Reply to: Advertised wrong rate? Quick reply - how to play this one

[NonnyMouse]

Well haven't heard anything else, and don't believe i signed up to a verbal contract - i made it very clear that until i have the paperwork i don't consider anything to be 'done'.

[SussexSeagull]

Unless there was a verbally agreed contract...

In principle yes, but tends to be one person's word against the other.

[TheFaQQer]

Don't be tempted do it.

There are some canny clients out there and they don't all take agency bull.

Oh and the agency cannot do anything to you and make it stick because there is no signed contract.

Unless there was a verbally agreed contract...

[SueEllen]

tempting

Don't be tempted do it.

There are some canny clients out there and they don't all take agency bull.

Oh and the agency cannot do anything to you and make it stick because there is no signed contract.

[NonnyMouse]

tempting

[Wanderer]

Well - i asked for a rate in line with what was advertised and the agent agreed straight away, however paperwork wasn't forthcoming and in the meantime i was offered something else with paperwork appearing within half an hour, i'd figured that the first agency had just been mucking me around and with no sign of the contract I was quite happy to go with the other one.

At the last minute the paperwork did appear but by then it was a bit late, so agent not best pleased and I think looking to see if he has any comeback e.g. charge me - I doubt he does but I think there will be a stern email headed my way next week.

Drop a polite email to the agency and the client explaining that due to the delay in getting a written contract drawn up you have accepted another opportunity which pays a better rate. Thank them for their time and tell them to contact you if they have any opportunities available in the future.

The client will be disappointed and the agent will probably bluster to you but they know it's just business...

[NonnyMouse]

update

Well - i asked for a rate in line with what was advertised and the agent agreed straight away, however paperwork wasn't forthcoming and in the meantime i was offered something else with paperwork appearing within half an hour, i'd figured that the first agency had just been mucking me around and with no sign of the contract I was quite happy to go with the other one.

At the last minute the paperwork did appear but by then it was a bit late, so agent not best pleased and I think looking to see if he has any comeback e.g. charge me - I doubt he does but I think there will be a stern email headed my way next week.

[TheFaQQer]

Try to get the contact details of the interviewer while you have the chance.

Get the offer, then tell the agent you want the £450

If it falls through, contact the interviewer, thanking them for the opportunity and expressing an interest in working with them in the future. Slip in that it was a shame that the agent reneged on the rate that they were advertising so much as you would have been flexible, but good luck with the project.

Then wait for the agent to ring you to tell you that the client have reviewed their budget etc.

[Scrag Meister]

If you don't mind wasting a day, I would be inclined to go to the interview and if offered quote whatever you want to quote as a daily rate. If it gets knocked back, you could always send the client thanking them for their time and for their offer of work, which you would have been happy to accept at the advertised daily rate of £450 pd, but you completely understand their commercial position and wish them all the best in filling the role and bringing the project to a successful conclusion. Etc.

Interview
Get offer
Say to agent you have assessed the contract and thinks it worth £450 per day
Agent says No, £400
WIN.

At the end of the day it is YOUR choice.

I always check that the agent is on the Client's top level PSL AND they are on a fixed rate over and above my rate. That way the more you get the more they get and they are moderately motivated to get you the highest rate possible.

[kal]

Role advertised at £400-450 but I was told it was paying £350, and just been offered it at £350, agent claims that he always advertises roles as paying more, oh and on top of that apparently client has pushed back on rate so agent is making less. I don't think this is the same role as the op mentioned though as its a really short-term role.

I think that's not on really, either they lied in the advert or they are pocketing the extra hundred quid. Thinking about telling him I want the £450 and being prepared to walk away if it doesn't happen.

Its common for agents to advertise a range when what they really mean is that the rate on offer is the bottom of that range (e.g. £400 - £450 pd = rate of offer is £400 a day) but to then turn around and say that actually the maximum he's prepared to pay you is £350 a day and that he was lying about the rate smells a bit fishy to me.

I would stand firm on asking for what you were originally put in for, be prepared to walk though (and if no cigar hint that you will be emailing the client thanking them for the offer and explaining why you cannot accept).

[NonnyMouse]

same thing just happened to me

Role advertised at £400-450 but I was told it was paying £350, and just been offered it at £350, agent claims that he always advertises roles as paying more, oh and on top of that apparently client has pushed back on rate so agent is making less. I don't think this is the same role as the op mentioned though as its a really short-term role.

I think that's not on really, either they lied in the advert or they are pocketing the extra hundred quid. Thinking about telling him I want the £450 and being prepared to walk away if it doesn't happen.

[sunflower]

Gordon Ice, I love that title.... Pimpology Volume 1.

Anubis, I suspect this pimp is playing up. -100 per day is a lot.
Most of the time, the client has an idea of budget when they request the assistance of an agency to fill the role.

Go for the interview and if you get an offer, you are in a stronger position to push your rate back up towards what you originally asked for.

Agents have all sorts of vile strategies. One of the common ones is wait till someone is offered the gig and then drop the rate for various reasons. It's an old chestnut.

1. The role is long term...(it might not be).

Friend of mine got offered a contract at a big oil company. The agent negotiated a longer contract for him of 12 months+, but he needed to drop his rate. A few weeks later, he found out from management at the client that the role had always been 12 months+. Pimp margin++

2. The client is offering training :-)
Lands you into IR35 danger.

3. There are other rival candidates and their prices are cheaper.

In the past, I've applied for a contract role where I found out the agent had a 33% mark up!

In the meantime, see who else is advertising that role on different job boards and check the rates offered. Keep the adverts with higher rate quotes as evidence.

Get the customer's business card and offer him yours at the interview.

[Wanderer]

My money is on #3.

My money is on all of those being true....

pretend the problem isn't there until you ace the interview and get the client on board.

Yep. Wait till you have the client engaged before you start thinking about negotiating. If the client wants you then the agent will be all over you like a rash and that is the time to negotiate. Everything you have agreed to up until that point is inadmissible as far as I'm concerned. Also get the agent to send you a draft contract up front so you can review their terms of business as part of the negotiations. Threatening to bring the client into the negotiations really puts the wind up the agents but sometimes it will piss clients off too so tread carefully.

Sometimes clients will discuss the rate at the interview though I don't normally bring it up unless they mention it first because it's not uncommon that you are dealing with a permie who doesn't know how much you are charging and they stay right out of the negotiating part of it. Other times, the client has been 100% up front and going as far as telling me what the agency cut was.

[infosec]

Bringing up rate with the client is a big no-no, especially at interview.

Yes, but sometimes they mention it first... which happened in my last interview (as in "can we reduce it") so its ok to discuss then within reason.

[kingcook]

It is a rate, which in turn pays my bills hence a salary - do you not live off of a salary? Like to know how...