Employment Agents... bad experiences?

[Ruprect]

I try very hard to behave professianaly at all times.

sorry mate, coudn't resist

[The Lone Gunman]

sorry mate, coudn't resist

You could have at least picked up the spelling mistake!!!

[Not So Wise]

Really....

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07...deals_binding/

Are you still sure about that statement ?

Yes, because the case you use was worth millions.
Few hundred k in legal fee's spent for millions worth in a win is a viable and justifiable gamble in the courts

Few hundred K in legal fee's for a contract worth maybe 10% of that cost, something only a fool pursue

So yes, because the chances of getting dragged to court are virtually nil verbal agreements are only hot air

Hell if you really wanted to be honest most written contracts (contracting or otherwise) are worth toilet paper as well for same reason, hence so many contracts in operation these days that would not last 2 sec's in a court of law because the companies KNOW no one will drag them to court over them

[Not So Wise]

The Paymaster General has painted us as a bunch of tax cheating money driven scoundrels wh will do anything to make an extra buck.

Thats Hectors opinion of every man woman and child in the country

The day the tax man considers me not to fit the above description is the day i get a new accountant...because i am probably paying a rate of tax of 110%

[Ruprect]

You could have at least picked up the spelling mistake!!!

Erm... that is what I was referring to... [Edit] laughing at

[Ruprect]

Thats Hectors opinion of every man woman and child in the country

The day the tax man considers me not to fit the above description is the day i get a new accountant...because i am probably paying a rate of tax of 110%

"Gordon Brown"

[TheFaQQer]

Few hundred K in legal fee's for a contract worth maybe 10% of that cost, something only a fool pursue

Or they could just go to the small claims court and go for the £5k maximum there for limited outlay - enough to make it more than inconvenient for the person breaking the contract.

[Ardesco]

Yes, because the case you use was worth millions.
Few hundred k in legal fee's spent for millions worth in a win is a viable and justifiable gamble in the courts

Few hundred K in legal fee's for a contract worth maybe 10% of that cost, something only a fool pursue

So yes, because the chances of getting dragged to court are virtually nil verbal agreements are only hot air

Hell if you really wanted to be honest most written contracts (contracting or otherwise) are worth toilet paper as well for same reason, hence so many contracts in operation these days that would not last 2 sec's in a court of law because the companies KNOW no one will drag them to court over them

The point that you are missing is that now that this ruling has been handed down in the high court it has set a precedent in law. This means that anybody dragging you to court can refer to this case as case law and the judge will accept it as such and find against you without the person taking you to court having to spend millions going through a lengthy appeals process and taking it all the way up to the high court.

One court case which your solicitor will probably tell you to plead guilty to as there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that you will win, and you are out of a few thousand quid.

Thank you very much.

[DodgyAgent]

Surely you know that this is the nature of contracting. You apply for a number of roles, interviews etc you get offered a 3 month on ok money and you accept, then the next day you are offered twice as much for twice as long. What fool is going to show loyallty to a company and agency he has yet to start work for? I think you're being a little bit naive if you think that's the way the market should work. I don't think you do though, I think you're probably miffed at the OP's attitude. He did the right thing and copped some abuse for it, but that's part and parcel (unfortunately) of the contract market. You've f**cked over the two parties, you get some stick for it, you move on. No complaints..

What an extraordinary attitude, and one that was embedded in the minds of many a contractor until clients began looking for alternatives. Unlike you most contractors have moved on and decided that clients should be treated as customers and that the contract market should no longer be a place for opportunists, but a place where a customer can enjoy a reliable service at a reasonable price.
And I bet you are the first person that starts whining when companies (you know customers) decide to not rely on contractors and then spend their budget on "safe but expensive" accenture, or "cheap and reliable" Tata.

[DodgyAgent]

Fair point about accepting the rate in the first place....

But I've had agents try to make me accept cr@p rates particularly when I first started....telling me how it's a gd opportunity etc...

Just think some of the agents on here were being a bit harsh on the lad considering the dirty tricks they get up to...

So that makes it OK for contractors to jerk clients around does it? You are not the only show in town and there are a finite number of clients/ it is a very small world out there. Fine if a contractor takes a calculated decision to swap at the last minute and break his word (we have all done it to some degree), but please dont come on here and start giving all this "they are not loyal" or agents are dishonest so its OK for me to copy them bullsh*t. If you do this accept it and take responsibility for it and dont try and heap the blame on someone else then you at least show some semblance of honesty. There are consequences to this sort of behaviour, to you individually, to contractors and agents (who are much worse than contractors), and most importantly to clients out there. I suggest you just accept accept the responsibility of your actions.