Agency starting to send threatening emails

[Darksider]

Bit of a weird one this -

Project is quite a bit behind for a number of reasons but it comes down to poor project management etc. The other devs and I are just getting on with the job the best we can and in a timely manner. Quite a few of us are chucking in about 10 hours a month on unpaid overtime to try and get things up and running.

However, the last few weeks we've been getting emails from our agency, telling us to work harder, longer and that the project may fall over at any point. We've just shrugged these off as any issues should really be coming from the client directly. If they've got an issue with any of us, get rid, simple really. Instead we just get moaned at by the agent and the client hides away.

Now though, we starting to get threatening emails from the agency saying that the job market is pants at the moment and we're lucky to be working. You need to work harder etc.

I just can't get my head round the agency sending us threats rather than being told anything by the client. It just shows real desperation from the agency. Is this part of the norm that I've been lucky to miss or is this something standard from agencies now days?

[swamp]

Bit of a weird one this -

Project is quite a bit behind for a number of reasons but it comes down to poor project management etc. The other devs and I are just getting on with the job the best we can and in a timely manner. Quite a few of us are chucking in about 10 hours a month on unpaid overtime to try and get things up and running.

However, the last few weeks we've been getting emails from our agency, telling us to work harder, longer and that the project may fall over at any point. We've just shrugged these off as any issues should really be coming from the client directly. If they've got an issue with any of us, get rid, simple really. Instead we just get moaned at by the agent and the client hides away.

Now though, we starting to get threatening emails from the agency saying that the job market is pants at the moment and we're lucky to be working. You need to work harder etc.

I just can't get my head round the agency sending us threats rather than being told anything by the client. It just shows real desperation from the agency. Is this part of the norm that I've been lucky to miss or is this something standard from agencies now days?

It sounds unusual. Whether the agent is just passing on the client's concerns, or if they are making a meal out of it, the fact remains that they have no business putting pressure on you unless the client has concerns about your contractual commitments. These are not the same thing as the project commitments (which are solely the client's problem).

Unpaid overtime IMO should only ever be performed as an act of good will. Your agent/client is eroding this good will, and if they continue to stamp their feet then they need to reach into their pockets and pay you more.

[cojak]

This is definitely not the norm, nor is it acceptable. Do not be bullied or cowed by this. It sounds to me as is the agency has been stretching the truth (or lying) to the client, pushing themselves as a consultancy and may have made contractual commitments on their side.

This has nowt to do with you, do your best and take another look at your contract - they're sweating and trying to push it onto you.

Be confident in your response to them, they'll tell you the market is bad as part of their bully boy tactics.

Just remember you're a contractor, not their employee.

[SueEllen]

Phone and email the agent and tell them stop. Point out politely their emails are harassment and if the client has any concerns about the project they should speak to you face to face. If the agent tries to argue with you on the phone put the phone down on them.

If the agent continues you can probably use it as a way out of the contract but you need to clearly show that you told them more them once to behave, which is why you need to send the emails.

Also if the project is over running then someone did not plan it properly. Some clients do that on purpose so can't keep permies so try and abuse contractors.

The best way to deal with those clients is to check whether your "overtime" is balanced by you leaving 2 hours early for an appointment one afternoon and being paid. If they refuse to pay you or say you need to make up the time then quit giving them your extra time for free.

[psychocandy]

This is definitely not the norm, nor is it acceptable. Do not be bullied or cowed by this. It sounds to me as is the agency has been stretching the truth (or lying) to the client, pushing themselves as a consultancy and may have made contractual commitments on their side.

This has nowt to do with you, do your best and take another look at your contract - they're sweating and trying to push it onto you.

Be confident in your response to them, they'll tell you the market is bad as part of their bully boy tactics.

Just remember you're a contractor, not their employee.

LOL. **** that.

Basically, sounds like the client is making noises about the contract coming to an end maybe and agent is worried about losing his commission. So he tries to keep client sweet by showing how much extra he can get out of his contractors? Agent don't care because its not his time.

I had an agent once who told me before I started that all the other contractors worked 8am - 6pm every day. Yeah right. Of course they didn't. But if I'd been dull enough to do that client would have been well happy with agent for providing such a value for money contractor on a day rate.

And yes some agents think you're they're employee too. I had one who said I had to ask them for permission to take a day off from client. Really.

I replied sod off. I will advise client I won't be there and check out of courtesy its ok with them. If it is I don't care what the agency think although I did say I would inform them if they really wanted to know.

Even this backfired because I'd email to tell them, client was OK, and I'd be off from x to y and I'd still get a reply back saying ' yes, ok with me, I'll authorise it'. FFS !!!!

[fullyautomatix]

Sounds very very unusual to me. Especially the bit about telling you to work harder and the threat about job market being pants. I would be interested in who the agency is. Give us a clue.

[ChimpMaster]

Sounds like an Indian agency/consultancy?

[fullyautomatix]

Sounds like an Indian agency/consultancy?

Definitely bears the hallmark of an Indian consultancy but I doubt that in this case. Indian consultancy would have an onsite PM to do the verbal abuse.

[Scoobos]

Someone tried this with me ONCE - It was Microland, I don't mind naming and shaming.

It was actually nothing to do with the client, but retaliatory because I'd been chasing too many late payments.

Time to look for other contracts and invoke your notice period or MOO (if you have one) with the agent. When I did this, I got no further troubles and didn't actually leave.

[Taita]

Someone tried this with me ONCE - It was Microland, I don't mind naming and shaming.

It was actually nothing to do with the client, but retaliatory because I'd been chasing too many late payments.

Time to look for other contracts and invoke your notice period or MOO (if you have one) with the agent. When I did this, I got no further troubles and didn't actually leave.

But Microland claim to be a consultancy so they were probably the end client in your case or am I mistaken?