Berek Halfhand

Well I've never met anyone by the name of Guesty McGuest but who knows, it might not be his/her real name!

(Sorry, I tried to respond to your PM but I got a strange error. To answer your question somewhat cryptically, part of the name is a large body of water).

Guesty McGuest, this is not just the first month, it's every month.

At the risk of repeating myself, I have never had this experience. Agencies make a crazy amount of money for doing very little (nothing against that in theory) and the scenario you have covered is very rare. The main reason I have had for going through an agent is the quick guaranteed payment.

All work has been signed off and approved by the client and they are happy with it, even though I say so myself! The only reason I could think of is cash flow. It has came to light that this is a buisness practice particular to this agency (as far as I can tell). Another point of note that is that this agency as far as I am aware have never placed a ProIV candidate. They have been around for longer than I had thought.

However, I'm glad to say this has been mutually resolved. A 'compromise' has now been made with the agency and invoices will be settled within 10 (working) days from now on. I guess if you dont ask and moan, you dont get what you want!

As for the £6000 invoice, I think I will have to start looking for work in England ....
Most of my work has been outside of Europe until recently and I never had anything near that!

If it where up to you would you pay someone £6000 for a months work without obtaining the funds first?

Yes I would if I had set myself up as an agent who takes a cut of their contractors salary. They get their cut so it is the risk they should take. That is what they are paid for. In fact one of the main reasons to go through an agent is a gauranteed payment for the work carried out.

It's a lot of money to give away when the client has an issue with the contractor.

Not really sure what you are getting at there.

There is no 'issue' with the client as far as I am aware. The agent has confirmation of all of the hours done and the work carried out from the client.

Like I said, I have not experienced this problem before.

I've certainly heard plenty of horror stories regarding agents, usually individuals running off without paying their contractors.

To begin contracting in a personal situation where you have little cashflow flexibility is probably not the smartest thing someone could do.

True, but in reality this often the main reason people start contracting.

In this case however, I didnt have the opportunity to go direct...

Thanks for the advice guys.

Perhaps it is cash flow problems on the part of the agent.

I would have thought it would be a requirment that an agency has the funds available to pay the contractor without having to wait for the clients payment but I suspect that this area is not regulated strongly.