Asking Agency for rate % cut

[Cenobite]

FTFY...

I didn't say I liked it, but I live in the real world.

But the work the client is mainly paying for is the work of the contractor but if some spotty agent school leaver can do the type of contracts you go for then fine.

[The Agents View]

But the work the client is mainly paying for is the work of the contractor but if some spotty agent school leaver can do the type of contracts you go for then fine.

And if you could do the work that the spotty agent school leaver can do, then it wouldn't matter to you....

[malvolio]

But the work the client is mainly paying for is the work of the contractor but if some spotty agent school leaver can do the type of contracts you go for then fine.

I'm currently working on a £2bn programme for HMG, my bit of which is worth around £140m, so wind the neck in a little.

[Cenobite]

I'm currently working on a £2bn programme for HMG, my bit of which is worth around £140m, so wind the neck in a little.

Ah, the old public sector contract circuit: a great place for dinosaurs to go and die.

[Cenobite]

And if you could do the work that the spotty agent school leaver can do, then it wouldn't matter to you....

It's pretty rare I've got work through agents: I've got stuff from word-of-mouth and doing the cold-calling myself.

Say the agent's making a standard cut of 15% and the contractor gets the remaining 85%, I'd say the contractor's doing the majority of the work and that's reflected in the relative cuts.

I understand what agents are for but this contractors take a cut of the agent's rate talk really gets my goat. Without a contractor with the relavent skills, there is no work and the human race survived for a long time before agents came along.

[The Agents View]

It's pretty rare I've got work through agents: I've got stuff from word-of-mouth and doing the cold-calling myself.

Say the agent's making a standard cut of 15% and the contractor gets the remaining 85%, I'd say the contractor's doing the majority of the work and that's reflected in the relative cuts.

I understand what agents are for but this contractors take a cut of the agent's rate talk really gets my goat. Without a contractor with the relavent skills, there is no work and the human race survived for a long time before agents came along.

The reality of it, is utterly irrelevant. The "contractor takes a cut of the agents rate" is necessary because in LEGAL terms, that is EXACTLY the situation. Funnily enough, it's a situation which suits contractors very nicely generally, because it's another layer between HMRC and their limited company if the gig they're doing is their only source of income.

[Cenobite]

The reality of it, is utterly irrelevant. The "contractor takes a cut of the agents rate" is necessary because in LEGAL terms, that is EXACTLY the situation. Funnily enough, it's a situation which suits contractors very nicely generally, because it's another layer between HMRC and their limited company if the gig they're doing is their only source of income.

I understand that and in terms of who gets what money paid to them from who it is entirely correct. What I don't agree with is using this fact to make out agents are the ones doing all the work, and contractors are some kind of inconvenience for taking a cut out of "your" money. Sounds like agents trying to justify their existence to me.

[The Agents View]

I understand that and in terms of who gets what money paid to them from who it is entirely correct. What I don't agree with is using this fact to make out agents are the ones doing all the work, and contractors are some kind of inconvenience for taking a cut out of "your" money. Sounds like agents trying to justify their existence to me.

I mainly use this literal interpretation to dampen down contractors who are being unnecessarily awkward, or who are trying to suggest that they'll go direct to the client to negotiate their rate.....

......and to p*** contractors off in forums

[Cenobite]

......and to p*** contractors off in forums

It's the only thing that gets my goat about the whole contractor/agent thing: as long as nobody brings it up I won't start! I just see red whenever I hear it.

[Taita]

It's the only thing that gets my goat about the whole contractor/agent thing: as long as nobody brings it up I won't start! I just see red whenever I hear it.

Why get so excited if you never use agents? Fleas need hosts - live with it.