Would you jump ship for better offer?

[psychocandy]

Did they breach the contract in any way?

No it was one days notice for the 1st week so I couldnt really complain. the agency made damn sure though that a letter was on my mat the next day (sent special delivery etc).

But, point is if I'd done the same they would have been well unimpressed.

[speling bee]

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...

To be fair, I hadn't bothered reading the entire thread.

[psychocandy]

This old 'Agree subject to contract' is interesting. How many agents listen to those last 3 words?

In my experience, once they got the gig for you, then as far as they're concerned its all done and dusted. Any talk about sorting contracts is just an inconvenience for them. I've had some real bad experiences where the agent just was not interested in the slightest in sorting out the contract and I had to kick off big time and plain refuse to start on site.

Surely legally saying, yes subject to contract is pretty pointless legally? It commits you to nothing because you could argue that yes you like the role but when you see the contract you dont like it for whatever reason and decide not to continue.

[speling bee]

This old 'Agree subject to contract' is interesting. How many agents listen to those last 3 words?

In my experience, once they got the gig for you, then as far as they're concerned its all done and dusted. Any talk about sorting contracts is just an inconvenience for them. I've had some real bad experiences where the agent just was not interested in the slightest in sorting out the contract and I had to kick off big time and plain refuse to start on site.

Surely legally saying, yes subject to contract is pretty pointless legally? It commits you to nothing because you could argue that yes you like the role but when you see the contract you dont like it for whatever reason and decide not to continue.

It probably is pointless legally, but you are implying an intent to act with goodwill, perhaps. It's like making an offer on / accepting an offer on a house subject to contract.

[Contreras]

This old 'Agree subject to contract' is interesting. How many agents listen to those last 3 words?

... It commits you to nothing because you could argue that yes you like the role but when you see the contract you dont like it for whatever reason and decide not to continue.

If you don't have the contract yet, 'STC' lets the agent know you're staying on the market until they produce something tangible.

It's also a warning shot that you won't necessarily be held to the agreed rate if terms need to be negotiated.

[Boo]

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?

It's a perfect oportunity to find out what you're worth :

1. Decide how much it would be worth to you to take the original gig despite your preference for the 2nd one.
2. Then add a bit on and tell the first agent you've been offered that amount by the 2nd.
3. S/he'll say no, but in the process you will find out the maximum you can earn in the current market.

Use this info wisely, Grasshopper

Boo

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

It's a perfect oportunity to find out what you're worth :

1. Decide how much it would be worth to you to take the original gig despite your preference for the 2nd one.
2. Then add a bit on and tell the first agent you've been offered that amount by the 2nd.
3. S/he'll say no, but in the process you will find out the maximum you can earn in the current market.

Use this info wisely, Grasshopper

Boo

Often it is a chance to squeeze some margin out of the agency rather than anything else. Current agency has rinsed every contractor for a big amount of margin, I found out what the rate was through colleagues and managed to squeeze them to just over 10%. Don't underestimate how much money agencies tend to make out of us, contractor next to me has agency on almost 25% margin.