I personally know contractors who have been in the same job for 10 years + and the recruitment agencies are still being paid hefty commissions for doing not a lot.

I was interested to read that the Office of Fair Trading launched the proceedings against Foxtons (for ongoing commission payments) in February 2008 under the 1999 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations, the same legislation which it has successfully used to challenge overdraft fees imposed by banks.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-1676412.html

Also, do you know how much commission your recruitment agency is taking? I would be curious to know the industry average.