Small agencies, why bother with them?

[EternalOptimist]

I have only been done over three times. On each occasion it was a big agency (all run by a Greek fellow, funny enough)

I try so hard to get a gig, hundreds of applications, do you REALLY think I would turn an offer down because the agency was a tiddler ?


pah

[Zippy]

I've had better experiences with smaller agencies.

[AtW]

Are we allowed to say your talking utter b*ll*cks now or is that against the rules?

It actually is, I believe - usage of *'s to hide meaning of a swear word isn't allowed.

Stick to using socially neutral word "tulip", ie: "stop talking utter tulip".

It's either that or you'll get right b*ll*cking from the mods and rightfully so...

HTH

[AtW]

I've had better experiences with smaller agencies.

Do tell?

[Fred Bloggs]

Don't think size is everything TBH.............. Last gig was thru a smaller agency, they've been in business since 1957. I've seen big agencies and very big brolly co's go t!ts up and leave contractors out of pocket. Weekly invoice and payment is the way to go. Current gig is via an "in house" agency so effectively is direct with the client (>30,000 employees world wide). Apart from the first week when I also got paid another contractors money too (!!!) all has been fine. Invoice on the Friday, paid the next Wednesday.

[Zippy]

Do tell?

Is that an attempt at innuendo? Tsk, tsk

I've worked with a couple more larger agencies than small but I've observed the following about small agencies:
- paid weekly, no argument
- agents don't attempt to fish (I've yet to have to hand over a reference)
- agents are friendly and professional and haven't 'doctored' my cv

One of the larger ones had the above attributes too, but they are in the minority.

[PAH]

So the moral of the story is to get the contract terms tied down to invoice and payment cycles as frequently as you can, preferably weekly if you can be arsed raising all those invoices.

That the size of the agency shouldn't matter just their ability and willingness to cater for those terms, and stick to them.

Maybe we need a contractors code where things like this are set in stone and all agencies have to be able to work to it otherwise they don't get any business.

Would also like some way of being able to verify they can fulfill their obligations and aren't some disgruntled ex-employee of a big agency who thinks he can do better, set up their own operation, and make a right pigs ear of it.

How to sort the wheat from the chaff if there is no agency references available? Maybe I'll ask them for two references first next time.

[vetran]

One of the larger ones had the above attributes too, but they are in the minority.

Do tell, its ok if you are nice about them.

[pzz76077]

Don't think size is everything TBH.............. Last gig was thru a smaller agency, they've been in business since 1957. I've seen big agencies and very big brolly co's go t!ts up and leave contractors out of pocket. Weekly invoice and payment is the way to go. Current gig is via an "in house" agency so effectively is direct with the client (>30,000 employees world wide). Apart from the first week when I also got paid another contractors money too (!!!) all has been fine. Invoice on the Friday, paid the next Wednesday.

Would agree- cash flow is king, 5 days max credit has been good for me. Ive seen agency debts become a millstone around contractors necks so many times. The recent Albany debacle shows that even the biggest fall. Credit control is the only way to make sure it doesn't happen to you.

PZZ