Renewal increase vs percieved to be greedy

[Barley]

Thanks for the responses, if im honest id pretty much made up my mind the right thing to do is agree the extension at current rate. Im pretty sure the budget for me has been agreed by exec. Chasing an extra 25pd is a bit petty and would need reapproval. I know I could get more elsewhere but this really is a pretty good contract, good client which makes a massive difference.

Northernlad - Im confident all is above board, I have worked with the agent before on a previous contract (hes one of the few good guys) ive also seen the resource budget for the whole project, including the gross being paid to the agent. I also know the agent has given his consent in writing to waive the necessary clauses in my original contract.

I do consider myself fortunate, had already prepared myself to decline a FTC offer or a further rate challenge, guess there's just part of me that inclined to push for the best I can get. For me, in this case I think all other factors outweigh chasing the rate and probably wise not to burn the good will for the sake of £25pd.

[cojak]

Nothing wrong with increasing your rate generally; I increased mine by 20% at the beginning of this year, however my policy is to keep existing clients on my old rate unless I have a good reason not to as I like my clients to think that I value them and wouldn't want to jeopardise future business with them, especially an ongoing contract.

That's not to say they will pay my old rate forever, but I wouldn't up it at extension time unless the scope of the work had significantly changed.

This is what I do.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Being greedy (from your post title) is trying to take more than you have earned/is rightfully yours.

If you ask for a raise and don't get it, and you aren't being greedy, then you can just go somewhere else for that rate.


As others have said though, £25 pd doesn't equal many weeks out of work, so if the work is good then do you really want to risk it?

[Boney M]

For me, perception isn't the point : it's the earning potential.
When you reduced your rate was it to something that still gave you enough profit to keep you happy ? I would suggest it did or you probably woudn't have taken the gig.

The key points for me are :

If they up your rate, any saving they made from the agent being out of the equation is lost.

They are taking on FTCs at half your rate but are happy to give you a 12 month extension.

This shows they want to keep you - do you want to keep them ? If 12 months at a decent ( if below your usual ) rate looks ok, then I would take it to retain the goodwill.

Everyone of course is different, only you can decide

WHS

[Cenobite]

Why do you think that you deserve the rate rise? Are you doing anything differently (and better) now from what you were doing at the start of the contract?

Doesn't matter: if the market rate for your skill has gone up, or you feel they need to pay you more to keep you there, then a rate rise is fair play. If they say no, you leave.

[cojak]

My comment was from the client's pov. I'd be inclined to let him go if his answer was 'because that's the going rate'.

[Boney M]

My comment was from the client's pov. I'd be inclined to let him go if his answer was 'because that's the going rate'.

exactly the same and this is what the OP;s concern is

[psychocandy]

Thanks for the responses, if im honest id pretty much made up my mind the right thing to do is agree the extension at current rate. Im pretty sure the budget for me has been agreed by exec. Chasing an extra 25pd is a bit petty and would need reapproval. I know I could get more elsewhere but this really is a pretty good contract, good client which makes a massive difference.

Northernlad - Im confident all is above board, I have worked with the agent before on a previous contract (hes one of the few good guys) ive also seen the resource budget for the whole project, including the gross being paid to the agent. I also know the agent has given his consent in writing to waive the necessary clauses in my original contract.

I do consider myself fortunate, had already prepared myself to decline a FTC offer or a further rate challenge, guess there's just part of me that inclined to push for the best I can get. For me, in this case I think all other factors outweigh chasing the rate and probably wise not to burn the good will for the sake of £25pd.

So you know the gross the agent is getting so you know the margin they're making then? This will tell you whether the agent stiched you up for that £50.

Agent one of the good guys? hmmm. Some are better than others admitedly but I dont know about that statement.

And why on earth are they stepping away after 3 months? That sounds nuts. They've got a nice income and they're tossing it away.

As for clients upping the rate unfortunately IMHO they tend to think the rate you start with is good for the next 30 years! Budgets get done in advance and they assume costs are going to be the same....

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

This.

To be fair, everybody who is starting out contracting is more vulnerable to being taken advantage of by an agent, as experience grows and you begin to understand agents you know how to play the game better....

Just take it as a lesson learnt and don't budge on rates. The agent/client will usually come crawling back.

[SteelyDan]

Just take it as a lesson learnt and don't budge on rates. The agent/client will usually come crawling back.

Hmmm, not sure I'd agree with that sweeping statement...