Reply to: Offered a contract but need advice on rate differences....

[MikeC1408]

On a PSL the agent will be taking a fixed percentage of the money the client pays them (And the client will usually check that this is happening as well).

So if the agent is taking 10% and the client ups the rate they pay the agent from £300 to £400 your rate will automatically raise from £270 to £360. Wonderful isn't it

So how would they check, they've never asked me what I'm getting.

Then again, I try not to worry about the agents cut. If I'm happy with my rate then that's all that matters to me.

[Ardesco]

On a PSL the agent will be taking a fixed percentage of the money the client pays them (And the client will usually check that this is happening as well).

So if the agent is taking 10% and the client ups the rate they pay the agent from £300 to £400 your rate will automatically raise from £270 to £360. Wonderful isn't it

[thunderlizard]

doesn't that mean that the £30 is the agent's cut? e.g. the client's paying £930/day, you're getting £900/day, everybody's happy?

[chicane]

But they could have kept the extra £30 for themselves, but didn't

You don't quite get this fixed margin business do you?

[MikeC1408]

That probably means the agency was a preferred supplier on a fixed margin.

But they could have kept the extra £30 for themselves, but didn't

[Sockpuppet]

I suspect your end client has exposed a scam by the agency. I think this is more common than you think. On more than one occaision I have seen some shady moves by agencies. I suspect that the agency is telling the client you're getting x+30 a day but really only paying you x. That way he gets his margin AND an extra 30 a day from placing you. The other scenario I've seen is when the agency insists that the client at the very last minute has dropped the rate by 2 an hour. I have always refused the cut and a cut has never been imposed.

Thats why I love being a PM.

I get the invoices from the agency so I know what they are charging for me. I had one pimp bare arsed lie to me about what he was charging for me, even though I was looking at his invoice. I wasn't fussed as I was happy with my rate but I just didn't want him to lie to me. The best he would do was blame a processing error untill I told him that the invoice would remain unpaid then till I had a x+10% invoice the rate that we had agreed.

I love playing with agents - finally happy that I have a few direct clients so I don't have to deal with them too much.

[Moptop]

That probably means the agency was a preferred supplier on a fixed margin.

[MikeC1408]

I must have got lucky with my agent then

Got an interview at an agreed rate. Called by agent the next day to say I got the gig, oh and by the way the rate has gone up £30 a day

[ratewhore]

Which is what I do, but the agent still tried the change of rate at last minute scam.

Well put yourself in control of the situation then. If you know what rate you will accept and the agent agrees initially then tries to lower it, tell them to poke it (dependent on how important landing the gig is to you).

[PAH]

Which is what I do, but the agent still tried the change of rate at last minute scam.

Agents: Scum of the earth.

Why not call up the client, pretending to be the agent, just to clarify the rate, then you know what the agent is up to? Don't for a second believe the agent wouldn't do this if the boot was on the other foot.

[Sausage Surprise]

I can't say I've been in this position myself. I only discuss rates with the agent, never the client. When I am happy with the rate at which I am to be put forward then we move to interview. (Although this has already been done to death on these boards).

Personally, I would tell the agent what rate I would accept for the role and then let them have any further discussions with the client...

Which is what I do, but the agent still tried the change of rate at last minute scam.

[Sausage Surprise]

I suspect your end client has exposed a scam by the agency. I think this is more common than you think. On more than one occaision I have seen some shady moves by agencies. I suspect that the agency is telling the client you're getting x+30 a day but really only paying you x. That way he gets his margin AND an extra 30 a day from placing you. The other scenario I've seen is when the agency insists that the client at the very last minute has dropped the rate by 2 an hour. I have always refused the cut and a cut has never been imposed.

Twats at ELAN tried that one on me - £20 a day cut

[PAH]

Is it viewed as a big no-no to broach the subject of the rate with the client during the interview?

I know this is an area where the agency usually exploits the situation given the chance, but why would the client not want to discuss the rate they're offering?

Is it just IT where it's all cloak and dagger, or do other agents (such as those in football) also follow this method of operation? We know estate agents have to declare their fees up front, so why should IT agents be any different? It would certainly cut down on the lying cheating greedy scum operating out there.

[ratewhore]

I can't say I've been in this position myself. I only discuss rates with the agent, never the client. When I am happy with the rate at which I am to be put forward then we move to interview. (Although this has already been done to death on these boards).

Personally, I would tell the agent what rate I would accept for the role and then let them have any further discussions with the client...

[VectraMan]

Sounds like you're in a very good position. Tell the agent you'll accept at the rate offered, and then if he then goes back and tries to get more out of the client the client is going to know what he's up to.