Should agents margins be transparent?

[gingerjedi]

I don't mean make it law as that would be near impossible to implement but the PCG could push for it as a 'best practise'.

Client win, contractor win, agent lose... whats not to like?

[Pogle]

yes

[Spacecadet]

If you've been on the bench and looking for a contract for 6 months and you're offered a £300pd gig only to find that the agent is getting a £300 margin (i.e. the client is being charged £600) would you still take it?

[Moscow Mule]

If you've been on the bench and looking for a contract for 6 months and you're offered a £300pd gig only to find that the agent is getting a £300 margin (i.e. the client is being charged £600) would you still take it?

No. If the agent is that much of a shyster, there's no knowing what else they would do...

[Andy2]

yes
I can't think of any other agent in any industry whose commission is not transparent.

[threaded]

If you've been on the bench and looking for a contract for 6 months and you're offered a £300pd gig only to find that the agent is getting a £300 margin (i.e. the client is being charged £600) would you still take it?

I know of a case where the contractors were getting £250 a day and the agent £1250. Lasted for about 6 months. When the client found out they went ballistic, canned the contractors and banned the use of any UK based agencies. Story got around, and is one reason UK based agencies don't get much in the way of work in Denmark as they will refuse to be transparent on mark-up.

[RichardCranium]

If you've been on the bench and looking for a contract for 6 months and you're offered a £300pd gig only to find that the agent is getting a £300 margin (i.e. the client is being charged £600) would you still take it?

Yep.

But negotiations would begin within 1 minute of me finding out what the client was paying.

[DodgyAgent]

A number of points on this one.

First of all I know what reasonable people you all are, so I am sure that whilst we are at it, revealing profits, why dont we force all contractors to reveal also what they earn?

This would make it simple for clients, agents would find it very difficult to hide their margins.

And whilst we are at it why dont we pay all contractors the same?

[Moscow Mule]

And whilst we are at it why dont we pay all contractors the same?

Yes, and the cleaners. They should get the same as the brain surgeons too....

[DodgyAgent]

Yes, and the cleaners. They should get the same as the brain surgeons too....

Why not?