Contract Mistake Consequenses

**cojak** · 22 October 2013, 15:51

Originally posted by markianhutchinson View Post

I recently acquired a contract. The start date was put back because of the PO required from the client, then again because the client wasn't ready. The agent I was working with went on holiday the day the PO was organised and another took over, setting up a 3 month contract for the dates agreed. I accepted the contract and all seemed well.

The agentcy regional manager contacted me personally to explain that a mistake had been made. The PO (purchase order) only covered up until Xmas, now only 7 weeks. Given the time I have waited due to waiting on the PO and them getting ready, I cant afford not to move forward with this contract and I wouldn't want to let the client down. The regional manager was very apologetic and got me to agree to moving forward. He quickly sent the new contract for the 7 weeks saying it was 95% sure it will go the full term in the end.

Why was the agency so concerned? What are the implications? I have accepted the other contract, but am sitting here feeling like I have been the only party that has been put out.

Mark

That's because you ARE the only party that's been put out.

The agency was concerned because they thought that you might have pulled out because you've been mucked about and only got a rubbishy 7 week contract at the end of it.

And who knows if that's all the contract was in the first place? Well you will if the client tells you that on your first day...

**northernladuk** · 22 October 2013, 15:57

Haven't the agency lost a couple of weeks money as well plus the fact they have had to actually do some work sorting this mess out so they have been put out a little as well surely?

7 day contract? 95% certain it would go ahead? I wouldn't be banking on this one until I was sitting at a desk with a signed time sheet in my hand....... Keep looking, you should never has stopped!!!

**DirtyDog** · 22 October 2013, 16:08

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Haven't the agency lost a couple of weeks money as well plus the fact they have had to actually do some work sorting this mess out so they have been put out a little as well surely?

The agency have only lost if there was something to lose in the first place. If it was always going to be this short and starting this late, then they haven't really lost anything, nor have they done anything.

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

7 day contract?

No

**Wanderer** · 22 October 2013, 23:04

Some times you get screwed around with contracts. It's quite often the client doesn't know what the hell they are doing and they try to recruit people without budget signoff and all sorts of crap.

You have to grin and bear it really, don't stop looking and remember that you have only really got a contract in the bag once you have your bum on the seat (even then you can get canned).

That's why we charge a premium for our services...

**Bill Lumbergh** · 23 October 2013, 09:59

I can only offer my sympathy, you're in a vaguely similar boat to me as my start date has moved twice.

You have to decide whether it's worth the risk to wait for them to get their affairs in order, and decide whether that 95% is really 10% or 50% based on your own instincts. Either way, as others have said, line up something else just in case.

Contract Mistake Consequenses