New game to torment agents

[psychocandy]

Tell him psychocandy will do it for half the rate.

I will do PS inside roles if the rate is right. Not that though. Quality costs....

[BoredBloke]

Presumably it is aimed at someone local. Crap rate all the same.

This maybe true, but today I got one for a role which was an ideal match for my skills - based in London, market rate and inside IR35. I'm based near Manchester meaning my costs would have to come from my post tax income. So I told the agent why I wasn't interested. Didn't mention the fact that I'm already contracting elsewhere and not looking to move.

[northernladyuk]

Using an IR35 calculator that £250 a day amounts to £35k after tax - it assumes a 44 week year. Assuming £50 a night for 4 nights in a hotel, £15 a day on evening food (x4), £5 a day lunch (x5) and 50 a week in travel expenses means your 35k drops down to £20260. Ask the pimp if he'd work away from home for £9.74 after tax. And that princely sum has to tide you over when off sick or on holiday. My bet is he wont.

Presumably it is aimed at someone local. Crap rate all the same.

[Hobosapien]

IT Finance Manager contract for "£200-£250pd inside IR35".

Sounds to me like the agency is the one with the new game, called Catch 22. If you are willing to work for that rate then you can not possibly qualify as a finance manager.

[washed up contractor]

I was sent an email last week asking if I waould take a IT Finance Manager contract for "£200-£250pd inside IR35".

I would normally ignore it or send a simple "HAHAHAHA!!!" reply, but instead I thanked him but regretfully declined saying that I only consider local PS contracts and that I didn't know anyone from the contract area to pass it on to.

I'll tell him that I won't touch PS contracts with a barge pole next time.

Ive been sent a couple of mails from agents about similar rates. Ive also seen a role in Manchester paying £100 - £130 a day for an 'experienced' contractor.

While it feels good to write back with hahahahahaha etc, I think it is self defeating. The agents dont go 'ok, we'll cut our margin' to attract decent candidates or go back to the client and say 'you need to up your rate' etc. What they do is report through REC to Government 'Oh look, we have these IT jobs we cant fill. There's a skill shortage and we need more Visa workers' etc, etc.

Although I dont do it on every email, I write back and tell the agents I do not consider PS roles due to the Government's FUD regarding IR35 and, the new interpretation attached to it. Sure, it probably has no effect and wont stop agencies reporting a skill shortage but it makes me sleep a little easier at night (and during the day now!).

And while we're on the subject of low rates, Im also seeing more roles put out there as FTC. What's the betting that with the empirical evidence suggesting more contractors out of work, longer gaps on cvs and some ridiculously low rates on offer, agencies will once again report record profits when releasing their acounts in 12 to 18 months time?

[cojak]

So where does the 'game' bit fit in ?

It's a bit like dangling money in front of them but just out of reach. They'll think they'll have a chance of getting a mug next time.

It would have been kinder to bin the email.

[Yonmons]

Using an IR35 calculator that £250 a day amounts to £35k after tax - it assumes a 44 week year. Assuming £50 a night for 4 nights in a hotel, £15 a day on evening food (x4), £5 a day lunch (x5) and 50 a week in travel expenses means your 35k drops down to £20260. Ask the pimp if he'd work away from home for £9.74 after tax. And that princely sum has to tide you over when off sick or on holiday. My bet is he wont.

Exactly my argument.

[BoredBloke]

Using an IR35 calculator that £250 a day amounts to £35k after tax - it assumes a 44 week year. Assuming £50 a night for 4 nights in a hotel, £15 a day on evening food (x4), £5 a day lunch (x5) and 50 a week in travel expenses means your 35k drops down to £20260. Ask the pimp if he'd work away from home for £9.74 after tax. And that princely sum has to tide you over when off sick or on holiday. My bet is he wont.

[kaiser78]

I was sent an email last week asking if I waould take a IT Finance Manager contract for "£200-£250pd inside IR35".

I would normally ignore it or send a simple "HAHAHAHA!!!" reply, but instead I thanked him but regretfully declined saying that I only consider local PS contracts and that I didn't know anyone from the contract area to pass it on to.

I'll tell him that I won't touch PS contracts with a barge pole next time.

So where does the 'game' bit fit in ?

[northernladyuk]

I was sent an email last week asking if I waould take a IT Finance Manager contract for "£200-£250pd inside IR35".

I would normally ignore it or send a simple "HAHAHAHA!!!" reply, but instead I thanked him but regretfully declined saying that I only consider local PS contracts and that I didn't know anyone from the contract area to pass it on to.

I'll tell him that I won't touch PS contracts with a barge pole next time.

Tell him psychocandy will do it for half the rate.

[cojak]

I was sent an email last week asking if I waould take a IT Finance Manager contract for "£200-£250pd inside IR35".

I would normally ignore it or send a simple "HAHAHAHA!!!" reply, but instead I thanked him but regretfully declined saying that I only consider local PS contracts and that I didn't know anyone from the contract area to pass it on to.

I'll tell him that I won't touch PS contracts with a barge pole next time.