Rejecting a contract

[BoredBloke]

Confirm what you've agreed, try it on and get more money, I don't care.
To me it doesn't matter but IMO, you've said it all here - You want more than you originally agreed in May.

Fine, but don't try and fool us and yourself.

What you're really saying is "My word is my bond unless I find out a reason to break it" and that is exactly what you're trying to do

If the cap fits.......

In the end PZZ is right, sort out your due diligence BEFORE you agree anything in future. This is coming over as whinning now.

Just stop messing the client and agent about because of your inability to handle what you've promised. Its your tough luck that the exchange rate has moved.

Sheesh!

So I'm able to predict the movement of the currency markets am I. The pound has risen a lot since the extension was agreed.

Before I was not in possesion of the full facts. Even when the extension was offered I was obviously not going to be able to predict the rise in the level of the pound. But becasuse I agreed to carry out the extension almost 8 weeks ago, I'm supposed to be bound by a verbal commitment which is based on financial assumptions which have changed significantly. To put this bluntly

1 - had the exchange rate not moved so much, I would have completed the extension in its current form.

2 - it is not a case of me not seeing out the extension. If the exchange rate continues to go the same way it has for the past 3 months, it won't be a case of not wanting to do the extension in its current form, it simply will not be financially possible.

Is it more professional to try to renegiotaite the contract before it kicks in or take one that you know you will have no chance of completing.

[Ivor Bigun]

.....Is it more professional to try to renegiotaite the contract before it kicks in or take one that you know you will have no chance of completing.

You're trying to confuse everyone with the difference between "Business minded" and "being professional".
One demands you maximise profit by ANY legitimate means - the other is keeping your word and promises.

Its where the 2 mix that everyone has to decide who they really want to "pretend" to be that day.

So, in my book you're being unprofessional (I don't care!) and so far, not being very succesful at being "business minded".

The agency has you over a barrel. Roll with it or leave

[BoredBloke]

You're trying to confuse everyone with the difference between "Business minded" and "being professional".
One demands you maximise profit by ANY legitimate means - the other is keeping your word and promises.

Its where the 2 mix that everyone has to decide who they really want to "pretend" to be that day.

So, in my book you're being unprofessional (I don't care!) and so far, not being very succesful at being "business minded".

The agency has you over a barrel. Roll with it or leave

We'll see tomorrow then won't we!

I see it as being stupid to not fully examine the full impact of where I was going on my costs and profits, but that as I have said was an exapensive lesson learnt. I could have served notice on day 1 and saved myself a ton of cash but I didn't - I'd signed on the dotted line and had to commit. However I see it as being 100% professional to continue providing my service to the end client for the duration of the original contract - even though it was costing me a lot to do so. I see it as being business minded to ask for a rate change and ask for a margin to buffer me against future rate changes when talking about the extension. I see it as being business minded and profesional to reevaluate this contract closer to the start date incase the financial situation changed. The financial situation changed significantly which made the extension in its current form uneconomic. It would have been unprofessional to have agreed the contract and then have to drop out with little or no notice when I get to the point where I can no longer afford to pay for the expenses I'm incurring.

What prompted this whole process was a movement from 1.75 to 1.8 in the space of 2 days. Had this happened after I had started the extension then I would have completed the contract as I did the first to the best of my ability. It didn't, it happened a week before my extension kicked in and I would have been stupid to accept it given the current state of my financies. You may think this is unprofessional but I see it as being common sense. Would you really say that it is good buiness parctice or professional to embark on a contract which you knew you would have no chance of completing.

As I have said I have not had to do anything like this in 20 years of contracting and the decision to do so was not taken lightly on my part.

[BlasterBates]

As a swiss contractor you're a temp employee, you don't need to honour business commitments. You have the same rights as a permie, i.e. no problem in buggering off with no more than 4 weeks notice regardless of whatever your contract says.

[MPwannadecentincome]

We'll see tomorrow then won't we!

