Reply to: Contract starts soon - but the agent has been a bit naughty.

[Doggy Styles]

Some people on here are replying as if the agent is dropping the rate that you'd previously agreed with them. Is this true?

Got a contract starting August, agent emailed me to let me know the rate and I was quite pleased as it was more than I thought.

Or is the amount that you "thought" in fact the amount you'd previously agreed with the agent, and what the agent has confirmed after the erroneous email?

[Scrag Meister]

I'd certainly reply including the original email, asking them to correct the rates as per the initial rate.

Worst case is they won't budge
You may get a few %
You may get the original rate.

You don't ask they won't change it.

At the end of the day its your choice, 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Unless it is a turd.

[Mason Boyne]

I just reckon it was a mistake and his charge-out rate was shown instead of the rate to the contractor.

It happens, live with it.

[psychocandy]

Must admit if the agent knew the OP was desperate then I'd be thinking that the agent is making up this bulltulip.

Just wondered if they're thinking they can screw another 25% off the OP and have an even bigger margin for themselves. i.e. make up this bollacks and know the OP will accept cos they;re desperate.

[vetran]

actually read the original post, don't sound too surprised

He was emailed rate A during negotiation.

Contract rate is rate A - 25%.

Surprisingly OP is miffed.

Possibly send the contract back innocently and say there has been a mistake when the nice people in finance drew up the contracts we agreed rate A.

Phone up to say look forward to a revised contract, better get it couriered over tomorrow am I have 2 interviews in the afternoon. Gotta go that's agent X from competitor on the phone. Have told the client about the mix up so they know the start date might be delayed because your finance team messed up (tried to shaft me).

[2BIT]

I would like to tell him where to go, but I need the work as it was my only interview for the last 4 weeks.

It was on an email to me, but not the offer. It was only when I got the contract through I realised the rate had dropped.

hope you haven't signed it... very odd that they showed you the rate they'd charge including the margin, maybe they are double blagging you

[wim121]

And the reason was?

Lol obviously I cant mention the client or the exact details, but he didnt use his inside voice when perving. "Cohhhhh look at the tits on that" doesnt go down well in an office full of women, neither does insulting an individuals intelligence to people who feel sorry for that individual.

Pretty much having the wrong conversations in the wrong locations. It was good for me though because I got a good contract, good rate, close to home.

[eek]

This has happened to me. Easy mistake for a dumb agent to make.

Ignore it and accept the rate you negotiated. Remember, you've lost nothing.

WDSS

And remember that you know what his margin is. Come renewal time you will be holding all the cards.

[Doggy Styles]

Got a contract starting August, agent emailed me to let me know the rate and I was quite pleased as it was more than I thought.

BUT!

turns out the rate he emailed me is the rate they are going to charge me out to the client! I will be getting 25% less than that. I am very pi@@@d off and wondering if this has happened to anyone else?

This has happened to me. Easy mistake for a dumb agent to make.

Ignore it and accept the rate you negotiated. Remember, you've lost nothing.

[OwlHoot]

I would like to tell him where to go, but I need the work as it was my only interview for the last 4 weeks.

It was on an email to me, but not the offer. It was only when I got the contract through I realised the rate had dropped.

He must have known you badly needed the contract. When an agent asks how you are finding the market, and how long you've been looking, NEVER say "bad" and "ages" respectively! It's their way of gauging your likely level of desperation.

[Mason Boyne]

Hang on, you were quite happy with the original rate on offer, let's call that "X"

You received an email saying that the rate was "Y" which you have subsequently found to be erroneous, the rate to you will now be "Y" - 25%, let's call that "Z"

Now what's the difference between "X" and "Z"?

If there is little or no difference, what's the problem?

[eek]

reason why the previous contractor was escorted off site for gross misconduct. Good giggle, but not really the kind of thing I should have been emailed.

And the reason was?

[wim121]

Agent is taking the piss. Even if he did make a genuine mistake and told you the rate before their cut, 25% is a joke! Average is usually around 10-15%, unless your rate is very low to start with.

Call his bluff, email him saying you took the role on the premise that the rate was £X and if that rate is no longer available then you will be persuing the other roles you've been interviewing for.

Some agents, in dodgy backstreets will try to charge up to 50%.

Best advice on calling his bluff though and worth the OP taking ....

I would like to tell him where to go, but I need the work as it was my only interview for the last 4 weeks.

It was on an email to me, but not the offer. It was only when I got the contract through I realised the rate had dropped.

Although an email isnt a binding offer, you do have cause to say, "you offered me this rate, this rate is what you are going to pay me." If you are polite, yet forceful like that, telling him rather than asking, then you have a good chance of everything working out ...

It is very unprofessional, but thats agents for you. The first assignment I did for my last agent years back, he forwarded me the site details. Unfortunately the forward contained the entire argument and reason why the previous contractor was escorted off site for gross misconduct. Good giggle, but not really the kind of thing I should have been emailed.

[suityou01]

Got a contract starting August, agent emailed me to let me know the rate and I was quite pleased as it was more than I thought.

BUT!

turns out the rate he emailed me is the rate they are going to charge me out to the client! I will be getting 25% less than that. I am very pi@@@d off and wondering if this has happened to anyone else?

If you kick up they will bounce you and tell ClientCo you found something else. Make sure you have a contact in Client co, then make the pimp aware you have this. Then tell them to budge over.

Phrase is thus :

Dear Pimp,

I am slightly confused as to why my rate has dropped 25% from our original agreement. I can only assume this is a mistake. I am looking forward to working for ClientCo and am already in contact with them to acquire provisional reading material so I can hit the ground running.

I hope you can clear this up by confirming the original rate in writing.

Thanks

MB

[MrRobin]

Agent is taking the piss. Even if he did make a genuine mistake and told you the rate before their cut, 25% is a joke! Average is usually around 10-15%, unless your rate is very low to start with.

Call his bluff, email him saying you took the role on the premise that the rate was £X and if that rate is no longer available then you will be persuing the other roles you've been interviewing for.

If he comes back saying that's all there is, no more negotiation is possible then you can backtrack a bit, it will still be easier for him to place you than go thru another search and interview cycle.