Bypassing a bad Agency

[Denny]

I am afraid that it is not a subject that I get particularly worked up about, though it will bring Denny and mailman out from under their stones

When are you going to opt out from being a pain in the arse?

[DodgyAgent]

Sorry, shall we get back to opting in or out?

I am afraid that it is not a subject that I get particularly worked up about, though it will bring Denny and mailman out from under their stones

[Pondlife]

It's getting horribly "consensual" around here is it not?

Sorry, shall we get back to opting in or out?

[DodgyAgent]

I agree entirely that the agency is providing a service to the client not the OP (see previous post) but the client is not getting a good service from their supplier (agent) and it may be worth bringing this to their attention. I.e express your concerns to the client that your contract is up for renewal but this hasn't been progressed by the agent. If you have a decent working relationship with the client they may phone the agent and tell them to JFDI.

It's getting horribly "consensual" around here is it not?

[Pondlife]

Seconded/thirded. You're not the agency's customer, they are your customer. You don't get to tell the customer what to buy.

I agree entirely that the agency is providing a service to the client not the OP (see previous post) but the client is not getting a good service from their supplier (agent) and it may be worth bringing this to their attention. I.e express your concerns to the client that your contract is up for renewal but this hasn't been progressed by the agent. If you have a decent working relationship with the client they may phone the agent and tell them to JFDI.

[expat]

Whilst I entirely agree that the agency is failing in its job to negotiate your extension and that maybe you should go direct, it is not you that pays the agency. It is the client that pays the agency.

Seconded/thirded. You're not the agency's customer, they are your customer. You don't get to tell the customer what to buy.

[DodgyAgent]

I have been in a contract for 6 months, through an agency. I have not been personally contacted by the agency since into the second month of the contract.

A month ago the client offered a 3 month extension. I called the Agency to negotiate a small increase in rate. I was told that the rep dealing with my account left the company 4 weeks ago, and that my enquiry would be passed to someone else in the department.

That was 2 ½ weeks ago. I have not heard anything from them since then about the extension or the increase. I now have less than 2 weeks to go on my current contract.

I am a believer that Agencies serve a purpose, and I have no qualms about paying them for their service, but when they don’t do their job, I don’t see why they should make a profit for laziness. I am considering asking the client to go direct if the agency does not sort the contract out prior to the end of my contract.

I don’t see a problem with this, morally. The agency has had plenty of opportunity to earn their slice.

Opinions please?

Whilst I entirely agree that the agency is failing in its job to negotiate your extension and that maybe you should go direct, it is not you that pays the agency. It is the client that pays the agency.

[andyg]

I always insist that the part of the contract that states that I cannot go direct with the client or that my ltd company canot introduce other contractors is removed before I sign. That seems to make the agency proactive.

[Pondlife]

I would say that they are not providing the client with the service that they are paying for and would suggest that you ask the client to apply some pressure - obviously if you opted in and have no clauses preventing you form going direct, then go direct.

HTH

[The Lone Gunman]

But you're not paying them to provide any kind of service - the client is!

Fair point, but you have a contract with them too.

[Pondlife]

Send an email to them stating that you do not feel they have provided the service you are paying for and that as you have negotiated your renewal you do not feel they deserve their margin.

But you're not paying them to provide any kind of service - the client is!

[swamp]

Re: Bypassing a bad Agency

Is there such a thing as a good agency?

[The Lone Gunman]

You are bound by the terms of your contract. If they have fulfilled their end then you have no complaints. Does it say they will keep in touch? Does it say they will be pro-active?

It probably says they will pay when invoiced and that will be it.

I may be tempted to call their bluff on this one. Send an email to them stating that you do not feel they have provided the service you are paying for and that as you have negotiated your renewal you do not feel they deserve their margin.
You will have to talk to the client and see if you can find out what they were paying the agent.
You have plenty of evidence to support your claim in court should they go that route.

[Mailman]

Check your contract, if you have NOT opted out then you can go direct.

If you have opted out then you are a numpty and deserve to pay a large chunk to these scum

Mailman

[black_knight]

I have been in a contract for 6 months, through an agency. I have not been personally contacted by the agency since into the second month of the contract.

A month ago the client offered a 3 month extension. I called the Agency to negotiate a small increase in rate. I was told that the rep dealing with my account left the company 4 weeks ago, and that my enquiry would be passed to someone else in the department.

That was 2 ½ weeks ago. I have not heard anything from them since then about the extension or the increase. I now have less than 2 weeks to go on my current contract.

I am a believer that Agencies serve a purpose, and I have no qualms about paying them for their service, but when they don’t do their job, I don’t see why they should make a profit for laziness. I am considering asking the client to go direct if the agency does not sort the contract out prior to the end of my contract.

I don’t see a problem with this, morally. The agency has had plenty of opportunity to earn their slice.

Opinions please?