agency trick?

[Liability]

Quite right. I cannot see any point of meeting a contractor unless your relationship is such that the client requests it and the contractor may need briefing before an interview. The latter then presumes a pretty close relationship between agent and client.

or she is proper filth and wants some to sweeten the deal

[SimonD]

I was fed a line about having to meet the agent and provide a copy of my passport as well as providing references before I was allowed to start at my current contract.

As it happens a meeting before the start date didn't happen because of illness (both of us) and once I had started I asked about the copy of my passport and was told that it wasn't needed any more.

They try and pull fast ones all the time, it's more about knowing what they need and what they want (ie leads).

[norrahe]

I was fed a line about having to meet the agent and provide a copy of my passport as well as providing references before I was allowed to start at my current contract.

As it happens a meeting before the start date didn't happen because of illness (both of us) and once I had started I asked about the copy of my passport and was told that it wasn't needed any more.

They try and pull fast ones all the time, it's more about knowing what they need and what they want (ie leads).

i got that the other day when applying online, the return e-mail requested a copy of my passport to be sent to the pimp prior to being considered for the role.

yeah right

next thing they'll be asking for our credit cards and pin numbers :

[DodgyAgent]

Checked... maybe; rung the number to place a bod... come on, own-up.

trust me .. never

[Ivor Bigun]

trust me .. never

Is that you being Yoda?
Trust Me..never.. you should
Anyways, it doesn't matter really.
IMO, if an agent gets the gig for a contractor - he/she can do whatever they like with any info they've heard. The contractor shouldn't get fussed about it and has no right to order them about.
All this "Shhh don't tell anyone" is just a bit silly really as the agent will use it anyway. They just won't tell you
When did you ever hear an agent say "I won't use any info you give me"?
......Yeah right - never - so why get fussed about it when they do?

No-one owns information. We all have the right to NOT pass it on but we can't expect others to NOT use it.

[NetwkSupport]

I'm going to go along anyway, just based on my one previous experience where the agency/client relationship was such that the client wanted candidates pre-vetted to ensure they werent going to have their time wasted.

Its Michael Page - incase anyone has had a similar experience recently.