Un boomed :(

[Scoobos]

One of my clients has just held a board meeting in front of his own guys, external parties and ... god forbid.. a company who indirectly works for HMRC and introduced me as "my Full time resource" - then gone on to say "So we need you to commit this week to either coming onboard full time, or we can have you full time, but pay you as if you were a contractor.. "

gutted... I was already on this job at a cut rate because the markets pretty poor for my product - but now I'm busted.... Feel like walking, its my last day of 1 days notice before it goes 4 weeks.

[northernladuk]

Did anything in your working practices give you a hint of how the client perceived you? If he really thought this he must have dropped some comments that got the alarm bells ringing surely?... or is it just one guys view which is different to that of whoever resourced you?

[nomadd]

or we can have you full time, but pay you as if you were a contractor.. "

If your working practices haven't changed, or the contract under which you are working hasn't, can't you just renew "as is." The payment terms make no difference.

Or are you saying it's "become a permie or go"? It's not really clear in the way you phased it.

And if it is permie, but they are going to pay you contractor rates, then maybe do that - if the market for your skill-set is as bad as you say.

[Scoobos]

Did anything in your working practices give you a hint of how the client perceived you? If he really thought this he must have dropped some comments that got the alarm bells ringing surely?... or is it just one guys view which is different to that of whoever resourced you?

Alarm bells were ringing right from the start , but I took it as I was feeling desperate.

The role turned out to be nothing like it was advertised, they've not had a contractor stay for more than a few days before - I was supposed to be assigned to a project to migrate 40,000 users onto a new platform, which turned into 40 customers.

I've been there just 4 weeks, and over that week I've been told I cannot use my own equipment, have a manager who directs my time via a calender and oversees my tasks daily - booking my time for me..

The director is the guy who made the statement.

Gutted - I've already raised with my agent I want the terms reduced to 7 days from 4 weeks and off he's gone to the end client to discuss it..

Absolutely gutted, I've shot myself in the foot I think.

So much for head down, mouth shut , invoice

[Scoobos]

And if it is permie, but they are going to pay you contractor rates, then maybe do that - if the market for your skill-set is as bad as you say.

Sorry for multi post
My product died, I'm still a good wintel guy though, just nothing really coming up in that area. The rate I'm on is not contractor rates either, its the lowest I've been paid in over 5 years by hundreds.

[northernladuk]

Sorry for multi post
My product died, I'm still a good wintel guy though, just nothing really coming up in that area. The rate I'm on is not contractor rates either, its the lowest I've been paid in over 5 years by hundreds.

I think a large number of the older heads will agree with the rates issue but that is just the way it is. With so many noobs jumping in from redundancy expect it to get worse. Just have to tell yourself it is still a decent rate, better than permie and slug it out. It's all I can do.

[northernladuk]

If your working practices haven't changed, or the contract under which you are working hasn't, can't you just renew "as is." The payment terms make no difference.

Or are you saying it's "become a permie or go"? It's not really clear in the way you phased it.

And if it is permie, but they are going to pay you contractor rates, then maybe do that - if the market for your skill-set is as bad as you say.

I think what he is saying is his client sees him as permie so his tax position has moved to totally inside IR35 so will get less for the role. To be honest that would make him in exactly the same situation I think a large majority of us are in. The difference in this case is the client has explicitly stated it so he knows to continue to be claim to be outside IR35 is just a sham. Again, I would argue that apart from the client actually saying it he is no better than most contractors now.

So many people are clearly inside but claim outside and will fight it if investigaged why not just carry on?

[Scoobos]

Well guys, you've certainly influenced my afternoon.. Once I heard the agent was going to "talk to the client about it" I've pulled a massive U-Turn ...

so for the next 8 weeks, head down (with new added tin hat) , mouth shut, invoice .... 20% less income than before.

Made myself look a right tit to the agent and its hailing / snowing outside in Summer too..... Great stuff.

[BolshieBastard]

Did anything in your working practices give you a hint of how the client perceived you? If he really thought this he must have dropped some comments that got the alarm bells ringing surely?... or is it just one guys view which is different to that of whoever resourced you?

I'd say the low rate must have rung alarm bells.

[ChimpMaster]

Well guys, you've certainly influenced my afternoon.. Once I heard the agent was going to "talk to the client about it" I've pulled a massive U-Turn ...

so for the next 8 weeks, head down (with new added tin hat) , mouth shut, invoice .... 20% less income than before.

Made myself look a right tit to the agent and its hailing / snowing outside in Summer too..... Great stuff.

Sorry to hear that Scoobs. But at least you're in a role so you've got to look at the positive side of the picture. There are many out there who haven't been in a contract for ages and would probably happily take a lower rate to keep themselves busy or their skills fresh.

Good luck and keep on billing!