Reply to: First rate staredown!

[ratewhore]

Great topic. Could we re-name it "how I lost my job"?

Not really. His 'job' is Director of his company. Looking for a rate increase at renewal time shows good business sense...

[cojak]

Leaving the client in the lurch?

We're talking end of contract here, not mid-term. Admitted if it was a contract I enjoyed I wouldn't leave mid-project. But I wouldn't have a problem not extending if I didn't.

The client could have dumped him mid-project for budget reasons and we don't talk about them leaving the contractor in the lurch.

[adubya]

UnhelpFul

Try a different forum for your asinine comments.

Touchy! Are you always that rude or is this an exception ?

[BillHicksRIP]

That was a funny line.

[helpFul]

Idiot.

How much is she bringing in per day ?

Try a different forum for your asinine comments.

[Wanderer]

This assumes that the client knows what the OP is getting. It could be that the agent is not getting a good margin and the client is being stubborn.

You could be absolutely right, but you won't know unless you ask. I agree with craig1's take on it. It's a tough world out there and if you don't ask, you don't get.

[DaveB]

Going the other way I've just had to deal with my agent trying to get me to take a cut in rate mid contract, when I've already agreed an extension in principle with the client without their involvement.

Their excuse was that the client had ended the purchasing agreement they were supplying under and pushed them onto one paying less to the agent. Started out trying to tell me the client wanted a cut, then tried to sell me a sob story about their margins being squeezed and they couldnt make any money on the contract.

These are the same guys who managed not to pay me any VAT for the first 4 months of the gig.

[The Agents View]

I'm starting to warm to you... got any PM roles going?

Depends what you do, but I'm ankle deep in them at the moment.

Private message box always open

[craig1]

WSMS

Having clawed back our costs and made a bit of profit - at renewal time, THIS is one of the things we get paid for.

If the agency go and get me a rate increase, I'm happy for them to take their cut as part of their service to me. If I have to go get myself a rate increase then I won't part with a penny of that increase and would rather walk than lose any of it.

As a general principle, I don't grumble at the cut agencies get for the first contract as that's their reward for being the pimp. Once it gets to renewal though then I look to the agency to justify why they should keep their current cut, if this is through rate negotiation on my behalf or other professional service then I'm usually happy. If all the agency is doing is acting as effectively a factoring facility for my invoices then I'm not going to be happy for them to retain a high level of cut.

[TraceRacing]

WSMS

Having clawed back our costs and made a bit of profit - at renewal time, THIS is one of the things we get paid for.

I'm starting to warm to you... got any PM roles going?

[The Agents View]

"agent tells you to speak to the client about the rate"!!!!!

this never ceases to amaze me and my agent also told me to ask the client when i wanted to negotiate a rise to which my reply was this

I have a contract through the agency surely any rate negotiation is with the agency, what the agency get out of the client is not my concern its up to the agency to negotiate their rate with the client and me to negotiate my rate with the agent

the thing to say to the agency is this "if i can go to the client and negotiate a rate a directly with them for myself what do i need you for"

WSMS

Having clawed back our costs and made a bit of profit - at renewal time, THIS is one of the things we get paid for.

[Support Monkey]

"agent tells you to speak to the client about the rate"!!!!!

this never ceases to amaze me and my agent also told me to ask the client when i wanted to negotiate a rise to which my reply was this

I have a contract through the agency surely any rate negotiation is with the agency, what the agency get out of the client is not my concern its up to the agency to negotiate their rate with the client and me to negotiate my rate with the agent

the thing to say to the agency is this "if i can go to the client and negotiate a rate a directly with them for myself what do i need you for"

[jmo21]

Yes, they are the permies left behind when you leave. You have to remember as a contractor unless you were liked by everyone (and even if you were) you will be blamed for every mistake and disaster once you've left.

this happens to permies when they leave as well, not just contractors.

[eek]

yeah but how will you know/why will you care when you are no longer there?

same thing happens if you are a perm, you leave and people start to blame you for things, human nature

While I agree I do think you are missing the point here. The original poster believes that people will be annoyed when he announces he isn't renewing and thinks that they may make getting an increase possible.

While that may be the case I thought it worth pointing out that the opposite is just as likely and people will curse you rather than help you get the increase.

[2BIT]

Yes, they are the permies left behind when you leave. You have to remember as a contractor unless you were liked by everyone (and even if you were) you will be blamed for every mistake and disaster once you've left.

yeah but how will you know/why will you care when you are no longer there?

same thing happens if you are a perm, you leave and people start to blame you for things, human nature