Reply to: Some advice needed.....can they do this??

[jeffer]

Never trust such people. Sad. DO not miss other opportunities.

[Antman]

I owe no loyalties to clients I have never worked for before. Unless you already know them and have some sort of relationship with the client its just business.

Me neither, however I don't like the idea of negatively affecting my potential customer base (for want of a better expression).

[Antman]

It doesn't matter. There are plenty of clients.

Maybe in the South East, but in Yorkshire it's not the case.

[northernladuk]

It doesn't matter. There are plenty of clients.

Wrong attitude IMO. Weight up the risks yes, just **** it and assume there are plenty more clients then no.

[CheeseSlice]

The flip side is that getting more than one offer whilst nice can mark your card at the client you reject in the future.

Whilst there has been no contract confusion, a client might think twice about offering again to someone who rejected them before if only for egotistical reasons.

I owe no loyalties to clients I have never worked for before. Unless you already know them and have some sort of relationship with the client its just business.

[xing]

The flip side is that getting more than one offer whilst nice can mark your card at the client you reject in the future.

Whilst there has been no contract confusion, a client might think twice about offering again to someone who rejected them before if only for egotistical reasons.

It doesn't matter. There are plenty of clients.

[Taita]

Oh ffs, we're not born knowing the ins and outs of contracting. It's a perfect reasonable question. It's true that the answer is immediately to those of us that have been in and around contracting/CUK for some time, but I can see why OP wants to know if there's anything wrong with what happened. Just because the answer might be obvious to you, doesn't mean that it's not a serious enquiry.

FWIW - you're barking up the wrong tree with talking about being able to prove the breach of verbal contract. Even if she recorded them agreeing that she could start, what good does that do her? Perhaps it's you that should apply a little further thought.

"FWIW - you're barking up the wrong tree with talking about being able to prove the breach of verbal contract. Even if she recorded them agreeing that she could start, what good does that do her? Perhaps it's you that should apply a little further thought "

My point precisely.... It does no good at all to cry over spilt milk......

Since my earlier post the OP claims to be surprised at how this has turned out, after several years of contracting. They have been fortunate, indeed.

[Elliegirl]

Thanks for your response, GillsMan. I've been contracting for a few years now but never come across this situation before. And I certainly wouldn't waste anyone's time, least of all my own, posting frivolous queries.

It has indeed turned out as I'd feared, but there have been some rather interesting developments. Hopefully I can update everyone when things become clearer.

[GillsMan]

Others here are much less cynical than I am but I find it difficult to believe that this is a serious enquiry. If it is then a little further thought should tell you that none of the other players has actually done anything 'wrong' unless you can prove a breach of verbal contract (and are prepared to spend time/money on your claim) so, yes, they can get away with very bad behaviour!

Oh ffs, we're not born knowing the ins and outs of contracting. It's a perfect reasonable question. It's true that the answer is immediately to those of us that have been in and around contracting/CUK for some time, but I can see why OP wants to know if there's anything wrong with what happened. Just because the answer might be obvious to you, doesn't mean that it's not a serious enquiry.

FWIW - you're barking up the wrong tree with talking about being able to prove the breach of verbal contract. Even if she recorded them agreeing that she could start, what good does that do her? Perhaps it's you that should apply a little further thought.

[Taita]

Hello all.
I was recently offered a contract obtained through an agency and was waiting to confirm my start date. However, there has been some stalling on the part of the client and I now have reason to believe (won't say how for now) that the client has appointed a permanent person to the role but has failed to tell the agency as yet, and therefore me.
I turned down two interviews to accept this role (honest! I can provide proof) and am just wondering, do I have a leg to stand on at all?? I'm used to the scenarios of the job being pulled, etc, but if my suspicions are correct, what if anything at all can be done?? I hadn't formally signed a contract, but the client offered and I accepted. I forked out quite a bit to get to the interview so I'd like to think they can't get away with behaving this badly!!
Cheers for your thoughts. Apologies in advance if this has come up before but I couldn't find anything.

Others here are much less cynical than I am but I find it difficult to believe that this is a serious enquiry. If it is then a little further thought should tell you that none of the other players has actually done anything 'wrong' unless you can prove a breach of verbal contract (and are prepared to spend time/money on your claim) so, yes, they can get away with very bad behaviour!

[tarbera]

you could tell your momma

Hello all.
I was recently offered a contract obtained through an agency and was waiting to confirm my start date. However, there has been some stalling on the part of the client and I now have reason to believe (won't say how for now) that the client has appointed a permanent person to the role but has failed to tell the agency as yet, and therefore me.
I turned down two interviews to accept this role (honest! I can provide proof) and am just wondering, do I have a leg to stand on at all?? I'm used to the scenarios of the job being pulled, etc, but if my suspicions are correct, what if anything at all can be done?? I hadn't formally signed a contract, but the client offered and I accepted. I forked out quite a bit to get to the interview so I'd like to think they can't get away with behaving this badly!!
Cheers for your thoughts. Apologies in advance if this has come up before but I couldn't find anything.

or post here it may help

[Antman]

The flip side is that getting more than one offer whilst nice can mark your card at the client you reject in the future.

Whilst there has been no contract confusion, a client might think twice about offering again to someone who rejected them before if only for egotistical reasons.

[ChimpMaster]

Personally, I'm never certain until the contract has finished and I've had the last invoice paid.

haha me too - I guess it's ultra defensive mode, you need backups for your backups.

I've got 3 months left to run on my contract and with so many changes happening at the client I'm not sure it'll get to the end! My financial forecasts have included the final 3 months' revenue, so the shareholders will not be happy if the numbers come in lower than expected

[GillsMan]

Personally, I'm never certain until the contract has finished and I've had the last invoice paid.

Personally, I'm never certain until the contract has finished, the last invoice has been paid, and there has been no claim on the indemnity insurance for 12 months after.

[TheFaQQer]

Don't turn down interviews until the contract is signed.

Personally I would say until you are sitting at a desk at the client. We have plenty of questions on here about gigs evaporating even after signing the contract.

I'm never totally certain until my first invoice is paid.

Personally, I'm never certain until the contract has finished and I've had the last invoice paid.