Reply to: Anyone recommend Contractor Club?

[PrimulConsulting]

Hi Rob, I've applied to join. I appreciate that you have your day job, so there may be a delay in processing applications.

I'm travelling at the moment and didn't have my company reg. number to hand, but saw it said "You can update this later". Is there any way to do this while waiting for the application to be reviewed? I'm presuming that without one you're checking whether my Ltd. actually exists or not, so it may make things easier if I could update my profile with the number.

Hi. It's not possible to update the details during the application process. I'll see if I can find you and get you approved this evening. Likewise to the other 2 here that advise they've applied. We've actually had 100 applications in the last 2 days - much more than normal - and its causing a few delays. Cheers, Rob

[kal]

Just signed up (same username as I have on Contractor UK), just waiting for authorisation

[kevpuk]

<snip>
I'm travelling at the moment and didn't have my company reg. number to hand<snip>

Just Google your company.....plenty of hits linking to Company details websites, should provide you with the registration number - that's exactly what I did, as I could not remember mine either, and am away from home

[Ticktock]

Hi Rob, I've applied to join. I appreciate that you have your day job, so there may be a delay in processing applications.

I'm travelling at the moment and didn't have my company reg. number to hand, but saw it said "You can update this later". Is there any way to do this while waiting for the application to be reviewed? I'm presuming that without one you're checking whether my Ltd. actually exists or not, so it may make things easier if I could update my profile with the number.

[kingcook]

I had an idea like this last year. Never had the time to do anything about it (nor could I be arsed )

I'd be interested in signing up to this. Brilliant.

[kevpuk]

Interesting idea and model - I am only a few days into my first contract, but anything that could help find the next one (without the pimp dance) can only be a good thing....will look into signing up!

[PrimulConsulting]

Thank you all for your positive comments. Any questions at any stage - don't hesitate to drop me a note.
Rob
PS recent postings by members are for a BA (South Coast), Call Centre Manager South x1, East x1. All initial 3 months contracts. If you know anyone good, please send them along. Thanks

[ThomserveBAS]

Hi Rob

[Wanderer]

I set up the club so that contractors that know about contracts can pass leads to contractors looking for contracts.

Interesting business model. Good luck with it!

[BolshieBastard]

Hi

You - and others replying to your comments - make some really good points. Since I set up Contractor Club I can answer some of your specific questions and also explain why things are done as they are

Firstly - why I set it up - I'm a contractor myself. I often found either I had no contracts or in-contract with 2 or 3 clients asking for help. I often found my contracts through agencies and whilst happy they take 20-25% commission to start with, was not so happy that thet kept getting commission if my contract extended (which it usually did). So I set up the club so that contractors that know about contracts can pass leads to contractors looking for contracts.

Most contractors are happy to pay some commission. Contracts through the club attract 10% commission for 90 working days. Of the 10%, 5% goes to the contractor member that posted the contract, 4% to the club (we do have some costs) and 1% to the member who referred the contract poster.

Commission is paid for the period you work - so if your contract is cut short you pay for the shorter period. We also typically wait until after you have been paid before the Club or the posting member rise any commission invoices. ie your cash flow is not hurt. The basis is trust - but the Club trusting members not the other way round.

Other fees? None - not to join, not to be a member. (We are soon going to be able to offer a fantastic members benefits package which you can opt into if you want - a massive £6 per year charge - but no need to opt-in just to take a contract advertised on the site)

Is it legal? We do not help employees find jobs. We facilitate contractors (99% of which are Limited Companies) find contracts. Companies are legally allowed to pay commissions.

Why advertise on totaljobs? We had contracts advertised but no members with capacity to do them. The first step in these circumstances is to ask all members to rocommend someone. If that doesnt work we have tried 2 jobboards - once each - its not part of what we really want to do - but as a member has posted a contract we felt we should do everything we can to help fill it

Thanks for this information. I might follow up with you soon.

[kal]

Hi

You - and others replying to your comments - make some really good points. Since I set up Contractor Club I can answer some of your specific questions and also explain why things are done as they are

Firstly - why I set it up - I'm a contractor myself. I often found either I had no contracts or in-contract with 2 or 3 clients asking for help. I often found my contracts through agencies and whilst happy they take 20-25% commission to start with, was not so happy that thet kept getting commission if my contract extended (which it usually did). So I set up the club so that contractors that know about contracts can pass leads to contractors looking for contracts.

Most contractors are happy to pay some commission. Contracts through the club attract 10% commission for 90 working days. Of the 10%, 5% goes to the contractor member that posted the contract, 4% to the club (we do have some costs) and 1% to the member who referred the contract poster.

Commission is paid for the period you work - so if your contract is cut short you pay for the shorter period. We also typically wait until after you have been paid before the Club or the posting member rise any commission invoices. ie your cash flow is not hurt. The basis is trust - but the Club trusting members not the other way round.

Other fees? None - not to join, not to be a member. (We are soon going to be able to offer a fantastic members benefits package which you can opt into if you want - a massive £6 per year charge - but no need to opt-in just to take a contract advertised on the site)

Is it legal? We do not help employees find jobs. We facilitate contractors (99% of which are Limited Companies) find contracts. Companies are legally allowed to pay commissions.

