Reply to: Negotiatin contract extension.

[IT contract agent]

Is that a percentage of what the client pays or what the contractor gets?

Percentage of total charge to the client is the margin

[Mordac]

In general I found them OK

Are you a real contractor?

[interested]

Is that a percentage of what the client pays or what the contractor gets?

Margin is a gross profit expressed as a percentage of the charge figure

Therefore if the the charge rate is £50 p/h and the margin is 10%, then the pay rate is £45.

[weemster]

Computer People

In general I found them OK although their paperwork is
very poor. Trying to find the person with the company brain
cell there can be difficult at times.

[expat]

Good business is seen to be above 20% - usually between 22-26% is ok.

Rip-off!

I don't get paid commission on deals that are 15% or lower.

Ah, so you're being ripped off too.

[Alexander Coe]

Is that a good rate or is the guy just trying to fool me?

£16 for some one with 9 months experience is actually not too bad...

have a look for your self
http://www.cukjobs.co.uk/csw/Default.aspx

to get well paid in support you need to have been doing it for 2 - 4 years and you need to specialise. Also depends on which industry...

you want to make ok money in support, try and move into 3rd line or if your in London, try and get into finance and specialise - e.g. tradefloor support

[PerlOfWisdom]

15% and under is seen by most decent agencies to be PSL level business. Anything below about 17/18% is seen as dropping our pants. Good business is seen to be above 20% - usually between 22-26% is ok.

hope this sheds some light on margins for you guys. I don't get paid commission on deals that are 15% or lower.

Is that a percentage of what the client pays or what the contractor gets?

[davidh]

Well I told the agency that I wasnt accepting their offer and I have a solid offer on the cards that is paying a lot more.

They said they would go back and discuss it with the client.

Call from the Client, is there anything we can do?
Yeah, match my other offer.
Because I only have 9 months experience in 2nd line IT support that is the most they will give and I am apparently getting paid well for the role compared to other contractors doing the same role across the country.

Is that a good rate or is the guy just trying to fool me?

Told him I will think about it over the weekend but the other offer, which doesnt exist is more appealing at the moment.

[IT contract agent]

; most agents would probably try and get away with up to about 14-15%....

15% and under is seen by most decent agencies to be PSL level business. Anything below about 17/18% is seen as dropping our pants. Good business is seen to be above 20% - usually between 22-26% is ok.

hope this sheds some light on margins for you guys. I don't get paid commission on deals that are 15% or lower.

[Alexander Coe]

Computer People.
Anyone had good or bad experience with them?

Bad, they suck.

[The Lone Gunman]

If you are happy to walk and have another place to go then tell the client you have been offered x£ an hour elsewhere and that they can not match that so you are leaving. Tell the agent the same thing.

Give them both the opportunity to match the figure if you feel like staying.

The agent can not accuse you of discussing rate as you have only mentioned the figure offered nto the one you are on.

Be prepared to walk.

CP do not have a good rep. They are often mentioned on this and other contractor boards.

[cojak]

Those guys tried to get me to sign a contract £20 pd lower than my lowest rate/the stated job rate *after* going to the interview on the basis that "what's 20 quid these days?"

The client were going to pay the stated rate but CP squeeze hard and only newbies/the desperate fall for it.

I didn't.

PS.
Zipbamboo is spot on, Newbies - heed his advice carefully...

[zipbamboo]

They can have what they want as long as I get mine.

I really don't care what the agencey is charging the client. They have done the work to find the client, they should get paid. What I care about is,

a: What do I think I am worth.

b: Can I get that here or somewhere else.

c: Am I getting paid what was agreed.

d: Do they pay on time

When it comes to renewal I allways ask for a increase, and more often than not have got it, but have twice had to walk away and twice accepted no increase.

Its not a case of whats right or wrong, its a case of what can you live with. How strong do you feel, and how strong is the market.

[Mordac]

If they dont budge and get aggressive on me again, I might be better to ask the client if we can use a different agency.

Forget it. CP will have a clause in their contract with the client which means they can't use you through any other means except them for a certain period. Knowing CP that's likely to be 12 months. CP will sue them (or threaten to) at which point the client will drop you like a lit firework.
Chalk it down to experience, and keep in contact with the client; there's nothing to stop you going back through a different agent in a few months. I did it several years ago, and CP never found out. They really are an unpleasant bunch of arses.

[davidh]

If they dont budge and get aggressive on me again, I might be better to ask the client if we can use a different agency.

Would it normally be the client or the contractor that looks for a new agency?

I have had enough of CP and their BS now.