Reply to: Agency is cheating me

[christhedon]

I think your question was: Do agents take a specific percentage or can they take what they like. I think the answer is: depends on the organisation and or the specific situation. So I guess the real questions are:

1) How do you find out what the agent is taking?
2) How do you find out what the agent should be taking?

I'm not sure about the moral, ethical and legal implications about how you find out the answers to those questions. But you already stated your not happy with the pay which ultimately means either:

1) The client has to pay more
2) The agent has to take less
3) You have to make yourself happy with what you're getting
4) You leave and go onto the market and get paid more elsewhere

Whether you want (1) or (2) I guess depends partly on whose relationship you value more and other stuff. If you go down the investigate the agent cut path, please let me know how you get on and what you find out.

Thanks,

Chris

[TheFaQQer]

If the agency margin is too high (in your opinion), then one way to play it is to demand an increase in the rate from the agency, but tell the client to expect it and get the client to refuse to pay more.

If the agency won't cut their rate to something more reasonable, then you can either take what's on offer, or walk.

Of course, we're back to the long running thread of "does it matter what the agency makes, as long as you're happy with the daily rate" - something I'm not sure we really want to reopen! Some people will say it doesn't matter, if you're happy (typically those on a high daily rate); some will argue that it's very important (typically those on a lower rate).

[MarillionFan]

Have a backbone man you're a contractor.

Always go for the money, you're a long time permie.

[css_jay99]

i think i am just going to accept the contract as is nd put this down inexperience of dealing with agencies.better luck next time

[Ardesco]

back here again,

I have been happy with my new re-negotiated contract when i just found out again that the agent might still be pocketing a difference of btw possibly btw £100 - £200 per day !.

My existing contract is already at an end and I have already been sent a renewal 3 month contract.

The question is should I try and ask for more money or just put this down as a bitter lessson. !

dont know what to do !.

someone else has already asked for an extra £50 but was told no way. not sure if this was a tacticall game on their part.

I am tempted to tell them i got another deal(which is true anyway) and then try to get them to renegotiate and see if they buldge
.


css_jay99

You are far too hung up about how much the agency is getting. Forget about it, work out if you are happy with the wage offered. If you are accept the contract, if not renegotiate.

Bear in mind that as you have already renegotiated and verbally accepted and have a written contract to sign you probably have a snowballs chance in hell of getting more as they will have already negotiated with the client to get more cash or cut down thier margain as much as they are willing too (probably the former). By going for more money now they agency will turn round to the end client and say "This assh*le is trying to screw you out of more money, do you want to keep him or not" and the end client will likely say not (The buddy buddy relationship you have with client now won't change the fact that he will think you are a money grabbing ass when the agency tell him this either)

The only way that might work is say you have been offered another gig at £XXX and as it is substantially more you are going to that gig unless your current agency can match it, but be prepared for them to say OK and loose the renewal.

[oraclesmith]

The question is... is it actually causing you a problem ?

If the client is happy with what they pay and you're happy with what you get for what you do, then what's the point in trying to tackle the agents cut. If you're happy to risk losing the gig then have a go by all means, but have something better lined up first !

[css_jay99]

back here again,

I have been happy with my new re-negotiated contract when i just found out again that the agent might still be pocketing a difference of btw possibly btw £100 - £200 per day !.

My existing contract is already at an end and I have already been sent a renewal 3 month contract.

The question is should I try and ask for more money or just put this down as a bitter lessson. !

dont know what to do !.

someone else has already asked for an extra £50 but was told no way. not sure if this was a tacticall game on their part.

I am tempted to tell them i got another deal(which is true anyway) and then try to get them to renegotiate and see if they buldge
.


css_jay99

[css_jay99]

good news is that they accepted my increase ( less 50p).

means I am £2.50 pw short. That could have bougth my Fags

The new rate is still £50 - £100 lower than some of the calls i am getting at the mo, but Its good work here and there is nothing i hate most than getting bored at work cos i start to fall asleep

At least some good news. still gotta sort out my writeoff car

css_jay99

[Stan]

I am certainly going to end up in the west end tonight for 2/3 drinks to put my troubles behind.

