Withdrawing from a signed contract

[pmdude]

Been a long time lurker but not poster, so please....be gentle.

Current contract is due to finish at my current client this Friday and they had always stressed that there was no extension. So I looked for and I found another 6 month contract to start next Monday with a different agent and client and yesterday I signed the new contract.

Yesterday afternoon tho my current client offers a 12 month extension and more money and need a decision today to accept or not so contracts can be issued.

My question is that I suppose it would be wrong and I guess unprofessional to stay at current client and blow off the one I have just signed, but as I haven't 'walked through the door' at the new client yet, am I still contractually liable for anything if I now withdraw somehow my acceptance? I'm not bothered by the money but I have a very long term standing relationship with my current client and am highly thought of.

[northernladuk]

If you have been a lurker then you will have seen this question come up many many times. If you have missed them then you can search for them.

The decision to leave is purely up to you and none of us can help. We can give our opinion based on 8 lines of text but ultimately it won't help you.

Do a search for the contract situation but in a nutshell there will be a lot of shouting and nothing else so if you want to give back word on it you can. It won't go legal.

[DirtyDog]

Take both, get a sub.

[pmdude]

Well I did the proper thing and told my current company that I am sorry but as I was informed that there would be no extension, I have accepted and signed a contract with another business.

Naturally they were disappointed but understood.

Spoke to my new agent to arrange time etc to be at the new contract. Told they would find out and let me know. 48 hours later informed that the start date is now for next Monday 24th. No problem as I get a nice week off. Today I am told the role has been withdrawn! Something about head count....

Spoke to my old company who I had a long standing relationship with but my old role is no longer available either so here I am now out of a job.

I've looked at the new contract and tbh it does say that they can terminate without notice.

[TykeMerc]

That's contracting risk in a nutshell.

[BrilloPad]

Well I did the proper thing and told my current company that I am sorry but as I was informed that there would be no extension, I have accepted and signed a contract with another business.

Naturally they were disappointed but understood.

Spoke to my new agent to arrange time etc to be at the new contract. Told they would find out and let me know. 48 hours later informed that the start date is now for next Monday 24th. No problem as I get a nice week off. Today I am told the role has been withdrawn! Something about head count....

Spoke to my old company who I had a long standing relationship with but my old role is no longer available either so here I am now out of a job.

I've looked at the new contract and tbh it does say that they can terminate without notice.

Sorry to hear all that. At the end of the day you have to look after number one.

[northernladuk]

That's contracting risk in a nutshell.

Indeed. A very unfortunate example of the twists and turns contracting can take. Reading part way through I thought he was going to say his old client took him back and we could get the bananas out. Shame that.

[psychocandy]

Well I did the proper thing and told my current company that I am sorry but as I was informed that there would be no extension, I have accepted and signed a contract with another business.

Naturally they were disappointed but understood.

Spoke to my new agent to arrange time etc to be at the new contract. Told they would find out and let me know. 48 hours later informed that the start date is now for next Monday 24th. No problem as I get a nice week off. Today I am told the role has been withdrawn! Something about head count....

Spoke to my old company who I had a long standing relationship with but my old role is no longer available either so here I am now out of a job.

I've looked at the new contract and tbh it does say that they can terminate without notice.

Thats a right ****er. I had one like that, canned on friday before but I was on the bench anyway so didnt lose out really.

Pissed me off how clients **** people around like this though. Either they want someone or they dont....

[northernladuk]

Thats a right ****er. I had one like that, canned on friday before but I was on the bench anyway so didnt lose out really.

Pissed me off how clients **** people around like this though. Either they want someone or they dont....

OK PC. So what would you expect the client to do that wouldn't piss you off then? You constantly slate clients for doing their business so let's hear what you would have them do. Their situation is fluid and a role appears so they need an expensive flexible resource quickly so have to start the process as soon as possible. During the process there is a change of situation, they find a permie, another supplier offers a service to cover or a known contractor becomes available, budget get's pulled, and other possible reasons. They no longer need the flexible resource.

Tell me exactly what the client should do to not piss you off PC...

[psychocandy]

OK PC. So what would you expect the client to do that wouldn't piss you off then? You constantly slate clients for doing their business so let's hear what you would have them do. Their situation is fluid and a role appears so they need an expensive flexible resource quickly so have to start the process as soon as possible. During the process there is a change of situation, they find a permie, another supplier offers a service to cover or a known contractor becomes available, budget get's pulled, and other possible reasons. They no longer need the flexible resource.

Tell me exactly what the client should do to not piss you off PC...

1.) Get the role signed off before advertising. Don't advertise, get CVs in and then decide you've not got the budget.

2.) Be honest.

3.) Treat people fairly and as you would like to be treated yourself.

Things happen of course but I feel it happens too often at the moment.