Reply to: Offered role but Agent Wants me to take a Pay Cut...I smell tulip!

[Swamp Thing]

If you've got a phone number for someone at the client, then I wouldn't hesitate to contact them if you want the role.

Remind them that if they are looking for someone in the future, then they now have your contact details and next time you can bypass the agency and save them some money. Then drop in about the agency changing the rate from what you'd agreed and say "it's a shame we won't be working together, etc."

+1.
3 yrs ago i almost secured a nice gig at a major bank - Canary Wharf. Day rate was clearly advertised upfront. Interview went well and had a feeling I'd be offered. I was, but pimp said "Erm, the client has asked me to convey to you that since the interview they've got their budgets mixed up, and have to drop your rate by £65 per day". Those were the exact words. I said "What? A bank? Getting its budgets mixed up? I seriously doubt that". It took me 2 days to get hold of the client, by which time the pimp had re-offered to another contractor - he knew I wasn't going to move on rate.

Client was apologetic, said she'd have HR speak to the pimp, sorry to inconvenience me etc etc. I just took the opportunity to tell her no problem, the market is bullish for my skills, and my existing client has just extended me (which was true), let's speak again etc etc.

Re. some of the other posts on here:

- agencies don't operate blacklists; they're too mercenary not to look at you again.
- to hold or not to hold rate: I agree you need to consider market conditions, time on bench, attitude to risk etc etc. But as I've said before, if you drop rate too much, you create/reinforce bad behaviours at the pimp/client. It would be too idealistic to say that if enough contractors took a stand, the pimps would get the message. Reality is that bob contractors will occasionally undercut you. You just have to accept it, recognise that you're behaving like a business, and move on. In the long run, clients will remember quality and re-approach the best contractors.

[TheFaQQer]

If you've got a phone number for someone at the client, then I wouldn't hesitate to contact them if you want the role.

Remind them that if they are looking for someone in the future, then they now have your contact details and next time you can bypass the agency and save them some money. Then drop in about the agency changing the rate from what you'd agreed and say "it's a shame we won't be working together, etc."

[Pogle]

The Agency will tell the client you are "unavailable" and put forward the client's second choice who they can get a better margin on.

Tell them you are going to call the client direct to have a chat and discuss the rate to see if there is anything you can do to fix the situation. Agency will hit the roof because they are playing both you and the client....

This happened to me several years ago. Two candidates interviewed. Client liked me slightly better, Agency dropped rate, I said I'll think about it overnight and by the next morning the client had signed up the other guy as he had dropped his rate and the agency told client co I wasn't interested.
So i called the client and expressed surprise that they had taken on the other guy etc....
10 mins later I got a REALLY REALLY pissed off agent on the phone telling me I should never contact the client direct, they had given him a bollocking. However I lost that contract and chalked it up to experience.

[NickNick]

The idea that you could be blacklisted by a client or agency simply for touting for business is utterly wrong in my opinion.

Case in point, I was called about a role that I would be "perfect for" yesterday by an agency that threatened me with legal action only a few years back.

[GB9]

Hi guy

After sitting on the fence for ages I was offered a contract as of 5 mins ago. When I had initially discussed the contract with the agent I agreed to go in at £400 per day

However, the agent said that the client 'liked me' but they were unsure of my skills and as I would be picking up news skills on the role would I consider taking a 17% cut. My reaction was and I was silent while she rambled on with her spiel...and then I told I would do some calculations and call her back.

Well, I just tried calling her back....and she's busy.

It all sounds like utter tulip and I'm going to call her out on it.

Helpful and constructive suggestions appreciated.

Do you have the client's details and contact and do you think you hit it off at interview?

As the agent has now downed you, there is nothing to stop you approaching the client directly at the rate you were asking for. If they were to take you you might still have to go through the agent but it would be direct rather than found and hence their margin would be much lower. You may well end up coming in overall cheaper than the lower rate candidate.

[rurffy]

£250!! No wonder I'm struggling to get any bites. I dont get out of bed for that.
!

Well like i said , long time ago . I am sure during your contracting at some point you took even £150/day....

[BlasterBates]

It´s a tough market out there. If you are getting lots of interviews it´s best to be hard on your rate, if not then it is better to be more flexible. Depends on your position. It is unusual for rates to be adapted after the interview but then that works both ways and I wouldn´t expect to be tied to a rate if another alternative offer popped up. As a contractor it is a perfectly acceptable strategy to go into several interviews trying it on with higher rates for other contracts, then if a second company had offered you X+10% then you would be perfectly entitled to ring the agency and say "well I like the client but I´ve had a good offer elsewhere, therefore can you now offer me X+10%". What you experienced here was the converse of that. Until the contract has been agreed both parties are free to negotiate with several parties and change their bids....and a client is perfectly entitled to give you one months notice and offer you a new contract at a lower rate. That happens quite frequently. That has happened to me and I consider it "tough" but perfectly fair.