I heard they buy alcohol at a fraction of the price that they sell it to you for, make sure you ask them how much it costs them

Hope it all picks up for you

[Bluebird]

I am certainly going to end up in the west end tonight for 2/3 drinks to put my troubles behind.


css_jay99

Watch out for pick pockets and don't buy timeshare...

[css_jay99]

Welcome to the world of contracting.

Next.

U So cruel !

I am not having a good day at all.

1) My broadband is not working well !

2) Just been charged £180 for two months Gas !. so must be a leak outside the house

3) Empire Direct (online retailler) have got £2300 of my wad and have still not refunded me my money !

4) Halifax transfered up to £3k out of my account (into ISA's) and it seems to have gone AWOL. Been at the bank for the last hour & They dont know where it is !

5) Bloody Agency shafting me as well

what else could possibly go wrong today.

It seems you cant bendover for a second without institutions not trying to screw you.

I am certainly going to end up in the west end tonight for 2/3 drinks to put my troubles behind.


css_jay99

[dejongj]

No,

however no should ask again cos its easy to detect who i am cos I have since found out that the agency is their preffered supplier.

I asked my manager and he does not know how much HR is paying cos its kept secret., but we worked out that the agency must be getting AT LEAST 25% .

I am certainly not pleased at all !

I know you are new to contracting, but as adviced before be careful you are not in breach of contract...You are supposed to be in business now, not an employee so start acting like one...Your CLIENT may be friendly with you now about this, but as you say even the people within the Client that know you don't know the rate....That is between them and their supplier and has got nothing at all to do with you...

If you thought the rate was too low you should not have taken the contract....Your contract is coming up for renewal real soon, renegiate and be prepared to walk....

This happens everywhere in business that is how money is being made...buy cheap and sell it with as much mark-up as you can get away with....

Do you really think the big four consultants get anywhere close to £3000/day themselves? Hell no, more like a 75% margin on them....

Get over it and renegotiate....

[EqualOpportunities]

No,

however no should ask again cos its easy to detect who i am cos I have since found out that the agency is their preffered supplier.

I asked my manager and he does not know how much HR is paying cos its kept secret., but we worked out that the agency must be getting AT LEAST 25% .

I am certainly not pleased at all !

Welcome to the world of contracting.

Next.

[css_jay99]

Is your agent DA?

No,

however no should ask again cos its easy to detect who i am cos I have since found out that the agency is their preffered supplier.

I asked my manager and he does not know how much HR is paying cos its kept secret., but we worked out that the agency must be getting AT LEAST 25% .

I am certainly not pleased at all !

[BrilloPad]

I am still green in the contract arena, so please be gentle.

I started a contract 2 months ago, but told the agent that I want more money for the gig. he told me to that they'll(i.e. the client) see how i get on after one month and then up it to what i was asking. ( this part i thought was dodgy considering i was signing an initial 3 months contract). Ok, almost two months in, I called the agency to find out about what we talked about and was told that the guy i spoke to has since left and that "did i get this deal in writing !"


I now have a feeling that the client is paying them a lot more money hence they must be taking a huge cut even if they paid me what I was asking for.
I think someone else might be in the same exact situation but dont want to shame the agency here yet.

I am tempted to ask the client how much they are paying the agency

I should now be netgotiating a renewal in next 2 weeks. I was wondering how to approach this situation. While this is a good people/investments/datawarehouse gig, i really HATE beign cheated and fill maybe i should start looking for something else. i dont see why i should do the donkey work while the agent makes the big bucks. I only agreed in the first place to the job cos it is in london (my last gig was 90miles away)


Are agents supposed to take a blanket % cut or is it just the case of the lowest they can get away with ?.

cheers


css_jay99

Is your agent DA?