Independent Ratings for Agency

[r0bly0ns]

Has anyone managed to get an agency to agree to let them contract and bill direct to the end client effectively cutting the agency out of the billing loop?

Yep, but only because the Agency refused to accept the client's contract and the client refused to accept the agency contract.

So instead the client paid the agency a finders fee for the initial 4 month contract and has now been giving us regular work for nearly 2 years

[BoredBloke]

I have but only when it came to the end of a very long role. The client didn't have the work to justify me for a full week and because their HR dept had this 18month rule in place for contractors I was going to be let go. I got the agency to agree to step out of the picture so that I could do 8 hours per week for them offsite and around any other work I had on. This was only supposed to be for a month while they trained somebody else up to do the role. It ended up being almost a year. Apparnatly their 18 month rule only applied to agency staff and not to contactors working direct.

[b0redom]

I would be surprised if they had. How would they know if you then went direct?

[Spacecadet]

Has anyone managed to get an agency to agree to let them contract and bill direct to the end client effectively cutting the agency out of the billing loop?

[oracleslave]

I never really understand this. To me it doesn't really matter which agency I go through, all that matters is the rate, the location, and if they pay on time.....

Agreed, although it is prudent to know their track record on occasion and their likely capability to pay in these DOOMED times.

[b0redom]

I never really understand this. To me it doesn't really matter which agency I go through, all that matters is the rate, the location, and if they pay on time.....

[WindyAnna]

If I'm with the agency then they are almost certainly on the verge of going bust. This is scientifically based upon my past track record.

[realityhack]

Whatever you do, whether you start a site for this purpose, or just collect opinions, make sure the comments about agencies can be qualified by specific examples, that can be backed up on paper - that are measured and objective.

Anything less will lead to a rumour mill that will land you and particularly the contributors in deep trouble - and likely lead to the end of your project.

The chances of a slagging match breaking out - and the chances of agencies taking legal action on even the most measured and qualified statements about them - are so high, and the risk so great, that this isn't a viable business proposition.

If you're still keen on doing something like this - examine the business model of a company like Which? - and look at how much they have to spend on legal fees.

[rocktronAMP]

Hi

Is there such thing as a publish list of independent ratings for agencies?

Specialist industry (Publishing, Banking, media)?

Company Size?

Estabished when?

Location, Location?

User friendliness (Web Site, Phone) ?

Contractor-Agency Communication (Good, Bad etc)?

Timesheet Entry ? (Fax, Web) Are you paid on time?

Agency Value-Add (Truth, fight your corner, won't forget you)?

(Does not yet apply to me personally) Helpfulness in IR35 and other issues?

How does one measure an agency reputation ?
(I suppose this is roughly proportional to how long the company has been around. However a big and older company can suck? )

What other contractors say?

And since you asked (here are some I am researching):-

Computer Futures
Hays IT
Genesis Recruitment
Harvey Nash
Knight Munro
Aston Carter
SQ Computer Personal
Hudson
Allegis Group

Done it.

[threaded]

Won't happen, anyone whose tried it ended up getting sued.

[MrRobin]

Hi

Is there such thing as a publish list of independent ratings for agencies?

State what agency you are interested in here, and we will all independently tell you that agents are ********.

HTH

[oracleslave]

No, but I just ran this SQL against the agency ratings database:

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM agencies
WHERE rating > tulipe; 

column
-------
0

[DimPrawn]

No, but I just ran this SQL against the agency ratings database:

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM agencies
WHERE rating > tulipe; 

column
-------
0

[Troll]

Hi

Is there such thing as a publish list of independent ratings for agencies?

rating using what criteria?

[rocktronAMP]

Hi

Is there such thing as a publish list of independent ratings for agencies?