Chasing payment on behalf of the agent

[Murder1]

Has anyone ever had a request from an Agent to chase the client with regards to paying an Agent invoice before they will make payment on a contractors invoice?

If so has anyone actually raised the matter with the client? It just appears totally unprofessional to me that the agent uses the contractor to chase down the payment.

[BrilloPad]

What does your contract say with regard to the agent paying you?

[kingcook]

Has anyone ever had a request from an Agent to chase the client with regards to paying an Agent invoice before they will make payment on a contractors invoice?

If so has anyone actually raised the matter with the client? It just appears totally unprofessional to me that the agent uses the contractor to chase down the payment.

An agent of a previous gig did once mention that the client were very slow at paying, he said they were months behind, but it wasn't my problem. I'd say it's not your problem in this instance either.

Check your contract to see if there are any clauses which state that you don't get paid until agency get paid.

[Murder1]

The contract does stipulate a 40 day level won't be broken until payment from the client is received by the agent - so there is something there but despite this I'm still reluctant to raise it with the client.

[kingcook]

The contract does stipulate a 40 day level won't be broken until payment from the client is received by the agent - so there is something there but despite this I'm still reluctant to raise it with the client.

Your 2 options are:

1) Chase the client on behalf of the agent, to allow yourself to be paid quicker

2) Wait

[Murder1]

Your 2 options are:

1) Chase the client on behalf of the agent, to allow yourself to be paid quicker

2) Wait

Thanks for that but I was really looking to see if others had received the request, and if so had they spoken to the client, I've already settled on waiting.

[BrilloPad]

The contract does stipulate a 40 day level won't be broken until payment from the client is received by the agent - so there is something there but despite this I'm still reluctant to raise it with the client.

Is that the exact contract wording? Does it mean that you will be paid in 40 days or when agent gets paid - whichever is sooner?

[kingcook]

Thanks for that but I was really looking to see if others had received the request, and if so had they spoken to the client, I've already settled on waiting.

Sorry, i can't help myself sometimes

It does sound like a tulipe situation to be in though. I thought one of the main advantages of an agent (for the contractor) was to be paid before the client decides when they are going to pay.

Sounds like this agent wants to have his cake and eat it.

[Support Monkey]

Sigh!!!!! you supply your services to the agency they supply you to the client your contract is with the agency and their contract is with the client, what do you need an agent for if you can go and discuss payment terms directly, it the agents problem not yours

Its the same as when people on here say they negotiate rates rises with the client, THE CONTRACT IS WITH THE AGENT!!!!

I am with you its not only un-professional but its f**k all to do with you

[Gentile]

Has anyone ever had a request from an Agent to chase the client with regards to paying an Agent invoice before they will make payment on a contractors invoice?

If so has anyone actually raised the matter with the client? It just appears totally unprofessional to me that the agent uses the contractor to chase down the payment.

It's not very professional of them, and no I've never been asked to raise payment issues with a ClientCo. Apart from anything else, it's generally not the people I'm working directly with that have anything to do with invoicing. But even if it was, I wouldn't act as a debt collector for somebody else's debts or a messenger for the agency. It's not what I'm there to do. The day I send a spec to an agent and get them to send me a technical solution back, that's the day they can ask me to do their job for them. Most of the agencies I've worked with over the years wouldn't dream of taking the pee by asking me to raise the issue of their invoices not having been paid with their client. And I wouldn't have stuck around for long if they had.