Agency fee for going perm with client

[Jordi999]

Hello,

Could you please assist me with my query?
I have been a temp for a Client for 14 months now working through one agency. The Client has asked me to go perm now and when I contacted the Agency they said that's fine but the Client would need to pay 20% which after paying for services for 14 months seems steep.
The questions I have are as follows:-

1. are they allowed to charge this fee after such a long period?
2. If I remember correctly I did sign an "opt-out" but I think this was after my interview (will have to check this)
3. If there are no actual signed terms does the contract still apply?

Thanks for your assistance. I think the agency has been good, I just feel the fee is very steep given I am only doing an Admin role and I've worked through them for such a lengthy period.

[NotAllThere]

1. Yes
3. Yes

2. If you are in fact not opted in, then 1. No.

If this is something your client wants, they'll need to sort it out. Something along the lines of "if you insist on us paying a fee for Jordi999 then we won't use you again" usually does the trick.

[amcdonald]

1. If it's in your contract yes they can charge it
2. Unless you signed an opt out before being introduced to the client you would be opted out even if you signed to opted in as the opt out notice would be void
3 Yes they can be valid, just are harder to prove

Any reputable agency (I know ) would have made you sign a contract, you sure you didn't keep a copy somewhere ?

[Jordi999]

Thanks

Thanks for your feedback, really helpful.
So if I signed my opt out post interview they are void?
In terms of contracts - I don't believe the client has signed terms, however, I do so I suppose that will prevent me going direct anyways.

[Dominic Connor]

There's another contract in this to check...

Often the contract between agent and client has an offset from contract margin, so that it may be the case they pay less or nothing.

[mudskipper]

This should be the clients argument, not yours.