Agent stand-off over extension

[SimonMac]

Not if the customer is under the impression that you accepted the extension and expect you on site, only for you to back down at the last moment for a reason outside of the customer control. In which case don't expect much of a reference from them when you apply for your next gig. Keep burning bridges and you might find that the world is smaller than you thought.

I don't burn bridges, this is PC we are talking about, the long and short of it is if you are not happy with the contract on offer negotiate until you are happy or find another, if you are not getting anywhere with the agent speak to the Client and tell them what the situation is, guarantee the agent may ignore your call but not theirs

[sal]

Too many apologists for agents on this thread it seems! Some of you think PC is the bad guy in this scenario and are almost defending the 'stonewalling' tactics being employed. If an extension was being offered I would expect the agent (who is happy pocketing his percentage) to talk to me when I phone him to discuss it or to contact me about it, too much to ask?

It's not that we are defending the Agent, but such stonewalling tactics shouldn't be a surprise for someone with PCs experience, and he should have handled the situation better when it comes to communicating to the client the potential delays in starting the extension.

Personally from the OP i'm under the impression that the client is oblivious to the fact that the extension might get refused 3 days before it's supposed to commence. Despite the fact that CP had at the very least the 2 weeks advance notice that the agency refuses to play ball granted the experience of the other contractor he works with.

This is the key:

It's not to me. I want him calling me back as soon as some more good work comes up. If it's handled right I don't think not accepting an extension means that client will blackball the contractor forever. Not the best situation to be leaving in to be fair but it's not saveable for future benefit.

[kal]

It's not that we are defending the Agent, but such stonewalling tactics shouldn't be a surprise for someone with PCs experience, and he should have handled the situation better when it comes to communicating to the client the potential delays in starting the extension.

Personally from the OP i'm under the impression that the client is oblivious to the fact that the extension might get refused 3 days before it's supposed to commence. Despite the fact that CP had at the very least the 2 weeks advance notice that the agency refuses to play ball granted the experience of the other contractor he works with.

This is the key:

Agree, I would not have let it get this far and would have made sure the client knew the score by now. Still doesn't excuse the very unprofessional/childish antics from the agent though

[d000hg]

You have the choice to stand your ground and don't show on Monday morning and by lunch time you will either have an agreement or start looking for another gig.

Simply not turning up without even having the common courtesy to tell the client is totally unprofessional in my view. Sure, your contract is with the agency but it's you the client talks to every day.

[SimonMac]

Simply not turning up without even having the common courtesy to tell the client is totally unprofessional in my view. Sure, your contract is with the agency but it's you the client talks to every day.

When ever I have had problems with an agent I have made sure the client always knows the score, even used them at times when I have had trouble getting in touch with the agent, but handing your ID card in on a Friday can be a good motivator to the client to make sure the agent gets done what they have to, sometimes leaving things to the last minute will work in your favour too

[d000hg]

I think that way is OK but doing the whole "oh, well I won't be back, didn't you know" thing is a little passive-aggressive. Nobody likes to be blind-sided.

But then maybe PA suits PC.

[Unix]

I get the feeling the OP is being disingenuous and we are missing something.

[perplexed]

Too many apologists for agents on this thread it seems! Some of you think PC is the bad guy in this scenario and are almost defending the 'stonewalling' tactics being employed. If an extension was being offered I would expect the agent (who is happy pocketing his percentage) to talk to me when I phone him to discuss it or to contact me about it, too much to ask?

If a contractor refused to reply to an agent contacting them re an extension, using that silence as a bargaining attempt to provide demands at the last minute in the hope the agent would cave if the client really, really wants that contractor to stay would you almost defend that "stonewalling"? Contrived example, which imo would be folly, but it cuts both ways.

Without the agency replying in this thread, there's no wider context. Maybe they perceive the op as playing silly buggers with them. Who knows?

If the extension would be agreed by the contractor and the only point being made is due to the silence from the agency, then that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. If the terms aren't acceptable without being changed, well run the contract out and get a more acceptable gig, letting the client know terms couldn't be agreed without apportioning blame.

[northernladuk]

I get the feeling the OP is being disingenuous and we are missing something.

Is that the same as thing as 'A Dick'?

EDIT : Oh looked it up...

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.

Nope. This is PC in normal mode. More than enough threads to prove that.

[kal]

If a contractor refused to reply to an agent contacting them re an extension, using that silence as a bargaining attempt to provide demands at the last minute in the hope the agent would cave if the client really, really wants that contractor to stay would you almost defend that "stonewalling"? Contrived example, which imo would be folly, but it cuts both ways.

Without the agency replying in this thread, there's no wider context. Maybe they perceive the op as playing silly buggers with them. Who knows?

If the extension would be agreed by the contractor and the only point being made is due to the silence from the agency, then that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. If the terms aren't acceptable without being changed, well run the contract out and get a more acceptable gig, letting the client know terms couldn't be agreed without apportioning blame.

Nope, cuts both ways, last time I looked we are all adults, about time to start behaving as such. The fingers in the ear approach (coupled with 'la la la I can't hear you') from contractor or agent should have been left in the playground long ago!

Agree that we only have one side here and PC has gone AWOL so I'll stop here.