Changing agencies half through assignment

[homeandaway]

Hi all,

I have read some threats here but am still a bit unclear as to what to do in this scenario:

I approached an old client about 18 months ago and after agreeing terms I was put in contract with a new agency who is been my pimp with the client. My pal who contracts for the same client was also with the same agency. He has now moved to another agency as the latter takes a much smaller cut.

My question is if it's in general acceptable to change agency for the next renewal if the end client agrees. I never opted out "Conduct Regulations in accordance with Regulation 32(9)" although then not sure if this applies at all.

Thanks all.

H

[SimonMac]

Firstly never believe what other say about their contract, I wouldn't tell you any privileged information in my contract.

Secondly, are you moving purely for more money? If so why not work out a rate increase rather than bothering to change pimps which will invariably fail, why would Agent A allow Agent B to take money from them

[homeandaway]

Firstly never believe what other say about their contract, I wouldn't tell you any privileged information in my contract.

Secondly, are you moving purely for more money? If so why not work out a rate increase rather than bothering to change pimps which will invariably fail, why would Agent A allow Agent B to take money from them

Well I do yes. My rate will be limited by what the client is willing to pay , which I think is the headline rate, I think. There is about a 10% difference in the cut agencies A and B take. So it's not a few pennies

[TheFaQQer]

Well I do yes. My rate will be limited by what the client is willing to pay , which I think is the headline rate, I think. There is about a 10% difference in the cut agencies A and B take. So it's not a few pennies

So negotiate with your agency to reduce their margin and increase your rate, without passing on any of that change to the client.

[TheFaQQer]

My question is if it's in general acceptable to change agency for the next renewal if the end client agrees. I never opted out "Conduct Regulations in accordance with Regulation 32(9)" although then not sure if this applies at all.

By remaining inside the regulations, you can change agency or go direct without any cost being charge to either you or the client. You just need to have a gap of either eight weeks from the end of the contract or fourteen weeks from the start of the contract, whichever is longest.

If you don't want to take the two months off as a break to avoid paying a fee, then you need to terminate the agreement with the current agency, and get the client to do the same. This may cost you and / or your client some money to buy you out of the contract, though. After that, you are free to move to any agency you want.

Maybe you should ask your pal how he moved and if there was any trouble in doing so, since he's done this already with the same client.

I'd also make sure you keep him as a mate - I don't discuss my rate with anyone, but if he's fool enough to tell you (and also how much margin the agency and your agency are taking as well), then he's probably handy to keep around.

[Antman]

If he went direct then the agency are just doing the payment processing then I'm not sure about buying contracts out in this case (as long as the contract reflects that).

Homeandaway I've just PM'ed you