Anyone with Computer People?

[Corporate Agent]

I used to use this lot at Citi. Was really happy when Citi offed them. Right up to the point they said that they were using Hays instead.

At least CP wouldn't mail out your daily rate to the rest of the bank.

[TheFaQQer]

I used to use this lot at Citi. Was really happy when Citi offed them. Right up to the point they said that they were using Hays instead.

Fujitsu did the same thing, IIRC.

[Crack Addick]

I used to use this lot at Citi. Was really happy when Citi offed them. Right up to the point they said that they were using Hays instead.

[TheFaQQer]

However it's 4/4/5 week cycling - another indication that they don't care how you run your business, they'll run yours their way. Irritating if you run your business on calendar months or even wekly invoicing.

I hated dealing with Ajilon when I contracted through them, as they were the same people.

I now see that Ajilon are now Badenoch and Clarke, though....

[malvolio]

However it's 4/4/5 week cycling - another indication that they don't care how you run your business, they'll run yours their way. Irritating if you run your business on calendar months or even wekly invoicing.

[TheFaQQer]

445 week invoicing

[ChrisPackit]

I've just signed up with these guys at a big financial in the NW. So far I have found them hard to get hold of, never return calls, have have to be vetted through two systems which takes 40 minutes each to complete, dozens of emails asking me to print off and sign forms, had to approve my contract online with no signature, 445 week invoicing etc etc

[malvolio]

Where as I don't normally spend too much time defending agents this seems a little sweeping for a large company and is a little general. Sounds more like grumpy moan than useful feedback IMO.

The only experience I have with this is a colleague at my last gig that is with them and has recommended them a few times to me. Got another in the same office things they are a pile of poo.

CP, like all the big corporate agencies, while very professional have good and bad offices. Like all the big agencies they have zero respect for the contractors they supply and little understanding of why we ask for things. I can live with that.

However they are the only agency where I've had to turn work down due to the quality of their contracts and the terms they try to impose. I've also worked through them more than once, perfectly happily, with the exception of the points I listed above. I also lost three good people when the client threw them off the PSL (I was told the main reason being the quality of CV they were submitting was consistently poor) and CP wouldn't novate their contracts across to anyone else.

So a moan perhaps, but an informed one.

[northernladuk]

It's Computer People. Of course there are issues...

Poor contracts, non-negotiating agents, you have to deal with people who don't have authority to make decisions, the online time sheet system can't cope with VAT expenses, their margins are stupidly high and they sell you as their resource.

But apart from that...

Where as I don't normally spend too much time defending agents this seems a little sweeping for a large company and is a little general. Sounds more like grumpy moan than useful feedback IMO.

The only experience I have with this is a colleague at my last gig that is with them and has recommended them a few times to me. Got another in the same office things they are a pile of poo.

[malvolio]

Why do you think there are issues?

It's Computer People. Of course there are issues...

Poor contracts, non-negotiating agents, you have to deal with people who don't have authority to make decisions, the online time sheet system can't cope with VAT expenses, their margins are stupidly high and they sell you as their resource.

But apart from that...

[cojak]

Which is why I've cut it (2 years is a long time and it's not even the same company in the title).

Why do you think there are issues?

[northernladuk]

I been offered a contract by this lot, but, I got a gut feeling that all is not well.

Well when you have some facts or interesting comments/debate please feel free to open a new thread. This one started well over 2 years ago and was resurrected once so hardly uptodate and correct now.

[en184]

I been offered a contract by this lot, but, I got a gut feeling that all is not well.