Reply to: Client wants me to go direct

[Wanderer]

I actually went here: Companies House
typed the name of the company (and other companies) on the top right corner, but no results came back...

Look for the link that says:

SEARCH company information
Go to our WebCHeck service to search company names and details, order documents and reports…
WebCHeck information

Does that sound like what you are looking for? YES! That's it. That's the one! Click that link!

[kellycell]

Do you have their registered company number? It should be easy enough to find as it should be on their website or any correspondence. Use that number to search companies house.

Thanks, I just checked it but unfortunately they don't have it.

[rsingh]

I actually went here: Companies House

typed the name of the company (and other companies) on the top right corner, but no results came back...

Do you have their registered company number? It should be easy enough to find as it should be on their website or any correspondence. Use that number to search companies house.

[kellycell]

I actually went here: Companies House

typed the name of the company (and other companies) on the top right corner, but no results came back...

[mudskipper]

Check that you will get paid in a sensible manner. You don't want to be invoicing monthly and then waiting an additional 30 days for payment.

... And the rest. I work direct and finally got paid last week for December. No sign of January's money yet.

[kellycell]

Put the company name into the search box and then see what turns up.

I can't give you more help than that (even if I wanted to) because I don't know the client name.

It's actually time you learnt how to use search engines instead of coming on here and asking people to do the work for you.

Thanks, but no need to get like that...

[SueEllen]

Could you please give me the URL for the exact place at the companies house where I can look and find their turnover?
thank you!

Put the company name into the search box and then see what turns up.

I can't give you more help than that (even if I wanted to) because I don't know the client name.

It's actually time you learnt how to use search engines instead of coming on here and asking people to do the work for you.

[Old Greg]

[QUOTE=The Agents View;1289785]Just to add fuel to your spiral of self doubt.....

Ever thought that the client could have been testing your honesty and integrity?

This could just be a test.
[QUOTE]

Seems unlikely but couldn't be bothered with a client like that.

There is nothing dishonest about the contractor's position. That may not be true for the client.

[The Agents View]

Going to the agent sounds like a terrible idea as the client will absolutely (IMO) withdraw the offer. If you really would like to take this approach, then I suggest that you go to the client and politely tell them that you feel uncomfortable with this aproach and would prefer to go via the agent. At least you appear honest and straightforward.

Having said all that, I'd go direct and let the client worry about the agent.

Just to add fuel to your spiral of self doubt.....

Ever thought that the client could have been testing your honesty and integrity?

This could just be a test.

Tell them you're uncomfortable.

These things have a habit of closing doors, and coming back to haunt people......

[Old Greg]

Thank you all for your replies. Make total sense. My worry now is that if I say to the agency that the client asked me to go direct, then they would tell the client and the client might withdraw the offer..
Could you please give me the URL for the exact place at the companies house where I can look and find their turnover?
thank you!

Going to the agent sounds like a terrible idea as the client will absolutely (IMO) withdraw the offer. If you really would like to take this approach, then I suggest that you go to the client and politely tell them that you feel uncomfortable with this aproach and would prefer to go via the agent. At least you appear honest and straightforward.

Having said all that, I'd go direct and let the client worry about the agent.

[kellycell]

I would be more concerned with getting paid than upsetting the agent.

I suggest you check the company finances out - go to companies house to find out their turnover for the last few years and also google them.

If there figures are good fine - go direct. If they look a bit dodgy i.e. low sales, are funded by investment income, or you can't find them then stick with the agent and don't opt-out in the contract even though you legally can't.

Thank you all for your replies. Make total sense. My worry now is that if I say to the agency that the client asked me to go direct, then they would tell the client and the client might withdraw the offer..
Could you please give me the URL for the exact place at the companies house where I can look and find their turnover?
thank you!

[2BIT]

whether TAV is right or not it is not going to affect you, client and agency may fall out but you can just stay out of it

[The Agents View]

Hahahaha. How, exactly ?

The walls have ears, the industry has ears - the SLIGHTEST slip up, and the agent will be on to it. We have a MILLION tricks to find out where you're working.

And of course they can do this because

1. A court will accept that their loss was the entire contract value, neglecting what they would have had to pay the contractor.

It'd never go to court. The cost for the client to defend it, would be too high.

2. They really do have a contract with the client. Honest. Hahahahaha.

Well if they don't - that's their fault. But I daresay you'd be pretty screwed if your agency didn't have a contract with the end client. think about it.

More male hen from an agent: there is nothing in any inferred agreement which would mean the client would have to pay the agent more than the margin they are seeking to avoid, and a court would undoubtedly say that the agencies' costs should be deducted from that even in the outstandingly remote chance that the court did fiond there was a contract in the first place.

Oh good - Tripe spouted by a contractor. You are speculating because you don't actually know. The terms of business, which are implied as accepted if a candidate is interviewed, generally states categorically, that this is the charge made. The Court will rule on the black and white presented to them ultimately. But remember - it'd never go to court.

As stated the max the client would have to pay would be the agency margin minus the agency costs of fulfilling the contract.

Where would the incentive to stop people cutting agents out every time? I refer you to various cases detailed on google.

Self-serving Tulipe from the resident leech. Why don't you get a proper job ?

Because then I'd have to deal with Bull tulip artists like you.

[Wanderer]

Likely outcome:
Agency finds out about direct contract.
Agency invoices client for weekly rate X 12.
Client is locked down because they have inferred agreement to TOB by interviewing you.
Client has to pay up.
Client budget gets used on paying agency.
You get nothing.

You missed a step: Agent wakes up and realises it was all a wet dream.

Since the worker is not privy to the client's contractual relationship with the agency it is quite feasible that they would simply presume in good faith that the client had come to some arrangement to pay the agency a one off "finders fee" and engage with them direct rather than through the agency.

Agency invoices client for weekly rate X 12.

Yeah, that's the wet dream part. As Boo rightly points out, for breach of contract, the maximum the agency can claim would be the actual losses suffered which is the margin - the operating costs. And that's worst case scenario, presuming they ever find out....

[NotAllThere]

If the client are happy to shaft the agency, then they're even happier to shaft you.