Reply to: Switching agencies post-offer from client

[Contreras]

For the sake of not outing myself, I've withheld quite a lot of information to this scenario, and I am confident that I have acted fairly at all times. I did not, however, verbally accept the offer from agency A, and whilst I'm not prepared to disclose all the reasons behind that decision, I believe a number of people on here in a similar situation would've jumped ship. It was not simply a case of not winning over a negotiation, and I have said nothing on this forum to suggest such an occurrence took place. Not switching agencies meant I would've walked away from the contract without hesitation.

I've walked away from agency A as of last night, and although there has been some fallout due to the dirty tactics employed by said agency, I've retained my offer and am good to proceed with the client.

You would have walked from Agent A in any case...
... you have no contractual obligation to Agent A
... and the client is happy for you to go via Agent B.

So it seems you have nothing to lose by jumping ship.

Which, I think, is the answer you were looking for.

[tractor]

...

For the sake of not outing myself, I've withheld quite a lot of information to this scenario, and I am confident that I have acted fairly at all times. I did not, however, verbally accept the offer from agency A, and whilst I'm not prepared to disclose all the reasons behind that decision, I believe a number of people on here in a similar situation would've jumped ship. It was not simply a case of not winning over a negotiation, and I have said nothing on this forum to suggest such an occurrence took place. Not switching agencies meant I would've walked away from the contract without hesitation.

I've walked away from agency A as of last night, and although there has been some fallout due to the dirty tactics employed by said agency, I've retained my offer and am good to proceed with the client.

I hope it works out well, but from the scant info you have provided, you can hardly expect any detailed or even relevant advice other than people wondering why you would want to go this route without explaining what the agent did/didn't do. I am sure that many of us have had untenable offers from poor agents that would not move on their position. I know I have. But you could have obfuscated your story any number of ways without 'outing yourself'.

We all know from exp that there are always two or more sides to any story and rarely are they in step with one another.

[DigitalUser]

I get the impression you aren't being entirely forthcoming with this. Did you verbally accept the offer from Agent A? At what point did the negotiations stall? What are the sticking points?

You cannot just switch agents and dump the first one because you are unable to win on a particular point of negotiation.

For the sake of not outing myself, I've withheld quite a lot of information to this scenario, and I am confident that I have acted fairly at all times. I did not, however, verbally accept the offer from agency A, and whilst I'm not prepared to disclose all the reasons behind that decision, I believe a number of people on here in a similar situation would've jumped ship. It was not simply a case of not winning over a negotiation, and I have said nothing on this forum to suggest such an occurrence took place. Not switching agencies meant I would've walked away from the contract without hesitation.

I've walked away from agency A as of last night, and although there has been some fallout due to the dirty tactics employed by said agency, I've retained my offer and am good to proceed with the client.

[eek]

They put you forward and got you an offer from the client. That sounds quite competent

That's often the easy bit. Then back office gets involved and it all goes pear shaped...

[d000hg]

Agency A haven't gone silent - they've merely been incompetent at every stage of the process

They put you forward and got you an offer from the client. That sounds quite competent

[kevpuk]

Well, I had Client (current one, actually) bin Agent A after offer of gig, and sort out Agent B (they gave me a limited choice of Agent B) after Agent A started playing me and Client off against each other on rate, trying to increase their margin.
Client was not pleased with Agent A, suspended them from PSL for 3 months and made sure that they got me on-board.......still here, after 17 months

[tractor]

...

Agency A haven't gone silent - they've merely been incompetent at every stage of the process, hence my frustration and desire to switch. The offer is not subject to contract, and a contract has not been sent for consideration, so I don't believe this should impact my position negatively.

I get the impression you aren't being entirely forthcoming with this. Did you verbally accept the offer from Agent A? At what point did the negotiations stall? What are the sticking points?

You cannot just switch agents and dump the first one because you are unable to win on a particular point of negotiation.

[TheFaQQer]

I'd be very surprised if the client doesn't have a contract with the agency which prevents them from doing this.

If they haven't, then go for it.

[jmo21]

interviewed through agency A, and these guys have messed me around

How exactly have they messed you around?

For starters, who at the client said they didn't mind you swapping? Just a manager bod?

They may not be aware of the contract the client will likely have with the agency that would probably stop that from happening.

[BlasterBates]

You don't want to be put forward by two agencies. If agency A has put your CV on the desk, then normally that's it. If the client doesn't want you through agency A that would be fine, then you have no choice but to go through agency B:

The normal thing when this happens is that the client manager gets stick from one of the agencies and drops the whole thing as a hot potato.

[northernladuk]

Very strange attitude IMO. They should be sorting that. All that's gonna happen is a bun fight. Surely they know that.

[DigitalUser]

Totally this and ive lost a gig due to agents arguing. Agent A has dibs as he put the work in. I am very surprised that the client is happy for you to change agents. That attitude is going to cause nothing but trouble. Are you sure the client manager doesn't care but the resourcing team will have a very different view?. I would also be surprised if there isn't an overarching contract between client and agent detailing the engagement process just to avoid this kind of bollocks.

As far as I'm aware there isn't. The change has been ok'ed by the client (both head of sourcing and the person I will be reporting to), and I believe it is because I am not the only person who has been subjected to incompetence with agency A i.e. this isn't an isolated incident.

[DigitalUser]

It's not clear from your post at what stage Agent A went quiet. Did you accept the offer subject to contract? Has a contract been sent to you for consideration? This may have a bearing.

Agency A haven't gone silent - they've merely been incompetent at every stage of the process, hence my frustration and desire to switch. The offer is not subject to contract, and a contract has not been sent for consideration, so I don't believe this should impact my position negatively.

[northernladuk]

Good luck with this. Im not saying it wont happen, just that you'll be very lucky. Of course the client wont have an issue. Until that is, they have a couple of agents squabbling in their ear. Then you may find you have no offer after all.

Totally this and ive lost a gig due to agents arguing. Agent A has dibs as he put the work in. I am very surprised that the client is happy for you to change agents. That attitude is going to cause nothing but trouble. Are you sure the client manager doesn't care but the resourcing team will have a very different view?. I would also be surprised if there isn't an overarching contract between client and agent detailing the engagement process just to avoid this kind of bollocks.

[BolshieBastard]

Hi all,

Has anyone here switched agencies after an offer from the client has been made? If so, anything to watch out for?

Scenario: interviewed through agency A, and these guys have messed me around. Client is aware and happy for me to switch to agency B, and there is no sole exclusivity specified between my Ltd Co and agency A, nor has a contract been presented by agency A.

Just want to make sure there aren't any gotchas to avoid before proceeding.

Good luck with this. Im not saying it wont happen, just that you'll be very lucky. Of course the client wont have an issue. Until that is, they have a couple of agents squabbling in their ear. Then you may find you have no offer after all.