Agent stand-off over extension

[kal]

I would speak to the client today, remind them that your contract finishes on Friday and tell them that you can't get a hold of the agency to discuss the extension.

I would imagine you'll have the agent desperately trying to get a hold of you by the end of the day (ignore his calls for 24 hours, then demand the terms you want )

[sal]

It's all about spin.

You don't tell the client that you want a shorter notice period so you can walk off site. You tell the client that you recently had the contract wording reviewed by a professional, and they have advised a change in that term - you don't really understand why, but since they provide your insurance, you need to follow that advice...

That's one mighty assumption that the client is as dumb as a post. Or do you forget that it's the client that dictates the rules.

How would you react if you were the client and someone pulls such an explanation to you...

[SueEllen]

That's one mighty assumption that the client is as dumb as a post. Or do you forget that it's the client that dictates the rules.

How would you react if you were the client and someone pulls such an explanation to you...

Sometimes the notice period in the contract differs from the one the client has negotiated or been told that you are on by the agency.

So don't presume anything.

[SueEllen]

I would speak to the client today, remind them that your contract finishes on Friday and tell them that you can't get a hold of the agency to discuss the extension.

This always works.

Once the agent realises you aren't afraid to talk to the right person at the client to sort out contract issues they stop d***ing you around.

[northernladuk]

Sometimes the notice period in the contract differs from the one the client has negotiated or been told that you are on by the agency.

So don't presume anything.

Absolutely. There is always your relationship with the client and to some extent, the agent. If you have a good reputation and you deliver the client is much less likely to be concerned. The agent will also take you a lot more seriously.

If you just a roll over newbie they will have your pants down in no time.

[TheFaQQer]

That's one mighty assumption that the client is as dumb as a post. Or do you forget that it's the client that dictates the rules.

YMMV, but I find that no-one dictates the rules to my business. If I wanted that, I'd be a BoS temp or a permie. If we cannot agree a contract, then there is no more to it than that - I find someone who I want to work with and we do business.

How would you react if you were the client and someone pulls such an explanation to you...

I'd question why they don't understand the advice being given by their professional advisor.

Without knowing the ins and outs of the change to the notice period, here's an example. Agency issues a contract which has a no notice clause in it. When it comes to an extension, contractor gets the extension reviewed, and the advice is that notice periods should be reciprocal at 28 days notice. Contractor asks for that to be included in the contract because of the advice that he has been given by his professional advisor.

Why would the client be as dumb as a post to accept that scenario?

[TheFaQQer]

I would speak to the client today, remind them that your contract finishes on Friday and tell them that you can't get a hold of the agency to discuss the extension.

I would imagine you'll have the agent desperately trying to get a hold of you by the end of the day (ignore his calls for 24 hours, then demand the terms you want )

+1

If you are prepared to walk, and the client wants you to stay, then you can dictate the rules to the agency.

[d000hg]

Changes = Rate and notice period.

So you agreed an extension with the client, but then you demanded the agency increase the rate and are surprised they haven't got back to you? The client doubtless agreed an extension on the basis of what they're already paying.

[sal]

YMMV, but I find that no-one dictates the rules to my business. If I wanted that, I'd be a BoS temp or a permie. If we cannot agree a contract, then there is no more to it than that - I find someone who I want to work with and we do business.

Bold statement, we are not talking about rules about YourCo business, we are talking about a contract between 2 parties - in which case it's usually the client to dictates the rules such rate / hours / nature of work - you simply accept them or not. And if not - the professional way is to give ample notice, not weasel your way out using bogus excuses.

Remember we are not talking about new contract but about extension. OP already agreed on the terms once, so they are obviously not that unacceptable.

I'd question why they don't understand the advice being given by their professional advisor.

Without knowing the ins and outs of the change to the notice period, here's an example. Agency issues a contract which has a no notice clause in it. When it comes to an extension, contractor gets the extension reviewed, and the advice is that notice periods should be reciprocal at 28 days notice. Contractor asks for that to be included in the contract because of the advice that he has been given by his professional advisor.

Why would the client be as dumb as a post to accept that scenario?

But this is not the described scenario is it? The described scenario is that the OP wants to reduce the notice period for purely selfish reasons, not based on a professional advice. And you have no grounds for speculations that there is any sort of misalignment between the C>A and the A>C contracts. So giving such an excuse is simply pulling a fat lie out of the hat. If i was the customer and a contractor pulls out of the extension 2 days before it supposed to start (while presumably left me under the impression that he is happy for his contract to be extended), and gives such a bogus excuse i would be offended to say the least. And not to the fact that the said contractor is leaving with little or no notice - this is part of the risk of hiring a contractor, but for the part that he thinks i'm so stupid to believe in his bull tulip reasons.

[MojoDog]

You've been contracting for 20 years and by the sounds of it, some of your rates have been half decent. Why are you still in a position where you have to bend over and take it from agents? I don't understand why you can't just hardball them to get it sorted.

I started contracting four years ago and I'm already in a position where agencies bend over for me. OK so what I do might be a little more specialised/niche, but it's not difficult to work a position where you call more of the shots.

You don't seem like the sort to blow your wedge on fine cocaine and high class hookers, so unless you're living in a ridiculously sized mansion with a wife with an expensive shoes habit and access to your credit card, I don't know why you're not in a position to tell the agent that you can't continue on existing terms, and warn the client that the paperwork hasn't been sorted yet so you might not be around on Monday.

That's the OP's business, it's none of yours and has no relevance whatsoever to the original question.