tells you what to do.

Google Blockbuster to understand where your business model is heading.

[BR14]

Until the client rings you up and tells you what to do.

Google Blockbuster to understand where your business model is heading.

South, perhaps?

[Brenning]

I've had so much grief over opting in that I might actually just go out next time. Seems to make 0% difference.

Agreed. The agency always send an opt in contract first and once I've battled my way through their tulip about IR35 and "all our other contractors opt out" etc. when they send the "opt in" contract it's been exactly the same minus the opt out clause, same million year handcuff clauses etc.

Business is business I guess, it is what it is....

[uk contractor]

33 Six Consultancy. They seem to put a lot of fake job ads on job serve.

[doconline]

I imagine there will be a lot more fake, vague jobs on Jobserve too now to get as many CV's as possible, so you have to contact the agency with your CV / details to help them get round the GDPR issue of we just harvested your details from a job board, and therefore need you to opt out rather than opt in to marketing (unless i misunderstood that bit of GDPR)

[ITContrator]

Agencies to avoid badenochandclark

Was having a quick read through the latter posts of this topic and spotted a quote from your post. I'd normally agree but speaking to a colleague recently, she had a typical interview Friday start Monday contract and ended up breaking the golden rule (turning up on site without a signed contract) as the agency were that desperate to get her through the door and thus get invoicing for themselves. Turned out the agency point blank refused to engage on an opt in basis and sent her packing, much to the clients dissatisfaction and tried to get someone else in the same day. A few weeks later she spotted the contract re-advertised (client wasn't happy with the other candidate perhaps? Go figure). Agency was Oscar associates IIRC.

Just goes to show, firstly don't turn up onsite without a signed contract, and second - agencies never cease to amaze....

Had a similar experience with turning up without a contract, client wanting somebody on site asap.

Turned out the gig wasn't something I wanted, which the client sensing the same and they pulled the plug, before I pulled the plug on them (was going to use the excuse, I can't continue without a contract).

Agency 'Phillip' said they would pay me for the two days which I had worked, but was unable to submit any timesheet due to never having been issued a contract, after numerous phone calls just gave up and put it down as one of those things, you live and learn. Badenochandclark even had the gall to call me about another role 6 months down the line.

Must say, reading this thread has been interesting

[whattheheck]

Badenoch & clark

Had a similar experience with turning up without a contract, client wanting somebody on site asap.

Turned out the gig wasn't something I wanted, which the client sensing the same and they pulled the plug, before I pulled the plug on them (was going to use the excuse, I can't continue without a contract).

Agency 'Phillip' said they would pay me for the two days which I had worked, but was unable to submit any timesheet due to never having been issued a contract, after numerous phone calls just gave up and put it down as one of those things, you live and learn. Badenochandclark even had the gall to call me about another role 6 months down the line.

Must say, reading this thread has been interesting

I am sorry to report that the same happened to me with Badenoch & Clark Agency. I was posted to their Client without a Contract too, without even realising it.

As it happens, the Contract came to an end because in the meantime NASA Umbrella did not pay me the previous week for another contract, a project that was completed. A problem with timesheet submission, I asked for an advance - at least to get fuel! - which NASA Umbrella declined to do. So as I was out of funds I had to tell Badenoch & Clark that I could not continue until I got paid.

Badenoch and Clark say their Client pulled the plug. I believe that, clients routinely treat IT contractors like nothing better than cannon fodder. But I became aware at that point that the new Contract with Badenoch & Clark had not been issued, having had already worked a full week at their Client. It was only yesterday that NASA sent me the Contract as issued by Badenoch & Clark. So it also became clear that NASA did not even know that contract was now dead.

What a joke! It is ILLEGAL to work without a contract right?... I mean... Are we in Britain or some rogue State Bananas Republic elsewhere in a strange corner of this World?

So the question is: Where to report something like this? It will go on unless something gets done about it.

For now though, I would suggest avoid Badenoch & Clark and avoid NASA Umbrella too, for good measure.

I have been with NASA Umbrella for about 2 years. They will be fired as soon as I get paid! No more fees for them. They left me high and dry and I lost the new role as a result of not being able to afford fuel to travel. Enough is enough!

[LondonManc]

I am sorry to report that the same happened to me with Badenoch & Clark Agency. I was posted to their Client without a Contract too, without even realising it.

As it happens, the Contract came to an end because in the meantime NASA Umbrella did not pay me the previous week for another contract, a project that was completed. A problem with timesheet submission, I asked for an advance - at least to get fuel! - which NASA Umbrella declined to do. So as I was out of funds I had to tell Badenoch & Clark that I could not continue until I got paid.

Badenoch and Clark say their Client pulled the plug. I believe that, clients routinely treat IT contractors like nothing better than cannon fodder. But I became aware at that point that the new Contract with Badenoch & Clark had not been issued, having had already worked a full week at their Client. It was only yesterday that NASA sent me the Contract as issued by Badenoch & Clark. So it also became clear that NASA did not even know that contract was now dead.

What a joke! It is ILLEGAL to work without a contract right?... I mean... Are we in Britain or some rogue State Bananas Republic elsewhere in a strange corner of this World?

So the question is: Where to report something like this? It will go on unless something gets done about it.

For now though, I would suggest avoid Badenoch & Clark and avoid NASA Umbrella too, for good measure.

I have been with NASA Umbrella for about 2 years. They will be fired as soon as I get paid! No more fees for them. They left me high and dry and I lost the new role as a result of not being able to afford fuel to travel. Enough is enough!

Sorry, but that's your own problem. Get a credit card if you have to in order to get expenses on.