Contract renewal - whats good enough as an offer?

[psychocandy]

If contractor rocks up on site then its assumed that they've accepted renewal - I think this is taken as read.

Last 3-4 renewals client has tried to call me day or two before (this is manager in different country mind) and said, yeh OK, can you turn up rest of the week/monday while we sort it.

Each time I've asked them to speak to agency and nicely advised them I can't do this and they need to sort it out. But they dont listen.

Once I stayed home for the day because nothing was sorted and they weren't happy. But hey ho.

Recently the agency have changed their tack somewhat and doesnt want to upset the client and have advised me to go in until it sorted. I've refused and said that I will do if the agency confirm in email that extension has been sorted and that proper contract will be sorted in a day or two.

April was a one month extension so I did this. Not even had the contract for that yet which I feel is taking the piss somewhat.

Now client has spoken to agency and offered two months - verbally. Its not going to be sorted by tuesday though.

I do intend to insist on email confirmation from agency. However, is this really safe?
If it came down to it, could I legally point to the email and say, look they offered the two month extension.

As always, I'm made to look worse because we've got contractors here who work without contracts in place. Which I think is what the client would prefer - not going to happen with me. It seems they prefer a 'gentlemans agreement' where they wait until the last day every month and then phone up contractor and ask them to come in the next day.

And before NLUK gets on my back, yes, they have major shortcomings like this but its close to home and rate is OK. Not looking for an argument on the rights and wrongs of walking or staying just the legalities of contract renewals....

[eek]

you need a paper trail and remember your contract is with the agency not the end client, that side of the paperwork is they concern not yours.

If the agency doesn't want to provide you with a proper contract or even an electronic request to continue work then that is the agency playing games not the end client.

[MyUserName]

In this situations I tell them that regrettebly I cannot do that as it would void my insurance. Whether it does or not is irrelevant.

[The Spartan]

I thought I had it bad with the consultancy here sheesh, I don't know how they get away with it. No contract, no work simple really but I know what you're in reality nothing is ever that straightforward t least not when an agency and slack client are involved.

[Sausage Surprise]

Don't see the point of not billing when you know they're going to pay you if you go in....signed contract or not. Surely verbal acceptance will do until the paperwork arrives?

Don't see the point in getting so wound up.

[MyUserName]

Don't see the point of not billing when you know they're going to pay you if you go in....signed contract or not. Surely verbal acceptance will do until the paperwork arrives?

Don't see the point in getting so wound up.

I think that once you go in you have 'accepted' the contract so you might have accepted clauses which you do not want to accept.

[Sausage Surprise]

I think that once you go in you have 'accepted' the contract so you might have accepted clauses which you do not want to accept.

It's a renewal - why would they change the contract terms?

[psychocandy]

you need a paper trail and remember your contract is with the agency not the end client, that side of the paperwork is they concern not yours.

If the agency doesn't want to provide you with a proper contract or even an electronic request to continue work then that is the agency playing games not the end client.

Of course, which is why I refuse to take a verbal OK from the client to continue.

[TheFaQQer]

In this situations I tell them that regrettebly I cannot do that as it would void my insurance. Whether it does or not is irrelevant.

This is the line I always take - I'd love to go in, but I'd need an indemnity from an approved person at the agency and at the client beforehand. Once the client thinks that they are opening up an insurance problem, they stop hassling me to turn up, and chase the agency to get it sorted out.

Some years back, I stayed at home because the agency hadn't sorted anything out. Client bollocked the agency, agency chased me. I explained to both that I had no paperwork, so no insurance. Client bollocked the agency. Agency sorted paperwork out, and I then explained that I wanted them to pay my train fare, since I'd wasted the ticket I'd pre-booked. Agency refused, client bollocked the agency. Agency offered standard fare to replace my first class fare because "the client won't pay first class". I explained that it was first or nothing and I'd have the week off, and the client shouldn't be paying anything as it was the agent's foul up. Agency refused. Client bollocked the agency. Agency paid up.

If I hadn't hated that agent so much, I'd have been back in on the Tuesday with no problem, though.

[TheFaQQer]

It's a renewal - why would they change the contract terms?

Because they can

I've had agencies change the notice period and payment terms at renewal. Or try to anyway.