Would you jump ship for better offer?

[kal]

But verbal means nothing here. He has not signed the contract as I understand. So I don't see what the problem is.

Agree that proving a verbal agreement is more difficult than waving a signed piece of paper in front of a Judge but a verbal contract is still legally binding (e.g. does the agency have a recording of you accepting over the phone?), hence why its always better to accept verbally subject to some conditions (e.g. Contract review etc).

[Mannie]

Interesting to hear the various viewpoints on this, I appreciate all the inputs!

I'm not particularly concerned about the possibility of being sued to be honest - the verbal acceptance was subject to contract, plus I could simply give notice now if they did try to insist that a contract existed between us. I'm more worried about the potential reputation damage and whether it's worth it in this case.

[SueEllen]

Interesting to hear the various viewpoints on this, I appreciate all the inputs!

I'm not particularly concerned about the possibility of being sued to be honest - the verbal acceptance was subject to contract, plus I could simply give notice now if they did try to insist that a contract existed between us. I'm more worried about the potential reputation damage and whether it's worth it in this case.

The agent will be angry at you and may shout down the phone at you, but if they can make money out of you in the future they won't hesitate to.

[billybiro]

Prove that there was a verbal acceptance of the contract and sue for breach.

And that is done exactly how?

[speling bee]

And that is done exactly how?

It has to be proven on the balance of probabilities.

One party gives evidence truthfully, and the other decides whether to do likewise or whether to perjure himself in court.

[JRCT]

I think it really depends on the agent, as to whether you'll damage your reputation.

Some will brush it off, some will understand, some will think you're a complete *&^%$£. I doubt any would sue.

But, as is said many times on here, you're just a commodity to an agent, so the next time they can make 15% from your efforts, they'll suddenly be your best mate again. They have to be. That's their job.

Just handle it professionally and honestly. That's what I would do (or tell them your gran's ill and you have to move to Devon to look after her for six months).

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Interested to see what people would do in this situation - I've verbally accepted a gig subject to contract, then been unexpectedly offered another (more interesting) role later that day for significantly (£100+ per day) higher rate. Has anyone been in this situation/what would you do in my position? And if you did decide to jump ship on the original contract how would you play it with the agency/client?

Cheers

You have only verbally accepted the first contract right? So what's the problem then?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Well if you were NWP2C you wouldn't even ask the question

It's never going to sit well with the agency as you're just a money tree to them, like PC said it's very dependent on a number of factors is the other gig closer to home? Will the work be better? Is a definite offer?

Think carefully as you don't want to get burned and end up with nothing and even worse still you don't want to get a bad rep

[eek]

I wouldn't worry. It's remarkable how many read the entire thread and didn't comprehend the fact that the op hadn't started either contract and hadn't given either agency signed paperwork...

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

To the OP:

I had almost exactly this situation 2 months ago. Verbally accepted subject to contract. Agent provided contract but then I got a ridiculous offer from current clientco. So called agent and tried to explain and they kicked the dummy out of the pram. Never seen an agent so pee'd off (there is a thread in General about what happened). In the end it was a simple business decision and no contract was broken. Agent was mega pee'd off and may never contact me again but who cares? Most of the time there are other competing agencies advertising the same roles so I can just go to them in that scenario.