I see it as being stupid to not fully examine the full impact of where I was going on my costs and profits, but that as I have said was an exapensive lesson learnt. I could have served notice on day 1 and saved myself a ton of cash but I didn't - I'd signed on the dotted line and had to commit. However I see it as being 100% professional to continue providing my service to the end client for the duration of the original contract - even though it was costing me a lot to do so. I see it as being business minded to ask for a rate change and ask for a margin to buffer me against future rate changes when talking about the extension. I see it as being business minded and profesional to reevaluate this contract closer to the start date incase the financial situation changed. The financial situation changed significantly which made the extension in its current form uneconomic. It would have been unprofessional to have agreed the contract and then have to drop out with little or no notice when I get to the point where I can no longer afford to pay for the expenses I'm incurring.

What prompted this whole process was a movement from 1.75 to 1.8 in the space of 2 days. Had this happened after I had started the extension then I would have completed the contract as I did the first to the best of my ability. It didn't, it happened a week before my extension kicked in and I would have been stupid to accept it given the current state of my financies. You may think this is unprofessional but I see it as being common sense. Would you really say that it is good buiness parctice or professional to embark on a contract which you knew you would have no chance of completing.

As I have said I have not had to do anything like this in 20 years of contracting and the decision to do so was not taken lightly on my part.

Someone is predicting the pounds gonna tumble again soon, in the meantime just shack up with the pimp then at the end of the contract don't pay the rent

[pzz76077]

Someone is predicting the pounds gonna tumble again soon, in the meantime just shack up with the pimp then at the end of the contract don't pay the rent

Would agree the only way is down for the next 12-18 months unless there is a complete collapse before then.

Sterling is a very expensive currency to have to own at the moment. Id be looking as some kind of spread bet or currency pair trading to offset the erosion if I was stuck for it for some reason (luckily Im not).

PZZ

[hugebrain]

My point isn't the fact I'm living in student accomodation my point is that the money left over isn't worth me living like this. If my rate was increased I would probably live in the same places but it would be nice to know that I was getting moeny in the bank as compensation

If you do get the payrise and extension, then ditch the hotel. I stayed in one for the first couple of weeks when I arrived in Switzerland and it was horrible (not the particular hotel, just staying in a hotel in general is bad) then I rented a flat for about 2,000 a month. Twice as good as well as cheaper.

Also, go down to the lake and have a few beers and a barbecue instead of eating in their expensive restaurants.

Still sucks being here, but you are making it worse than it has to be.

[Turion]

You think that you made a mistake accepting this contract, yet you stayed the term. Now you are saying you will work notice period for an extention that is not even agreed and there is no contract yet.

You say that you are losing money on this contract. This means that you are saying that you are using your own savings to finance this role Can you tell us what costs you are incurring that are more than your residual income?

Finally, as one post already mentions, in Swiss, you are a temp employee, not a business collecting clients. If they don't give you what you want, then for God sake walk away like a man.

[BoredBloke]

You think that you made a mistake accepting this contract, yet you stayed the term. Now you are saying you will work notice period for an extention that is not even agreed and there is no contract yet.

There is an extension contract that I could have tomorrow but I want the rate increasing.

You say that you are losing money on this contract. This means that you are saying that you are using your own savings to finance this role Can you tell us what costs you are incurring that are more than your residual income?

The first month the exchange rate had moved a little away fomn the starting point - fair enough, by month 2 that difference had grown and by month 3 (now that rate is large). Taking into account what I have spent on flights, accomodation etc over here and the bills I have in the UK, the days I will bill for this month means that I will make a loss.

Finally, as one post already mentions, in Swiss, you are a temp employee, not a business collecting clients. If they don't give you what you want, then for God sake walk away like a man.

I will - I said that I may give them some notice - i.e. serve notice at the start of the extension or just go home there and then. The probelm is I have nothing concrete to go to although I do have a very good chance of a role in Prague - which is significantly cheaper than Geneva!

[BoredBloke]

Just got news back and my rate is being moved from 656 a day to 850. Now come on pound and do the decent things and kindly collapse a bit!