Why advertise on totaljobs? We had contracts advertised but no members with capacity to do them. The first step in these circumstances is to ask all members to rocommend someone. If that doesnt work we have tried 2 jobboards - once each - its not part of what we really want to do - but as a member has posted a contract we felt we should do everything we can to help fill it

Interesting, I will take a look into this, anything that weakens the recruitment agencies hold on the IT industry can only be a good thing

[PrimulConsulting]

Why I set up Contractor Club

I think the succesfully placed contractor then pays a commission to the contractor club and referrer for max 90 days. If contract is extended there's no more commission to pay so obviously, the contractor retains more of their rate?

Sounds too good to be true. No agent involved, a direct route to clients and no commission to pay after 90 days. There's supposedly no up front fee to join either (which is by recommendation or vetting).

The amount of 'commission' the placed contractor pays though is not stated nor is it clear whether you have to pay 90 days commission if the contract is cut short for whatever reason.

.

Hi

You - and others replying to your comments - make some really good points. Since I set up Contractor Club I can answer some of your specific questions and also explain why things are done as they are

Firstly - why I set it up - I'm a contractor myself. I often found either I had no contracts or in-contract with 2 or 3 clients asking for help. I often found my contracts through agencies and whilst happy they take 20-25% commission to start with, was not so happy that thet kept getting commission if my contract extended (which it usually did). So I set up the club so that contractors that know about contracts can pass leads to contractors looking for contracts.

Most contractors are happy to pay some commission. Contracts through the club attract 10% commission for 90 working days. Of the 10%, 5% goes to the contractor member that posted the contract, 4% to the club (we do have some costs) and 1% to the member who referred the contract poster.

Commission is paid for the period you work - so if your contract is cut short you pay for the shorter period. We also typically wait until after you have been paid before the Club or the posting member rise any commission invoices. ie your cash flow is not hurt. The basis is trust - but the Club trusting members not the other way round.

Other fees? None - not to join, not to be a member. (We are soon going to be able to offer a fantastic members benefits package which you can opt into if you want - a massive £6 per year charge - but no need to opt-in just to take a contract advertised on the site)

Is it legal? We do not help employees find jobs. We facilitate contractors (99% of which are Limited Companies) find contracts. Companies are legally allowed to pay commissions.

Why advertise on totaljobs? We had contracts advertised but no members with capacity to do them. The first step in these circumstances is to ask all members to rocommend someone. If that doesnt work we have tried 2 jobboards - once each - its not part of what we really want to do - but as a member has posted a contract we felt we should do everything we can to help fill it

[SueEllen]

ContractorClub only deals with limited company contractors.

Other websites chase the client for commission directly i.e. it's a separate payment from paying the contractor, or insist any payments go through them so they could take the commission off before you get your money. In those cases they can use contractors who don't run limited companies.

[socialworker]

How is this any different to contractor sends cv to agent. agent has database of contractors available for work. Agent contacts contractor regarding role client has. Agents introduces contractor to client. Client offers contractor a role, contractor accepts. Agent gets commission from client for said contractor, agent pays contractor and retains 50 quid a day from monies paid to contractor?

OK, contractor doesnt see or get the commision the agent holds back from them but it's still the contractor paying agent a commission by another name.

As for your last sentence, that just proves you're being mischievious since all parties know about the commission..

I knew I would regret this.

As for your last sentence yes all parties know about the commission. That was never in doubt in this case. It was just a comment along the lines that I wasn't raising moral objections to the business model as long as everyone knows what they are getting into. Like any other business transaction.


Legally speaking the client doesn't "offer the contractor a role" . In fact the client has signed a contract with the agency that specifically prevents it offering the contractor anything on pain of paying lots of dosh to the agency. The client decides the contractor is suitable, tell the agency and then the agency offers the role.

Nothing is being "retained from the contractor's daily rate". The Agency is retaining a profit margin on what it charges for the contractor's services. The contractor might be aware of a high margin and resent this but it was never his money. His money is the rate the agency offers and pays under the contract between him and the agency.

I think you already knew all this.

[BolshieBastard]

Not being mischevious at all. My supposition may well be flawed, I havent read the relevant legislation - it just seems to me that if the provision of a service (finding a job for X which X then takes up) results in an obligation on X to pay money (Commission) that is payment for a service, whether it comes before or afterwards.

I totally agree it isn't any different to what agencies charge in principle. The hirer is still liable to pay the agency's commission even though that debt is contingent on the event that the candidate starts work and other contactual stuff. Except that of course in this case it is the candidate who pays, which is what I thought was illegal, taking into account the exceptions in NLUK's helpful link.

I'm not even arguing it shouldnt be allowed - provided everyone knows upfront what the deal is.

Anyway have to go and get a life now

How is this any different to contractor sends cv to agent. agent has database of contractors available for work. Agent contacts contractor regarding role client has. Agents introduces contractor to client. Client offers contractor a role, contractor accepts. Agent gets commission from client for said contractor, agent pays contractor and retains 50 quid a day from monies paid to contractor?

OK, contractor doesnt see or get the commision the agent holds back from them but it's still the contractor paying agent a commission by another name.

As for your last sentence, that just proves you're being mischievious since all parties know about the commission..