Reply to: Agency Shenanigans?

[Flubster]

Option A? The top one?

I didn't specifiy options

Congrats anyway.

Sorry. Yes, A-B-Client. My guess is that B had to ask client to increase the day rate to cover the extra commission, despite agreeing this rate in order to set my daily rate. the fly in the ointment was A not being on the PSL and therefore having no agreed commission.

Still, alls well that ends well. I'm meeting client this evening to go through the role. Let's hope I've not been missold it by the Agencies or it could still go Tango Uniform!

[Scrag Meister]

Option A. No idea what was done, but everyone seems to be happy (well, certainly end-client is).

Option A? The top one?

I didn't specifiy options

Congrats anyway.

[Flubster]

So what was the final outcome?

A-B-Client?
A-Client?
B-Client?

And how was everyone satisified?

Option A. No idea what was done, but everyone seems to be happy (well, certainly end-client is).

[Scrag Meister]

you can put the popcorn down. All contruactual issues between Agency A, Agency B and end-client are all now resolved. I'm now, officially, boomed!

So what was the final outcome?

A-B-Client?
A-Client?
B-Client?

And how was everyone satisified?

[Flubster]

Good Luck with whatever outcome.

** grabs popcorn and settles down.

"In the blue corner Agency A ......."

you can put the popcorn down. All contruactual issues between Agency A, Agency B and end-client are all now resolved. I'm now, officially, boomed!

[perplexed]

Better make it a large one. the has now been escalated to the end-client's procurement team. God only knows why as I understood this to be just an issue between client A and client B.

I'm told it'll all be concluded on Monday. We'll see.

If it's the case that a hiring manager fed up of agency B, then sure, I can see why it's gone like that.

Just make sure you're lining other things up, because working for client B through agency C may well have less stress involved.

[Flubster]

Good Luck with whatever outcome.

** grabs popcorn and settles down.

"In the blue corner Agency A ......."

Better make it a large one. the has now been escalated to the end-client's procurement team. God only knows why as I understood this to be just an issue between client A and client B.

I'm told it'll all be concluded on Monday. We'll see.

[Scrag Meister]

And that is exactly what's going on. Agent B was onsite today seeing the recruiting manager. I expect some feedback tomorrow. I've already issued a deadline of a resolution by tomorrow evening, or I walk. Nobbers!

Good Luck with whatever outcome.

** grabs popcorn and settles down.

"In the blue corner Agency A ......."

[Flubster]

Seen that done. Hiring manager tells agency A, "OK your man gets the job but he has to work though Agency Y or Z who are the two on our PSL". Having lit the blue touch paper, hiring manager retires to a safe distance to watch the fireworks.

Que all manner of while the agency tries to battle it out with the client's procurement (eg to get on the PSL) or with one of the other two agencies for a "finders fee". The hiring manager doesn't really give a tulip, he just wants someone onsite to do the job and leaves procurement and the agencies to slug it out and try to come to some arrangement. If they can't sort something out then he has to look for someone else.

And that is exactly what's going on. Agent B was onsite today seeing the recruiting manager. I expect some feedback tomorrow. I've already issued a deadline of a resolution by tomorrow evening, or I walk. Nobbers!

[Wanderer]

On the flip side, maybe the PSL agency are tulipe, and the manager was sick of policies forcing him to use them.
And when a good candidate is put forward by a non-PSL agent, he thought let's get this guy in and worry about the politics later.

Seen that done. Hiring manager tells agency A, "OK your man gets the job but he has to work though Agency Y or Z who are the two on our PSL". Having lit the blue touch paper, hiring manager retires to a safe distance to watch the fireworks.

Que all manner of while the agency tries to battle it out with the client's procurement (eg to get on the PSL) or with one of the other two agencies for a "finders fee". The hiring manager doesn't really give a tulip, he just wants someone onsite to do the job and leaves procurement and the agencies to slug it out and try to come to some arrangement. If they can't sort something out then he has to look for someone else.

[jmo21]

On the flip side, maybe the PSL agency are tulipe, and the manager was sick of policies forcing him to use them.

And when a good candidate is put forward by a non-PSL agent, he thought let's get this guy in and worry about the politics later.

[TheFaQQer]

Can't add anything new to the agencies discussion, but...

You said the client seemed "naive" - I mean, didn't realise Agency A wasn't on their PSL? No manager checked when Agency A approached them?

There's naive... and there's incredibly dumb... and there's chancers *acting* naive and dumb.

If you get on site and working there, I'd advise you just to keep your eyes and ears open. Basic contractor mantra, cover your arse...

WHS.

The client didn't realise which agency was putting your name to them? And didn't check whether they should deal with them???

[perplexed]

Can't add anything new to the agencies discussion, but...

You said the client seemed "naive" - I mean, didn't realise Agency A wasn't on their PSL? No manager checked when Agency A approached them?

There's naive... and there's incredibly dumb... and there's chancers *acting* naive and dumb.

If you get on site and working there, I'd advise you just to keep your eyes and ears open. Basic contractor mantra, cover your arse...

[Wanderer]

agency 'A' are kicking up a stink and either want to get on the PSL (and get their commission) or get paid a one-off finders fee. This may get resolved over the next couple of days, but if it doesn't, do I have a course of action? I've already been told I can't go direct to the client.

Seen this happen before.

Agency A are pricks for even starting this situation off, they should have never advertised a vacancy that they had no hope of placing someone in for a start and secondly, they should not involve the contractor in their contractual disputes with the client. Generally it's for the two agencys and the client to it out and absolutely nothing to do with you, you are just the tulip in the tulip sandwich here.

Normally you will just be told that you didn't get the job if the agencies can't come to a contractual agreement.

Since agency A have told you what's going on, I would up the ante and approach agency B and ask them to represent me for the role and agency A can go and take a running jump for trying it on in the first place. Also tell them you've got another contract lined up and if they don't sort their tulip out then no one will get you. Sounds like a really tulipty situation but this is the way agencies do business so play them at their own game.

[NotAllThere]

Agency A can only really go after the client for damages.

When I first started contracting, I turned down a role with a client offered by agency X, as I had another contract offer that I preferred. (With Enron!). That fell through, so I was back on the market. Agency Y also had the requirement from the former client, and they put me forward again. The client agreed to take me on.

Agency X found out about it and were, understandably, very annoyed. They had no legal hold on me whatsoever, but did try to sue the client. They lost. They also lost any chance of future business with the client. And, when I was a hiring manager, they lost the chance for me to use them, as I don't deal with agencies who sue potential clients.

Go with your agency B, and let agency B and your client worry about everything else. You may find that they think it not worth the hassle and let you go. But that's life.