Reply to: Rate question

[expat]

Look at it on the bright side. If they cut staff and your skills are equal, who will they dump ? The cheap contractor or the expensive contractor.

IME they will probably display the clients' unerring instinct for making the wrong choice. Enlightened self-interest is a train still waiting to arrive.

[Cyberman]

Look at it on the bright side. If they cut staff and your skills are equal, who will they dump ? The cheap contractor or the expensive contractor.

[BuGsBuNnY]

There is always one hollier than thou everywhere isn't it...

I 'd like you to show me how to do research please. My PhD and publications were all in vain. Thank god you are here. Have you got any spare time?

Obviously, my work is undervalued at the moment. I don't mind, however, I wouldn't mind a bit more either. If that makes me greedy to your eyes, let me get my violin out.

As I said before the client is in a position to allow for said rate hike. I shall be asking for it at renewal, alternatively I will walk to the next contract. I have no problems with either.

To everyone else who contributed, many thanks!

Start acting like a business, you get to negotiate rates when you deal with the agent or client (depending if you go direct or not).

Do your research, know what the market is paying and what your skills are worth and you would not be in this position!

If you are happy, stop being greedy!

Its clear you aren't if you are on this forum looking for ways to angle for an increase!

Take into consideration the current economic climate, the clients business position and whether at renewal you are in a position to walk away if they are not offering something you are happy with.

[ratewhore]

Some agencies put it in there as standard - IIRC, it's a Computer People favourite.

Mind you, they also have a clause in their standard contract which prohibits you from slagging off the agency to the client - if you do and they lose the gig, they will try to hold you liable for their loss!

Whether either of these is enforceable, I doubt.

Yeah, it's usually there in mine too. Might as well have a clause stating I won't scratch my arse in the office...

[Scotchpie]

Well I successfully renegotiated my rate at the last extension - but I didn't go mad. There were two reasons for the increase:

1. I had been working there for 6 months on a new project. As such I was familiar with the project and knew the history of its development. I was familiar with their systems and documentation and all the key personel the project was set up to serve. All of this would need to be taught/learnt by a newbie coming in fresh (and who would be charging no less than what I was asking for).

2. I had increased my reponsibility to include software development (which they didn't realise they needed until I started doing some work on it ).

I'm on an hourly rate and as said didn't go mad with the increase. IMHO asking for a £150 pd increase is going to take a lot of backing up.

[BrilloPad]

Hello all, long time lurker, just registered.

Quick question for the seasoned contractors among us...

I have started a contract a couple of months back, doing the same job as a fellow contractor. We started at the same time. Great chap, we get on very well, and over a pint, we discussed rates. He is getting £130 more pd at the moment, doing the same job as me.

Now I am thinking that I should have sold myself better to start with, but even at this moment in time, is it worth me mentioning it to the employer and trying to get them ot match the rate? I am fairly young and new to this game, only contracting for 2 years and the rate is good to start with.

The contract is due to finish in a couple of months and an extension is likely.

Cheers and thanks! :-)

I have been known to lie about my rate : maybe your mate did too?

If true : try to find out if the pimp is getting the extra or client paying less.

[TheFaQQer]

Funniest thing I've read for a long while...

Some agencies put it in there as standard - IIRC, it's a Computer People favourite.

Mind you, they also have a clause in their standard contract which prohibits you from slagging off the agency to the client - if you do and they lose the gig, they will try to hold you liable for their loss!

Whether either of these is enforceable, I doubt.

[Solidec]

Start acting like a business, you get to negotiate rates when you deal with the agent or client (depending if you go direct or not).

Do your research, know what the market is paying and what your skills are worth and you would not be in this position!

If you are happy, stop being greedy!

Its clear you aren't if you are on this forum looking for ways to angle for an increase!

Take into consideration the current economic climate, the clients business position and whether at renewal you are in a position to walk away if they are not offering something you are happy with.

[ratewhore]

...if you examine your agency contract, there's almost certainly a clause forbidding you from discussing your rate with any of the employees or contractors at the client. So you can't reveal how you got the information, at risk of being terminated by the agency for breach of contract.

Funniest thing I've read for a long while...

[BuGsBuNnY]

Don't get me wrong. I was happy and still am with the rate. The question has been brought up after w discussed with my colleague and he suggested I did something about it. Renewal time is coming up fast too, another reason to do something about it. You don't ask, you don't get.

There is no competition, envy, or anything like that and he is definitely not telling me porkies.

I do know how much the agency is charging as the employer discussed it with me at the interview. The agency is playing fair, and I have no problems with them.

I was thinking of trying it on renewal, which seems to be the common sentiment from what I can see. I shall do that.

btw, nothing on the contract, I have re-drafted it a million times and I know how not to tie myself down.

[BolshieBastard]

Jesus! You dont just get repeats on tv, you get them on here now!

Repost from before christmas!!

[TheFaQQer]

I have 3 golden rules when talking about rates to fellow contractors.

1) Don't discuss your rate
2) Don't discuss your rate
3) Don't discuss your rate

If you do it's likely to create possible envy, annoyance that someone is getting more than you. In this situation you took the contract so I assume you were happy with the rate. Could this other contractor be telling porkie pies???

As said before you could try to up your rate at a renewal but usually you need to provide evidence that you are adding extra value to your role. The argument of "He's getting more than me" is unlikely to wash.

WHS - if you didn't know the information, then would you be unhappy with the rate? If so, then why did you accept it in the first place?

[rootsnall]

First find out if the agency are the culprits and are taking the 130 a day themselves. You'll need to do this with an informal approach to the client. If they are then I'd kick up a big stink now with the agency and play hard and if they are making a packet out of you they'll probably give you a cut mid contract to stop you rocking the boat. This has worked for me in the past.

[BuGsBuNnY]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies.

More specifically:

I was happy with the rate and still am happy. A little extra never hurt anyone though no? I figured it maybe worth a try. As suggested, I was going to make the move come renewal time. Don't want to upset anyone, but you don't ask, you don't get... I was never going to use the " he is getting more than me" argument. I would like sone independent opinion of other contractrs and what you would do in my shoes.

Nothing on the agency contract. I know, because I re-drafted the whole thing more than a few times.

My colleague is not telling porkies and there is no rivalry between us whatsoever. It's one of those rare times that a professional relationship has developed to a very good friendly relationship. He is highly skilled, capable, and has a lot of experience.

The end client has been very approachable, and negotiated with me directly before talking to the agency(after the interview), offering me a better than advertised rate to tempt me to the contract, which I accepted. I know the budget is there as well for that sort of increase ;-).

[NickFitz]

I'm assuming you're working through an agency, rather than contracting directly with the end client?

You'll have to play it carefully - if you examine your agency contract, there's almost certainly a clause forbidding you from discussing your rate with any of the employees or contractors at the client. So you can't reveal how you got the information, at risk of being terminated by the agency for breach of contract.

It's probably best to angle for an increase at renewal time. Also, the rate is a matter between you and the agency, so any discussion with the end client should be on an informal basis - rate negotiations should be done by the agent. Again, there may well be mention of this in your agency contract.