[Wanderer]

Nope, the client will think you are a nutter and blacklist you, the agency will also do the same. He didn't get the job because someone else was willing to negotiate. You can't go crying to the client this is business, you will look like a desperate permie crying over their 2% pay increase.

The idea that you could be blacklisted by a client or agency simply for touting for business is utterly wrong in my opinion.

I think it's just the contractor being business like and protecting their business interests from predatory agencies. At the merest sniff of some extra margin, the agency will be on the phone to the client like a shot. They also have absolutely no qualms about cold calling your references etc either.

So the situation is that the offer of the contract appears to be withdrawn. And the contractor is expected to meekly sit back and accept this? I don't think so. They should at least suggest to the agency they will call the client direct because that keeps them at least a little bit more honest.

The worst that will happen is that the client will refuse to deal with the contractor and refer them back to the agency. However, they will know the truth about what the agency is trying to do to it's contractors and perhaps this will mean that they are a bit wary of the agency which will help future contractors. At best, the client will give the agency a rocket and tell them to come back to you with a proper offer and get you on board.

[cojak]

You priced yourself out of the role, someone just as good as you but less greedy stole it from you. Lesson learned, be willing to negotiate then once your in and proven yourself start jacking up the rate. You can cry all you want about those bad unfair agents and going to call the client direct will likely get you blacklisted forever by them. Move on and learn from your mistakes.

This is not the case at all. Agents do not have blacklists, they are thick-skinned and will call you again tomorrow if they think they can place you.

And if you lose 3 contracts in a row you may be pricing yourself out of the current market, otherwise it's a cowboy trying to pull a fast one. You went to an interview on the basis of an advertised rate - this was definitely a cowboy tactic.

[DieScum]

You priced yourself out of the role, someone just as good as you but less greedy stole it from you. Lesson learned, be willing to negotiate then once your in and proven yourself start jacking up the rate.

Well, it depends how desperate you are. If you can afford to then it's always better not to compete on price.

It's not unreasonable to expect to be paid the advertised rate.

[SueEllen]

Nope, the client will think you are a nutter and blacklist you, the agency will also do the same. He didn't get the job because someone else was willing to negotiate. You can't go crying to the client this is business, you will look like a desperate permie crying over their 2% pay increase.

Actually I've done that (and more).

The agent didn't like me especially when unlike another contractor they placed I got extended.

BTW the trick is to phone the client up immediately after the agent puts the phone down to discuss something about the work. Then throw in a question about whether there had been a budget cut as your rate has been reduced from what was initially offered.

[GillsMan]

Do it. Don't let what happend to me put you off.

I worked out that extra £10pd times 22 working days (for a 30 day month) = £1100 per month you could have earned.

Times that by a 6 month contract, well you can do the math......

Well you can't. £10pd x 22 working days = £220. Over a 6 mth contract, that's £1320.

[proggy]

The Agency will tell the client you are "unavailable" and put forward the client's second choice who they can get a better margin on.

Tell them you are going to call the client direct to have a chat and discuss the rate to see if there is anything you can do to fix the situation. Agency will hit the roof because they are playing both you and the client....

Nope, the client will think you are a nutter and blacklist you, the agency will also do the same. He didn't get the job because someone else was willing to negotiate. You can't go crying to the client this is business, you will look like a desperate permie crying over their 2% pay increase.

[proggy]

Chaps you have all been marvellous, I'm seriously touched by your encouragement and great advice.

Update for you.....

Just got a phone call and the 'client' decided to go with someone cheaper.


It was b0llcks from the get go a total waste of my time! Considering it was a rate they advertised.

You priced yourself out of the role, someone just as good as you but less greedy stole it from you. Lesson learned, be willing to negotiate then once your in and proven yourself start jacking up the rate. You can cry all you want about those bad unfair agents and going to call the client direct will likely get you blacklisted forever by them. Move on and learn from your mistakes.

[Wanderer]

Update for you.....

Just got a phone call and the 'client' decided to go with someone cheaper.

The Agency will tell the client you are "unavailable" and put forward the client's second choice who they can get a better margin on.

Tell them you are going to call the client direct to have a chat and discuss the rate to see if there is anything you can do to fix the situation. Agency will hit the roof because they are playing both you and the client....