Reply to: Agency Payment terms

[piotrkula]

Wow that sucks. I always demand my invoices to be paid within 7 days, evey 7 days of timesheet approval. No? NEEEXT!

[clearedforlanding]

I'm disappointed with BT, surely this should have been Layer 1\Layer2, Layer 3 etc

No, we couldn't remember that. It was Please Do Not Throw Sausage Pizza Away.

[gables]

Saw this at BT a long time ago. T1 / T2 as above (LAN, Switches, CPE), T3 Strong CCNA-CCNP (Config/NOC stuff), T4 CCIE (Design Authority, tulip hits the fan support)

But we are talking nearly 2 decades ago ....

I'm disappointed with BT, surely this should have been Layer 1\Layer2, Layer 3 etc

[stek]

Made up I think

Hmm, what's wrong the old ways of 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, consultant. Using Tier X surely just confuses it with the Tier 2 visa thingymajig?? Which begs the question if there is a Tier 1 visa?

There is! Tier 1 Entrepreneur, Tier 1 Investor and Tier 1 Exceptional Talent. Tier 1 General and Tier 1 Post Study Work are both closed now.

There's Tier 4 Student and Tier 5 Temporary Work as well.

Wonder why no Tier 3?

[northernladuk]

Back then the CCIE's commanded a decent rate, until everyone jumped on the bandwagon and started becoming CCIE/JNCIE, the rate has been diluted. I had a gig at EE 3 years back and a permie qualified as CCIE and wanted to go contracting and the best he could command was £400/day

Which isn't bad for buggering about with cables and boxes and stuff.

[jbond007]

Back then the CCIE's commanded a decent rate, until everyone jumped on the bandwagon and started becoming CCIE/JNCIE, the rate has been diluted. I had a gig at EE 3 years back and a permie qualified as CCIE and wanted to go contracting and the best he could command was £400/day

[clearedforlanding]

Good question. Normally T1 = support desk, T2 = 2nd line support. Never heard of T4. Suspect it's either client specific, or made up by agent.

Saw this at BT a long time ago. T1 / T2 as above (LAN, Switches, CPE), T3 Strong CCNA-CCNP (Config/NOC stuff), T4 CCIE (Design Authority, tulip hits the fan support)

But we are talking nearly 2 decades ago ....

[gables]

Good question. Normally T1 = support desk, T2 = 2nd line support. Never heard of T4. Suspect it's either client specific, or made up by agent.

Made up I think

Hmm, what's wrong the old ways of 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line, consultant. Using Tier X surely just confuses it with the Tier 2 visa thingymajig?? Which begs the question if there is a Tier 1 visa?

[WTFH]

Umm, what's a Tier 4 consultant

Good question. Normally T1 = support desk, T2 = 2nd line support. Never heard of T4. Suspect it's either client specific, or made up by agent.

[gables]

This is the first contract (6 months term). The role is - IT Consultant (Tier 4).

Umm, what's a Tier 4 consultant

[LondonManc]

A lot can also depend on the agency's experience/relationship with the end client - i.e., has a signed timesheet and invoice combination always been paid.

[clearedforlanding]

Usually they are more than capable, its just that it will, often, cost them more to do regular payment runs.
In this case, it is up to you to negotiate, as hard as you would on rate.

I know of one single agency, at client co, contractors are on all sorts of payment terms with them, for this very reason i.e. they failed to negotiate.

Not everyone gets treated the same, obviously, any bedwetters need not apply

I would add that a lot of agencies factor, and factoring rates are a lot more attractive on 28+ day terms than 7.

However, that is the agency's problem. Everything is up to negotiation. Debtor days = risk, whether you are going direct or through an agency.

From the agencies perspective debtor days to contractor = larger number on balance sheet.

[MrMarkyMark]

Of course, you're absolutely correct, and my questions in my previous post were largely rhetorical, but you've highlighted it again, "it will, often, cost them more to do regular payment runs". Something that is entirely, unequivocally none of your concern. Of course, you have to have the backbone to very clearly and vigorously explain this to the agent.

This
When they say they "can't", its absolute poppy cock.

[billybiro]

Usually they are more than capable, its just that it will, often, cost them more to do regular payment runs.
In this case, it is up to you to negotiate, as hard as you would on rate.

I know of one single agency, at client co, contractors are on all sorts of payment terms with them, for this very reason i.e. they failed to negotiate.

Not everyone gets treated the same, obviously, any bedwetters need not apply

Of course, you're absolutely correct, and my questions in my previous post were largely rhetorical, but you've highlighted it again, "it will, often, cost them more to do regular payment runs". Something that is entirely, unequivocally none of your concern. Of course, you have to have the backbone to very clearly and vigorously explain this to the agent.

[MrMarkyMark]

Why is the agent's "system" incapable of dealing with (say) 7 day payment terms?

Usually they are more than capable, its just that it will, often, cost them more to do regular payment runs.
In this case, it is up to you to negotiate, as hard as you would on rate.

I know of one single agency, at client co, contractors are on all sorts of payment terms with them, for this very reason i.e. they failed to negotiate.

Not everyone gets treated the same, obviously, any bedwetters need not apply