Agency skimming too much???

[fullyautomatix]

What the client has negotiated with the client and what he has negotiated with you is completely different to what you expect. If you thought you deserved more than 275 that you agreed upon, you should have demanded that scale when you started to negoatiate your day rate. If 275 was not acceptable you should have walked away. Its quite possible that the agent reckons that 275 is acceptable rate for someone with your skills and might have turned you down if you proved expensive.

[Umbongoo]

What the client has negotiated with the client and what he has negotiated with you is completely different to what you expect. If you thought you deserved more than 275 that you agreed upon, you should have demanded that scale when you started to negoatiate your day rate. If 275 was not acceptable you should have walked away. Its quite possible that the agent reckons that 275 is acceptable rate for someone with your skills and might have turned you down if you proved expensive.

Yeah, but when 1st talking to agents about a role, if you say 275 isnt enough they likely won't put u fwd so wont get the role - so then you're looking again. Sometimes its not possible to demand, as u put it and if there's not been much of your type of work around lately then its hard to walk away. Some people are at the mercy of these lying agents.

To then get confirmation that the fkrs have lied to the tune of 100 quids cuts a bit deep. I'd be well dis-chuffed. Only option u have is to wait for renewal time now tho.

[kingcook]

I'm not sure how effective letting the client know the agent's % would be.

IMO, the client is much more likely to haggle the agent down, which could end up with your rate being dropped.

Much better just to try and squeeze the agent's margin and leave the client out of it (but then, the agent could go to the client asking for more!)

[SueEllen]

I'm not sure how effective letting the client know the agent's % would be.

IMO, the client is much more likely to haggle the agent down, which could end up with your rate being dropped.

It depends on the client.

Some clients know agencies are creaming it and I know both contractors and permanent staff, who have made sure agencies have been dropped due to these tricks. If they are paying the agency x a day, they expect to get a person with the right level of experience with the agency taking a reasonable margin.

The client also doesn't expect to have to scan 30 CVs per role and do 10 interviews* per role just because the agency has cut what they are paying out to the contractor so no-one with the right level of experience applies.

*Sometimes agencies will change CVs not just format them.

[Robinho]

I really wish you could see what the agent is skimming. I know that all that matters is what you are getting. But given the size of the figures there's a lot of margin for the agent to take the piss.

[malvolio]

I really wish you could see what the agent is skimming.

He isn't. You are.

I know that all that matters is what you are getting.

Yes, dur... You want more, negotiate harder.

But given the size of the figures there's a lot of margin for the agent to take the piss.

To which the answer is bleedin' obvious. All you have to do is win your own business.

[Ignis Fatuus]

He isn't. You are.



Yes, dur... You want more, negotiate harder.



To which the answer is bleedin' obvious. All you have to do is win your own business.

Help! Dodgy has stolen Mal's login

[malvolio]

Help! Dodgy has stolen Mal's login

You noticed...

I don't like agencies adn the ir current business model only serves agencies, bobody else. But the point is that if you're going to negotiate with an agent, it's a good idea to understand his business drivers. That way you can counter his main arguement, that you cost money to support. You do, but you cost a lot lesss once the business is won and the first contract completed, at which point he's recovered his investment cost and you are simply a revenue generator. He can't then justify the same margin since there is no cost recovery needed any more.

And the OP's knowledge of the numbers and peiods involved means he can work out exactly by how much the agency can afford increase the OP's rate.

[Robinho]

He isn't. You are.



Yes, dur... You want more, negotiate harder.



To which the answer is bleedin' obvious. All you have to do is win your own business.

Calm down dear, you're not telling me anything i don't know.

I am saying is that a lack of "perfect information" can distort the market forces in favour of the agent, that is all. i am more than happy with what i earn.

[SteelyDan]

I don't like agencies adn the ir current business model only serves agencies, bobody else.

You gotta a cold Mal?