Reply to: Dodgy Pimp?

[portseven]

For those that are interested I spoke to the pimp and told him I thought he was a dodgy b**tard and got another 2% out of him

[NotAllThere]

And they weren't just after a list of contacts at your previous locations of work?

Quite possibly. Which bit of "That's the way it is when they think there's a good chance at some point of making money off you." didn't you quite follow?

Did they invite you along to the local gaucho grill, that turned out to be a soup kitchen?

It was during the slump of 2001 that there was a bit of low point with the evenings out. Had to slum it on champagne and oysters at a, er.... champagne and oyster bar in the City.

[PAH]

Dont forget to forget to include the invoice

Feeling generous? Invoices are usually the last thing you want to see and it's not unknown for me to have to resend them after falling for the "fax was unreadable" gag.

[DodgyAgent]

Calm down, I'll send the bloody timesheet in on monday.

Dont forget to forget to include the invoice

[PAH]

Dealing with jerks like you gives agents a good name

Calm down, I'll send the bloody timesheet in on monday.

[moorfield]

As long as I'm working and keeping up with my mid-term financial objectives (clear the mortgage basically) then I don't let myself get too upset about the pimps etc. (or indeed even pimples).

[DodgyAgent]

We all know there's really no such thing as a free lunch, so being I tight northern monkey I go to claim my fair share.

Plus we can see how much the agent is splashing around. A bottle of wine and margins may not be that extortionate after all. A bottle of moet and they probably are. The only generous agents are the ones with plenty to be generous about.

Dealing with jerks like you gives agents a good name

[PAH]

It'll come back and bite you in the arse one day....

They charge extra for that.

[PAH]

I've had loads of good booze and food of various agencies without actually working for them... or hiring from them.

That's the way it is when they think there's a good chance at some point of making money off you.

And they weren't just after a list of contacts at your previous locations of work? Did they invite you along to the local gaucho grill, that turned out to be a soup kitchen?

[Ardesco]

Bollocks. Just don't discuss it in the presence of permies. Keeping schtum with fellow contractors only helps the agents exploit the contractors.

It's worked for me so far. Maybe it matters how you go about it.

Another tip: if an agent offers to take you out for drinks or a meal, you know he's screwing you behind your back, otherwise the margins would be too lean to allow it!

It'll come back and bite you in the arse one day....

[NotAllThere]

I've had loads of good booze and food of various agencies without actually working for them... or hiring from them.

That's the way it is when they think there's a good chance at some point of making money off you.

[PAH]

I have never understood why contractors bother going out for lunches if they dont enjoy the occasion. Surely they are not so pathetic to do it just for a free lunch (well actually some of them do).

We all know there's really no such thing as a free lunch, so being I tight northern monkey I go to claim my fair share.

Plus we can see how much the agent is splashing around. A bottle of wine and margins may not be that extortionate after all. A bottle of moet and they probably are. The only generous agents are the ones with plenty to be generous about.

[DodgyAgent]

Talking to yourself?

Agents have to bribe us to be invited along to the after hours piss-ups once the permies have gone home and all we have to look forward to is another night in a soulless hotel.

I have never understood why contractors bother going out for lunches if they dont enjoy the occasion. Surely they are not so pathetic to do it just for a free lunch (well actually some of them do).

[PAH]

Why else would someone put up with your company?

Talking to yourself?

Agents have to bribe us to be invited along to the after hours piss-ups once the permies have gone home and all we have to look forward to is another night in a soulless hotel.

[DodgyAgent]

Bollocks. Just don't discuss it in the presence of permies. Keeping schtum with fellow contractors only helps the agents exploit the contractors.

It's worked for me so far. Maybe it matters how you go about it.

Another tip: if an agent offers to take you out for drinks or a meal, you know he's screwing you behind your back, otherwise the margins would be too lean to allow it!

Why else would someone put up with your company?